Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Family Day on December 20, 2009
We topped off our family day after the Christmas party with Santa by spending the rest of the afternoon with Elmo and Big Bird. Sesame Street Live was about what to be when you grow up. It was very interactive with lots of singing and dancing. This held both girls' attention and mine and Jeremy's too.
Christmas Party at GFFR
December 20, 2009 was the annual fire department Christmas party. Abbie took what Santa said this year to heart...she's reminded me twice about leaving the lights on and putting out cookies, just like Santa said before he handed out the presents. It has also helped this year to have Frigalee around to watch Abbie and Rylee and report to Santa nightly about whether they were naughty or nice during the day. (Frigalee is our new tradition for this year...he's our Elf on the Shelf). Abbie is conscious of Frigalee and what he might report so she has offered to set the table, help with the dishes, and cleans her plate nightly. Yea Frigalee!!!!!
Santa brought Abbie a trunk full of dress-up clothes. How did Santa know how much Abbie loves to play dress-up???
Just like the other Santa helper at the mall, Rylee is not interested in touching or sitting with the man in the red suit.
Rylee didn't care much for Santa's gift anyway. She liked walking up and down the hill in the station way better than any present.
Going up....
and Down!
Holy Spirit Christmas Program
Abbie's Pre-K class put on a little Christmas program on December 17th. I was lucky enough that I was able to sneak away from work to attend. Since I don't ever get to drop her off or pick her up I feel like I don't know anything about Abbie's preschool class.
The two day morning and afternoon group put on a program together singing 3 songs: Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, and We Wish you a Merry Christmas. They were so cute and each song had actions to accompany the words.
"We wish you a Merry Christmas."
After singing, someone's Grandma volunteered to read a story to the group
then we were all invited to have hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Family Day Dress-Up on December 13, 2009
We spent Family Day listening to Abbie sing at church Sunday morning and then heading to the mall to fill Santa's ear with requests for Christmas. When I asked Abbie if she wanted to go see Santa her response was "No, I wrote him a letter." While indeed that was true I was sure she would want to tell him in person about how much she wanted a swimming Barbie (or at least recognize how much it meant to me to have her and Rylee take our annual Santa photo). Jeremy is constantly telling me the stuff I drag them to is more for me then them....I am starting to agree!
At any rate we ended up taking a family photo (good thing we were all dressed up for church) with Santa after a 1 hour wait and Rylee's dislike of the stranger with a fake beard. I thought after the morning we had we should do something the girls would really enjoy.....
Within the last year one of Abbie's favorite past times has become dressing up. We dress up only to change outfits moments later or reaccessorize. She loves it and even Rylee tolerates being dressed up.
We ended the day by mixing up a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Do you think Rylee likes the chips?
Wrangler Camp
December 12, 2009
We have started a little Vansickle/Virts tradition by partaking in the CMR Wrangler Dance Team Camp for 2 years running. Melissa and I were happy about the organization of this camp so we willingly joined in again. The girls spent the morning learning the moves to one of Hannah Montana's chart leading songs and then performed at half time of the girls basketball game.
We have started a little Vansickle/Virts tradition by partaking in the CMR Wrangler Dance Team Camp for 2 years running. Melissa and I were happy about the organization of this camp so we willingly joined in again. The girls spent the morning learning the moves to one of Hannah Montana's chart leading songs and then performed at half time of the girls basketball game.
Ready Abbie?? Ready Taylee??
"Polka-dot it"
According to Abbie this move was easy since she's so good at dance class.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Family Day on December 6, 2009
The first real snow of winter fell the first week of December. We decided to spend family day out in the backyard enjoying the white fluff. We couldn't stay outside for too long because it was cold, like 25 degrees, but long enough to make some snow angels and play tag (two of Abbie's favorites).
Rylee's 1st Birthday
Where has the year gone??? I can't believe that Rylee has blessed us already for one whole year. This last year has been filled with many firsts and we have cherished each and every one!
Getting ready for the party....
A cake made special for our princess
Still only 2 teeth on the bottom. Dad says she looks like a hamster!
