Festivities verses mad rush, packing & SNOW!

The season began with a gingerbread house that came home from one of Grandma's famous treasure hunts at the end of our Thanksgiving stay in NJ. The girls had a blast with the decorating once challenged mom and dad with both sets of hands and a hair dryer attempted to get the house to stay together without a side caving in. I'm sad to say that this was even one of those pre-made kits...apparently this needs to become a tradition. We finally succeeded and our cute gingerbread house has a great sunroof across the top. Every day since its assembly more and more candy goes missing :)

Kylee was a dedicated worker and very proud of her accomplishments. Alexis, on the other hand, couldn't even finish her decorating before devouring her character. We were shocked we had enough candy to finish the house!

Last week we had our ward Christmas party where Kylee and her PARENTS were shocked with excitement as Kylee came out dressed as an angel. She was dying to get picked and fortunately did. You could see our grins from a mile away apparently as we proud parents watched her sing.

Alexis watched with her longing eyes and dreamed for the day she will be apart.

We had a great time and I'm so thankful for a ward family where ever you go and love spending time with my little family!

We hope you all have a great holiday season! Our plans are to head out west for the break when we make it. We currently are getting hit with a huge snow storm and Charlottesville freaks out with any kind of snow! We are at 6in. so far and expected to maybe get up to 2 feet. Skylar is stuck in the madness and has been in the car for 4 hours trying to get home from work which normally takes 30min and Kylee is finally peacefully sleeping after coming home early from school due to throwing up on the gym floor right before the school Christmas sing. I promise, I am still smiling as I write all of this....love Christmas and know it will all work out. I sat with my girls on the sofa tonight reading Christmas books, with our little Christmas tree and snowglobes and starring out the window at a beautiful snow storm. Those moments you forget about the countless trips to the stores trying to figure out christmas gifts and still currently feeling like you have failed...what is the perfect thing to get people. Or that you haven't touched the packing and what nightmare will we run into at the airport. Maybe from all of this we won't be waking up at 4AM to catch a flight out of DC sunday morning. Oh, and Sky just called informing me again how much he loves his 4 wheel Jeep as he just passed a wreck on a side road trying to find a shortcut and may actually be home in about 20 min.

ENJOY THE SEASON!!!!!!! I can't wait for some sledding tomorrow!

Overdue Marathon Alexis Update

Lexi has become my little side kick during the day now that Kylee is at school all the time. We have been trying to keep ourselves busy and I can't believe how grown up my baby is. Her phrases keep us all constantly laughing and her cuteness makes us all fight over who gets to eat her. I feel good as she runs to me for protection when Sky and Ky are both attacking...knowing that I always get the amount of cuddles that I need. She is right by my side each morning and has become my shower buddy. She loves to stand on the toilet next to me every day as I get ready and puts on every single one of my lipsticks. This is often followed by her asking for each thing that I'm using from moose to my deodorant. Her personality continues to emerge more each day which is also making me have to watch her even closer each day. It amazes me how different each kid can be. Kylee still checks in with me constantly or is nervous to even go up to people she knows to ask a question. Alexis on the other hand is constantly invading even strangers personal space and tends to make a friend or companion where ever she goes. The latest is my institute class as she makes her rounds to people I've never met. As I look back, I'll find her coloring with a missionary, sharing all her toys with an elderly lady, or escaping to who knows where. She is often rewarded with a trip to the mall afterwards and loves going on this tiny merry-go-round and lately it is to see Santa! What was once a scare is now an absolute love! She is obsessed with any dressed up character and can't get enough hugs from them. For example the Hershey characters and the latest is Santa. I think we have visited him over 10x already this season.

We enjoyed tagging along with some friends to a field trip at Explorations back in the beginning of October. It was filled with hands on projects and it caused me to realize it was time to engage Alexis in more activities. She loved, painting rocks with water, rolling out the clay, building and most of all the rice table! This was one of our first one on one activities and Alexis not in Kylee's shadow at all. I was just overwhelmed with watching every move she made and seeing her in all her glory as she was part of the group.

Choice of Attire: Would probably always be a bathing suit. This day it was 3 of Kylee's suits on over her PJ's (October/few weeks after our FL trip)
In Love With Her Silkies: Often asking to be naked and wrapped in them. Couldn't even dream of sleeping without them (must have "pink one" and "white one" as she calls them)

Latest Love: A binky or as she calls it a "pinky" I may have set a new record....child never has used a pacifier and now at 2 1/2 won't go to sleep without her pinky. Let me tell how happy Sky is about this one! What started out as innocent make believe play with her babies has turned into a horrible habit which I guess I will face after the holiday.

Tough girl who still shows little pain...amazing how quick she bounces back from injuries which I still is attributed to the NICU.

Best Sleeper ever! still so easy to put down and a delight to listen to in the morning. Has her stash of stuff at the bottom of crib and wakes up singing to herself.

