Christmas Program at Vineyard Columbus 2012

Getting ready at home was quite the process, now that Rylee is intent on looking as pretty as her big sister.  I curled every lock of hair I could, and we were out the door without a minute to spare!

 Ava getting ready to sing her Christmas songs at church.  Seriously beautiful right?

Ava got lost in the sea of children we have at Vineyard Columbus Sawmill. 

 It was amazing to see so many kids!

Rylee's weak attempt at smiling for the camera!  UGH...Of course, Ava is always my willing model!  They were standing in front of one of trees at church decorated using  ornaments made by the children.  Such a pretty tree!

Shot # 2...Rylee was getting really hungry by this point, and was void of life :)

As close to a good "family" shot as anyone would hope to get:)

Rylee ringing her bell during the performance.  She did so good!

Video of Rylee Carving her Pumpkin 2012

 

Rylee doing her thing with the pumpkin!



Pumpkin Carving 2012

Daddy in the beginning stages of carving our pumpkins...not the best carving knife, but according to Daddy, "It'll do...it'll do."  I keep trying to pressure him into investing into some proper carving material...oh well, maybe four years from now when someone severs an artery he will invest in a 4 dollar carving knife :)

Ready to dig in and clean out the pumpkin!  At one point she was flinging around the innards, while I stared on mortified at the possibility of my newly mopped floor being destroyed.  Rylee very clearly stated, "Mom, look away!"  Corey and I of course got quite the laugh out of her comments! 

After the pumpkin was done, she also said, "we tore that sucker up!" LOL!

Looking beautiful in all that she does!

The carved side of our pumpkins....

The "artistic inspired by our children side" of our pumpkins!

Miller's Farm Class Field Trip

Going through the "hay maze" in Miller's Farm.  This was the first class field trip of the 2012 season.

So beautiful!

My beauty Queen...

Unfortunately I was unable to go.  I got really sick with a head cold, and so thankfully Daddy was able to go in my place since it was on Monday morning.  So glad that Corey has Monday's off!

Umm...well here is one of Rylee's temper tantrums...of course she didn't want to take a picture!  Of course Ava is always my willing model!

I think...and this could be a long shot...that Rylee takes after me in the height department! LOL!  They really are only 22 months apart!

Happy Birthday Ava & Picture Day

So here are my beauties...seriously?!  Aren't they just super gorgeous?  This is on their way to preschool for picture day.

Ava tearing into her cake- we are having a big birthday party for her on the 14th, but we have to celebrate the real day with a cake right?  Even though I hate the details of a party, etc....I made a promise to the girls that we would celebrate the "Big" birthdays...and number 5 certainly qualifies!

Strawberry 3 tier cake...the 3 tier is becoming tradition around here :)

Love that smile!

Ava's first Soccer Game

Ava is getting to be such a beautiful and tall girl!  Daddy decided that she should try sports for the first time...and soccer it is.  (Im thinking she might be better at Basketball & Volleyball...but the jury is till out)  Here she is preparing for her first soccer practice.

First game of soccer!  The shorts and shirt might be a little big, but they told us that as the weather changes, we might need to layer her a bit- this gives us enough room to do just that!

Posing for the camera- as always.

So... the first soccer game was...well as expected....a bunch of little kiddos chasing a ball.  Ava is super fast, but unfortunately she is super timid.  Timid?  What?  She would run, run, and run, then stop right in front of the ball.  We may have to start running some drills over here...of course I am kidding!  We are just thrilled that she is getting the exercise, and enjoying it for the most part.  I am so proud of her for trying new things, and for the ways in which she is just a good sport about nearly everything in life.  (All kidding aside, they may have to develop a penalty box for crazy Puerto Rican moms, that yell at their daughter..."Ava kick it the other way!!!!"...or "Ava come on!!!"....or "Ava you're bigger than everybody else- show some of your skills!!!")  (Of course nobody here fits that description!)

Watching Doc McStuffins

Watching the newest and greatest show from Disney. Doc McStuffins online.  They can't get enough of it, and this night they were blessed enough to mess up Mommy's straight and perfectly made bed to watch their show.  How lucky are they?

 

1st Day of Preschool for BOTH my girls

Could they honestly be any more beautiful?  I wanted them to dress alike for their first day of preschool, and while Grandma & Grandpa Garris were here- we went shopping.  These outifts were part of their birthday gifts!

A tall one and a short one...they defintely are Corey & mine!

So excited to go to their classes.

She was so excited for her first day.  Unfortunately I peeked in at one point, and saw her tiny little nose was pink.  The teachers told me that she cried for just a bit, but eventually settled down.  Her teachers are so sweet.  She has already warmed up to the both of them, and loves seeing her big sister Ava in the hallways, or at the playground.  I heard that on Tuesday they even exchanged kisses and full blown hugs!  How awesome is that?!

Leaving their first  day of preschool.

Mommy is not pleased...

Eating straight out of the gallon...hmmm...not my idea!  She loved sharing it witrh Daddy though!

Singing Happy Birthday to our 3 year old 'Big Girl'!

 

Singing Happy Birthday to Rylee. If you ask her right now who she loves the most, she will say, "Abuela!"...Love that she is honest almost to a fault! (My feelings shouldn't be hurt, right?)

Rylee's 3rd year Birthday

Helping make her own Birthday cake.  She was so excited to make her very own funfetti cake with Abuela & Ava.  Ava looks a little scary on this page :)..  They took their mixing very seriously.  LOL!

Waiting patiently to open up her gifts.

Her 3 tier Birthday cake made by Mommy, Abuela, Abuelo, Rylee, &; Ava.  (Daddy was at work baptizing people!)

Digging in to her serious stash from Abuelo & Abuela.

She can't wait to tear into the cake- which was really yummy.

Getting her her heart's delight: a little Doc McStuffins doll. For those of you not in touch with the latest and greatest- Doc is the new Disney show on TV that both of the girls are obsessed with right now. (She actually received 2!)

So excited.

She loves getting gifts- and gets especially excited still for things like pajamas!  I hope she stays that way when she gets socks for Christmas in the future.

 



Vacation 2012 Myrtle Beach

This is the pool we spent a ton of time in.  We pretty much had it all to ourselves!  We joked around and said that we probably could have saved ourselves a 10 hour drive, and gone down the street to a local hotel, and the girls would have been just fine!

Pretending to sleep in the car :)...Notice the intensity on that pretty little face!

Our view from our condo balcony.

Ava, Jordan, Courtney, & Rylee...not pictured: Jacob :)...They got along so well, and they enjoyed each others company.  They all slept in the same room.  (Although Rylee had her moments, and had to sleep with Mommy & Daddy a couple of nights!  UGH!)

I call them the positive (Courtney), and the negative (Rylee), not because of their attitudes, but because of their skin complexion, eye color...and hair color.  I thought that they would be killing each other by the end of the week- but they were really kind to each other, sharing, hugging, etc.  They made me so proud of them!

Another view!

Father's Day June 2012

Dancing with Daddy on Father's Day.

Dancing with Abuelo on Father's Day.

Abuelo showing Ava how to dance.

 

Dancing with Abuelo & dancing with Daddy...ahhhh....