Santa!

On Saturday the 12th we put our annual passes to the Science Spectrum to good use and went to see Santa!  

We managed to squeeze in some other fun too - like making Santa beards!

And watching the train - 

Decorating gingerbread cookies....

...or just eating frosting....

And Curious George was there!  Halle ran right up to him and wanted to hug him....like five times....she was pretty excited to see him!

We made time to see the prairie dog, ferret, and snake too :)  Although you won't catch me touching that thing!  

Finally it was time!  Like with Curious George, Halle ran right up to Santa for a big hug, with Eve not far behind - I was pleasantly surprised!  They just chatted away with him!

This is as close as Abigail would get:

That evening, we tried to visit the National Ranching Heritage Center for their candlelight exhibit, and even though we got their right when it was starting, we had to wait in line 20 mins after parking and walking for 10.  

Just as we got to the front of the line, a huge storm blew in.  The temperate dropped 15 degrees almost instantly and the wind and rain began.  It was bad at first so we decided to proceed...

Within 10 mins, the rain was so heavy and the wind so strong Eve appropriately called it "fire rain".  

We faced facts and ran for the car....and made it there 10 mins later - we were soaked and cold!  But happy!

Wasn't quite the evening we had planned, but we certainly won't forget it!  We'll try again next year :)

Eve is 5!

On Eve's birthday eve, we went to her last gymnastics class - she did great, even though she was very shy in presenting her routine in front of all the audience.  She had such a fun class!  Daddy surprised her and took a break from studying for finals to come watch - she was so excited!

We played at the park for a few minutes after class and the girls loved showing their tricks to Daddy!

For Eve's birthday breakfast the next morning, we had cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate - Eve helped me make the hot chocolate!

She was also very excited to help me make her cake later that day! 

That evening was her last soccer class - we were the first ones there so Eve played :)

Only two other girls showed up and when it was time for the scrimmage, both of them shouted, "I want to be on Eve's team!" so it was the three girls vs the teacher - she went easy on them :)  

Eve has loved soccer - when we talked about classes for next year, so said she doesn't want to do gymnastics again, but does want more soccer!  We'll see.....  Daddy surprised her and came to class again, so it was an extra special evening!

When we got home, we had Eve's requested grilled cheese and tomato soup birthday dinner:

Eve loves to play games while we eat and pulls one out at almost every meal - this time it was Racko - she's getting pretty good at it!  Her other favorites are Sorry, Uno, and Trouble.

After dinner, Eve got her birthday card from Dad and Mom - inside was a clue to find her first present!  Each time she found a present, there was also another clue for her next present - culminating in.....

A bike!!!

She was so excited about all her presents - thanks to everyone for remembering her special day!

After presents, Eve insisted on trying out her new game of Who Shook Hook while I finished getting her cake ready.

She requested a Rainbow Dash cake and this was the best I could do:  

Couldn't wait to try out her new bike, loaded down with every present she could manage!

We are so proud of Eve and love her so much.  Her are some fun things about Eve at age 5:

-Weight: 42 lbs (65th percentile)

-Height: 44 in (75th percentile)

-Has never had a haircut (I'm afraid to lose the curls, although it's pretty much a wave at this point)

-Is very friendly and kind, but shy

-Is a great helper with Abigail and best friends with Halle

-Loves to play with Daddy, especially tickling and soccer

-Improving every day in reading and writing

-Is very obedient and sweet (with only occasional meltdowns)

-Loves to play games

-Her favorite shows are Jake and the Neverland Pirates, My Little Pony, Doc McStuffins, Care Bears, Octonauts (a recent addition), Clifford, Curious George, and Princess Sofia (I promise they don't watch too much TV, she just likes to vary what she watches)

-Her favorite colors are orange and red (but she says she likes all the colors)

-Favorite foods: pancakes, broccoli chicken casserole, grilled cheese and tomato soup, banana bread, yogurt

She's growing up fast....too fast!  We sure love her!

The Nativity

This year was the 7th annual Nativity event in Lubbock, put on by the two stakes here for the community.  I was asked to help on the children's room, so I took a couple days of work, packed the girls up, and we headed to the church.  

Things started out a bit messy:

Abigail was a handful, but Eve and Halle played very nicely with the other kids there.  We stayed for the whole day, so we were pretty exhausted by the time we were done.  I think I spent more time chasing Abigail than I did actually helping set up :(

When we left on Monday night, this was how the room looked:

We were sick on Tuesday, so didn't go, but when we showed up on Wednesday, a lot of progress had been made!

The Nativity ran for 4 days but we didn't get a chance to officially attended until Saturday night.  The girls were impressed with the live outdoor nativity:

In the children's room, there was an area to dress up and boy did we!

There was also a touch and feel room and the girls made sure to touch everything!

On Sunday evening, I went back to host in the children's room and took Eve and Halle with me - we got a better chance to see the rest of the event.  Here's the girls in the traditional room:

International room:

This arch is made of hand prints from children in the two stakes, with acts of service they've done written on them.  Very cool! 

In the children's room, the girls took time to write down a gift they wanted to give Jesus - 

and posted them on the board with everyone else's gifts.

We did dress up again, of course!

And made tree ornaments!

Whew!  It was a super busy week, but we were so blessed to be involved in this special event - looking forward to next year!

1.5 Years

Thanksgiving Day was Abigail's official half birthday!  We really tried to get some good pictures, but this is the best we could do.....

Me?  I'm 1.5?  

The next Sunday was her first day in nursery!  

She did fairly well for the first hour or so in nursery then lost it and wouldn't stop crying so the leaders went and found Andrew and he finished out the time in there with her.  We only had Sacrament Meeting today, so next Sunday we'll she how she does.  They have three nurseries in our ward, and unfortunately she's not in Halle's.  But Halle's only in there for the rest of this month anyway.

It's hard work to be 1 1/2!  

Here are some fun things about Abigail at this age:

-Loves blankies

-Top words: sorry, help, HALLE! (always shouted), up, mom, dad, hi, apple juice, dog, ba! (what she calls her blanket), bye, poo (always said while patting her bottom), itchie (means icky)

-Loves to play with her sisters

-Gives great kisses!

-When she wakes up in the mornings or after naps, stands in her crib and yells, "Mom! Mommy!" at the top of her lungs until I come for her

-When I brush her hair, she hunches her shoulders, leans forward, and shouts, "Owie! Owie! Owie!" - she learned that from her sisters :(

-Has extreme separation anxiety around people she doesn't know

-Loves to play outside

-Naps once a day for 2 hours on average

-Recently got in her first 4 molars

-Is basically into everything and has to be watched closely

-She's pretty much an adorable handful!

-Weight: 27 lbs (80th percentile)

-Height: 32 in (75th percentile)

And we love her!