CHRISTMAS in February

Before Spring is completely here I must recap Christmas which will be hard to revisit as it will bring back such awesome memories.  For the first time ever, we hosted Christmas at our place and were thrilled to have the space to do it.  My sisters family came in from Idaho and my parents plus Heather came down from Jersey.  We had 10 people under our roof for almost 2 weeks and loved spending the holidays with family and finally having Santa visit OUR home.

Christmas Eve Family Pyramid with G-ma as the photographer!

The girls had a blast with this...grandpa on the other hand looks like he is ready to be done!  The girls have asked to do this again since Christmas but our family of 4 doesn't quite cut it, anyone ready to come back for another round?  Let's not forget Laura is 7 months pregnant in this shot as well.

Christmas Eve

• Grandpa's famous Onion Soup
• Each Family Sharing their Secret Santa stories 
• Reading the birth of Christ in the scriptures
• Watching Nativity Video
• the girls leading Peyton outside to sprinkle the yard with reindeer food
• getting santa's cookies and milk ready
• putting on x-mas jammies
• the girls trying their hardest to fall asleep and an almost sleepless night for the elves under this roof trying to pull a perfect Christmas morning off...their Mother has taught them well!

There was no question Santa and family had come. Kylee did her spying and was amazed to see this!...    We were able to  hold the girls off for a little while by giving them their stockings and paused for a yummy breakfast prepared by Grandpa.  (I loved having my Dad cook me my x-mas morning breakfast just like old times)  We were then off to the FROG to spend several hours opening and enjoying gifts.  Like always there were several surprises, tender moments and some great laughs!

Some of Kylee's highlights were her new bike, own personal digital camera, new clothes and bed for her American Girl Doll and of course tons more...they are always spoiled and well loved by all family members.  Kylee was found taking pictures of everyone all morning, narrating her own videos or soaking up time with her cousin Peyton.  These 2 have a relationship which is hard to describe but both love each other tremendously and at such a young age too, pretty special.

Alexis was in heaven with her Ariel vanity, camera, Rapunzel dress-up, scratch and sniff books and cinderella gem box.  I love how she spends time with each gift and enjoys them right then...there is no rush in her mind yet to hurry and open each one.  She was still opening stuff the following day.  You can tell how engaged and into her own world she was at times.

Both girls were ecstatic to get singing Rapunzel barbie dolls and finally their very own barbie house to share.  Grandma was a trooper and spent forever setting it up with them.

I love these cuties and not much beats watching their delight on Christmas morning while being together as a family!

I 

I always have a great time trying to get Skylar and this time the girls got into it with me.  Lexi gave him some brand new undershirts.  She has caught several glimpses of his dirty armpit stains and has given him heck over it several times.  "Ewww dirty armpits"  as she points and laughs in her silly cackley voice.

Kylee got him with his very own Webkinz! Yes, that is right, his own Webkinz.  He follows Kylee's closer than she does and most days without fail you can find him on the computer in the webkinz world having a grand old time and I am  serious.  He claims he is doing it for his daughters and sure I am thankful for the countless times I see them there together and that he spends his time guiding them through instead of me...thanks babe!  However, Kylee probably has the most webkinz cash in her account than any other 6 year old thanks to her Dad's fabulous game playing skills. 

Meet Dori, Skylar (and Lexi's) Webkinz!

He got plenty of other practical things that we just never take the time to buy.  One of which was this HEAVY fire safety box which has been under the tree forever spiking curiosity for all.  Sorry for the disappointment crew.  He surprised me with a huge gift which caught me off guard and is now getting the reaction I should have given Christmas morning...I got an awesome new camera that I love and can't believe how nice the pictures look.  I have so much to learn and am thrilled with the surprise but more so with not having to do the research or decide on which one to get.

Kylee and grandpa had a tender moment as she with the aid of grandma gave him a cardinal for his office.  The 2 of them let each other know when they spot one and both love this bird.  Us Virginians now have it as our state bird and just for Ky and Grandpa proudly have it on our license plate.  I with great Duke pride gave him a priceless pictures of me and the Duke Blue Devil himself with his traditional wallet.

