A Picture a Day 2...

December 6: Too good and too funny not to share (at least we tried!)




December 7th: Fun with Play Dough and cookie cutters


December 8th: My never ending battles


December 9th: Stamp-Mania


December 10th: Little Lilah love

A picture a day...

December 1: Our Advent Calendar

December 2: With Friends at Boston Commons Tree Lighting

December 3: Getting the Christmas Tree



December 4: Daddy reading the Christmas Story from the Advent Calendar


December 5: Our new winter reality

Aaralyn

My sweet Aaralyn.

She is 3 1/2 now. Has a sense for the dramatic (she leads the drama department in our house) Her very favorite color is purple..and she will tell you EVERY time she sees something purple.

And when I say she is a sweetie, I mean it.

She is kind and considerate and genuinely concerned about those around her.
I have to be careful what she sees and is exposed to for she takes it all so seriously.

She is also my little encourager.

Last week I got her up from her "not-nap" and she asked me what I was doing. I told her I was doing laundry. She the gasped and gave me a hug and in her most appreciative, dramatic voice (have I mentioned she is dramatic?) she said, "Oh, Mommy! Thank you for cleaning all of our clothes!!" and then after seeing her purple dress (have I mentioned she loves purple?) exclaims, "Ah!! My purple dress is clean! Thank you, Mommy!"

Nothing like that for a Momma ears!!

She is also funny and likes to laugh.

She loves her sister Elise and her friends.
Alanna and Aaralyn get along so very well. It is cute to watch!

She loves, loves, loves her baby sister. I would guess she gives her 50 kisses a day. She ALWAYS wants to help out and is very sweet to her. Whenever Lilah cries, Aaralyn is the first by her side (and does a great job of soothing her too!) She is incredibly gentle with her and never seems to be bothered by any screaming. I knew she loved babies, but I never dreamed she would be so wonderful with her new sister. I am thinking (and praying!) that they will have a special bond all throughout their lives.

As I tell Aaralyn: "Lilah is soooo blessed to have a big sister like you!"

Elise

Elise turned 2 on October 30th. Still can't believe a year ago we were celebrating her first birthday. So much has happened this year that it seems so long ago, but yet somehow it seems like yesterday too. Strange how that works.

We call Elise our Little Stinker for she keeps us on our toes. She is very funny and likes to make us laugh. There are many times I have to hold back laughter as we get on to her because she is so stinkin' cute...and she knows it!! She is a little copy cat and does whatever Aaralyn does. It is pretty cute, but it gets her into trouble sometimes. She speaks very well for her age and is quite expressive when she talks. (really that means she is pretty dramatic) She loves, loves, loves to sing and makes up nonsense songs all the time...which she sings at one volume...LOUD. She is getting quite proficient at aggravating her sister, and seems to know all the right buttons to push. She loves her though and does not like to be without her. And they make great playmates...one of the many great things about having them so close in age. She is still a momma's girl and loves to snuggle up in my lap. I cannot imagine our lives without our little Leesie!!

Here are some pictures of her birthday party:

Sister love :)

She is sweet as sugar!

Oooooo...candles!!

She did a great job blowing them out...I was surprised!

Alanna and Nora enjoying the fun


Cutie Cole

Elise LOOOOOOVED her cupcakes!

Opening her present from her sister first :)

The girls are really into Strawberry Shortcake. Like REALLY into them.
So we got Elise a remote controlled Strawberry Shortcake car. Super cute.

After presents, the girls got together to color in the new Strawberry Shortcake books

Lilah made an appearance for a bit, only 2 weeks old

A few of the wonderful guests that came to the party


I love the face of my friend Hope :)

And finally we got together for a family pic

So thankful for all who came to celebrate, but especially MiMi and Pappy who made their visit to meet the new baby coincide with Elise's birthday. I am very glad we were able to have such special family at her party!