Mommy's Glasses

Grace wore my sunglasses in the car on the way home from Staci's one day last week. She is such a silly girl!

Kroger Fire Truck

The kids made a quick trip with me yesterday to the grocery. They enjoy going to the store because they get to ride the firetruck.

Feature Presentation: Polar Express

We have been reading the book The Polar Express almost every night lately at bedtime. I promised Gabriel that we would watch the movie before Christmas. I think Daddy was a little excited about watching the movie with the kids because he put it on immediately after dinner tonight.
The bonus is that Daddy got some Gracie cuddle time during the movie.

Under the Weather

Grace started feeling bad and running a fever on Wednesday morning. Gabriel started feeling bad on Friday. Grace is feeling better now --- no fever since Friday night. Gabriel, we hope, is on the mend now too.

Photo Albums

The kids looked at photo albums Saturday morning with Daddy too.
Gabriel named all of the people in the pictures.
They also talked about family members who are no longer here to enjoy the holidays with us.

Silly Sliding

We had a little playtime in the basement after decorating our Christmas tree.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Yesterday morning, we put out the Christmas decorations, including putting up and decorating the Christmas tree. Gabriel helped Daddy and me fluff the branches of the tree.
Grace took the ornament boxes out of the storage boxes. (We couldn't seem to keep clothes on this little girl this weekend. At every opportunity, she was stripping down and wearing just her diaper.)
This was Grace's first ornament to put on the tree.
Gabriel helped put ornaments on the tree too.
Gabriel and Grace each have their own box of ornaments. Grandma and I add an ornament or two to their boxes each year. When they leave home, they should have a nice collection to take with them. Grace taking her polar bear ornament from last year out of her box.
She had a unique approach to Christmas tree decorating.
Yes, Daddy decorated the tree as well.
The kids had a tendency to put all of their ornaments in one place. One area of our tree had a TON of ornaments and another area was bare.
This is where Grace hung her ornaments.
Daddy took over the camera while I helped decorate.
Grace wanted to put her ornaments "up."
The finished product
My cuties in front of the tree

Don't Spill the Beans

With both kids feeling under the weather on Friday, it seemed like a good time to get out some games for the kids to play. Don't Spill the Beans is one of their favorite games.
The only problem is that they think the goal of the game is to get the MOST beans. Oh well!

Being Silly

While I was taking pictures of Gabe's bedhead, the kids decided to be silly for the camera.
She was very jealous that I wasn't taking her picture . . . rotten girl!

BEDHEAD!!

Gabriel woke up Friday morning with a BAD case of bedhead. I am sure that people think I don't ever comb his hair, but really I do. His hair has a mind of its own, and likes to stand straight up.
What a crazy mess!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving today. Uncle Ed and Aunt Stacey came down from Indy to share it with us.
Grace was feeling a little under the weather, so she enjoyed her Thanksgiving in her pj's. She was a very cuddly girl today.
Uncle Ed shared some dessert with Gabriel.
Bobby read Grace a book. (She got hot, so she stripped the pj's off.)
Gabriel and Uncle Ed play the quiet game together. Uncle Ed tries to distract Gabriel from being quiet.
I think Gabriel won this round.
Dad and Eddie
Stacey and me . . . Have I said that I love this girl? Not only is she a fabulous sister-in-law, she brought a bottle of wine for us to share.
The Holdaway side of the family . . . Dad, Mom, Dan, Grace, me, Eddie, Stacey, Gabriel
Unfortunately a blurry picture of the Ellnor boys . . . Dan, Rob, (Holly), Gabriel, Bobby, and Ben.

We truly have so much to be thankful for. We are so thankful for our two beautiful, healthy children. We have loving and supportive parents and siblings. Currently, our family is in good health and good spirits. We are thankful that, in this lagging economy, our jobs have been secure, and we have been able to provide a comfortable lifestyle for ourselves and our children. We are thankful for the joy of wonderful friends and extended family. We are truly blessed by God and want to give thanks for all that we have.

Super-Gabe

There was no doubt that our lives had been blessed from the moment that Gabriel arrived in our world. He is so smart. He is always asking questions that make us think. He is curious about everything, and nothing escapes his very observant eye. He certainly keeps us on our toes. He is sensitive. The worst thing that you can do to punish Gabriel is to tell him that you're mad at him. He wants nothing more than to make everyone happy. Gabriel is witty. He tells jokes and funny stories all the time. He is creative and has an imagination that won't quit. Gabriel is always pretending. He can make anything into a car or a race. He "plays video games" that are 100% in his mind and has "dreams" that are absolutely hysterical. Gabriel is such a wonderful kid. We love him so much!

Click on the blog title to see information about Letography and the photographer who took this picture.

Amazing Grace

Grace brings so much joy to us. She is tough. This kid falls down and gets up again without a blink. Nothing can keep her down. She is funny. She teases and loves to play games. She is independent. Grace loves to dress herself and get into the car by herself. She is currently practicing going up and down stairs by holding the handrail and walking down. She is demanding. This kid knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask for it. She is affectionate. She loves to cuddle, though it is usually short-lived. She loves to be rocked before bed. She gives kisses and hugs freely, and that is the greatest joy of all. Mommy and Daddy love you, Grace Catherine!

Click on the blog title to see information about Letography and the photographer who took this picture.

Movie Night with Daddy

Tonight the kids had movie night with Daddy. The feature presentations were and The Jungle Book and Rocky and Bullwinkle. Grace sat in Daddy's lap for a long time. When she disappeared from view, we found her in the floor watching intently. It was SO cute!

Wii

Grandma got a Wii for her birthday. Last Sunday after dinner, we all tried our hand at Wiil Bowling.
Grace was given an extra controller to carry around so that she would feel like she was playing too.
Uncle Brian gave it a try.
Gabriel did amazingly well, given that he's 3.
Papaw tried to resist, but it's bowling . . . he couldn't.

Missing: Manners . . . Reward If Returned Unharmed

Grandma, Papaw, Uncle Brian, and Erin came over this evening to have some cake and ice cream for Erin, Grandma, and Mama's birthday. Grace got a little carried away with trying to get EVERY last morsel of cake and ice cream out of the bowl . . . with a little encouragement from Uncle Brian.
Where did she learn to eat like this?
What a mess!
Yeah, the table and her hands were a mess too.
Have I said that Erin is fabulous? She is fabulous with the kids, and they love her. Erin is a wonderful addition to our family. We can't wait until it's official (10/2011).