Catch-up before Christmas (with family pictures)

 Lots of family gatherings and celebrations are coming up over the next few days, so I want to make sure to catch up on all "pre-Christmas" pictures!

First, we went to a huge train display at the Zeeland library that is set up every holiday season. The girls LOVED hanging out by this tunnel, and it took some bribing to get them to want to leave. :)

I kicked off the first night of Christmas break out with some of my Crossfit Lake Effect friends. Fun times with these ladies!

After school one day, Taylor and Camryn were taking turns being Mary and baby Jesus. The one playing "Mary" would put the curtain on her head, and then Mary would help "baby Jesus" to stand up, and then they would sprint off to their room giggling. Then, they would come back, switch roles and do it again. Apparently Jesus could run when he was born. :) 

Two little ladies watching the Grinch

And last, we had Ryan's younger brother take a few family pictures for us so we could put together a Christmas card this year. As usual, getting complete cooperation and all smiles was not going to happen. What is it about getting family photos that makes kids so resilient?! Hoping that it will get easier as they get older. :) We did get a few that turned out really well (and a few that just make me laugh ;)). Thanks, Jason!

Camryn is not so sure in these pictures.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Holiday season moments... so far :)

Family events, friend get-togethers, holiday traditions...makes December a busy month!

We had the Bosch family Christmas party last weekend. The girls were excited about each getting a new little pony. :)

Taking a break outside for a bit. Tay needed a little fresh air after running and playing hard. These two girls melt my heart. :)

We had dinner, Christmas movies, and cookie decorating at our house on Friday. There were four more little ones than there were last year!
Happy cookie eaters. :)

Yesterday we made gingerbread houses - this was Camryn's first time and she did great!

Taylor was very careful with her gingerbread house creation. She did a great job on the roof!

After nap time we headed downtown to visit Santa.
Taylor wouldn't even walk up to Santa last year, and this year she was excited to see him and tell him that she wants a train. Camryn, however, still hasn't warmed up to the idea. :)
Getting Cam on his lap... starting the meltdown...

And, this picture kind of makes me smile - Taylor and I are smiling, she is happy to getting to see Santa, Cam is fully melting down, and Santa is wondering why I am torturing him with this 2 year old on his lap ;) 

The "best" shot we could get for 2014 :)

Dinner after... Cam still wasn't thrilled with us putting her on Santa's lap. ;)

But a little later after some food, and she was a happy camper again. :)

Silly shopper :)

And amongst all the busyness, there is still time to get out to the gym and have some fun....

Sing Christmas carols to the tree...

And snuggle on the couch. :)

5 more days of work in 2014 - then Christmas break is here!! 

Christmas Tree 2014

The day after Thanksgiving we went to KC trees to find the perfect tree for this year. Taylor was super excited, it was really cold, I only fell on the icy road once, Cam was unsure about trekking around to look for a tree and struggled a bit to walk through the deep snow, but she was excited about finding the big candy cane and the "north pole", the kids liked riding in the horse-drawn wagon and eating donut holes, and we managed to get the tree home without it falling off the top of the car! Mostly success! :)

Riding in the wagon

'Look, mama!'

Cutting it down

Walking back to put the tree on the car

Cam was staying warm in the car while Ry strapped the tree to the top... visions of her as a 16 year old were coming to mind!

Ready for the holiday season!

Wrapping up November

November  means the start of celebrating the holiday season in this house. Taylor kept asking me when Christmas would be, and I decided to make her a countdown calendar so she could see exactly what fun events we had coming up!
She was so excited about it! And that she got to cross off the days with a marker, too. ;)

"We're waiting for Christmas to come" :)

While making Christmas cookies one day, the girls decided to read books on the table as they waited to do their part with the sprinkles.

This face. This is the face we see a lot if Cam gets an 'owie'. Little tender-heart

"I'm wearing daddy's hat!"

Cam and Tay found a cat costume from last year (that Taylor refused to ever wear for Halloween), and Cam looked quite cute running around in it.

Making glittery snowflakes at Aunt Katie and Uncle Jon's house

Got this from a student the week of Thanksgiving. Yep, I love my job. :)

And a really fun part of November was getting to see Mem's new house and spend some time there over Thanksgiving break!
She has an amazing view of the lake now. (The kids are going to have so much fun in the summer!)

Peeking out the window in the morning

Amidst boxes, the girls were helping out Mem with the most important part - decorating her Christmas tree

Even Tess helped out :)

Silly girl

Yeah.... she loved this :)

Checking out the lake outside

Up next.... Christmas Tree!!