Family Pictures

Every year, I see family pictures people get with all the pretty fall colors in some park like setting and think "we need to do that". And by the time I get around to actually booking something, it's practically winter and snowing. Maybe next year I'll be more on the ball. But, we did get family pictures, which was a nightmare! Two year old toddlers hate getting their picture taken. The photographer seemed a little flustered with our crazy family. When he left, he said he didn't think he had many good ones. Ugh. It was mostly true. In each picture, there is at least one of the four of us with eyes closed or looking the other way or crying (the toddlers, not us). We did have a few ok ones which ended up on our Christmas card. These were probably the best of the bunch...

And then there was this one... our last picture of the day. Morgan had taken off her shoes and Avery was holding one of them. Avery was so ready for us to be done!

"School" Pictures

The girls had pictures taken at daycare back in November.  I think these pictures sum up the girls' personalities very nicely. Morgan is happy-go-lucky and Avery is the skeptical one. The photographer said Avery wasn't so sure she should smile and this was the best they could get out of her. Ha!

December - Part 2

Oh, the holidays! Crazy, fun, exhausting, exciting! This year, we hosted Christmas at our house. Matt's mom flew in for a few days to celebrate with us. My parents came up from Rochester and stayed over at Erin and Ross' place. Sandi's family is in the Chicago area, too, so we were all able to spend quite a bit of time together.

Let's start with this great video... the girls had a Christmas show at school. The toddlers and the 2's were supposed to sing Jingle Bells. I knew the girls were working on it at least for a week. Morgan was the first to walk out and when she saw all the parents in the room, she freaked out a little. Both girls kept scanning the crowd to find us and we dodged them for a while. But, once they saw us, they both started crying. Matt went up to hold Morgan and one of Avery's teachers held her. I'm not sure you can actually hear singing over Avery's screaming. Yikes! Granted, she did have a bad case of hives that day, which I didn't realize until after we went up to get her. That new red dress was cute, but I should have washed it before letting her wear it. Lesson learned.



Besides that experience, the girls have been so excited for Christmas. They don't really get the whole Santa Claus thing, but they love getting new toys and having lots of playtime with us and their grandparents and cousins.

Another little video... we're not sure why they are moving their arms like they are.



Here are a bunch of pictures from the holidays.

We didn't decorate the house this year, except for some luminaries

Merry Christmas to Matt

Avery helping Grandma open her gifts

Avery opening gifts

This girl loves stickers!

I remember when they actually fit in these car seats

Morgan wanted to be the baby!

Enjoying the stickers from Aunt Helen and Uncle Ed

Showing off their Vegas shirts from Mommy and Daddy's trip

Finger painting fun

Lots of gifts!

Grayson and Ross ready to open gifts

Silly Morgan

Giving each other high-5's with Daddy's new grilling gloves

Putting together a toy for the girls

Morgan trying to steal baby Nolan's gift

Trying out her new headphones

Figuring out her new Kindle

Getting some help from Grandma Ruth

Avery loves her new soft blanket - she takes this thing everywhere!

Playing with Daddy and some new toys

Grayson checking out his new toys

Dinner time!

Hunter and Beckett slept through it all

Getting good use out of our new dining table

Play-doh playtime with Grandma Ruth

Day after Christmas Bloody Marys

Wearing their new PJ's

Avery is such a little mommy!