'Tis the Season!

This holiday season consists of many important firsts for us; most notably, Kaelyn's FIRST Thanksgiving and Christmas!! And Emma's First Thanksgiving and Christmas with her baby sister! And I will count this year as our official first Christmas in our new home (since last year we were still very much in the middle of moving).

Being the holidays, I am generally more cheery than usual just because I love all that it brings; the fall and soon to be winter weather, the beautiful lights, the delicious foods, the Christmas trees, the spirit of generosity and giving but most importantly, the gathering of family, close and extended alike. I absolutely enjoy getting together with family and look forward to the holidays when we can all take a little break from our work schedules and usual day to day schedules and genuinely enjoy each other's company.

This weekend, being our first Christmas as a family of four, and our first Christmas in our new home, we are beginning to Deck the Halls! I have been talking to Emma about it all week with so much excitement I can hardly hold it in. I decided that I wanted to start traditions with the girls and this year we are starting an Advent Calendar. It will include on each of the 25 days of Christmas, hanging a new ornament for each day and engaging in a Christmas themed activity; some big, some simple, but nonetheless filled with the spirit of the holidays.

Amid this excitement of the holidays, next week Emma turns two years old!!! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. I remember her first Christmas at just 3 weeks old like it was yesterday. I am looking forward to her excitement for this year's Christmas morning as she comes down the stairs and sees what "Santa" has brought for her and lil sissy. But moreso, I am excited to teach her about the holidays, the spirit of giving and the joys of being surrounded by family. We are blessed with such wonderful family on both sides and I want for Emma and Kaelyn to embrace the closeness and appreciate the time we have with everyone. Emma absolutely adores her aunts, uncles, cousins, Grammie and Grand-faaja already...not to mention her extended family. I only want those bonds to grow and get stronger.

So to kick of the season, we went and visited Santa Claus with Grammie and Grand-faaja last weekend and naturally to take pictures with him. Emma, being swarmed by her personal "paparazzi" (me mainly) since she came home from the hospital has become anti pictures and doesn't like to sit and pose for the camera anymore. To get her in the pic, mommy had to join in. Not my best, and definitely not planned for, but the girls look adorable as always, and Kaelyn is so peacefully asleep that she never even woke up once during the photo and Santa insisted on taking a "sleeping photo" with her.

Happy Holidays!! :)

Halloween... a little late

I wanted to share some pictures of Emma in her halloween costume this year. We didn't dress Kaelyn up because she was much too small for most of the costumes, plus I wasn't going to take her out and about so we just got her some halloween themed outfits ;)

Here are some pictures of Halloween and also of Emma at the pumkin patch with Grammie and Grand-faaja... daddy is behind the camera :)

Just sharing some recent pics of the girls

I just can't get enough of these girls!!! Too much fun...