It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

....and we are so very excited!!! Last Monday after work, we ordered pizzas and my brother and sister came over. We had a picture appointment to get pictures of the three of us together for my parents for Christmas. They turned out beautiful and I think my mom will probably cry! It ended up being a rough night with my princess puking a few times.

Needless to say, she stayed home with daddy on Tuesday and got to have chicken noodle soup, popsicles, and play memory and candyland. She put another rough night in on Tuesday night, but was better in the morning.

We had family Christmas card pictures Wednesday afternoon and I absolutely love our card and family photos, but unfortunately, we didn't get any decent ones of the kids together. (Connor cried and fussed during the whole session)

Mike had a test for a potential job up north in our hometown on Thursday, so he took Connor with him to his parents' house after we had pictures done. I pray to God that he gets called for an interview very soon. He is a math genius, so hopefully his skills will help him get the job.

Friday after work, Bel and I drove to meet him and Connor at his parents' house. My mother-in-law and I did some last minute shopping and I ended up finding a few more books and a Dora movie.

Saturday, we went to my mom's and baked lots of cookies again. At work on Monday, we are having a Christmas potluck, so my mom made a nice little tray for me to bring with all the stuff we made. Later that night, we wrapped presents for hours. Bella liked pressing the tape down, putting the gift tags on, and putting the presents under the tree. She sure is my little helper!

Today was her Christmas program at Church. She was an angel and a sheep. We promised her a barbie and to go to lunch at pizza hut if she did a good job and cooperated. She did an amazing job and didn't want it to be over :) There was even a little donkey costume for Connor, so he liked to stand in the middle of the church and look cute ;) I am so glad that I got some cute pictures of this great experience.

Bella is 3 !!!!!!!

I had a short work week for the first week of December, thanks to my sweet little girl's 3rd birthday :) On Thursday morning when she woke up, she saw that her "elf on the shelf" had put three pink candles on her birthday donut. She was in awe! She had her three year portraits in the afternoon, and poor thing wasn't feeling the greatest, but we still got some cute shots. While we were waiting for pictures, we headed over to build-a-bear. Of course she picked out a pink unicorn. (yes, everything HAS to be pink) She named her "Little Pony" and had a blast giving her "a bath." Then she wanted a happy meal, so we went to the food court and the kids had McDonalds. I am not a fan of fast food other than taco bell, so this is considered a treat ;)

Both kids napped for a bit when we got home, and then I brought out the cake I made for her and her 21 year candle. For supper we went to Olive Garden because that is her favorite place to eat. I am pretty sure she had a fantastic birthday!

Friday, I left work early because we had tickets to the Polar Express train ride! We got the kids (and us) in jammies and drove to Green Bay. It was such a neat experience and we hope to do it again when Connor is a bit older. Bella loved going to the "North Pole" on the train and seeing Santa afterwards. Both kids had so much fun!

Since my inlaws had to be out of town for the weekend, we decided to have my family get together with us and celebrate Bella's birthday. We had a princess party for her and it was alot of fun with alot of presents! My mom made her the princess cake. I thought it was so neat and so sweet of her to spend 9 hours making it special :) She got alot of games, so we had a blast playing hungry hungry hippos, candy land, and chutes and ladders! For each birthday, my mom makes a cut-out cookie of the number of their birthdate. It's still so hard and bittersweet to hear "THREE YEARS OLD!"

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Monday, December 7th, we decorated our tiny little tree. Since we aren't here for Christmas, we had a tiny one cut. Connor undecorates it anyway, so we are glad it's not big and can fall on him.

Wednesday, we were supposed to have our family Christmas pictures taken but I cancelled due to a snow storm. So glad I did, because we had a nice day lounging around in our jammies. Bella and I made her first gingerbread house but I forgot to put my memory card in my camera when I was taking pictures! :(

Friday, we headed to my parents' as usual. Mike headed to camp since deer season is just about finished and we made another gingerbread house. My mom definately has more talent than I do at this ;) Saturday morning, my friend Mandy came over with her husband and kids for a quick visit since they happened to be in town. Bella made gingerbread cookies with grammy and played with her buddy, Madison. Later that afternoon, we went outside to play in the snow.

Sunday, after she got back from church, we went to grandma Fran's for the day. The kids played and read books, and then after supper, we headed back home.

Thanksgiving week

After work on Tuesday, we went to the Christmas parade in Appleton on our way to my parents' house for the week. The parade usually has 80,000 people who attend, so needless to say, we could barely see anything.

Thanksgiving Day, we went to the inlaws for our big family meal. Bella was so excited to see her cousins. We had a great time visiting everyone and eating turkey. The younger cousins had their own table set up. After too much turkey, they were tired out so they laid in grandma Fran's bed and watched the 'Santa Buddies' movie. Before dark, the younger cousins wanted to go to the park to feed the deer. Of course my kids eat the apples instead of feeding them to the deer first ;)

Later that night, we went back to my parents' and my mom, me, and the kids did some baking. Both kids love being on the table to help. We made chocolate pretzels with m&m's and they were so yummy. My mom got the kids an 8 foot snowman for the yard but let it be in the living room for the week ;)

Friday morning I went black Friday shopping by myself. I found some cool stuff, and more than I thought I would. The kids are officially done, other than their big gift that I still have to order! They had a relaxing morning with grammy and made some peppermint candycane cookies. Auntie got to come home later that night so we were all excited to see her!

Saturday, we took the kids to have breakfast with Santa and see the reindeer. I was so proud that my little girl wasn't afraid of Santa this year!!! My mom got the kids a special Christmas book that she records each page with her voice. Bella's face was priceless as she opened the book to hear grammy's voice :)

We spent the rest of the day baking. We made truffles and bon bons, and although it was alot of work and big mess, I loved the quality time I got to spend with my mom and sister together. We made homemade pizzas for supper and had a couple of my mom's friends over to eat and hang out. It was a really fun night!

Sunday, Bella and grammy went to church and Sunday school while me and my sister took Connor and went shopping. We picked up Mike after he was done at camp and came back and got ready for my family's Thanksgiving after popps and uncle Sammy came home around noon. Over the week, we played countless games of memory with Bella. She was happy when daddy came home and they could "win the telephones!" The last Thanksgiving supper was yummy!