Sledding Toward the New Year

Christmas break has been a whole conglomeration of Family Days (I'VE LOVED IT!!) where we do fun things together. New Years' Eve Day we decided to head to Hughesville to try out the new sledding hill Jeremy and I found on one of our rides with the four-wheeler. The new sledding hill was perfect!! It was a gentle hill with lots of wide open space and not a tree/stump in sight. Abbie enjoyed the hill so much she even went down herself a few times! Rylee gave sledding a try this trip too!













Jeremy buried Abbie in the snow and we looked for "gold" and found Abbie as the treasure.....



Do you ever wonder what they are thinking?



And this is on the way home after a long day of mountain air and fun...what a great way to leave 2009 and here is to the memories and fun times to be had in 2010!!!!

Christmas---Take 4

I've already mentioned how fortunate the girls were to have so much of Christmas spread out, but it really was a blessing to spend more time enjoying it rather than hurrying through. Because Jeremy worked Christmas Day we spent the 26th celebrating Christmas with his family. We were so lucky to spend the majority of the day visiting and playing rather than just rushing in and rushing out......

The clan has gathered around to admire Rylee's singing vacuum. What a perfect gift for my daughter! Now she can clean right alongside me!

Grandma and Grandpa with their Grandkids

Christmas Day

Christmas Day started VERY early at our house. Jeremy had to work Christmas Day so we decided to get the girls up early to at least have Daddy home to see what Santa left for each of them. Let's just say that Abbie was less than excited to jump out of bed and run downstairs, however as soon as she saw what Santa had left behind she was more than ecstatic!

Here is what Santa's spread looked like as I waited for the girls to come down the stairs. Looks like the jolly man left a singing tractor for Rylee and a swimming Barbie and Holiday Barbie for Abbie.

Abbie seems to like what Santa left behind.......

and Rylee seems impressed too.

Grandma Nate also came over Christmas morning to share in some present opening. She gave Abbie two more dolls, Tianna (Princess and the Frog) and a baby Ariel doll (although Abbie refuses to call her Ariel , she has named her Rosetta and she goes everywhere with Abbie).

Christmas Day was so relaxing and enjoyable (except that Jeremy was working). After the girls opened Santa's presents and Grandma's presents they had several hours to just relax, play with their gifts, and we even took a nap. Usually I feel like we rush from place to place and there is no time to relax....this year was different!

After a delicious dinner late afternoon at Grandma Nate's we came home and opened family presents. It was really the girls 3rd Christmas. This allowed for more excitement for Abbie and she wasn't distracted by what she had already gotten, instead she was eager to see what else was for her.

What Barbie doesn't need a carriage/hot air balloon??

Who is having more fun with the air ball popper? Dad? Rylee?

Nope, not a mug shot. Rylee is a girl after my own heart. She brought me my camera and then stood in front of me waiting for me to snap her picture. Boy, she doesn't know what's coming....does she???

And at the end of the day we were able to sit back and watch both girls playing and enjoying each other and be reminded just how lucky we are.......I love my life!

Christmas Eve

This year Christmas Eve was more fun than ever. Abbie was old enough and excited enough to enjoy presents and Santa and Jeremy didn't have to work. Rylee walked around and sat on large gifts...she wasn't really into pulling off the paper or seeing what was inside the big box, but it was fun to watch her awe of what was going on around her.

After we spent Christmas with my family we headed home to continue the Virts' family traditions of Santa preparations (feeding the reindeer, putting out cookies and milk) and reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" before we headed to nestle in our own beds.

Some pre-church photos before the girls can demolish hair bows and curls

Uncle Fredy has always been a gift-giving instigator. Both of my girls have received music sets from him including drums or tambourines. Here is Rylee's music set that she loves to bang on. Aren't we lucky?

This year Uncle Manfred can be categorized with Uncle Fredy as a giver of gifts that we wouldn't typically buy (not because we would deny our children the gift, just trying to preserve our sanity)..he bought Abbie a make-up kit. The make-up kit is a huge hit with Abbie and so far only her and I have been made up...she was told Rylee was off limits!!

Look out Rylee--it's make-up that your sister might put on you!

One of the gifts that I made for Jeremy this year was a photo book of 2009. I spent several hours trying to get it to rhyme (Abbie's idea). It turned out cheesy, but fun to look back on and remember how lucky we've been this past year.

I love you Grandma Nate!!

Dressing Up for Christmas Break

Abbie spent time with her friends this break and dressing up was their FAVORITE thing to do....

Abbie (Ariel) and Norah (Snow White)

These two are the New Year's Eve Rockers. Abbie and Taylee often practice for a singing debut, but we have yet to see the show. This evening we heard some singing while they were playing in the basement but still no full show.