Holiday Fun

 Today we cleared off the map and started planning where we go in 2019... first time we got to use the international map! 

 Then we headed out to the stores to use gift cards the girls have received -  first stop Barnes and Noble and then Target...

 But this one has had a special request for a while now - and we just got word that a pet shop had what she wanted... so she got an early Birthday gift! 

 Meet Gwen the albino axolotl...

 Nora is pretty thrilled with her;

Rose was excited to get some more Lego sets and set right to work on putting them together when she got home...

 This pup has been limping after getting caught up on the stairs - she isn't in pain but we got her a new bed to sit on when we are hanging out in the living room...

 Margie had to check it out too...

 Emily has been  buried in a book she got today too... good way to end the evening...

Baking and Friends

 A day of dr appts and friend visits... dentist appts all around - all good reports...

 Then Nora had a friend come visit who moved to NC  - they had a great time baking ... and eating... while Rose was out roller skating with her friend...

 Emily finished her crocheted scarf...

 and our Polana shipment came with kielbasa and pierogies... and dry ice!  It was so cold today that it hadn't all melted... so we had a little fun. 

 Remnants of their baking adventures...

 And I'm trying to catch up on scrapbooking - the one on the right is from this summer - the ones on the left are from 2002... Emily remembered the amethyst so we had to find it again this summer and take a picture. :)

Time at Home

 The weather yesterday was beautiful!  The girls rode their bikes and enjoyed some outside time...

 and then Nora crashed - guess all those late nights and early wake ups caught up with her.  She took almost a 3 hour nap!! 

 While she napped, the rest of us played some games...

 Sequence Cats inspired us to listen to "We are Siamese" ...ha! 

 Then while the storms were rolling in -

We continued playing games...

 This morning it was clean up time - all the Christmas decorations are cleaned up for the year - figured we were pushing our luck with the kittens playing under the tree and then Gabby was taking up residence down there too! 

 This one was no help though!!

 Then more game time this afternoon..

 and this evening.. then Emily packed up to head out for her house/pet sitting job for the next week...

Merry Christmas

 Christmas Eve - Rose was so excited to put Santa up on the tree...

 We got ready for Christmas Eve...

 Pictures and exchanging family gifts...

 Then off to church for the Christmas Pageant...

 Then off for dinner - we've been going to Jim's Razorback pizza for a few years now but we headed that way to find it closed - thankfully Chick fil A was still open so we grabbed dinner and brought it home. 

 We fed the reindeer...

 set out cookies for Santa...

 and read our book...

 I was comfy cozy with my new hat! 

 and settled in for a White Christmas..

 a final check on where Santa was...

and all was set for morning...

 These two were up who knows how early but they came down around 6:30

 Then they started digging in... what a fun day of hanging out, playing games, making crafts and eating yummy food! 

 Merry Christmas everyone!