Merry Christmas

As I'm organizing the pictures for this post I'm struck repeatedly by how blessed we are with the family that we have, to be surrounded with love and support. It's amazing and we are so lucky! Mom came a week and a half before Christmas to help get ready (and maybe to see babies), Kit and Mom even took the girls for a whole day so that I could get my shopping done. Dad came the Thursday before Christmas and Bryce followed Friday night. Chad, I and the girls headed north for Christmas Eve then woke up in our home Christmas morning. It was wonderful. Now on to the pictures...believe it or not I left a lot of pictures out, it was a great Christmas!

To Cassidy, Christmas is synonymous with cookies, and she loves making cookies. Grandma Kit started it off with gingerbread cookies

Followed by a kiddos sugar cookie decorating party where we mixed the frosting and decorated and maybe ate a little frosting too. The girls were so proud of their creations and Cass was ready for Santa

Then Grandma Margie continued the tradition and made even more and when Papa Doug arrived he jumped into the mix helping with the snicker doodles.

Christmas Eve....

Jerry made the girls their stools for Christmas and they turned out beautiful.

Yay Grandbabies

Auntie Lisa with Sawyer and Auntie Lori with Rylee

After pictures it's time to deliver presents!

Cass checking out the recordable book Grandma Kit and Papa Jerry made...she loves it!

Sawyer finally had enough

All the grandkids (except the babies) opening their ornaments, this year from Hawaii and every one in their Christmas jammies

After eating a yummy rib dinner and spending time playing with cousins, it was time to head home and get ready for Santa. Cass picked out the cookies and didn't forget the apples for the reindeer...we take care of our animals around here!

Mossy and Cassidy leading the way Christmas morning.

After Santa's presents and stockings, we take a break for cinnamon rolls. This year Cassidy knew exactly how to make the frosting red and was quick to point out that white was not festive enough! Then she had to keep Grandpa Doug from sneaking one...that girl is busy!

Lots of wonderful things! Cassidy had one more present to go...the big one

Uncle Bryce and Sawyer, Grandma with Rylee opening presents

Chad worked hard to get Cassidy ready to play while she took a little nap. She loves her new trampoline and kitchen!

After a yummy prime rib dinner we had a birthday cake for baby Jesus

After Christmas Bryce, Mom and Dad were able to stay and play for another day for some more quality time

Cassidy wasn't done yet...After things settled down, Sam and Cari came by with their gift...Her first snow shoes! I'm so excited to get her out into the snow...and I know Cari is too

Thank you every one for a wonderful Christmas and all your love and support. We truly are blessed

Typical day

So what does a day around here look like? It's pretty simple; kids and dogs and multi-tasking...
My kitchen helpers

Cassidy serving her sisters "dessert" after they finished eating while she played upstairs

a little tummy time

Mossy helping under the close supervision of Echo. Mossy has turned into a wonderful family dog who loves her girls and is very patient and good with Cassidy. They have become quite the playmates and do a pretty good job of wearing each other out

A little quiet time

nap time (no matter how close to the edge of the crib I place them, they meet in the middle within minutes, even being all swaddled up)

maybe a little tv time for all (while I get dinner going)

I'm not sure what this is, but that's typical too these days, especially with those two

This picture pretty much sums it up. There is usually some one crying and some one trying to sleep and those are Cass's jammie legs close by, right in the middle of every thing.

This video is what Cassidy has resorted to for entertainment. It's amazing that they never actually wear out for longer than 10 minutes but they both sleep pretty good at night

Oh yeah, and me running around looking for the camera because that's the only way I'll ever be able to remember this blurr of a time! Oh what fun we have

Woodland

With Mom as my co-pilot (and thinking I was crazy) we headed south for a Christmas visit with family in Woodland. When we moved to Woodland I was going into the 5th grade and our neighbor Don quickly became like a grandpa to both Bryce and me. I have so many great memories and really wanted Don to meet the girls, especially since they are doing a little better. Well, the girls weren't doing great, but we had a wonderful visit any way and I'm very happy we went. Uncle Bob and Aunt Bette welcomed us into their home and I'm not sure they will ever be the same. Aunt Bette was wonderful and very sweet with the girls and definitely had the "special touch".

