Decorating our Christmas Tree

While I was Christmas shopping today, Jon & the girls decorated our Christmas Tree. I am going to put up the rest of the decorations tomorrow if its the last thing I do! I guess its been a busy week for us. The bottom third of our Christmas tree is bare b/c baby Ansley likes to take off the ornaments. Jon said that he & the girls had a good time. I kind wish I was there but I needed to take advantage of Jon being home so I could shop for the girls by myself. We are so excited for Christmas around here. We're watching Christmas movies, reading Christmas stories, & listening to Christmas music...Its the most wonderful time of the year!

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving this year was fun, busy, & filling! We began our day by driving to my Dad's house in Breckenridge Co. My Aunt Mary Jo & my Dad's girlfriend June made most of the fixins & my Dad roasted the turkey. Jon & I knew we had a 2nd dinner to go to but we just couldn't resist all the food & desserts! We arrived at Barbara & Ordie's house a little early b/c we had got the time mixed up. That ended up being a lucky mistake b/c Jon & I were actually hungry for the 2nd go round. Barbara makes the best sweet potato casserole & Derby Pie. We have enough left over turkey to feed us for next 2 weeks. It was nice spending Thanksgiving with both our families this year!

Madelyn & Travis eating before the adults

The kid table at the Day's house

Ode to Ansley Bear

Ansley looked so darn cute today in her new red sweater outfit. Every time I looked at her, I just wanted to hug her b/c she looked so cuddly today! I bought her this outfit at Gymboree in the Edinburgh outlet mall. She had the same outfit, only in peach, when she was an infant. We absolutely loved it so I couldn't resist getting the red one. I guess I just got to thinking about how much she has grown & changed over the past few months. I mean she'll be 15 months old in December...time is flying by. As I was looking through "old" photos on our computer a few minutes ago, I felt so happy remembering all the fun experiences we've had as a family. But at the same time, I felt kind of sad b/c those days are now just a memory. I'm so grateful for digital cameras & camcorders...I know I am going to cry my eyes out when I watch our home videos in 20 years! Ansley is such a special girl (wow, I said girl, not baby). She loves to play peek-a-boo, jump in place, follow big sister around, play with baby dolls (well examine their facial features), play with instruments & dance, & really loves to wrestle with Daddy on our bed! She can answer our questions now with a head nod yes or no. She loves to talk on her toy phone. One of the cutest things she been doing lately is roaring like a lion cub. Madelyn crawls around the house acting like a big lion & so Ansley imitates Madelyn's roar. Another thing that pulls my heart strings is when Madelyn & Ansley play together, which they are starting to do more often now that Ansley is getting older. She can also throw a mean temper tantrum...she will throw things or drop to the ground when she's upset. With that said, Ansley is super sweet. She gives kisses & hugs & cuddles with me when she's sleepy. I cherish the time I spend with her. I love how her hair curls at the ends. I love how she waddles around the house checking things out. I love how she always has her sippy cup at hand, while trying to sneak sips of Madelyn's drink in the other. I love her chubby cheeks & her beautiful smile. Ansley has been the perfect addition to our family. I am so excited to see her personality blossom more & more throughout the years to come.

Indianapolis Children's Museum

The girls & I drove up to Indianapolis on Thursday to meet Jon. Since IU gave him a free night stay at the Omni Hotel for his interview, we thought the girls would have fun doing something out of the ordinary. On Friday morning, we met up with Aunt Brandi, Harper, Emory, & Logan at the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Madelyn was so excited to see her cousins! Unfortanely she wasn't feeling that great. She had a fever the night before & it crept back that morning. None the less, Madelyn still had a fun time! The museum has a great kid zone area but Madelyn's favorite exhibit was the dinosaurs! It featured real dinosaur skeletons, a pretend fossil dig, dinosaur figurines to play with on a activity table, scientists cleaning real dinosaur bones (Harper's favorite part :), & loud dinosaur "roars" echoing through the room. Ansley really enjoyed the kid zone area b/c she got to splash around at the water table, play at the sand table, & crawl around in a baby maze!! I can't wait to take the girl's back!

Gingerbread House

While we were at Target last week, Madelyn noticed a gingerbread house kit. She has been asking about gingerbread houses after seeing one on Baby Einstein Santa. My plan was to make it after Thanksgiving, but Madelyn was very persistent...she asked me several times each day! After 3 days of asking me non stop, I gave in to her plea. The kit made it nice & easy to build. It came with the gingerbread cookies, icing, candy, & a tray. Madelyn really enjoyed decorating the house & sampling the icing & candy. I have to admit...I enjoyed it too! I hope to make one of these each Christmas with the girls!!

Paw Paw's Photo Shoot

On Sunday morning, we went to Paw Paw & Maw Maw Day's house for a photo shoot. Its a nice set up over there...not only does Ordie have a professional grade camera, but he has lights & a back drop as well. While Ordie snaps the pictures, Barbara tries to get the girls to smile & look into the camera. Jon & I are usually on stand by, making sure the girls don't run off the "set" or touch the hot lights. Its so nice to have a photographer in the family...I think the pictures turned out great!

incredible DAVE'S

Jon, Madelyn, Ansley, & I went to Incredible Dave's this evening. They have inflatables, games, a climbing maze, Euro bungee, bumper cars, bowling, & video game rooms. There's also a restaurant, bar, & a band. Its basically like Las Vegas for kids! The electronic games reminded me of slot machines with the bright lights & sounds. There was only 1 inflatable Ansley could go on. Jon took her into the climbing maze as well. Madelyn had fun but got hurt a couple of times. It was to crowded for a 3 & 1 year old tonight. If we go back, it will be during the week when hardly anyone is there. You know those games where you try to grab a toy with the electronic claw, using a joystick? Well, we snatched up 4 rubber duckies! Its always nice when you can leave with a souvenier! We decided to leave after Madelyn got hurt for the 2nd time (her only nap was on the way to Salsarita's). We were there for about an hour & a half.


On a side note, Madelyn was so cute during bed time tonight. Jon & I were watching a movie & Madelyn kept coming out of her room saying she was scared. I asked her what she was scared of, & she said lions. I brought her toy lions out of her room so that she would go to sleep. She decided she wanted to bring all of her cat toys out of her room so she wouldn't be scared any more. She did go to sleep after all the scary cat toys were out of her room. Whatever works!