Christmas Part 4~ Christmas with friends!

We celebrated our fourth and final Christmas with our besties Davy and Nette Friday night. It's a fun tradition we started that Rea has grown to love....and us too!  As usual, we had plenty of good eats and tasty drinks...  Such a fun night with friends!


A competitive game of Jenga to start off our festivities...

Rea loves her honorary Uncle and Auntie...

A new yoga mat! Rea loved it!

Kids yoga DVD- I see lots of yoga fun in our future...

Such a fun wine name!

And with that... Christmas 2014 is a wrap!

Firsts

Reagan has been asking me for some time to go ice skating. Not being the coordinated type, I was balking at the thought of putting on ice skates and trying to maneuver the ice while holding onto her... Then Nette came to the rescue and said she would love to take Rea ice skating! 

Reagan was pretty hesitant at first... after about 10 minutes she declared, "I love ice skating mommy!" Success!  She ended up skating for 30 minutes and did really great holding on to the railing and even branching out in free skate with Nette. A fun time for sure! And who knows, maybe next time I'll even try the skates!

Since the forecast called for chilly temps, we decided to schedule Reagan's first (full blown) pedicure afterwards to warm us up.  She thought it was so fun and giggled through the whole thing.... she had a gift certificate to use from her birthday.  A special treat!

They said Reagan did such a great job that they did her fingernails for free. Rea was ecstatic!

Such a fun girls day!

Christmas Part 3

We spent Christmas afternoon at Andy's parents house. Such a nice, relaxing day...the perfect end to our Christmas celebration. 

Reagan was so excited to open her (many times requested!) Barbie pool and Barbies from her cousins...

So thankful to spend the holidays with family!

Christmas Part 2~ Merry Christmas!

Reagan was so excited for Santa to come this year... she kept trying to convince me she needed to meet him in person, you know, to properly thank him for her gift. Sweet notion but not going to happen. I read the real Christmas story to her on Christmas eve and we talked about what it means to celebrate Jesus' birthday. 

Putting out cookies and milk for Santa:

Modeling her new Christmas Pjs that she wanted to wear all of 5 minutes...still adorable though!

It was so fun to see her reaction on Christmas morning...she started shaking when she saw her Barbie house. Definitely worth the 4 plus hours of labor love we poured into putting it together.  Andy wins daddy of the year award for his mastery.

Checking out her stocking loot...

2014 Family shot...

As I reflect on this Christmas season I'm reminded once again how truly lucky and fortunate we are... family and friends to love, a warm home, plenty of food and prayers of thanks.  Merry Christmas to all!  God bless!

Wordless Wednesday~ A visit to Santa's Winter Wonderland!

More Christmas fun!

We have been busy with all things Christmas!!

I got this recipe from my sis in law and it was a hit at our white elephant gift exchange at work! Bonus points for being easy too!

 White Trash-
8 cups fruit loops
1 bag pretzels
1 bag MnM's
1 package almond bark

Melt the almond bark and mix all together.

Elfie's been busy...

Our annual Girls Night Out Ornament Exchange!

Reagan made the cutest Christmas craft at school:

Christmas baking!  My friend Jen and I conquered a long list of goodies...

Reagan and I hosted our besties yesterday for a Christmas baking marathon... My first time attempting to make taffy. It did not go so well... wonder if there is a special process for having it come out okay? It was still fun and I loved seeing Rea's face as she was working with the taffy!


Making Grinch's!

Her first taffy making experience...

Who's been eating the frosting?!

Milk break with her favorite lil coffee cup...

Jolly Holiday Lights!  Rea had her friend Ava over for a sleepover and we took advantage of 1/2 price Monday's... the girls had fun looking at the lights but more fun I think giggling in the backseat!

Santa's back-up vehicle made a visit to the neighborhood!  Andy's parent's know the owner and arranged for a visit from the Christmas truck, much to Rea's delight!

I can't believe Christmas is only 2 days away... I hope everyone is enjoying the season!