The advent calendar!

It is that magical time of year again when Aunt Cindy hands over the awesome Advent calendar for the girls! These are just some of the best photos of the delicate balance the girls play when opening each pocket. They try very hard not to argue about who's turn it is to open and many times start from the beginning to figure it out. The highlights have been the spy glasses and sun catcher paint things, and new cups with cool straws attached. As we continue on, the anticipation of Christmas Day gets bigger :) this is just the best way to keep the magic going, the calendar is the first thing I am asked for every morning and I'm quite sure these are memories they will talk about for a long long time. Thanks Aunt Cindy for continuing the tradition!

Halloween (1 month late)

I didn't intend on posting Halloween photos a month late but it's better to get it up than never at all! We had a great time and of course collected lots of candy. It was actually pretty darn cold that night and we hurried as best we could. Poor Anna Kate she wanted to keep up with the big kids as much as possible but in the end she ended up in our neighbors baby stroller. Ahh such is the life of a 4 year old. I loved Anna Kate's costume choice and I am still luke warm on Elizabeth's. I guess she's getting older but I will let her pick out her own until we verge on street walker and then either she's done trick or treating or there will be a compromise. This year technically it was a 'rock star' as long as she's covered I'm happy.
I miss the princess days!

Dancing queens

Lizzy switched dance studios this year and I'm still on the fence about even continuing dance all together. Lets be honest all she wants to do is shake her little butt on the sideline of a football game. Ak on the other hand is in love with dance. It's her first year in it and its all she talks about. Their dance studio allows parents in to take pictures and it was so fun to watch! Enjoy the pictures!

Shots are ugly

The time came for Anna Kate's 4 year shots. So sad. I put them off for more than a month from her 4th birthday cause I didn't want to do it. She was all smiles and her great normal self all up to the shots. Things were promised like chocolate ice cream with sprinkles. This mama comes through on her promises! I got her the biggest ice cream I could with all the sprinkles it could hold. She has a very sad pathetic cry I know that for sure :(

Frankenfooter Run Time!

We went over to New Port Richey this lovely weekend before Halloween to run with Ralphie. The race is called the frankenfooter and is sort of special, you run a 5k at 6:30pm Saturday night and then a half marathon Sunday morning. They call it the night of the living dead race! Erin only ran the 5k while Lew ran both and got all 3 medals. It was fun but I would have thought some zombie chasing us would have been an awesome addition! These aren't great pictures but they are mostly of us waiting for the end of the half Marathon then me finishing. My first race in a long time, need to get back out there!

Happy Birthday Anna Kate - the big 4

Today is Anna Kate's fourth birthday and all year she has wanted to go to Disney World... So this weekend we are going to the Not so Scary Mickey Halloween! (More photos and posts to follow.)

Today, Erin got AK a bouncy house and pizza party at school.

After school AK didn't want to go out to dinner but instead we went to the movies! (And then she wanted to eat... I think I was set up on this one.)

After all the excitement of the day, as I hugged AK's neck for bed, I said I cannot believe you are my big 4 year old. She said, soon I will be 5 and then 6. I will finish at Little Feet Academy and then go to high school and college. I will get a job and move out of here, to a pretty house.

My response was that's great, but today you are just 4. :).

Happy Birthday AK!

Chicago 2012

It's the last vacation (lol) of the year. Erin and I dropped the girls off at "Red's" house and off to Chicago with Bill and MyLoan.

It was a great couples weekend with out the kids. But lots of planning into our 2013 family trip up here.

We experienced some new areas of Chicago including Oak Park to see some of the Frank Lloyd Wright homes. Then an adventure to The Gold Coast. A great walking food tour with lots and lots of food.

Not to miss an opportunity, Bill and I ran around the park to Soldier Fields! ( da bears)

Finally, not one but two Cubs' games.... They lost both. :(.

Until next year.

Our August happenings

As our world continues to spin faster and faster we attempt to keep up with our kiddos. Lizzy started 1st grade, she is Mrs. Hoskins class and I'm not kidding has quite a bit of homework, gets graded and has about 8 websites she must visit daily to check for tests and quizzes. I think she's just super happy to be back with her BFF Delaney everyday :) I will catch onto this and keep her on track eventually.
Ak has started dance class and she loves it! She has watched Lizzy go through 3 yrs of dance and just relished the moment she finally got to go. Also apparently we did good getting her shoes. All the shoes are neon colors right now. Ak's are black and green. Her buddies are pink, they are so stinking cute. Lizzy has entered some gymnastics and can do quite the back bend. I'm waiting for flips and what not. Meanwhile I am going to get back on schedule and update our site more :) promise! Enjoy the pictures.