Don meeting Rylee and saying "I've never held a baby this small!"

Our dear friends, Howard and Sue, also came by to visit, meet the girls and play with Cassidy

Howard demonstrating his baby touch with Rylee

Sue playing with Cassidy and putting Sawyer to sleep

Don may not have that "baby touch" now, but if Cassidy is any judge, the twins will think he is wonderful before he knows it!

Cass getting some quiet grandma time in between visits

My cousin Sheryl and her family came by to visit too. We had a great time and Cassidy loved playing with her "cousins". Both Scott and MacKenzie were great to her and they had a blast. They also spent the night and Uncle Bob took all three to breakfast at McDonald's...Cass was in heaven!

Tug showin' that the big guys are soft too!

Scott taking a turn with Rylee and definitely getting the hang of it

Karen, one of my best friends from high school came by with her family and parents. It was great seeing them and catching up

With all that loving help, it was hard to pack up to head home, but we had to head back north after a great trip. Even Mom said it was worth going down! On our way home we were able to see cousin Shannon. She was sweet enough to meet us off I-5 at a McDonalds even though she only had a few minutes. While Cass played the twins were so overwhelmed with the chaos that Shannon's comment was "I don't know what you are talking about...they are great!" It had to be a short visit, but it was really nice seeing her and at least getting to say hi.

It was a fast and furious trip but I so glad we went and so very thankful to Uncle Bob and Aunt Bette for opening their home and all the chaos. I am continually reminded how blessed we are being surrounded by family and friends that love us. It was a great Christmas trip and maybe a little crazy but that's what makes the good stuff.

3 months

Remember our girls at 1 month.....

Here they are now, at 3 months! I can no longer have them share a bouncy seat, they have moved on to Cassidy's bean bag chair but still love being together (Rylee is on the left and Sawyer on the right with the outtie belly button)

They are also getting much better tummies, enough now to have more periods of contentment and that means tummy time! They both like being propped up so they can see and look around. Sawyer seems to be the mover and Rylee likes to watch what is going on around her. (Sawyer is in pink)

Sawyer grinning

They are about the same length and are getting more of that wonderful red hair!

Hanging out in the beanbag while I was vacuuming...Yes that is a left over Halloween costume. We don't just wear things one time around here, just ask Cassidy who wore her Halloween costume for a year!

these girls can sleep through anything!

Rylee's serious face...

and her goofy grin

As you can see the girls are doing well and growing and getting happier by the day. I would guess they are about 10 pounds now and are finally starting to outgrow some of the newborn sized clothes. I remember with Cass she was in newborn size for maybe a month, so at least we are getting good use out of them! They are sleeping better as well, going right back to sleep for those night time feedings and going 4 hours and starting to take more consistent naps.

Here comes Christmas

Christmas at our house starts with getting the tree so on a beautiful day off we all went! Chad and Cass were on a mission to find the perfect tree and did a great job!

TIMBER!

The timber crew....

Getting it home Cassidy and I got busy on stringing the lights

with our supervisors swingin' away

Chad helping Cassidy hanging the first ornament

Cassidy is very into the Christmas spirit and LOVED decorating the tree. She was a big help and with our memory tree she wanted to know the story behind each ornament. It was really fun for all of us

The finishing touch

We have also made going to the Lights of Christmas a tradition a few weeks later. Mom was here to watch the twins since it is a long night and a little chilly, so Chad and I got to focus soley on Cassidy and having fun. It was great and again the magic of "pretty lights" was amazing.

We are definitely ready for Christmas now! Oh wait, I need to get some shopping done first, and maybe get the house cleaned! But the spirit is alive and strong...