Christmas Part 3: Michigan

Our Michigan trip was a great time. Santa came on christmas eve, then we spent christmas day with Mark's family and the kids got to play with their cousins. I squeezed in some time with my girlfriends and their kids and even had TWO kid free dinners out! I never thought I would be the one to dress the girls in matching clothes, but I find my self "coordinating" their outfits quite often! Oh and Harlow fell on the driveway, even though there was NO snow, hence the scabbed up face.

It was christmas of snowboarding gear for Mark

my fav "coordinating" outfits and H with her dress up earrings

The girls!

new baby cousin

Christmas part 2: The elves came

We left for michigan on a friday night. I took the day off work and the girls had preschool. We wanted to have a little christmas at our house before we left, so we told Harlow that "the elves" were going to come while she was at school and fill up her stocking. They brought her and Violet some little things for them to do in the car and a new movie (The Little Mermaid). I also got Harlow new (Frozen) pajamas. The girl LOVEs to wear pjs. We were planning an overnight drive so I wearing PJs in the car is something special. Also on our doorstep that day appeared her gift from Uncle Taylor and Aunt Sarah. A play tent! The girls loved it and we are now basically rearranging our whole upstairs around it :-). Of course Harlow's very favorite gift was a candy necklace.

We had to wait for Mark to finish a christmas gig before we could leave so we watched Little Mermaid and I let Harlow fall asleep in the living room by the christmas tree. At about 9pm, Mark and I carried the two sleeping girls into the car and off we went. Overnight driving is definitely the way to go! That is only though if you have the advantage of a seasoned road tripping (because of past bicycle racing) husband.

Christmas Part 1: Going to see Santa

I can not express how simply great christmas is with little ones. Harlow really got into Santa this year and of course presents. When it came to actually sitting on his lap though...that was another story.

Thanksgiving

I have a bunch of photos from christmas this year, but figured I would update with thanksgiving first. We had a great weekend with my whole family visiting for the weekend and My aunt, uncle and grandma coming from South Carolina for the day.  The food was fabulous (thanks mom and dad!) Bowling has become our new Black Friday tradition since this family HAS to have a competition. Bowling is good because the kids can be involved and the weather doesn't matter (plus no injuries like the Flag Football of years past).

Christmas Card Photo outtakes

I decided I wanted the christmas card photo to be in their christmas pjs this year. We got some great professional photos taken, but they were mostly of the whole family or the girls individually (they were impossibly crazy at that photo shoot, at one point Harlow tackled Violet in the mud). And honestly, who wants to see pictures of US, they just want to see the girls. It is impossible to get them both to look and smile! I ended up getting THE photo by blowing in their faces..and boom, smiles, but I had to be quick. I really admire all those professional photogs out there.

Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year. Harlow was pumped up all week to go trick or treating. When the day finally came, she walked right up to people's houses and YELLED Trick or Treat! But then when it was time to say thank you, she would say "tank you" so quiet! The day after, Harlow and I went to a halloween party and of course she wanted to be Daisy instead of Minnie "like Violet". So we just put on a purple dress she had and used Violet's nose from the night before.  Violet also had a second costume since it was a little cold out for her Daisy dress. Best Pinterest tip for Minnie, putting yellow socks over shoes (cause who owns yellow shoes?)