Sound Impersonator: great at imitating every sound she hears and then asking what's that or impersonates a cry, wine or yell of another child including Kylee. Cracks me up every time.

Following Father with her movie lines: I got her going and now she runs on her own, latest cute line is from Grinch..."I don't like em, no I don't" Began with, "Turkey & Sugar"

Following suit as she seeks for the Thrill as well...A recent form of entertainment is using the spare mattress and sofa cushions as a slide down the stairs and for extra speed the silkies are the girls mats! She loves every ride she is tall enough for at Hershey Park and we are glad we've gotten her back twice since we moved...favorite I think is the swings! Lastly, this is a high swing hanging from a tree in our friends backyard...my jaw dropped on this one as I looked over at Lex and Sky! It is so fun to watch her excitement for Life! Each activity is met with a "Yeah Yeah Yeah" in a high pitched squeal as she jumps up and down with her arms in the air.

After one recent bath she was found like this. All set up with her stuffed animals, in the pop up basket that she found and of course in Kylee's room where we are often hanging out in the evenings.

Alexis is frequently found singing or humming a tune. Within minutes of getting in the car she asks for a song and knows so many of them. (every wiggle or beaty primary song) I NEED SOMETHING NEW! I am amazed at how fast she learns the lyrics and remembers the tune.

Ky, heard her singing this primary song and asked, "How does she know that?" "From listening to you" Some of Ky's examples I wish I could erase but others I am so thankful for. Alexis learned how to hold the book out and tell these stories from watching big sister constantly pretend to read to her class at home and picked the new primary song up from just listening to us at times. She sang right along with the Primary program a while back while standing in the isle.

Favorite Quotes / Frequently Heard:

"To POKY" any new outfit that comes her way

"I do it myself"

"OOOh pretty mom or go to church" when I'm actually done up or going out

"Come on Buddy"

"I'll be right back"

"Nana nana boo boo stick your head in doo doo"

"One more time" or "Just one more" (with her index finger held close to her face)

"Read it me"

I say, "My Lexi" she says, "My ma ma" (normally on way up for nap or bed)

"What'd that" and we just recently hit the "WHY" phase

I'm almost done with this post but I have to mention her music and movement class that just ended. She absolutely loved it. She took the first few weeks to warm up but once the routine was down she would go running down the hall as she heard the opening song and chime right in. She knew it was HER special time as she eagerly watches Ky ever week at gymnastics. She called it, "MY CLASS" and would ask every couple days for it. I was so thankful on the days she had it that I could mention, "today is your class" as she would longingly watch Ky and Dad leave for school and work.

She had her friend Chloe in the class and new everyone by name after the second week. She quickly learned many of the songs and several of them are still heard on a daily basis. At times the noise would be too much for her but she would just cover her ears or ask to be held and soon chime back in. She was obsessed with this pink scarf and many weeks never wanted to leave it behind. I think I bribed her with "Santa may bring you one" at our last class, which reminds me...he better get on that one!

I love my "LITTLE LEXI" and all she brings to our family! If any of you made it through this post...WOW! Thanks for putting up with my way over due journal entry.

Alexis will be watching these videos of herself over and over!

WE DID IT!

"WE DID IT!" (as Lexi and Dora would say) It's just not Thanksgiving without the Macy's Day Parade! We had another amazing time at the Macy's Day Parade and things were perfect. It was Lexi's first time, perfect perfect weather, great front row seats as always, my Dad taking care of the driving and the Francis crew was able to join us! Parade Highlights:
-Holding down our spot despite the crazy lady walking by thinking we were blocking the way.
-the phone call where Kylee realized Zana really was going to make it
-shouting for Confetti and getting an entire unopened bag thrown right at me.
-Listening to Lexi ask for more "fretti" (confetti) for several days later and still finding random pieces in the car with pure delight.
-Drinking "HOT" hot chocolate :)
-Bringing back childhood memories and watching our girls
-having this song stuck in our head all day

Check out the pile of confetti in front of us!

We spent a great weekend at my parents and the girls rediscovered little adventures at Grandma and Grandpa's house (ie: cedar closet, attic, our old toys, g-ma's treasure boxes)There were plenty of visits to Santa as Lexi just can't get enough and always some great eating! Thanks Mom and Dad for everything.

We took a great detour for a night on our way home to Hershey and made Lexi ecstatic as she spent time at one of her favorite places on earth...Hershey Park! She ran the show and knew exactly what ride she wanted when. Kylee was ecstatic as she was reunited with another great friend Lindsey. They played together non-stop till we had to part again. Thank you Christenson's for opening your home up and letting us crash!Coolest bunk beds ever and they are know on Kylee's future Christmas list!

This entire house is made out of Hershey products from top to bottom. Pretty cool! Hershey bar roof, white chocolate kit-kats for trimming, cookies n' creme bars for bricks, jolly ranchers stain glass, green twizzlers for garland...etc.