Trimming our Tree

Since our December is extremely busy, we decided to take advantage of a low key Thanksgiving weekend and put up our Christmas decorations.  The girls were SO excited to decorate our tree.  They love going through their ornaments and picking out their favorites to find the perfect spot on the tree (which is normally at the very bottom).  Madelyn and Ellie also met the newest addition to our family, Simon the elf.  Grandpa and Vera bought us Elf On A Shelf and when they were in town last week and it has been a hit at our house!  Pictures of Simon to come.

 

Hanging her Rapunzel ornament!

 

Trimming the tree with Daddy after he got home from a day of golfing!

Ellie prefers to decorate Christmas trees with no pants!

Silly Sisters!

The finished product!

Much To Be Thankful For

We are very thankful for our sweet girls, our family near and far, our home, Bill's new job and our network of friends.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day at home with my side of the family.  The food was delicious, the weather was perfect and it was actually a very relaxing holiday.  Here are some photos from our Thanksgiving:

Our Family

Our Sweet Girls

Our sweet 5-year old posing for the camera!

Looking so old in this photo!

The yearly photo of Bill cutting the turkey.  He looks thrilled!

The Kid's Table

The adult table minus my sister and I

Madelyn and I made turkey cookies!

Our yearly family photo requested by Meme!

Preschool Thanksgiving Feast

Since I am a room mother, I was asked to help with Madelyn's preschool Thanksgiving Feast today.  Ellie and I enjoyed being in Madelyn's classroom this morning helping the teachers prepare their special feast. Madelyn's class were dressed as Pilgrims and the other class were dressed as Indians.  The teachers were also really nice by letting Ellie take part in the lunch.  Ellie was in heaven pretending like she was in school.  Here are some pictures from our morning.  I've also included a picture at the end of the girls with a couple of their cousins at the  Pryor Thanksgiving in Goochland on Sunday.  The Thanksgiving festivities have definitely started in our house!

Madelyn the Pilgrim!

Ellie enjoying the BIG feast!

Cute place mat Madelyn made at school!

Madelyn and Ellie with Eli and Luca!

Madelyn turns 5!

On Friday, Madelyn turned 5 and it was a jam packed birthday filled day!  Her birthday was extra special this year because Grandpa and Vera came down for the celebration and spent an extended weekend with us.  We started the day with a pancake breakfast and present opening before heading to preschool.  Grandpa, Vera, Ellie and I went to Madelyn's school during their snack time and did a little party with her class.  In the afternoon, we had a "Little Mermaid" birthday celebration at Pump It Up with 26 kids plus adults and babies.  It was quite the party and Madelyn had a great time!  The kids were absolutely exhausted afterwards and the best part was that the facility did everything and Bill and I were able to enjoy the festivities!  After Pump It Up, family came over for some pizza and more presents.  Needless to say, we were all exhausted from all of our celebrating!   I'll post some more about our sweet, grown-up, and 5-year old Madelyn after her well check-up in a couple of weeks but here are some photos from her 5th birthday celebration:

Madelyn was REALLY excited about her new Tinkerbelle movie from Aunt Erin and Uncle Matt!

Saying grace before her little party at school.  Ellie was so happy to be part of the class during the party!

Singing Happy Birthday!

Very excited to be wearing the "special" birthday glasses!

Love my Big 5 year old.  Can't believe it's been 5 years!

So happy to show Granpda and Vera her classroom!

All ready to leave for her party!

Waiting for the guests to arrive!

Sweet Sisters!  They really do love each other so much!

Hanging out with their good friends, Sophia and Isabella!



Greeting her friends!

Madelyn and her men!

So happy to be in front our all her friends wearing the Birthday crown!

Listening intently at the rules!

Aunt Amy and Josh at the party!

Madelyn loves her cousin Josh!

The birthday girl going down the big slide!

Madelyn and a good friend from school and ballet!

Some of the babies having some fun at the party!

Ellie was having a blast as you can see by her red face!

Madelyn got to go in the cyclone with one family member.  Vera was up for the challenge!

Madelyn with our neighbors!

Madelyn with Grandpa, Vera, Nana and Pop

Madelyn's only request was balloons for decoration!

Ariel and Flounder favors!

The group minus one friend.  Ellie insisted on sitting next to the Birthday girl!





Happy Birthday Madelyn.  She was a little overwhelmed at this point!

What a crowd of kids!

Opening her new legwarmers from Judah!

Very excited about the My Little Pony Castle!

Opening her Unicorn Stompies from Cora!

Showing Aunt Erin and Andrew her new Stompies!

Best Cousins!

Hanging out with Grandpa!

Grandpa the Master Cupcake Icer!