Santa Found Our House!

The kids FINALLY went to sleep Christmas Eve! They were both so excited and keyed up after a fun and busy evening. Audrey slept until 8:00 and Abby until 8:30 Christmas morning. They had a lot of fun playing with everything Santa brought. The day was great! The four of us stayed home ALL day in our pajamas. We played, ate and napped the whole day....very nice!

All the lot before the girls got to it

Audrey looking at one of her new games

Abby with her backpack

Both girls playing

Abby got this Dora chair and began to enjoy it immediately

Audrey checkin out Abby's chair while wearing her new tu-tu and "big girl" tennis shoes

Abby getting Audrey's nose while piled in the bed with Dora (she's big enough to be another child)

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was nice. In the late afternoon, Andrew, Ashley and Madeline came by to visit. Ashley and I made a last minute trip to Wal Mart (yes, crazy) and left the kids with the boys. When we got home, Caleb proudly showed me the pictures he took while we were gone. All three of these silly girls were in Abby's crib!
For dinner, we had LiLi and Mr. Curtis over. Caleb cooked our dinner (turkey, dressing and gravy, corn/green bean casserole) except for the sweet potatoes (made by LiLi). It was all delicious!!

Our tradition, is to let the kids open one or two gifts on Christmas Eve from us and then get their Santa gifts the next morning. LiLi happened to have a couple of gifts for us, too.

Audrey showing her new pj's (don't you love the outfit she chose for the evening??).

Abby trying on her new kitty cat shoes from LiLi

As usual, I tried to get a picture of them together, and as usual, it did not quite work. I wanted a cute picture of them in their matching pj's. Below you will see my attempts, neither worked! Regardless, it was a very nice evening.

Sweet Friend

I am a little behind on my posts. Please forgive me!!

My sweet friend Jan and her precious boys boys Landen and Lawson came over to visit Tuesday night and give the girls Christmas gifts. Audrey got a clock puzzle and Abby got a ballerina puzzle. Both were big hits with the girls!

Jan is such a sweet friend. We have known each other FOREVER, but did not become friends until we both started working at MCH. She and I started working there on the same day in 2002. We have been great close friends since then. I really believe that the Lord placed Jan in my life for many reasons. We often joke that it is so sad we didn't become friends years ago when we were in school because we really missed out on a lot of fun times!

Audrey, Jan and Landen
Audrey and Landen

Sweet Lawson

The Little Fashionista

A keen sense of fashion....knowing how to pull off a look...being comfortable in your own skin...not concerned with what others think...Allow me to introduce Audrey.

The following pictures are of Audrey before we left the house this morning. Although I am off of work this week, the girls went to Shelly's today so that I could finish the Christmas shopping (and selfishly have a day to myself).

She chose the clothes (down to the socks and shoes) and I allowed ehr to wear them. I crack up when I look at thises pictures. Hopefully, you will too.

Strike a pose
I look so good I don't even have to open my eyes

The socks and shoes are my favorite part of the outfit.

This child is a MESS!!! You never know what she will say or do. One of the many reasons I love her.

James Family Christmas

Tonight the James family gathered at Uncle Noel's and Aunt Carol's house to celebrate Christmas. We had a great time, although, we missed the family members that could not be there. Now that the kids (my generation) are grown and have families of their own, it is hard for us all to be together. Of course, there is never a dull moment with little ones around. Madeline was there along with Audrey and Abby. It is so much fun to have the babies together (we missed Caleb, Cade, Emma and Jack, though).

I posted A LOT of pictures because I thought they were all so cute. Get ready!

Madeline, possibly the sweetest baby on the planet

Caleb and Abby

Audrey reading one of her new books

Abby playing

Uncle Bobby reading to Audrey

Abby playing with the rocking horse before she broke it (sorry Aunt Carol)


Honey reading to Audrey

Abby playing with John (Elisha's "significant other")

Abby resting on her daddy


Madeline playing

We enjoyed a fun night with the family and look forward to many more family gatherings!!

Audrey the Dancer

Today Audrey's dance class had a "demonstration" for the parents. They were all so cute. Unfortunately, Caleb was not able to see the show. Instead, he was with Abby in the lobby. Bless her little heart, she just wanted to dance with the big girls! It was cute for about 2 minutes, but we finally had to remove her from the studio!!



Audrey may have a future on the stage. She was a little shy for the ballet portion, but she was cuttin a rug when it came to tapping. They also tumble, but they didn't do that tonight.

All in all, it was a successful demonstration. Audrey especially loved hanging out with her buddy, Charlee. The last picture is the two of them together.

TAG---------I'M IT!!!!

My Aunt Lora tagged me (after she had been tagged) to post the 4th picture from the 4th folder of My Pictures. Look to your left and you will see it.

This sweet picture was taken of Audrey at her end of the year school party. Her class went to a classmate's and had a pool party. They also happened to have a HUGE arc for the kids. Pretty neat, huh?

