Part Deux continued...

Finally, it snowed!!!!

Sophie and Zeidi

Sophie and Aunt Marilyn


Avery, Dan, and Maggie

Sophie opening her American Girl Josefina! It was a big surprise.

Ooohhh...it's a batcave!

The winter snowman scene on our mantle.

Our Tree, 2009!

December Festivities- Part Deux

We also had several celebrations during the month of December for Hanukkah and Christmas. We celebrated with Jeremy's moms side of the family at her fiance' Michael's house, we had a celebration her with his dad's side of the family, and the kids loved receiving gifts in the mail from Uncle Charlie and Aunt Cheryl in New York. It's not even Christmas yet and they have been spoiled! Thank you everyone!

We also made Gingerbread Men and celebrated a friends birthday party at a bounce house, Avery was a little nervous but ended up loving it after a while.

December Festivities- Part 1

December festivities started with getting and decorating our tree. It seems the kids are always crabby when we go to pick it out. I don't know if it's the timing, the cold weather, or that they fall asleep on the drive there but they seem to always perk up after when we hit up Taco Bell for lunch or dinner. It is now becoming a tradition!

Royal Oak's Christmas Parade

We were lucky this year, the weather was pretty warm for the parade. The kids had a blast! Sophie came prepared with a bag for candy, just in case she needed it. She also liked seeing some of the neighbor girls in the parade too.

Avery loved the horses and the little race cars that zoomed around the street. It of course ended with Santa, a reindeer, and hot chocolate at Gayle's candy shop across the street.

Barbie Party

Group Shot

Cheers

Lunchtime

Decorating their purses

Happy Birthday!

Dancing with balloons

This year to celebrate Sophie turning 6 we had a Barbie Party! It was just us and 8 girls. Everything turned out great and all the girls had tons of fun. I'm just glad it's now over:) They danced, played Barbie's, decorated purses, made pizzas, did their nails and Barbie tattoos, made doorknob hangers, and played pass the purse! We almost ran out of time. Here are some pictures to show the day!

Fall Fun

Halloween Festivities

The Little Mermaid before Spooktacular

Puppy, Anne Boleyn, and Little Mermaid

Carving Pumpkins

Trick or Treat

Most of the neighborhood before trick or treating on Halloween.

It's a plane!

At trick or trunk with the neighbors

The Little Mermaid

Daddy and Yoda

We had a great Halloween despite the fact that Sophie had croup Halloween night. The kids were able to wear their costumes several times, which is good and bad. Good because the get to wear them but bad since when it comes to Hall oween night they are tired of putting them on.

We were able to go to Spooktacular which is an events downtown Royal Oak puts on for the kids to trick or treat at local businesses during the day. Halloween Hoot where the kids can trick or treat through a wooded trail in a local park, the Halloween parade and trick or trunk at Sophie's school, and lastly Halloween! They had a great time despite being a little under the weather. Avery soon learned that saying trick or treat will get you candy but he made sure to say thank you.


He did have one mishap Halloween night. Standing on a porch with his neighborhood friends he got bumped and did a plunge off the porch into a Japanese Maple bush. I am happy to report that he was fine, no tears were shed, and he never let go off his candy basket or the sucker in his mouth during the fall. He only ended up with some leaves in his candy basket.

Chicago-October 2009

I'm 6!

This weekend we were in Chicago for Jeremy's grandfather's 90th birthday party. The Water guys went to a Cubs game and the ladies went to Navy Pier and an architectural boat ride through Chicago. It was a fun time! Thanks to George and Bette for arranging everything! We also had a lovely dinner and brunch on Sunday morning.

On our way home, we stopped downtown for a bit. Sophie had been trying to earn an American Girl for her birthday. She had earned enough points to get it by the time we went so we were off to the American Girl store. She was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited! She ended up picking out Felicity, which was her favorite. Here are some pictures from our weekend.

The Big Man Turns 2!

Yes, you heard it right, the big guy is now 2! He had a family celebration in Grand Rapids with his birthday buddy Ollie. A few weeks later he celebrated at home with family and friends. He had a monkey theme for his party and loved watching everyone hit the pinata. He, however, wanted nothing to do with it! He is getting so big but is still a little snuggler. He is repeating everything and has such good manners. He almost always says, "please and thank you" when asking for something. He has started singing songs and saying parts of books when he looks at them. Our new favorite game is I will say, "your my sweetheart, and then he says, no, "my sweetheart!" It goes back and forth like this for awhile! Adorable, at least I think so.

Here are some pictures from his big day.

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