almost one AND the start of Christmas magic

around here we have an almost one year old...and wow... is it fun. her little personality is so funny and new and all the exploring she can do walking everywhere. even though she's petite and it seems IMPOSSIBLE that a almost a whole year has gone by....there is no denying our newborn has grown up before our eyes. i'm trying to soak in these precious days and remember just how sweet her little baby ways are. her funny faces and baby babbles, how she holds the shampoo bottle...pats it on her hand...and rubs it on her hair in the bath, how strong she is walking and playing and carrying things all at the same time, her ever-changing appetite...one day a whole bunch of avocado, the next only toast. how she laughs at her sister and asks for milks all of the time. loving my almost-one-year-old so much.

her latest game....close the door and play peekaboo or call out MAMA and DADA until we open the door

her new polkadot big girl chair from her grammy...an early first birthday present that she adores

best buds

walking and walking and more walking...

party planning central over here....ribbon and yarn and baking supplies....counting down until the big party!

it sure is FUN to be almost ONE

its the beginning of december and our calendar is full of plans. we started this holiday season like every other year with lots of parties and celebrations. we are feeling blessed to be apart of a family that loves to celebrate together and make memories. i love to show samantha and kinsley the magic of christmas and there is nothing i love more than the holidays with my girls...seeing it through their eyes and seeing them so happy. let the fun begin.....

happy engagement party to my TWO cousins...a joint engagement party that was a huge success. Ian and Carolynn, Lauren and Phil....you guys are going to have an amazing wedding year, congrats!

we LOVE Elmo! what a special morning with her grammy and grandpa tom and her cousins and tia and uncle e....



ps. pretty sure these two toddlers ate MORE popcorn here than ever before in their life...hehehe

an annual tradition of gingerbread house decorating at my friend amy's house. she goes all out to make it special for all the little girls (and big girls). sammy takes her decorating very seriously with her concentrating face and a little help from her mimi. we played and had a story read by the older girls too. the girls loved every minute. and her gingerbread house is on big-time display at our house. samantha is so proud.

another christmas outing.....the annual picture with santa claus. not at the top of the manring girls' most favorites list but still fun. (sort of) no line...whew....pretty new snowflake dresses from mimi...thanks...and a bribe to get sprinkle ice cream afterwards....check.

thanks santa for being so patient....

samantha was very brave and got up her courage to whisper what she wanted most for Christmas...

recovering from the ordeal....



nothing a little ice cream and a carriage ride can't fix....yay!

kinsley's FIRST ice cream...can you tell she liked it?

and we ended our festive week with a trip to the north pole. the magic of christmas was EVERYWHERE this night at my friend kelle's house that was transformed into the real north pole. (i'm convinced) we went wearing cozy jammies and slippers and left covered in glitter and sugar with BIG BIG smiles. the look on samantha's face that night i will never forget. this was christmas magic and childhood exactly. check out her blog for her pictures that night...thanks Kelle!

all the girls before we left....love how excited they all got...dancing and singing and taking it all in

back at home and not wanting the party to end...

goodnight everyone....sweet holiday dreams!