Uh, oh...the cell phone was one of her favorite gifts
Her first introduction to cupcakes.....Hmmm, smells good. I'll try it.
Tastes good!
All gone!
Dear Rylee,
It seems like just yesterday you entered the world as a healthy 6 lb. 14 oz. baby girl. I have treasured the last year with you and how you've grown and changed.
We brought you home from the hospital just 24 hours after you were born ready to share you with your big sister and introduce you to your new home. You were such an easy baby. You rarely cried and only if you were hungry or tired. You slept next to me on the couch, just like Abbie, for your first 3 months and then transitioned fairly flawlessly to the crib. I think it only took 2 nights of crying and then you were accustomed to your new sleeping arrangement.
Abbie absolutely adored you right from the start and always wanted to hug and kiss you, especially when I was nursing. As you got older she watched to make sure you were always safe and liked to hold your bottle for you as you ate. Abbie was the only one who could make you laugh really hard. She would make you laugh until you had the hiccups.
We introduced you to all sorts of new things this last year. We loaded you up to take part in some sledding when you were just a few weeks old and then packed you up in the camper for five weekends of summer play away from home. You didn't love the nights away from home, but we managed. It was during the summer we started to feed you popsicles, watermelon, strawberries, jello, and you loved it all. We knew that you were going to be a good eater, just like Abbie. There wasn't a whole lot you didn't like to eat...peas at first, but you even grew to like those.
You crawled and Abbie was excited that you were now doing more than just eating and sleeping. Now you were mobile and so you could be found in Abbie's room playing with her kitchen or emptying the pantry in the kitchen. You also LOVED the shower. We stopped giving baths when you could crawl and as soon as I turned on the shower I had to get your clothes off quick before you could climb right in yourself. It was about the time that you became mobile that you started to develop a real definite personality. You weren't afraid to let a high-pitched scream fly out of your mouth if you weren't getting your way...no matter where we were. We've been known to shovel food in as fast as possible at a restaurant so we could leave to stop getting the evil stares from the patrons surrounding us. Let's just say you were clear about not having a need met and were good about communicating that to us. The challenge was to figure out what need was lacking so it could be met to stop the screaming.
Most recently you are eating only people food (sometimes you scream loudly if I try to feed you baby food as if I am insulting you) and drinking regular milk from a sippy cup. You took your first steps weeks before your first birthday and can still be found playing with Abbie's kitchen, dancing and swaying to music, climbing in the shower with your clothes on, or sitting inside the pantry or bathroom cupboards.
I have loved getting to know you this last year Rylee and look forward to watching you grow for years and years to come. God blessed me with two beautiful children and I am so lucky to be a part of your lives. Thank you!
I love you so much Ryleeroo-roo!
Love,
Mom
Getting ready for the party....
A cake made special for our princess
Still only 2 teeth on the bottom. Dad says she looks like a hamster!
Uh, oh...the cell phone was one of her favorite gifts
Her first introduction to cupcakes.....Hmmm, smells good. I'll try it.
Tastes good!
All gone!
Dear Rylee,
It seems like just yesterday you entered the world as a healthy 6 lb. 14 oz. baby girl. I have treasured the last year with you and how you've grown and changed.
We brought you home from the hospital just 24 hours after you were born ready to share you with your big sister and introduce you to your new home. You were such an easy baby. You rarely cried and only if you were hungry or tired. You slept next to me on the couch, just like Abbie, for your first 3 months and then transitioned fairly flawlessly to the crib. I think it only took 2 nights of crying and then you were accustomed to your new sleeping arrangement.
Abbie absolutely adored you right from the start and always wanted to hug and kiss you, especially when I was nursing. As you got older she watched to make sure you were always safe and liked to hold your bottle for you as you ate. Abbie was the only one who could make you laugh really hard. She would make you laugh until you had the hiccups.
