Noelle has waited an entire year since Santa left her her coupon to get her ears pierced last Christmas.  They were not placed correctly the first time, but we are happy with them now.  I love Anna Kate watching Noelle be brave in the first picture.  When we left, she said, “I’m never getting my ears pierced.”  I said, “Great!!!”

Of course, she picked the biggest diamonds they had on the chart… definitely a treat that was worth the wait!  She couldn’t stop touching her ears all night long… she was so excited… still is!  I truly think that’s all she wanted for Christmas this year too!  Getting her ears pierced was so important to her.  She’s worn rhinestone stickers to school all year long, and her ears were finally healed to re-pierce.  So happy she is so happy, and we don’t have to do this again for a really long time!

Love this picture of Anna Kate playing dentist with the iPad in Daddy’s office… she’s still accepting new patients, by the way!

The day these french doors don’t have fingers smudges on them will be the end of a sweet chapter in our home… they used to bother me, and I would clean them all the time; Now they make me smile because I know this time won’t last forever.  And finding princess shoes on my childhood desk as I’m walking through the dining room… what could be sweeter?  Love these little reminders around the house that our precious girls live here!

Most of you met Pitiful Pearl sometime last year.  She is my Aunt Joe’s childhood doll.  Noelle’s heart went out to her when she first laid eyes on her, and we adopted her from Rara’s house right then and there.  She is the most loved on doll in our house… compassion runs deep around here!  Last night, Pitiful Pearl (named by my Aunt Joe when she was a little girl), got a pitiful make-over!  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse… in the words of Anna Kate, “Bless her heart!”  Noelle has big dreams of taking her to the doctor at the American Girl doll store and getting them to restore her hair and eyelashes.  We’ll see.  For now, she is dearly loved, and that’s what we all need the most anyway!

Anna Kate loves going on dates with me to the mall.  I think it’s because if she’s a good girl (she always is), we ride the carousel on the way out!  Tonight she sat in the green chair on the carousel (picture on the left) and screamed, “I’m not scared anymore!”  over and over again.  She was so excited!  Made me proud for her.  Here she is on the right taking pics with some of her friends, lol!  She actually got up there while I was looking at some of the clothes on the side and asked me to take her picture… such a ham… such a cutie!

Noelle had such a fun Christmas party at school this year, and she’s always so proud to have Anna Kate join in the fun!

They painted coasters for their craft and had a book exchange!

Sissy cuddle time while listening to the directions for the book exchange… love these girls!

Carson, Noelle, and Chloe

Anna Kate got comfy cozy in Mrs. Biggerstaff’s chair and had fun reading while the kids were crafting.  Here’s a picture of Jacob and Noelle!

Emerson, Chloe and Noelle

Ti’Niyah, Noelle and Ava

Here’s Noelle with her teacher, Mrs. Biggerstaff, who we are so thankful for!  I admired this story Noelle wrote hanging in the hallway at school.  She did a great job, and I thought it’d be fun for you guys to see!

We are so thankful for Mrs. Paula and Mrs. Julie and their creativity, energy and love!  Anna Kate has had the most positive first semester of preschool any parent could hope for, and we are so grateful!

What a fun idea!  Mrs. Paula used boxes the whole last week of school before winter break for lots of fun activities for the kids.  Anna Kate had a blast!

Pictures by: Mrs. Paula

We were off to a great start, headed to a wonderful Christmas production with Kay Kay and Grandpapa, until someone hugged Rose a little too tightly…

and then we were back to the real world, where Mike enjoyed the show from the foyer with this little diva!  Get all the tantrums out Rose… let’s move on to more fun things, like is Santa “real” or not… lol!

The night ended on a fun note… the grandparents took us out for ice cream after the show!

This cake cracks me up!  Mike ordered one with flowers and a peace sign, because he thought it would be colorful and cheery, but they surprised him with a retro car too.  I loved it because I’m always driving the kids around.  Perfect!  I thought he did it on purpose and was a clever idea.  Then when he got home from work, before I had even seen the cake, Rose reached up (we had no idea she could reach that high) and pulled the cake down to the floor… fortunately, it stayed in the box and just flipped over.  We were lucky!  Aunt Nancy always says, “You can’t have a birthday without a cake!” so no matter what, we always get a cake to celebrate birthdays around here.  This one barely made it but will probably go down as one of my favorite!  Thanks Mike for making my day so special!  I love you!

So blessed… enjoying my special day with my loves!