I love the MAGIC of Christmas and all the beautiful thoughts, memories, traditions and love that come with it.  I get so excited to listen to X-mas music, see the lights, bake yummy goodies, bring out decorations and think about all the gifts our Savior has given to us.  This was definitely another memorable Christmas!

My sister thought she was escaping from the snow for the holidays but we were thankful she brought it with her for a few days.  Virginia Beach had one of their biggest snow falls in a long time for our first Christmas here.  The snow began late Christmas night so I qualify that as a "White Christmas"  We set records in Charlottesville and brought those records with us to Chesapeake.  We couldn't believe it and apparently the town couldn't either as things were shut down for the next 2 days and roads were never cleared.  It brought some great laughs to the Idaho folk who thought we were wimps. 

...and to think our neighbors laughed just a few days earlier when they saw we had a snow shovel!

The kids had a blast in it and when sleds were no where to be found boogie boards came to the rescue...only in VA Beach!  We went a little stir crazy but dance parties to the music from Tangled kept us entertained and in time it cleared and we were out having fun at several places and even playing in the snow with no jackets as temperatures rose and it melted fast!

Amazing how fast the weather can change in just a couple days.  Snowball fights and throwing competitions in 60 degree weather!  By evening this poor snowman was completely gone.

We had a great time taking the crew to the aquarium a place visited frequently with guests as we are season pass holders and then headed over to the beach.  Quite the sight to see snow, sand and ocean all in one view.  We are always up for firsts and this was a first for us.  Another first was watching Ky and Sky throw snowballs into the ocean.

We even made it up to Colonial Williamsburg which was a first for the Alsop crew.  Kylee was so excited to go since it is where her American Girl Elizabeth grew up.  She thinks it is the neatest thing that the actual place discussed in the books is only an hour from where she lives.  She took pictures on her camera of how the people looked and was excited to buy a mini chalkboard and chalk imagining that Elizabeth used a similar one.  She was more excited to take it to show and tell when school started up than any of her x-mas gifts.  Alexis was into the handmade soaps and brought a couple home as this girl loves to wash her hands and smell them.  "Look Mom, how clean they are now...smell them"  We are excited to go back when it is warmer and we have more time.

Our last day trip was going to the Nauticus museum in Norfolk and also getting to walk around the Battleship Wisconsin.  I was really impressed and love the teachable age that Kylee is at right now.  She was so excited to get to walk on one of the big ships that she has been eyeing since we moved here.  She still wants to tour an aircraft carrier and see in person where the planes land that often are practicing over our neighborhood at times.

Pretty amazing stuff to learn about and try to comprehend.  We loved seeing the living quarters and different size rooms for different ranks.  I don't think I could make it for one day but am thankful to live in the country that we do.

Grandpa and his girls

Really cool touch tank that my girls soaked up as always!

One rad escalator that the kind workers let these darling ladies ride several times!

The adults and kids both stayed entertained and following the museum hurried to catch a quick ferry ride.  Apparently it was a little too much hurrying as Laura almost went into Labor (JK) We enjoyed going across the water with an amazing sunset and looking around.

Thanks Kylee for your photography skills...I was impressed she got us all in...not too bad!

Other Highlights, Moments, Memories I don't want to forget...

• the 3 girls riding on the back bench of the minivan together with their stashes of toys and constant giggles
• FHE when Ky taught the lesson on "gifts for Christ" and had us all name some we would work on
• Kylee's cuddles with Uncle Taylor and comments about how mature Kylee is getting
• Both girls taking great care of Peyton and thrilled to be together
• Us all laughing hysterically as Peyton would call for Kylee
• The girls own little dinner table and Kylee doing a great job getting everyone to eat in between rounds of laughter
• Watching the girls say goodnight 
• Workouts at Jim's Gym with my Dad and being so glad I had a place for him to jog
• Fitting in lunch and Pedicures with Mom and Laura on the last day as we were determined to get some girl time
• Games and amazing food as always with numerous runs to the grocery store by G-pa
• Heather doing really well
• How cold our house always was for Uncle Taylor
• Lex loving Peyton's toys (ie: makeup bag) and carrying it with her everywhere 
• Our "Pretty toes" party on the last night