We introduced you to all sorts of new things this last year. We loaded you up to take part in some sledding when you were just a few weeks old and then packed you up in the camper for five weekends of summer play away from home. You didn't love the nights away from home, but we managed. It was during the summer we started to feed you popsicles, watermelon, strawberries, jello, and you loved it all. We knew that you were going to be a good eater, just like Abbie. There wasn't a whole lot you didn't like to eat...peas at first, but you even grew to like those.
You crawled and Abbie was excited that you were now doing more than just eating and sleeping. Now you were mobile and so you could be found in Abbie's room playing with her kitchen or emptying the pantry in the kitchen. You also LOVED the shower. We stopped giving baths when you could crawl and as soon as I turned on the shower I had to get your clothes off quick before you could climb right in yourself. It was about the time that you became mobile that you started to develop a real definite personality. You weren't afraid to let a high-pitched scream fly out of your mouth if you weren't getting your way...no matter where we were. We've been known to shovel food in as fast as possible at a restaurant so we could leave to stop getting the evil stares from the patrons surrounding us. Let's just say you were clear about not having a need met and were good about communicating that to us. The challenge was to figure out what need was lacking so it could be met to stop the screaming.
Most recently you are eating only people food (sometimes you scream loudly if I try to feed you baby food as if I am insulting you) and drinking regular milk from a sippy cup. You took your first steps weeks before your first birthday and can still be found playing with Abbie's kitchen, dancing and swaying to music, climbing in the shower with your clothes on, or sitting inside the pantry or bathroom cupboards.
I have loved getting to know you this last year Rylee and look forward to watching you grow for years and years to come. God blessed me with two beautiful children and I am so lucky to be a part of your lives. Thank you!
I love you so much Ryleeroo-roo!
Love,
Mom
Tree Decorating
November 26, 2009
I didn't take any pictures of us actually doing any decorating of the tree or house for Christmas, but this picture warms my heart.
The two of them both love music so they are playing the piano together and are both "singing". Well, Abbie is singing and Rylee is making noise. I may have to pull this picture out in 10 years to remind them how much they loved playing together, but for now it brings a smile to my face and a real joy to my heart.
November Husband Day--Nov. 25, 2009
November was drawing to a close and Jeremy and I had not spent any time together so I suggested we head to Salo's for a day of hunting. Jeremy agreed although he had already shot a small buck up there 3 days prior. He knows I like to head up to visit my dad during hunting season and so he said we could always use another deer and make jerky.
The girls headed to Grandma's as we headed out to Cascade on a very windy morning. We saw a few mule deer as we drove into the ranch but as we got serious about finding a doe we saw NOTHING. We walked a few hillsides. Nothing! Not even a rabbit. It wasn't until we were about to leave and driving out that there was a small buck that pushed a doe out from some brush on the hillside by dad's grave. Dad wasn't much of a hunter, liked to go and socialize more than anything, so it's nice he is helping Jeremy fill the freezer now.
The fearless hunter puts on his gloves. Is he ready to pregnancy check a cow or gut a deer?
The girls headed to Grandma's as we headed out to Cascade on a very windy morning. We saw a few mule deer as we drove into the ranch but as we got serious about finding a doe we saw NOTHING. We walked a few hillsides. Nothing! Not even a rabbit. It wasn't until we were about to leave and driving out that there was a small buck that pushed a doe out from some brush on the hillside by dad's grave. Dad wasn't much of a hunter, liked to go and socialize more than anything, so it's nice he is helping Jeremy fill the freezer now.
The fearless hunter puts on his gloves. Is he ready to pregnancy check a cow or gut a deer?
1st McDonalds Hamburger
November 24, 2009 was a monumental day for Rylee in the Virts' family. Abbie's favorite restaurant is McDonalds and so we eat there a fair amount, probably once a week. I ate at McDonalds probably twice a year before I had kids since I didn't like it that much. Now I've acquired quite a taste for a double cheeseburger. Rylee had taste tested some fries before, but tonight I ordered her her own cheeseburger. She chowed down the high sodium, not really beef burger, just like the rest of the Virts clan. Thank Goodness!! I would hate to have to feed her something healthy while the rest of us shovel in MickeyDees!
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