Holy Moly It's Christmas Eve!

  We continue to have lots to do to fill up our time.  We thought it would be a lot more flexible  but the events are keeping us busy and I have been sick again.  But we try and always make time to have dinner with Nana and Papa. It is so wonderful having them so close and seeing such a great bond.

We also went up and met some friends staying at the animal kingdom lodge.  We were not too impressed with the food selection, but the view was amazing.  See the crowned crane right behind Sam?

And how close that giraffe is!

We also went to the place Sam takes ballet, it is like a local YMCA called Kelly Rec, for Santa pics.

There have been several PALS parties.  I hosted the big kid gift exchange and attended the toddler one.  I also went to an ornament exchange.  I also hosted a favorite things party.  Everyone brought 5 favorite things $5 or under and we randomly exchanged them.  It was a little bit complicated, but I learned better ways to do it and we had such fun.  Good food and wonderful friends.  It was a packed event!

Zoey loves accessories now too.

We went to the light event at a local church. They have lots of picture opportunities.  Sam still loves super heroes.  A friend brought her kids to our house and her son saw the spider man towel and asked where Samantha's brother was.  A lesson in gender neutral encouragement.  

She loves talking to soldiers.

And princesses, a well rounded girl :)

We met some friends at a local park.  Zoey loved this roller slide.

Sam had a pajama day for Polar Express at school.  She was thrilled.

Sam instigated hat day at our house.

I just do not think our girls are getting enough gifts for Christmas.  Good thing their birthdays are coming up!  Ha ha!  This does include presents for Nick and me, but not all the gifts from my parents or Santa.  But the girls have opened a few and they have been so wonderful.  We are truly blessed with people who know us well and are so generous.  Thank you to all so far!

Surveying the loot and wondering.  Sam really is a mini me.  She has been wrapping up random things to give people.  She was so excited about buying stuff with her money and with my money at her school shop.  She is also delighted by surprises while simultaneously tortured by them.  Zoey still will not even rip into the packages but she is so cute saying present and Christmas Tree.  She gets excited.  Both girls really help highlight the joy of the season.

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas (or Happy end of December to our Jewish friends).  More updates soon with what the girls got and a few more events this week.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

It has been an insanely busy few weeks.

Zoey had a birthday party for a friend.  She hated the paper bracelet she had to wear to get in the play area.  But she had a pretty good time at the party.

We put up our tree.  Zoey keeps taking ornaments off and then crying saying, "on, on!"  We have not put all the wrapped presents out yet.  Nick pointed out that they may get opened early but our curious little one.

My mom got little trees for the girls at her house as well.  This is Zoey when you say look up at the camera. :)

 

The finished trees.

Then, Nick and my dad made a trip to Atlanta to fix some things at our house there.  While they were gone, Mom and I had tons of events to keep us busy.  Lakeland had a Thursday evening Christmas parade.  People put out chairs the day before, it is a big deal.  My moms club reserved an area and a friend added our chairs.  It was tough to get there with roads closing and traffic and I ended up parked the wrong way to get out and go.  We did not get home until 10!  Both girls fell asleep in the car.  Sam right away, even as Zoey was yelling about the train and then crying for her crib and lovey.  But both girls had a blast.  Zoey was cute clapping and waving.  Sam loved it all.

We also went to the first friday event about cookies.

And Saturday was snow fest, which was disappointing, but Zoey liked the ice.

So did Sam.

Sam got to ride the inflatable swan, but they pushed her off badly and she ended up flipping over.  I have video, which is scary but she did not even get hurt and got right back on and rode the rest of the way.

I also made this felt tree that the girls are enjoying.

And last of all, my mom's club had a Christmas Ball.  I was on the committee, so on top of all the other busy things I had my assignments, including setting up Saturday night until 10.  I was so exhausted.  And then Nick and dad drove back Sunday and Nick still went to the ball with me to help out.  

Ready to go, looking beautiful.

 Sam had a great time playing.  Zoey was a bit cranky and did not want to eat.  There are also santa pictures, which I will post soon.

 After the ball and a bath and a snack, Zoey climbed in this and said house, house (because of her giant cardboard house.

Sam wanted in on the picture taking and said it was a boat.

Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  We sure did.  Zoey and I got to have lunch with Sam the week before.

Sam had the whole week off and I ended up having it off as well.  We were supposed to teach through Wednesday, but I got a stomach bug or food poisoning so Nick taught my Monday class and my Tuesday class was cancelled.

We did a Thankful tree with window markers again.  Sam loved writing hers.  It is hard to see, but I am sure you can get the idea.

                                                

Zoey on Thanksgiving.

My Aunt Eunice also came down for Thanksgiving.  It was her first time meeting Zoey and she and Samantha really bonded.  It was wonderful.  We all (Swilleys and Kellings) ate lots of meals together and went to markets and such.  My dad cooked the meals and I was in charge of deserts.

We also went to Hollis Gardens to get a Christmas card picture.  Zoey just did not want to sit with Sam or pose.  And if we finally got Zoey to smile, Sam was often talking or turned or something.  Very frustrating, but we did get a lot of shots.  It is just hard to get 2 looking great at the same time :)

Zoey dodging a kiss.

Cute smile from Zoey, but Sam is the wrong direction.

Blowing a kiss.

Cute smiles on the playhouse.

Doing some dancing, perhaps calling rain.

 Having fun running.

Cute pose.

On the playhouse stairs.

Zoey on a wall!

Look at these 2 profiles.

What ZOey does when she hears a noise, hand to ear and says, "Noise, noise".

Zoey in motion.

 Sam close up.

Zoey close up.

Peek-a-boo.

Trying to escape.