Oh, and this classic picture reminding me of how many pictures we took with someones eyes closed.  At least on this one they were all on the same page.  When I stop and try to put myself in the mind of one of these kids they have got to be wondering why we ask and make them take soooooo many pictures.  Ky looks like she is in pain. Thanks for being troopers ladies.

and 

sometimes 

you capture a shot like this

and you know you will treasure and cherish it forever!  GOTTA LOVE THE HOLIDAYS!

A few of Kylee's videos...and I couldn't leave out a short segment of "Pretty Toes"

"Twas the Season to be Jolly"

Countdown to Christmas and for holiday visitors to arrive was eventful and loads of fun as always!  Kylee and Alexis bring so much "JOLLY" and "JOY" into the season.  We began with decorations!  The girls loved getting each thing out of the boxes and a highlight is always the nativity.  Kylee was very eager and hopeful that she would find baby Jesus before Alexis and cherishes this piece soooo much.  I loved listening to Kylee teach Alexis what each piece was.  They had a blast decorating the tree and did a pretty good job...I think my training is slowly coming through but I did still redo at least half of it later that night...shhhh, don't tell.

YES, they were sick of hearing, "Careful, they are really fragile"

I was thrilled to finally have a mantle for the nativity and a real fireplace for the stockings...an image I have dreamed of for awhile...this was huge!   Sometimes it is the little things that make a huge impact.

It was also our first year in our marriage that we had a home to decorate with x-mas lights.  Wow, what a joke.  We felt like newlyweds again and had some great laughs trying to guess how many lights it would take to fill a certain bush or tree and what extension cords we would need.  I gained a greater appreciation for what my Dad did while I was a child just watching from inside the warm home.  Well, that part wasn't the problem we hung the lights on a sunny 60 degree day and stopped to be thankful for the VA weather again!  After at least 4 different runs to the store we got a few lights up and it looked simple but great.  The picture doesn't do it justice :)

We then were busy doing the usual: making and delivering cookies, visiting santa, attempting to go x-mas shopping, school parties, ward party, christmas movies (which we did a whole lot more of thanks to DVR, another new addition in our lives that I will never live without again) seeing crazy lights and faithfully doing the advent calendars with a scripture a day!
This is what we now call the "Crazy house" which definitely puts ours to shame but a blast to go visit.  The lights are synchronized to a radio station  and their were event characters for the girls to visit on certain nights.  I have never seen so many blowups in my life! oh and to top it off a DUKE fan lives there.

The girls endured almost an hour wait to see Santa but were thankfully entertained by the Narnia exhibit for part of the time.  (Cold ice to touch and snow to collect.)  People couldn't believe I was letting mine get covered in snow as you could tell they were trying their hardest to keep their kids put together for their outrageously expensive Santa pictures.  Oh no, not the cheap Alsop's we were willing to wait in the line for no photo at all, just the thrill of making sure Santa knew the girls wanted a Barbie house to share and their own cameras.  We were successful, had a good time and I still had my money in my wallet.

Alexis and I had a fabulous time attending Kylee's class Christmas party and I'm so glad I was unable to get a babysitter for Lex.  She was wonderful and felt like a million bucks getting attention from all.  Kylee was happy to have her there and the classroom mothers treated her like she was a first grader as well and allowed her to be a part of each activity.   

When these two choose to get along they sure have a great tender relationship and I have an awesome time watching them together.  Alexis followed Kylee everywhere during the party and Ky was thrilled to have a side kick...holding her snug on her lap during the class sing and explaining to Lex what was going on.  Lex had plenty of kids laughing at Ky's table with her little quarks as she has never been as shy as Ky.  It was hard to leave and like always we prolonged our visit as long as possible till I was the last parent to go!

