Getting Ready for Christmas

Last night, after a VERY llloooonnngggg day of shopping (I was in line at Kohl's at 2:30am), we decorated our new Christmas tree! Gigi and Pappy got us a new Memory Wire 7 1/2 foot pre-lit tree, and we are so excited not to put up our old one and wrap the lights. This one snapped right together in no time! Here are a couple of pics of the girls decorating.

We have to be careful though, because the tend to put ornaments right on top of each other and who wants their tree to look like this?

So Much To Be Thankful For!

Here is a picture of the girls playing a game at Nana and Papa's last week. My two are of course bickering while playing the game, but they worship Bella so much that they will let her do whatever she wants take pieces and walk away...no problem! So cute, Bella gets in there like one of the big girls!

Toothless

Brittney lost two teeth this week! She pulled them both herself and is very proud. She is however worried because she promised Auntie that she could pull the next tooth.

She proudly informed me that she has now lost 7 teeth. She is growing up so quickly!

Down Time

Our weekend was a little more uneventful than usual...somehow we didn't have any major plans for once, and the down time was very nice! It was really just the girls and I for most of the weekend as Bill was in Chicago covering Tiger Soccer at the State Tournament.

The girls and I did some cooking, some cleaning, made some cookies, and had Family Game Night without Bill. The girls LOVE FGM...so anytime we have a weekend night without plans that is what we do. We play UNO Attack (our favorite), Old Maid, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Snap, Go Fish, Zingo, etc. Fun games, but easy enough that everyone can participate without too much assistance.

We also grocery shopped...those of you with kids likely understand why to me grocery shopping with both of my children is the torture of all tortures. Shopping with only one of them isn't too bad(not great, but bearable)...but bring them both along and they are fighting over what to buy, who gets to help me do what. Brit gets to push the cart, because Brie isn't tall enough yet. I'd really like to push it myself but it helps if they have jobs and the cart is a good job for someone. Of course, I do have to constantly be aware of where Brie is(I try to keep her right in front of me so that Brit can't run her down), and make sure she isn't hogging the whole grocery store aisle. Not only all of this but I'm sure shopping with the pair cost me at least an extra $50. I tried to hold strong, but I became weak at about the cereal aisle of the second store. So...instead of our usual healthy cereal choices of Berry Cheerios and Life, we came home with what other than sugary High School Musical (thank you oh marketing genius, yes put HSM or Hannah Montana on anything and I MUST buy it for one of my girls) and Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs...every kid should eat chocolate and peanut butter cereal for breakfast!

I'm in the meat area and pick up a package of hamburger, and Brie says "Mommy, don't buy us worms!" When was the last time I made worms for dinner? The child has been to the store with me before, and watches and helps me cook. Not like the first time we've ever had hamburger! It was funny all the same, and the lady next to me and her teenage son got a big kick out of it!

I'm sure the check out lady loved me, because as I was checking out I found three items in my cart that I hadn't approved of which I gave to her and told her I didn't want. Both girls of course claim they didn't put them in the cart, I told them they have lie bumps! Brie also proceeded to cry because I wouldn't buy her any candy. Candy! I don't know about you, but we have enough candy in our house from Trick or Treating to last us until at least Easter.

When we got home from the store I got some video of the girls singing to their High School Musical Wii game before we headed over to Nana and Papa's for Sunday dinner. They are very excited for me to post them performing. Sorry in advance about the video quality, I just used my digital camera for these and it was in our basement so not the best lighting.

Here is Brittney...

And here is Brie....

It's all about the drama at our house!!

Don't Forget to Vote Today!

If you haven't already, don't forget to vote today! I have to tell you, Brittney has been so concerned about this election. She has been pulling for Obama for months, and to be honest I don't know where she got it from...I guess they have really been talking about it at school. She has been asking everyone who they are voting for...trying to sway them toward Obama. It's funny because Bill and I have been telling her that we were still deciding who we were voting for so as not to sway her opinion. At Bella's party the other night she checked in with everyone...I think only a few people in our family are McCain supporters and she told them they were wrong, and that she just didn't think she could listen to him speak for the next four years! Too funny!

Here I am posting pics of the Pumpkin Patch cupcakes I made for Bella's Birthday party, and a couple cute pictures of our little one year old entertaining the crowd with her smash cake. I'm also throwing in one of Brie...since Bella didn't finish her cake, Brie decided to finish it off for her. Um, I think that is half the cake she is trying to fit into her mouth!

Bella is 1!!

I can't believe my sweet and precious niece Bella is one already! She is such a cutie, walking and getting into everything, starting to say lots of words now! You can just see her learning when the girls do something or someone is talking. It is so amazing how much little ones change in a year! I'll post pics of her party later, but here is one of her then and one now. The girls absolutely worship Miss Bella, and are pretty good with her I have to say. Brittney is a total baby hog though...if she's around its hard for anyone else to get to play with her. Although Bella has been walking for a couple of months, Brit still thinks she should be carrying her everywhere. I think Brie is Bella entertainment...she watches everything Brie does very closely and laughs and laughs at her. I love this little angel like she was my own daughter, and miss her like crazy between visits. Happy First Birthday Sweet Bella!!

Halloween Parade

Last Night we attended Edwardsville's great Halloween Parade. Nana joined us (Papa was in the parade), as well as a bunch of the girls friends from their old Pre-school. We don't see them too often and the girls (and us Mom's) have such a fun time together! My friend Dana event took a family pic of us! The individual pics are Brie with her best friend from pre-school Jennifer, the wild girls from Little Rascals, and then Brit with her best friend from pre-school Gwen.