Sledding

To finish off the "Christmas To-Do List" and as a great way to end the Christmas break we took the girls sledding up at Hughesville.  I had many great days over Christmas, but this one makes the top of the list.  We had a leisure morning, then headed up to the mountains for warm weather and sledding.  We had lunch around a campfire, ate snacks and hot cocoa at the Cub's Den, and then dropped the girls off at Grandma Nate's for a sleepover.  I am not sure which part of the day was the favorite of the girls.

Hot Dogs, Cool Ranch Doritos, and Oreos.  Yummy!!

Abbie fell in love with this hill that is gradual and even includes a corner!

Here she comes around the corner, and look at how good she can steer!

With both girls on the sled I needed to give them a little push.

My little cuties!!

Even after a little wreck on the hill, both girls still had a smile on their face!

Christmas with the Virts

We celebrated Christmas with Jeremy's family on the 27th of December.  We had hoped to spend a long day out in Belt sledding, relaxing, and spending time together.  Mother Nature and I changed the plans a bit.  There wasn't enough snow for sledding and I ripped a hole in my cornea (turns out that is pretty painful and sensitive and I wouldn't recommend it).  I was able to get into the eye doctor in the morning and unfortunately, the injury dampened my festive spirit for the day.  We arrived in Belt in time for a delicious breakfast of sausage, eggs, and muffins.  Second, we opened gifts.  Then the girls played with their toys.  By then Jeremy, who had just worked a 27 hour shift in Cut Bank, was exhausted and my eye was really bothering me. So, we left the girls in Belt for a few more hours with Grandma Nita and their cousins.  The girls came home in great spirits and really enjoyed their time in Belt.

Auntie Rosie bought Abbie the Twister Dance Game she wanted.

Auntie Rosie bought Rylee a closet full of Barbie accessories!!

It looks like Rylee zoned out for a bit!

Silly Girls!!

All of the girls settled down around the table to paint their fingernails or Grandma Nita's fingernails.

Aren't the Virts girls super cute??

Christmas Day

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were extra special in our immediate family as well because Jeremy didn't have to work either day.  It was so nice to have him around for everything and be a part in the traditions of putting out the cookies and milk, feeding the reindeer, turning on the Christmas tree lights, and reading The Night Before Christmas before tucking the girls in tightly in their beds.  Before the girls woke up I snuck downstairs to see what Santa had left...

Santa brought Rylee a Doc McStuffins Doll.  Doc is a special vet that takes care of stuffed toys and animals.  She comes with a catchy tune too. "It's time for your check up, time for your check up.  Check your ears, check your eyes, find out how much you've grown..."

Santa brought Abbie a Doctor Mommy Doll.  The doll gets sick and Abbie, as her Mommy, has to make her feel better.

Abbie asked Mommy and Daddy for a Nook and an iPod to listen to music.  It wasn't the same as what Santa brought, but still nerdy.  Do you think Santa was trying to send a message to the girls by bringing both Doctor Dolls???  I missed taking a picture of Rylee's gifts but Jeremy and I bought Rylee a Princess Castle (much like a doll house) for all the Disney Princesses. 

The girls always open Grandma Nate's gifts on Christmas morning too.  Grandmas got each of them chairs for doing their doll's hair and jewelry boxes.  Rylee got a set of wedding Barbies and a Princess Carriage.  Abbie got lots of clothes from Justice and a gift certificate from Barnes and Noble.

We hosted Grandma and Grandpa Murphy for brunch on Christmas morning.  Rylee got a gymnastic Barbie, a cute set of pajamas, and an outfit.  Abbie got a pearl necklace, 2 gift cards, pajamas, and a cute outfit.

Even Sissy posed in the picture with Grandma and Grandpa.

Rylee likes to play gymnastics on Grandma's walker. Again, the daredevil!!

Rylee and Sissy are fast asleep by 7 pm on Christmas Day.  What a busy day!!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a special time this year for our family as we haven't all been together for several years.  This year all of us were together on Christmas Eve.  It made for a full house, but it was lots of fun to have so many kids there with so much excitement.

Oma and her Great Grandchildren

Beth, Oma, and Will

Oma and her Grandchildren

Thank you Uncle Fredy!

Uncle Manfred bought Abbie a math game for Christmas...she is going to love that nerdy toy!!

Tante Lilli bought Dream Lites this year.  Rylee loves her unicorn...

and Abbie loves her zebra!!

Both girls got new doll clothes for their American Girl Dolls from Oma.

Uncle Manfred bought Rylee a Dora Cash Register.  That will be hours of fun!

Thank you Tante Lilli!!

And of course we love Grandma Nate!!

Christmas "To-Do" List

The girls and I decided to make a list of things that we wanted to do over Christmas Break.  The list consisted of: 

1.  Decorate cookies.

2.  Stay home and play dolls.

3.  Make gingerbread houses.

4.  Make a craft at home.

5.  Go sledding.

6.  Get fingernails and toenails done at the Penthouse.

7.  Spend time with each of Mom's girls.

8.  Play family game.

9.  Do puzzles.

10.  Go rollerskating.

We managed to get the whole list done!!!  It was lots of fun to be able to spend so much time with the girls.  There was no correcting, no lesson planning, no schoolwork at all;  I loved it! I forgot to snap photos of everything, but here are a few...

Abbie's gingerbread house took about 2 1/2 hours to make.  Each candy was placed with purpose in a pattern of some kind and had to be put just so....is she more like mom or dad??

Rylee's gingerbread house took about 20 minutes.  She enjoyed eating the candy and frosting more than actually decorating it.  She was happy to have me do a lot of the suggesting and decorating...hmmm, is she more like mom or dad?

Beautiful girls with Beautiful Gingerbread Houses

 Abbie did a great job rolling out the sugar cookie dough and using the cookie cutters.  Do you notice the Halloween cutters mixed in with the Santa and angel cookie cutters?  Rylee didn't think we should just do Christmas cookies...why not celebrate Halloween now too??

Yummy Looking Cookies

Ashley, Rylee, Caitlyn, Abbie and Chloe

Ambulance Christmas Party

This year we were in Billings during the Fire Department Christmas Party so we made sure to make it to the ambulance Christmas Party instead.  This year the party was really enjoyable since we sat with the Schmidt family, a personal favorite of mine.  The dinner was catered by the Macaroni Grill and then Santa came to visit with presents for all of the kids, purchased with Santa's own money (a very impressive Santa!).  Rylee still will not get close to Santa, not even for a present.  Abbie, on the other hand, will climb right up there and tell him exactly what she wants and have quite a conversation. 

Jeremy had to sit on Santa's lap to get Rylee's gift.  Rylee just buries her head to hide from Santa.

Now she is happy once she is away from Santa.

Abbie has climbed up there and is willing to tell Santa about the doctor doll she wants and how she has been a great kid for the last year and on and on.

Rylee was willing to stand next to Abbie as long as Abbie was the one standing next to Santa.