tis the season....

On December 19th, Olivia & Violet participated in a Christmas program with their preschool daycare class and with the kindergarten class from the school attached to their daycare. The theme was a "Jesus Tree," which they decorated with ornaments throughout the service that symbolized different things about Jesus. They sang several songs including "Away in a Manger," a Christmas version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and "Go Tell It On the Mountain," which was a favorite. Everyone in the audience loved how LOUD the kids sang on that one! They also had some lines to recite with their class. They sat up front through the whole service, and they both did a great job. Afterward, we had some snacks with the other families, which gave the girls a chance to run around with their friends. They had been practicing for weeks, so they were very excited to perform!

Olivia & Violet, ready for their Christmas program

Olivia & Violet with their best friend Sylvia from daycare

Goofing around with some of their classmates after the program

This past Saturday, we celebrated Christmas with the Suchy family. The girls went sledding and snowmobiling, which they thought was a blast. Grandpa Suchy built a snow hill in the yard, which they used to slide off of, and Violet said her favorite part of the day was snowmobiling with Daddy! We opened presents, and the girls were lucky to receive many nice gifts. One of their favorites was a horse trailer and horses from Grandpa & Grandma, which they played with right away. The girls had a blast spending time with their cousins!

Violet sledding

Olivia & Uncle Joey, ready to go down the hill

Daddy & Violet on Grandpa's snowmobile

Violet & Olivia

Suchy cousins with Grandpa & Grandma Suchy

On Sunday, we celebrated with the Thronson family. The kids put on a talent show this year, which was hosted by the oldest cousins Maya & Emma. They had a sign-up sheet where you could register to perform your talent. It was awesome! There was some piano playing, some singing, some jumping, and even a skit. Olivia & Violet did somersaults as their talent. It was great!! Then the kids were able to partake in their tradition of mattress jumping. Luckily, no one got hurt again this year! Then, Maya read the Christmas story, and then we had a delicious meal, followed by presents. All of the kids received Uglydolls, popular stuffed animals, as gifts. They had a great time together! We all stayed overnight and played together the next morning. The girls played with their new Legos from Grandpa & Grandma Thronson.

Thronson Cousins

Violet's talent: A somersault

Talent show: singing "Jingle Bells"

Mattress jumping

Cousins with their new Uglydolls

man alive, we're five!

On November 29, Olivia & Violet turned five. They were very excited for their birthday this year! They brought cupcakes to daycare, then Jamie & I picked them up after lunch and took them to Nickelodeon Universe at the Mall of America. This has been our tradition the past few years, which the girls remember of course, so they asked about it for weeks beforehand. They were the bravest they've ever been on the rides! Their favorite rides were the kid bumper cars and the little roller coaster. Violet even went on the big ferris wheel with Daddy and her cousin William. We were happy that my sister Terri and her two kids were able to meet up with us because Olivia and Violet had a blast with them.

We all ate supper at the mall. The girls got to pick what they wanted to eat, so they had macaroni and cheese, pizza and chocolate milk. What a combination!

When we got home, they opened a few presents from me and Daddy. Their favorites were a Doc McStuffins doll and Uglydoll stuffed animals. We had to open them right away so they could play with them! They were pretty tired by the time bedtime rolled around, but they had a great day.

I just can't believe my baby girls are five. This is truly such a great age, I wish I could freeze them for awhile. They have so much fun with each other and are very independent, but yet they are still innocent and still need their Mommy and Daddy. :) We are very proud of our girls and we love them very much!!

Five year olds Violet & Olivia

William, Olivia & Violet on the Wonder Pets ride

Bumper cars!!

Violet & Olivia on Swiper's Sweeper cars

Violet & Olivia on Azul the Train

We love the little roller coaster!!

Violet showing her Doc McStuffins doll

Olivia with Big Toe, her Uglydoll stuffed animal

thanksgiving weekend

We had a great and relaxing Thanksgiving weekend. On Thanksgiving Day, we went to Terri & Aaron's house in south Minneapolis. My parents were there, along with my sister Nikki and her family. The weather was so surprisingly nice that the kids played outside for most of the day. We had a very delicious meal and all contributed to William's thankful tree by naming what we are thankful for. It was a great day!

Kids table at Thanksgiving

On Friday, we took Olivia & Violet to the doctor for their annual well visit. They did great and are developing fine, but we were surprised to learn they are in the 85th and 95th percentile for height and weight. Wow! The doctor was especially surprised when they started naming some of their body parts in Spanish. The visit was a little traumatic though because they had to give a urine sample, blood sample, get three shots in their legs and a flu mist up their nose. They were quite upset but calmed down pretty quickly after we left. As a reward, we picked out our Christmas tree after their doctor visit. We let Olivia & Violet pick out the tree they wanted, and they settled on a white fir. I have to admit that I didn't like it at first, but once we decorated it at home, it is quite beautiful. They picked out a great tree!

Our tree: Before

Our tree: After

On Saturday, we went downtown to Macy's to see Santa. It was very busy so we had to wait in line for quite awhile, but the girls were determined to see Santa. When they walked into the room and saw him, Violet's face just beamed, and she ran up to him and gave him a hug. Olivia did the same, and then they both sat on his lap and talked to him for awhile. Violet told him she wanted a Strawberry Shortcake castle for Christmas, and Olivia said she wanted Strawberry Shortcake dolls. They hugged him goodbye and were sad to leave. From there, we walked out to Nicollet Mall and watched the Holidazzle Parade, which consists of fairy tale-themed floats covered in Christmas lights. Olivia & Violet LOVED it. They kept peering down the street to see which lighted floats were coming next. They kept yelling and pointing "There are more coming!" They also waved to all of the floats as they passed. Santa was at the end of the parade so that caused them to talk about Santa most of the way home. They said they wanted to make him some presents that they could leave for him to take home on Christmas!

Violet & Olivia with Santa

Having a graham cracker snack before the Holidazzle Parade

Waving at the Holidazzle Parade floats

Santa at the end of the parade