Stuff we did for the Holidays!

Ok , ok time for me to stop procastinating and post some holiday pictures. We all enjoyed our last Christmas in Florida. The weather was great 70s even days in the 80s due to record highs. Here is a rundown of some of the fun we had.

I took Madison to the Miami City Ballets Nutcraker. She got a little bored near the end but I sure enjoyed it :) The theater is on the river and after the show we got to see some boats decked out for the holidays.

Every year we have gone to a live nativity put on by a local Baptist church. They have all live animals including a camel. I wish it could be a yearly tradition but of course this was our last time.

I went ice skating for the first time ever and amazed myself by never falling on my behind. The ever persistent, tough and athletic Madison stayed on the ice the whole 2 1/2 hours. That girl picked herself up every time she fell, even after cutting her hand on her skate she got a band-aid and headed right back out. By the end of the night she was skating short distances without the help of the kiddy walker. Her motto is (and she really does say this) "I never give up I just keep trying"

We spent Christmas eve with great friends (forgot my camera) and spent so much time taking video and skyping on Christmas day that I never took a picture. oops! We hope all our friends and family had a wonderful holiday season and are grateful you are in our lives.

Flowers

I have to tell you about my sweet girly Madison. She went grocery shopping with Mike and on the way home asked if she could buy mom some flowers (all her idea) She loves giving gifts and surprising people. For example at school when they turn in their homework they get to choose something out of the "treasure box" she often picks something out for her sister. Kind of reminds me of my sister. Anyway a couple days later when I told her how much I loved my flowers she replied, "My pleasure" I don't know where she learned to say that, what a sweetie pie.

Madisons 5th Birthday!

For Madisons b-day this year we took her and her girlfriends out for a movie. It was to fun watching these girls jam out to Hannah Montana in the car.
We got VERY lucky and ended up being the only ones in the theater. I got to throw the "no talking during the movie" rule out the window. They got to laugh and chat and be silly, it was great!

"CHEERS"

Before Madison blew out her candles I heard her whisper her wish, that she could love her friends forever. So cute (and a little sad) we will miss everybody. I feel so blessed that I get to watch Madison grow up and turn into such a confident, charismatic, wonderful little person.
(keep scrolling for ms. Lily beans b-day)

Lily's 2nd Birthday!

My poor sweet Lily spent her 2nd birthday with a fever and an ear infection. Cake and presents definitely cheered her right up!

Giving herself a shot in the cheek with her new doctor kit

"HI,HO" baby doll

O.k. so even though she is wearing the same shirt this was taken on a different day. I just can't resist :)

Hooray for Grandparents!

My awesome parents came to visit us last week and make life wonderful for 6 days. The girls were in love as usual and Mike and I especially enjoyed the date nights we had. Most of all it was nice to have family around and be together before the holidays. We had a traditional early Thanksgiving dinner, went toy shopping, walked the beach at sunset, took an airboat ride in the everglades, and took the girls to the park.

Air boat ride in the everglades

After the boat ride you get an alligator wrestling show. I guess this guy has a show on animal planet called Gator Boys. One of the few alligator wrestlers I have seen with all his fingers!

Thanks mom and dad for curing us all of our home sickness before the holidays! We love you!

Spanish Class

Yesterday on the way to school Madison asked me how to say Purple in "special English"

Halloween

Halloween was super fun this year! We went to a neighborhood near our place. Most of the houses were decorated really fun. Another fun thing about trick or treating in Florida is that the weather is nice so most people set up lawn chairs on their drive way and hand out candy. A few people had grills out and one house even took their T.V. outside to watch the game. It has been the hottest Oct. ever! We have had record highs all month long, high 80's but with the humidity feels like 90's. I'm pretty sure this is our last Halloween that we will be dying of heat while trick or treating.

Lily looked sooo cute. My favorite part was her big dangly clip on earrings. She even kept them on all night.

Lily and her best bud at our wards trunk or treat.

I went to Madison's Halloween party at her school. (She had already changed out of her costume when I took these pics.) Madison talks about these two seater trikes at her school all the time. Madison's teacher hoped on for a ride. We love Ms. Mary :)

Costume parade