Merry Christmas!!

From our home to yours...have a great Christmas!!! 

Tumbling

Olivia was able to participate in tumbling through the local parks and rec.  She really enjoyed it.  She has mastered the forward roll, bridges, bear crawls, etc.

Christmas with Grandma

Last week we had our first Christmas celebration.  We headed up north to see Grandma Schrage's new apartment.   It was very nice and you could tell Grandma was very happy!!!

Olivia had a great time running around with her cousins.  They were getting very creative with games they were playing.  They even "helped" with a puzzle.  It's just too bad the ladies didn't see it as helping!!

A little christmas baking..

Olivia loves to help in the kitchen....I do not.  So I decided to just suck it up and get in the Christmas spirit by baking cookies with Olivia.  We decided to make monster cookies, sugar cookies and we dipped pretzles.  She was such a great helper!!!!

I love that she put the towel on her shoulder!!

That elf is getting naughty!!!

The Polar Express (or not)

Finishing up some Christmas shopping, Olivia heard the train the minute we walked into the mall.  With it being a Monday afternoon, she was able to sit in the first car and ring the bell!!! She smiled the whole time.

Look where Martin landed...

That crazy elf was hanging from the ceiling fan!! 



Early Christmas

This is the time of year we all want to be with family.  It's easy to forgot about our soldiers serving overseas or across the country that do not get the luxury of seeing their loved ones.  My cousin Justin is one of those soldiers.  He is in the middle of a 12 month + tour in Afghanistan.  For the last two weeks he has been home for some R&R. 

My family had a supper in his honor last week.  We were able to get back and see him and the rest of the family!!! It was great to see him!!


My dad put them on top of the coat rack.  They loved it!!



This is a 3 generation picture.  Layne is about 3 months younger than Olivia.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all our troops!!! Thanks for all that you have done and continue to do for us!!!

A Martin update...

Martin was able to stay at the house.  Olivia eventually warmed up to him.  She is excited to look for him every morning.   This morning he knew we were going to make cookies and got an early start.... 

Elf (take it off) the Shelf

I saw the Elf on the Shelf last year and thought it would be cute for Olivia.  This year I thought she would be old enough to understand the story and thought she would have fun with it. 

So this morning, I take the elf out of the box and she instantly get this look on her face.

She kept saying it was "ICKY!"  So I am thinking the elf creeped her out.   I read her the book that comes with the elf, all the while, Olivia is watching that Elf (we named him Martin) out of the corner of her eye. 

After awhile, she said he was ok, but he was not allowed in her room.   Hopefully Martin and Olivia can be friends, otherwise our tree might be kinda bare Christmas morning!!

I mean what's not to love about this face?

Proud mama!!

Sorry the picture is upside down, but Olivia can write her name!!! 

From the mouths of babes..

I know we probably shouldn't use things to bribe Olivia to get her do things, but we do.  (For example, Halloween, the trip to Mexico, now Santa).

The other night Olivia was whining and crying about not getting to watch tv.  After about 10 minutes of crying, I told Olivia that Santa doesn't like to go to houses where little girls cry about nothing.  She stopped, looked at me and said, "Well Santa doesn't like parents that don't let their kids watch tv!!"  Funny stuff!!!

Santa

We did our annual trip to see Santa this year.  Olivia was still note quite sure if she wanted to sit on his lap.  After realizing he was the guy that brought the presents, she opened up!!



Points to Santa, he told her she had to be a good girl for Mom & Dad.

Olivia likes to do arts and crafts.  The latest edition is what she likes to call "The Snowmom."

Fun Pics

When taking goofy pictures with your mom is still fun....

Halloween Decorations

I'm not one known to decorate alot for the holidays.  This year I decided to let my interior designer do it for me!!

Let me know if you need help with decorations.  Her rates are low.  If I recall, she gets paid by bags of fruit snacks!!

Friday Fun!!

Olivia, Allison, Charlotte and I treated ourselves to a pedicure today.  It is always nice to be pampered a bit!!

When scissors, a 3 yr old and distracted parents are not a good combo

The result, holes in clothes. 

Olivia admitted to cutting her shirt.  I am just glad it wasn't her hair!!!!

Howell's Pumpkin Patch

We headed out to Howell's today to enjoy this late summer that we are having. Olivia's excitement for everything makes it so much fun.




Olivia would have stayed in the corn pool forever.

Finding the perfect Rae Rae sized pumpkin.

I think she maybe asking Santa for a pony for Christmas.

 This is a family tradition we all hope to continue.

A little staycation

I have this week off of work; it has been absolutely wonderful. I think I could get used to it. Olivia is taking swimming lessons at the YMCA. This is one thing I am not pushing her to get ready for. She gets ready without question.

we have spent time at the pool, mall and Target. It is a good thing I work, we would go poor quickly.

4th of July (a little late)

Olivia entertained our friends Matt, Katie,  John and Heather.  We really didn't end up doing to much but eating too much and enjoying some beverages!! 

Oddly enough, her dress ended up red, white and blue too!!

Olivia learning how to jump rope.



Cheers to a Happy 4th of July!!

 l

Parades and Parks

Having lived in Ankeny for 4 summers now we have never stepped foot in any Summerfest festivities.  This year we decided to head out to the parade.   It was warm, long and enjoyable.  Olivia was loving all the candy being tossed her way.  She came home with a bag full.

Looking for a great spot to sit.

Waving to the firemen.

Hey Mommy, I have lots of candy!!



On 4th of July, Josh came home with a new camera.  It is a Nikon Digital SLR.  I have since been wanting to get time to play with it.  We ran out to Saylorville Lake today, so I made poor Olivia my subject!!! (The pictures from the parade are taken with the camera.)