Christmas 2013

I hope everyone who reads this had a wonderful Christmas!!  We had a fantastic day ourselves.  We actually stayed at our home all day long and opened presents in the morning and later in the afternoon hosted my Mother and Brother for Christmas dinner.  

Then Christmas weekend, we celebrated up North in Maine with Jeremy's side of the family. Friday night my Mother-In-Law hosted an adult game night.  Then Sunday we went to my brother in law and sister in law's home and celebrated our Christmas there with mostly everyone in the family.  

We really had a great time!  Here's some photos from our very fun week/weekend.

We bought Samantha an analog watch.

We bought the girls Legos.  Quite the big hit!

Samantha opening up her boots

The awesomest gift was from Samantha.  She knitted this for me :)

(Granted, she had a lot of help, but she knitted about half of this)

While we were getting our Christmas dinner together, the girls had something to play with.

Love those eyelashes!

Sarah watching her cousin Kimberly opening up her Secret Santa gift

Sarah coloring with her cousin, Laura

Samantha with her cousins Clara and Hannah

Dance For Your Cake!

Sarah was recently invited to her preschool friend, Leah's Birthday party.  The girls were all invited to dress up in a Disney princess costume and dance at a local dance school.  The girls had a wonderful time dancing ballet to Disney songs.  We also received a coupon for a free month's worth of dance classes!   Sarah is very anxious to try that out.

Here's a few photos from the day.  Sorry about the quality, as they were taken with a cell phone.

Sarah Visits The Pediatrician

Today Sarah visited the Pediatrician.   We are actually starting a new Pedi now as our previous one moved to South Carolina.  We were definitely sad to hear that she was leaving, but we are already impressed with Sarah's new doctor and the office.

Sarah had one shot today (which Sarah was SO brave and didn't even shed a tear over) and also found out that she doesn't have to have any more until she's 11.   Sarah was very excited to hear that from the doctor.

Sarah passed her hearing and sight test, as well as identifying (oral and sight) her letters, numbers, and shapes.  Her Pedi was very pleased with Sarah's progress.  

Check out Sarah's growth progression:

December 2013 (5 year appointment) 43.5" tall and 44.4 lbs

(BMI 80%)

December 2012 (4 year appointment) 40.5" tall and 38 lbs
(and excellent blood pressure of 86/48!)

December 2011 (3 year appointment) 38" tall and 33 lbs

Following In Our Footsteps

Today we bought our Christmas tree and photographed our family Christmas card.  Look who wanted to help photograph.

Sam does a great job actually with photographing.  She remembers the little things that we're pretty surprised that a 6 year old would know.  For example, making sure there's not clutter in the background of the picture.  Keep up the good work Sam!

We Have A Birthday Girl! Sarah Is the Big 5!

Dear Sarah,

Today you turn 5 years old!  It's been awhile since Mommy has written a monthly update, so this will be quite the update.  We cannot believe that you are five years old today.  It just seems like yesterday that we met you for the first time.   You came one day before your actual due date.  My water broke at my doctor's office, and you were born just about two and a half hours later.  (Yes, two and a half hours).   Things just moved so quickly, there was no time for an epidural even if Mommy wanted one.  You arrived just in time for lunch.

Today, you are in your second year of preschool in the "Red Family" and absolutely loving it.  It's funny that you don't ever seem to remember what you did during the day, but you always remember when you are assigned a job.  Your favorite jobs are "Snack Helper" ,"Girl Line Leader" "Song Selector" and "Weather Girl".  Music is really one of your favorites.  Lately, you've been singing "5 Little Monkeys Hanging From A Tree", "10 Little Monkeys Jumping From a Bed", and Taylor Swift, Fresh Beat Band, and One Republic.  Your ability to memorize songs and their lyrics is just crazy (in a good way).

Speaking of memorizing, the amount of information you can store in your brain just blows us away.  You've memorized our prayers at church.  Just when we think you're not listening, you turn around and can recite the Nicene Creed, or The Lord's Prayer.  Even when we're singing our prayer responses, you sing loud and proud.  You certainly have been taking after Daddy's singing abilities!

You received a whole bunch of Legos for your Birthday and for Christmas, so planning your Lego houses on your days off from school occupy your time.  You still love the game of Memory.  Every time you play Mommy, Mommy seems to lose.

You've got quite the appetite, and love to eat your meals.  We need to work on food with flavor in them.  Ha ha.  You've got Italian blood in your from your Grammy Rose, and Italians are supposed to have flavor added to their food.  Ah well, I'm sure that will come over time.   It just makes us really really happy to hear you ask for seconds on things like fruits and vegetables.  

A very Happy Birthday to the girl with the smile that matches her hugs.  We are just so blessed and so fortunate that God has blessed us with you in our lives.  Keep giggling at the little things.  Be the best friend you can be to your sister, for she will always be there for you even when you grow older.   May you always be pure at heart.  A very Happy Birthday to our sweet girl.

We love you.  Thank you for being who you are.  Never forget who you are loved by.

Love, Mommy and Daddy.

Here is what you looked like on your past Birthdays

And here's what you look like today, 12/4/2014!

Thanksgiving 2013

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you!  I hope to all who read this had a great holiday with your friends and family.  We had a great week leading up to the big day and spending some time with my sister in law and nephew home here followed by an awesome weekend following with Jeremy's family up in Maine.

Here's a few photos from our week/weekend of fun!

A stroll in the Mall (surprisingly not too much traffic!)

My sister in law kidnapped Samantha for an overnight sleepover.  So Daddy and I took Sarah out to see Disney's new movie, "Frozen".

Thanksgiving Night at Samantha & Sarah's aunt and uncle's home in Maine.  They recently bought a very large rabbit named "Sammy" which is sitting in Sarah's lap.  

(This was taken with a cell phone...sorry about the quality!)

There's always time for skating to shed off those pounds of turkey we ate.

I may be a little bit biased, but I think she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen...

next to her sister of course ;)

Tots and Chicken Nuggets 2013

It's hard to believe that it's been a year since Sarah's Preschool "Potlatch Meal".  This year, once again, Sarah's class created their own Thanksgiving feast filled with cranberry sauce, stuffing and of course chicken nuggets.  (Henceforth the "Tots and Chicken Nuggets reference).

(Sarah is left side, all the way at the end)

"Princess Sarah Stars In the Sky" Waiting Patiently To Be Dismissed

Complete with Face Paint :)

Yee Haw!

Over the weekend, we celebrated our good friend's Shannon and Morgan's birthdays.  We really had a great time celebrating cowboy style!

Great job Mommy & Daddy! (Kerry & Jimmy)

The girls don't need Mommy and Daddy's help anymore to write out the envelopes

Dancing At Target

The Madore-ables don't seem to mind jamming in the middle of the aisle.  

Thank GOODNESS there were musical instruments near by.

Halloween 2013

Introducing:

Our Tooth Fairy and our royal Princess!

The Madore-ables waiting for Nanny to open her door for trick or treating.