Easter 2013

Arriving bright and early at 8:15 a.m.- the girls were tired, but such troopers as we embarked on doing 2 Easter services at Vineyard Columbus Sawmill Campus for the first time.  They went to Sunday School for the first service and bravely sat through main service for an additional 90 minutes.  They were amazing.  Of course it helped that Rylee woke up at 5:50 a.m. and was so exhausted she took a nap during Sunday school, and on top of Corey during the 2nd service, and also a 2 hour nap when we got home!  WOW!  We had about 660 people show up, and everything from the worship, to the preaching, to the girls went awesome.  Easter 2013 would be a year that we would remember!

It was tough to get a good shot of all of us; but here it is!  Rylee mustering a weak smile, and Ava hamming it up!  Love it!

So sweet to have a sister that you love so much!

My beautiful girls.

 

Easter Egg Hunt Video.  This is our 4th annual Easter Egg Hunt!  In conjunction with Olde Sawmill Neighborhood association, we had close to 500 attend this year- along with 7,000 eggs!  Pretty amazing to think of how big it has gotten.

Disney on Ice

 

Best reaction ever from Rylee....you must listen closely!

 

So this year-(with some Mom persuassion powers I might add)- we were offered 4 free tickets to Disney on Ice.  Our friends the Barbers didn't need them, because they had already purchased theirs.  Luck for us, they thought of us first!  To prepare, I took the girls to the Disney store to purchase a couple of Rapunzel dolls and some shirts...so as to not let their little eyes be tempted by all the merchandise that they would see and want when we arrived at the show.  At first the show started off a bit slow for the girls, since they were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their favorite Disney Princess, Rapunzel...but the Lion King was phenomenal, and the skating was fabulous.  Then I could see Daddy start to get a bit nervous as no sign of Rapunzel anywhere in the building was confirmed.  BUT Praise God she came and all was right with the world.  Rylee sung "I see the Light" at the top of her lungs.  (Tone deaf and all I might add).  The gentleman sitting next to us, got a bit emotional, and whispered, "That is so awesome!"...I of course agreed...Disney on Ice would be a night that we would all remember. 

Sisterly love watching the amazing skaters.

Tinkerbell doing her thing.

Seriously?!  Could that face be any cuter?

 

The parade of princeses...life couldn't get any better!

Snow Bunnies Ready for the Snow

 

They have been aching to get out in the snow and use the fort makers that Grandpa had given them 2 years ago!  Finally in December of 2012 they were able to.  What a treat it was.  We atcually inspired friends to build their own forts, along with a snowman that had a carrot for a nose, grapes for eyes, and stick arms.  What a fun day!

Snow Bunnies

This was the very first time in 2 years that we have had enough snow to build a fort!  We got so much snow that Abuela had to stay some additional days!  (not so cool for Abuela, but wayyyyyy cool for us!)

 

Rylee barely fit in the 2T snow suit, but we made it work!  I seriously could squeeze those cute cheeks all day!

 

Christmas Day & Christmas Eve 2012

Exploring her new "Date Night Barbie"- the box says, and I quote, "He sure can COOK!"  LOL!  I bought it because it had all kinds of accesories, that Daddy sucked up with the vaccuum cleaner on the very first day! (aka a Barbie fork was gone forever!)

It was the year of "all things Barbie"!

Abuela, Mommy & her girls on Christmas Eve night...we color coordinated without even knowing it!

Abuelo, Abuela & the girls.

So excited to get her "Baby Alive"- she was thrilled to get a baby carriage along with it.  She couldn't wait to play with it, feed it, sleep with it...So fun!

Against everybody else's better judgement, I let you play with your new Barbie pool...of course there was water all over the floor!  But you ladies had a blast!

Ava's "IPad"

 

My two beauty queens :)

Our pretty Christmas tree.  Every year Abuela purchases a new "Nativity" ornament...the tree keeps getting prettier and prettier.

I love how Rylee is smiling at her Big Sister here...they love each other so much!

It is so delightful to watch your kids open gifts- I honestly think that it is far more fun for me to watch them!  Love the excitement!

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.