Sunday, December 29, 2013

Gracyn's Christmas Play

Gracyn's class performed the nativity play during their Christmas party. Gracyn nailed her lines,
"Do not be afraid. I bring you great news. Tonight Baby Jesus will be born".
She made the sweetest angel. All the kids did a great job, though the nativity did get a case of the giggles. Watching them all laugh up there just made it that much cuter. 










Monday, December 23, 2013

Mimi and Jimmy's Visit

Mimi and Jimmy made the LONG trek from Texas to come see us in Ohio. We celebrated Christmas and enjoyed a fun weekend together. The girls favorite things were playing with the dogs and opening presents!!! We went to Prasco Park's afternoon with Santa and had so many yummy treats. We went ice-skating in the 22 degree weather. Mimi and Jimmy didn't wear skates. They were troopers and watched for a bit, before they retreated to the heated tent and waited with hot chocolate for everyone. We also built a gingerbread house. It held up for about 7 minutes after completion before it was sliding all apart and I trashed it. Finally....Mimi and Jimmy watched the girls both Saturday and Sunday night while Tommy and I went out. 2 dates in one weekend....that never happens!!! So thankful they are willing to make the drive and so glad they are making it an annual tradition.
























Sunday, December 08, 2013

Horse Drawn Carriage Parade

A favorite Christmas tradition we enjoy around here is the annual Lebanon Horse Drawn Carriage Parade. The parade if full of beautiful horses pulling decorated carriages. This year it was 24 degrees and snowy. But, the SUN was shining! That is a RARE occasion around here from November until April. We bundled up in full snow gear and headed out. The girls took their sleds and we stopped at some hills on the way in and out of the parade to do some sledding. Addison and Gracyn had 2 near disasters....one with an airborne sled and once nearly hitting a tree, but we all made it out in one piece and had fun!











Snow Day

Funny how so much can change in a few years. I used to HATE snow days. Honestly, being cooped up in a house with small toddlers/babies is not that much fun. Now, as they are older and gone/busy so much of the time, I cherish a day when everything comes to a stop and we have nothing to do. The girls woke up to find Trixie the Elf making a snow angel in sugar and announcing a snow day!
We watched The Sound of Music that we had recorded the night before. Reagan and Gracyn had to have the hairstyles. 
We snuggled in our jammies, played with toys, and made some Christmas crafts all before lunch.
This girl, a bookworm like her mama, read for at least 3 hours throughout the day.
Daddy was working from home, so he would pop in and join us for quick play breaks.
We made our favorite Christmas dessert a little early. Oreo Cream Cheese Balls are the best dessert ever. We can only have them in this house once each year! 
 
The girls BEGGED to go outside. Since it was 24 degrees and the snow was steadily coming down, I didn't think they would make it more than 10 minutes. Most of the neighborhood kids were venturing out and they ended up playing for an hour. Reagan and Gracyn came in frozen and soaked first and I eventually had to make Addison come in to warm up.

We finished the day with an UNO match. It was a perfect time out from life and a great family day. Based on the way winter is going so far, I think there might be more snow days in our future!