Christmas 2010!!

A BUNCH of pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at home and then drove to Michigan during Christmas Day.  The girls were super-excited to head north since we hadn't been up since late July.  They loved all their presents (It's always funny to see which presents they end up being the most excited about.), and loved spending time with family.  Not sure how we're fitting all this in the house yet.  It may be time to clean out old toys!!  Anyway, hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!

The girls opened up their new pink Snuggies on Christmas Eve from "mom and dad" - they were super excited!

Just like Baby Jesus, they were swaddled in bright pink cloth!

Ashley also got a new robe that she had wanted - my gift is that I get to turn the furnace down now $$$$$



The girls received new desks from Aunt Vicki and Uncle Ted.  (I personally was impressed on how well they were assembled!)



Grace is already planning to do her homework at her new desk!

Alison hugged her desk later in the night and told it, "I love you desk.  Thank you for being here."  I don't think she's ever told ME that, but she said it to a desk.  Not that I'm bitter.  : )

The "before"

Alison got a new bike from Santa!  Hope she doesn't get her snuggie tangled in the spokes!

Grace got a new bike as well....she was excited to have one with a kickstand!

Alison starts opening presents from Santa

Grace wonders what's in here

Big Sis helping out

Toy Story 3 - we saw this in the theater in 3D and Alison took her glasses off so it would be less scary that way.

She FINALLY has Pixos - I think she may have been the last one in her class to get them.  That's the story she was selling, anyway.

Alison didn't take her new backpack off for the rest of the day

The "after"

Or maybe they aren't quite done yet

Alison sports a new head band that was in her stocking

Grace decked out in an American Girl outfit

Alison got a big box of birthday from Aunt Vicki and Uncle Ted

Moving on to the next present

Play Doh ice cream shop!

And the burger builder set!

Alison opening some new "Snoophy" movies from Papa and Nana

A new hooded bath/pool towel for the Ali-gator!

Time to hand out the Christmas presents!

Excited to hand out the presents!! She was the tag reader.

Papa's New Snowmobile

My dad bought a used snowmobile this week, and the weather cooperated a little bit by giving us a couple inches of snow - just enought to make it worth our while.  The girls went on quick rides with him this morning, and they had a lot of fun.  When Grace was on it with him, they saw 3 deer come out of the fence row about 20 yards in front of them.  She thought that was pretty cool!  We'll post some Christmas pictures later - stay tuned!

Alison bundled up and waiting for her turn!!

An action shot of Alison and Papa rocketing through the back yard at 8 mph!

Alison is all SMILES getting ready to get on the gas!!

Grace gets a quick orientation lesson before they get started!

Charlie Moneymaker sits in at the World Series of Apple to Apples  - he wore his shades so no one could read his eyes!

Birthday times two!

Today is the day we celebrate Matt and Alison's birthdays. One is 4, the other is 36, I'll let you guess which one is which by their actions.....

Alison got a crown at school yesterday, so she wore it to open presents as she named herself the Birthday Queen... Technically she called herself and daddy the birthday queens, so I corrected her to say that daddy is a birthday king...

My Aunt Anne got Ali a nightgown with a kitty on it that was just like the one Grace got for her birthday.

As you can tell, she was beyond thrilled!!

They wanted to pose in their matching nightgowns and show the world that Ali is 4

The most anticipated gift this year was a pillow pet, one she's been wanting for what seems like her whole life if you ask her



Again, more excitement!!

She also got a new dollhouse

Grace never turns down a chance to be in a picture. Ali received some people for her house.

Matt's turn!!

He'll be stylin' at the pool this year in his Detroit Tigers swimsuit

What is behind box #2??

We end the show with a Red Wings shirt!

Santa Visit!

We had the State Farm Santa Visit this weekend.  Grace has outgrown it (sniff, sniff) due to age restrictions, but Alison got a new game (5 Little Monkeys) and the opportunity to talk to Santa.  She was super-excited to see Santa.  She didn't get nervous until we were "next in line", but she still spoke to him when he asked her what she wanted for Christmas (Pillow Pet!).  We usually like to take some photos there for the Christmas card (which we went and had made last night!), and here are a few of the photos that didn't make the cut -

Family portrait photo by the "fire"

Growing up too fast!

Hanging out by the tree!

I didn't know Penguins sold insurance!

Maybe igloos need fire insurance!

Alison found a tree just her size!

I think they were stuck in Candyland on this one.....

Riding in the sleigh!

Ready for their close-up!

Enjoying some hot chocolate together!

Grace had a Daisy Scout field trip to see a performance of The Nutcracker.  Here she is with a couple of her good friends, Samara and Ella.

Alison was VERY excited about some new Dora slippers Ashley bought her Saturday.  I mean VERY.  Refused to put on socks for the rest of the weekend!  She loves running in the basement in them!

First Snow of the Season!!

First snow of the season!!  The girls were up by 7:30 and ready to go outside to play in the snow.  Alison got snow in her boot pretty early on, and came inside before we could get the camera out.  Here's a few pictures of the snow......

Grace has fun making a snow angel.......she spent some time just laying in the backyard this morning!

 Happy as a little girl in snow could be!

 Picture of the playset covered in snow......

 The snow blower started on the second pull!!  Best. investment. ever.  I'm not sure what other piece of machinery besides a motorcycle could get me up this early to use it!

 I think we got around 4" of snow!  Ashley took this picture to give you an idea of what we have.