getting ready for the holidays

we started a new tradition this year and went and picked out a LIVE christmas tree. thanks to the Italian American Club our tree lasted for weeeeeeks and had the best smell. funny the first tree we saw was the winner. (this was also about the time my little girls were in mid argument and we had been working on their behaviors with all the holiday excitement...soooo the trip was ended a little grumpy)



VLC christmas concert...the first year just kinsley up there now that her big sister is in first grade. they all did great...so brave to get up in front of a packed church! 


lights at Flesher Farms...our third year coming. 


on the boat to north captiva island for a special photo shoot. unbelievable place and what an adventure being wisked off to a photo shoot with 15 photographers. 


thursdays i get to volunteer in sammy's classroom and help with their reading computer program. this was a group of the girls having lunch as a special treat in their classroom. love seeing their happy smiles. 


and so proud of another season of soccer but this time just girls and with her daddy as the coach. they made great progress and came in 2nd place overall. wow! great teammates!


only a few weeks left with my one-year-old. he's getting so big and loves to make us smile.


gingerbread house making and time to decorate the Elmer tree...what a special night!


one of the most special parts of being a stay-at-home mommy is that i can go to all of the girls' school activities. puts a lump in my throat watching them thrive in their classrooms...so smart and confident and learning so much.  Both girls'  had a class party where they played games and made crafts. 


annual north pole party at kelle's was magical as always. the girls are so full of wonder and joy and seeing them in their pjs all together is so special. this is at the end of the night when kins opened a little singing bird as her gift.


christmas cookie baking at home...not sure why these pics are so yellowish hehe


letters to santa. sammy got a little overwhelmed when she really couldn't think of anything she wanted to ask for. kinsley's letter she dictated exactly and i wrote it for her. they even got letters back from Santa in the mail! i'll never forget on a walk with sammy one afternoon during all of the christmas craziness..she had a hard month of being emotional and uneasy about things. we took a walk, just us, to get some positive vibes and she asked if i thought she was going to be on the nice list for santa. she started crying and said she didn't think she was going to be. oh my sweet baby girl. i said of course you are. it was a lot those weeks in december. looking back i hope i can help things be less stressful for her and for our family next year. 


painting for the first time at a real art studio for their friend, Alana's birthday!!