Happy Holidays 2013!

We're in the beginning of January and the count down is on til we move to Dayton. I know these next few months will fly by and soon I'll be swamped with boxes! I need to hurry up and update our lives so they don't get ahead of us. 

We had a great two weeks down in Cincinnati for Christmas and New Years. We packed in a lot and by some miracle I didn't end up sick this year. Addison and Avery are sick with coughs and runny noses, but at least I feel decent to take care of them! The day before we left we did a little Christmas with our family. Addison and I put cookies out for Santa and read The Night Before Christmas together. This is the first year that I feel like Addison understood what was going on. Santa was good to our girls! Addison loved her new shopping cart and grocery store food. They were each given more cereal bowls and Addison got a matching water bottle.  Avery got some new bigger winter clothes and a new book. Addison gave Avery a jingle owl toy that she loves to eat the face. Avery gave Addison some new paints and a giant crayon that is already broken:) We got out the easel and Addison painted happily all morning. After scrambling around to pack we left the 20th and made it back on the 4th from Cincinnati. Our return got delayed due to snow and ice. Everyone in my family was able to come for the holidays. We did our traditional viewing of the Train show, Festival of Lights at the zoo, Skyline, lady shopping day,Christmas crepes, Chinese food on New Year's Eve,  fancy adult dinner, a movie on Christmas day and lots of quality bonding. I managed to squeeze in a couple Jersey Mikes visits and Dave had about 10 UDF vanilla milk shakes! My favorite thing to do is staying up and playing games. Addison and Avery slept terrible while we were there so Dave and I were miserably tired. Avery pretty much forgot how to sleep and I am praying it comes back sooner than later! There was a lot of cousin play time. Grammie has lots of babies and they were put to good use. We took Addison to her first movie at the theater to see Frozen! Once the popcorn was gone she got a little squirmy, but she loved it. Avery slept like a dream and also enjoyed her fist movie:) We were able to video chat with Dave's family on Christmas and were sad we didn't get to go out west this year. Auntie Kate gave all the girls shirts that said, "If you think I'm cute you should see my Auntie Kate". She also gave Addi new princess bath toys and Avery some pjs. Jonathan and Eliza blessed little Olivia while we were there. Dave and I got to go out on a date one evening and it was nice to leave Avery at home. We were glad to put a close to 2013 and can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for us!

A Little Bit of This and That...

Not a whole lot has gone on this past week. I finished doing the primary binders for next year and am almost finished with all the little things I need to do. Avery is still a difficult and random sleeper. Some nights she goes down at 10:30 and will sleep through the night and others she cries all night long. I'm slowing getting used to just being tired all the time. Her smiles still melt my heart and she is pretty content during the day if I am holding her or if she is in her swing. Addi woke up on Saturday and decided she wanted to pee on the potty. I was not really wanting to commit to this again, but she is actually doing really well. We have had a few accidents, but she loves going and even will do her number twos on there! The only downer is that she insists on removing every single article of clothing to do it. Needless to say she has been wearing only sock and underwear this week:) Addison loves to wash dishes while I am cleaning or making dinner. It turns into a giant water mess, but she loves it. I just can't wait til she is old enough to do some real dirty dishes! Dave is squeezing in going to the school to study now, but can be home when I need him. I love it! I was able to go out to brunch with some girl friends today and go kid free! Things just seem more relaxed around here and it's nice for a change. 

Congratulations Dave!

The moment has finally arrived...Dave finished his last day of unpaid labor for his CRNA degree! We have scrapped and made do for 28 months and in just a few more it'll all pay off. I am incredibly proud of Dave and all that he balanced and accomplished during his schooling. Addison was just barely two months when we got here and now Avery is just over two months finishing. Addison and I ran around and got him a balloon, his favorite "ultimate white cake" from Wegmans and made him a banner. Addison kept shouting, "Happy Thanksgiving" to Dave:) She eventually changed it to, "Congratulations Daddy".  Dave went to a dinner that evening with his classmates to celebrate their success. We had the Quinn's over the following Monday for a pizza and root beer float party. Addi helped me make little graduation cap cake pops and Juana brought Dave white cupcakes with white frosting. He is so boring but,he loved them and eats about 5 a day. We're planning on going to a nice dinner with my family over Christmas to honor Dave. Now all he has to do is pass the boards in February!   

BFF Time

We had Will over the other night and Addi brought him over a dress up. He asked me to help him put it on and he loved it! His dad wasn't very happy, but Addi was thrilled to see him in it. They are best buds and Addi is really going to miss Will here in a few months. 

Sparkle Arrives

An Elf  on the Shelf  landed on at our house at the beginning of December. Addison was thrilled and named her Sparkle because of her sparkly red skirt. Sparkle moves every few days and Addison loves to run down in the morning to find her. Sparkle helps Addison behave since she flies to the North Pole to report to Santa each night. Addison continues to remind Sparkle that she would like a trampoline for Christmas. We shall see if Santa can pull that one off!?!?! Santa is sort of hoping she forgets about it and is happy with all the other wonderful things he found for her:)