Will you be mine?

LOVE this pic of Avery. So smiley, so sweet. She actually let me do her hair this day. I was going for some heart-shaped braid but it was upside down when all was said and done and looked more like a spade. Nonetheless....I tried.

Will you be mine? YOU BET! The girls were so so so sweet! They shut themselves in Avery's room for over and hour decorating and creating a little Valentine's Party for Daddy and I. They hung hundreds of little pieces of paper (going through at least two rolls of tape), hung up heart shaped paper chains and made each of us a Valentine.

Alexandra giving daddy his home made Valentine.

Here is my card. WHY do I LOVE this so much...well, because there is a picture that avery drew at the top, there is a pipe cleaner that Alexandra shaped into a heart, there is a piece of their Valentine candy that they chose to share with me, there is the heart (with an A & 7) that Alexandra made at school, there is a sticker of Avery's favorite tinkerbell fairy and then there is a pinecone. Why you ask? Well, no reason. It's just random and it is so much like my ladies to just put stuff together like this. LOVE them!

There were also games and stories at our party....this is Avery reading a book to me. Happy Happy Valentines Day - you are both my little loves, my little ladies, my lovlies....I'm a lucky mommy.

Big Fluffy Flakes

We haven't had much snow this year...we looked out the window in mid-February and there were these GIGANTIC flakes of snow. We hurry-scurried as quick as we could to get our snow clothes on but missed the big flakes. Still, it was fun to try to catch the smaller ones and enjoy a bit of snowplay.

BER-nice

That's my grandma. Love her. She is the funniest lady and always so warm and welcoming. It was nice to visit Wisconsin and actually sit and talk with her. We spent one evening just sitting together watching Antiques Road Show. She always has cookies and coca-cola and when she knows I'm in town she makes extra ice because she knows I love it in my coke. She also is ALWAYS guaranteed to bake brownies and my husband's favorite Gingersnap cookies and they are packaged and ready to go so I can take them home to my family. Every Sunday my local family gathers at her house to enjoy lunch together, read the paper and just catch up on the week's events. I miss that. I miss being there. I know it seems mundane and 'everyday' to my family back home but to me, it's grandma. It's my second home. Love you lady.

Surprise

I flew home to Wisconsin to surprise my mom at her family Retirement Dinner. It was such a fun surprise to be there and she was so ready to retire. I'm so happy for her! It was also a nice treat to be "home" for a few days, just me, visiting with family/friends and taking it easy. One morning mom, dad and I took a walk by the lake. The light was so bright against the snow, positively blinding, but I still liked the way it came through on this photo. Thanks for having me - I'll have to sneak away and surprise ya'll more often!

Tyler Three

Meet my newest nephew...Tyler Three Groothousen. Cute! So happy to finally meet you little one.

Shred II

The girls like to do "The Shred" with me....they are so cute as they get in their work-out glam wear and use Barbie Dolls as hand weights. They make me laugh, smile and make the workout go by so quickly.

This...I cannot do.

My Nativity

Many years ago, my mom gave me her Nativity Pieces...the figurines but not the stable. Every year I go hunting to find one that will fit and every year I am unsuccessful. So, Alexandra took it upon herself to make one for me. It was SO sweet. She said that she was going to add some sticks, moss and paint it a darker brown so it looked like the ones we saw online. Isn't she just super darling?

Our Gingerbread Village

Time to clean up after Christmas....I had to take one picture of our entire village put together. We all contributed and enjoyed it all season.

Christmas Day

Look what Santa did....

...while they were sleeping.

Alexandra and the "Julie" American Girl Doll she had asked for.

Avery received an American Girl Doll in a ballet outfit.

This is the American Girl Doll house they made with their dolls and accessories.

Avery and her new pink tool box!

A little something for that toolbox.

Alexandra saw an infomercial on the "Shark Steam Pocket Mop". She said I could really use one and then went on to describe every feature of that mop - this girl REALLY pays attention to commercials. So, of course, for Christmas the girls got one for me. Alexandra was SUPER excited to show me how it worked...I must say, it does help with the cleaning. Thanks sweeties.

See you next year Elfie.

Time for bed on Christmas Eve. The girls said good-bye to Elfie, promised to try hard to be good and giggled as they thought of him riding in the sleigh back to the North Pole with Santa. I love Elife!

Christmas Eve Present Party

As usual we had a very festive Christmas Eve with Matt's mom, Barton and his sister and family. TONS of wrapping. TONS of ribbon. TONS of smiles. LOADS of blessings.

Georgene ALWAYS does an amazing job with her wrapping and decorating.

Time to get the stockings down!

All wrapped up!

Crazy number of presents.

Merry Merry Christmas