Caleb took this picture because he went along to the party. I didn't go because I had a meeting or some such nonsense to attend to at work. Caleb really is a precious dad and does WAY more than other dads I know. He LOVES his kids and LOVES spending time with them. I really did get a good one. Hopefully, he will continue to put up with me over the years!!!

As a side note, Caleb and I finally went shopping today. We are 95% finished with the Christmas shopping and we are still speaking to one another. I would call it a good day.

Not Very Smart

Well, I was not very smart today. I took both girls to Target and Abby had not napped. Thank goodness LiLi was with us.......she was very helpful! Audrey and Abby love their LiLi and it had been about a week and a half (that is long for us) since we had seen her. Audrey requested we all go to Target together. Isn't she a little bit young to already love Target?? Abby actually didn't get fussy until the check-out line (thankfully). She slept on the way home and I left Audrey at LiLi's so they could have some "private time" as Audrey said.

Before we left, I wanted to get a few pictures of the girls in their precious Christmas shirts that Mrs. Shelly (our wonderful babysitter) made for them. Of course, neither would cooperate and by the time I gave up, I think I might have had a bit of rage built up inside me and sweat on my brow. I agree that is RIDICULOUS! But I just don't understand why they can't sit on the hearth (or as Audrey calls it the Grouchy) and smile at the camera.....if only it were that easy!!

Below are the pictures, but of course, you cannot see their shirts. Thanks, girls!

Audrey's New Pet....Rudolph

Last year during Christmas, we went out to Aunt Lora and Uncle Bobby's house to visit and for Camille, Adam and Gabe to see the girls. We arrived the Four Seneys and left the Four Seneys and Rudolph.

Rudolph was/in a Christmas decoration. I think the Conville's put their Christmas cards in him (he is a basket of sorts). Audrey fell in love with him and somehow managed to bring him home (with permission, of course). I know Rudolph has been around a while, because we (growing up) had the same Rudolph as far back as I can remember. I don't know where he is now.

Well, this year, Audrey fell in love with him all over again. Friday evening afte dance class, she decided she needed to take care of him.

Audrey (doing a "dance pose" ) with Rudolph

Audrey and her daddy feeding Rudolph supper (broccoli)

Audrey washing his antlers (one is missing - she explained that he loses antlers like kids lose teeth)

Audrey pointing to his "dirty" tail

Audrey and Rudolph "sleeping"

P.S. Thanks for the advice, Aunt Lora!! I exercised tonight after about a one week break and feel much better!!!!

I AM TIRED

I am tired. I know that is boring, but that is all I have to say tonight. If anyone has any energy to send this way, please do!!!

Actually, I know what I need to do to get out of my rut, but I just don't want to do it!!

Here are some pictures of our precious girls. Enjoy!

Almost Done!

The tree is almost done! I know, it should not take this long to decorate our tree, but we are going at a slow pace. Audrey has really enjoyed helping this year. So, we hang a few each night together before bedtime. Because tomorrow is Saturday, I'm sure we will finish!

Surprisingly, Abby has not even messed with the tree. She has taken an interest in some of the other decorations around the house. Below you will see her playing with Santa in his sleigh and Rudolph.

Aunt Lora, I know you recognize Rudolph. Both girls LOVE him!! Abby tries to ride on him and Audrey has taken to feeding, bathing and putting him to bed (very funny - I will write about that tomorrow).

After Audrey got home from dance class tonight, she wanted to do some "dance poses" in front of the tree. She never passes up the opportunity to ham it up for the camera!!

Decorating the Tree

We are slowly decorating the tree. We are always on the go without a lot of extra time, so we do it when we can. I think we will be finished tomorrow.

Audrey is VERY into the tree this year. She is having so much fun putting the ornamnets on the tree. She gets more excited with each ornament she pulls out of the box.

Audrey showing off her "hanging" skills

Abby is obviously not as interested in the tree. Instead she decided to watch Dora. This child LOVES Dora. I know watching tv is not the best thing for her to be doing, but it really is helpful when I am trying to get things done (like decorate the tree).

Audrey showing off the ornament she was given last year at school. Notice Abby is the background. Can you tell what she is about to do?

Silly Abby pulled her pants down! She is so good she didn't take her eyes off of Dora once!!

We love our precious silly girls!

Thanksgiving Holiday in Pictures

The holiday has come and gone and now we are trying to recover and get back into the routine of things. This morning was rough on all four of us, but we made it!

Enjoy the pictures.

Cinderella and Snow White (aka Audrey and Emma)

Jack, Emma, Madeline, Honey and Audrey. Who's missing......???

Abby!! She still likes to do her own thing.

Abby was not happy at Mom's Friday night

Audrey, Madeline, Emma and Jack. Again, who is missing? If you want to know why she is not in this picture, look at the above picture for the answer.

We celebrated Christmas early at Mom's. Hungry, Hungry Hippo was quite a hit!

Abby tried to sleep in our bed tonight, but her trick didn't work.

Caleb got the tree put up tonight, but we were too tired to decorate it, so we will tomorrow night. Audrey didn't mind if it was decorated or not, she just wanted to pose in front of the tree.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A NICE WEEK!