Addisen turns THREE!

One of the few moments these two are smiling while touching each other!  We have definitely entered the age of picking on each other!

Abbey was the first to wish Addisen a happy 3rd birthday!

The birthday girl enjoying her sprinkle pancakes!

We had a quick celebration for Addisen on her actual birthday.  Ryder and her had their Christmas Program with daycare that night...she it was a quick meal and cake!

 

Ryder ringing his bell during the program!  That is his little girlfriend Isabella next to him...they both have red hair!

I couldn't get a good picture of Addisen during the program.  The lighting was bad and there were a lot of people there.  She was the cutest little snowman with her tutu and all!

Santa made a surprise appearance after the program.  Brody was so excited to go and see him and tell him that he wanted hot wheels for Christmas.  Santa told him that he would get them...glad Brody didn't ask for an XBox!

Ryder was so interested in Santa's beard.

As you can see - no pictures of Addisen. She freaked out when we got within ten feet of Santa!

She was willing to sit with the hippo!  So this is our Christmas picture this year!

Yesterday we had planned on celebrating Addisen's birthday with our family.  Unfortunately we got an ice storm on Thursday night and another one last night - so only Grandma and Bobo were able to make it.  It didn't stop me from making her special cake!

Addisen was so interested in watching Grandma and I decorate her cake on Friday night.  She wanted to stay up until it was finished.  I on the other hand couldn't focus on frosting it because she was talking nonstop!  Lucky for me it was bedtime :)

Ryder loved the cake!  He really loves any food!  That boy can eat!

A pretty good picture with Grandma and Bobo - it is difficult to get a good picture of all three kids...so we will take two out of three!

Addisen loved openning her presents.  She would say "OH" and "That's so nice" to all the packages...even the boxes before she could see the clothes in them!  She is so silly!

Abbey had fun with marshmallows this week!

On Monday night Brody and Addisen had a 'last day of being two' jump party.  We had a lot of fun taking pictures mid air and then looking at them.  Those two can be so silly together!

I say it with every birthday - but really I just can't believe my baby girl is 3!  The memories of the day she was born are so vivid in my mind!  That first christmas with her and pretty much the first 3 months of her life feel like yesterday.  How can it be?  I do have to say that I have enjoyed (for the most part!) watching her become her.  She is the sassiest, bossiest, funnies, loving, and intelligent little girl I know.  She has taken a whole different path to growing up than Brody!  She surprises us everyday with all the things that she comes up with.  She has made it a mission to not go to bed, she will find your weakness and then use it until you break!  At the same time she will steal your heart when you are ready to lose it by just saying "sweet dreams mommy" after you have returned to her room 10 times!  I thank God for this little girl and I cannot wait to see what she shows me over the next year!

 

Christmas Parade and Cookies!

The Christmas Parade in Rockford wasn't very snowy but it sure was cold!

Ryder enjoyed the first part of the parade but then got mad!  I think he must have gotten a little frost biten because he screamed and screamed and screamed!

We were at the beginning of the parade this year and the kids got A LOT of candy!  Now we know why we got so little last year when we were over by the library :)

 

SANTA!

Abbey was being silly this week.  He went fishing for goldfish crackers in our toilet!

Then made snow angels on the cabinet. 

Ryder has started with a new look.  It just cracks me up...not sure where or how he learned it!

 

Abbey let the wild animals out of the canister!

We had so much fun decorating cookies this year.  Jim bought us gingerbread men to decorate this year...the kids had a ball!  We decided to keep Addisen's frosted cookies to the side when we realized that she was licking the frosting off her fingers and knife as she went!

Starting to look a lot like Christmas!

Abbey our Elf arrived when we returned from Pennsylvania.  He has been a lot more active this year since Addisen is able to understand the importance of not touching him.  The kids never know where or what he will be doing in the morning!

 

We went to find our Christmas tree during the coldest time of the season!  It was only in the teens when we were hunting for the perfect tree!  It didn't seem quite right with no snow on the ground this year...but we certainly still felt winter!

On the hunt for the perfect tree.

Addisen modeling the Hello Kitty hat that I made her.

 

Family pictures in front of the perfect tree!

 

Ryder with the perfect size tree for him!

 

Abbey was busy the night we set up the tree decorating.

Brody had his Christmas Music program this week.  The High School auditorium was packed!  He did a great job with so many people there to watch!  We were lucky to have Grandma and Bobo join us for the program.  We were joking that in 5 years well will be there all night because all the kids will be in elementary school together for one year!

Trip to Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving

We had so much fun at Great Wolf Lodge!  We were little worried on our drive down because there was a winter storm coming through the East Coast.  We lucked out and missed the weather for most of the drive.

I spent the pool time with Ryder and Addisen in the kiddy pool.  Addisen just swam herself around talking with the different moms - what a social butterfly!  Ryder did surprisingly well with the water and didn't seem to be too afraid.  Brody LOVED all the waterslides.  Jim and him were gone for most of the time trying out all the different slide.  It was fun to see them all enjoy themselves so much.

 

 

Addisen had a great time with her cousin Sydney.  She loved dancing and singing with her!

Aunt Krista took Ryder from the moment she saw him.  It was an easy time for me!

Addisen and Sydney both had cowgirl boots - couldn't resist this picture.

It snowed pretty much every day we were there.  Brody and his cousin Dylan wanted to play football outside, so they were busy trying to make the lines in the field!

 

 

We stayed with Uncle Steve and Aunt Ellen on this visit.  The kids had a lot of fun with them!  We had Thanksgiving dinner at their house with both sides of there family - the kids really enjoyed having so many cousins around!  We were only there 2 full days, so my picture taking was limited...next time I have to make sure to have the camera with me at all times!