Mrs. Cruz's Crazy First Graders

Thanksgiving in Jersey

We made the 7 hour trek up to my parents in Jersey for Thanksgiving and had an awesome time. We were excited to be with family and thrilled that my brother's crew from Texas was going to be there. Nothing much better than watching cousins hang out together and that connection that is always there as you know you are family.

One tradition/excitement when we go to gma and gpa's is walking downtown and taking a train ride. The cold didn't seem to bother anyone and the kiddos walked the town hall wall just like Mom and Uncle Kevin did when they were kids. We rode the train had a great pizza lunch (Jersey style pizza of course!!!!! oh so good) and then headed back.

The night before Thanksgiving was spent laying out layers of clothing for each person, getting doughnut orders making sure we had enough hotchocolate and trying to catch a few zzz's before the alarms went off for getting up to head to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I'm happy

to say my childhood tradition has passed on to my kids as this was now Kylee's 4th time going but first timewith some of her cousins. As always we were over prepared and we were quite the sight to see as Halli and I worked our way through crowds and tried crossing blockaded roads to meet up with the guys who were trying their hardest to hold down our spot! Wow, it is always an adventure but one that is always well worth it even if it means Kevin standing the entire time butt to butt with another man so the kids still had their front row seats.

It was so fun to watch Alexis be thrilled to go. She still sings their made up Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade song from last year and remembers so many things that they saw. She gave everyone a good laugh from the way she eats her doughnut...just frosting bites from the top leaving most of the doughnut behind.

It is a bite at least rather than just a lick but once she has made her bites around it she gives it back saying she is done and ready for a new one. Both girls couldn't wait to collect confetti and announce what balloon they could see coming next. An added bonus was Kylee getting to see the real "iCarly" a show I'm sad to admit I let her watch a times. "Mom, I didn't know she was really real"

No these trucks are not in the parade but getting a group picture during it is IMPOSSIBLE!

Neither cars drive home was close to perfect with all the traffic, wrong turns, missing bridges for some, difficult Heather conversations for others but the fun memories out weigh it and having a yummy dinner later helps put it all in perspective.

My parents did a wonderful job again and I can still say that at my age I have no idea how to cook a turkey and hope I can go on continuing to say that...that is my Dad's job!

The cousins had a good time making centerpiece turkeys with Grandma in between their time playing on gma and gpa's treadmill, playing at the skittles table, making obstacle courses and keeping their babies safe from the monster Easton.

After Kevin's crew left on Friday we took care of some of our sorrows by heading to see TANGELED as a group and absolutely loved it...DADDY included. The girls faces may have been slightly more enjoyable than the movie but they are both right up there and we are happy to say that their is a new favorite princess in our house. We stopped in Hershey on our way home for a night and as always loved seeing old friends and our old town and then endured the very slow moving drive home from a great Thanksgiving holiday.

"CAMERON CRAZIES"

The following weekend was my turn to have a dream come true. Live and in person I got to witness the "Cameron Crazies" I can't believe it has taken me this long but it was well worth the wait. It was absolutely awesome sitting in Cameron Indoor Stadium for a home game. Several of visits in my life have been down to Duke but never for an actual game or a personal hug from the DUKE BLUE DEVIL himself. In my mind this picture is priceless and I get a smile from cheek to cheek just thinking about the moment...then again all the moments during my 24hrs. down there.

I left the kids with Skylar and met my Dad down in Durham. He was there on business and scored us the tickets. Even just a Daddy daughter day would get me excited but then you go and add Duke to the equation and it was just bliss. We had a great time walking through campus, buying stuff at the bookstore, going down memory lane in the Duke Basketball Museum, experiencing the game, people watching and meeting several of the other teams players as they were at our hotel, chatting, jogging through the gardens and I can't forget the GAME!!!!!!

Thanks Dad for an amazing time and for making another dream come true. You can fully appreciate and comprehend the craziness till you see the "crazies" in person!!!!!

GO DUKE!

While Sky was busy we girls were busy

My sports addicted husband planned a crazy but dream come true trip for himself up to South Bend for the Utah, Notre Dame football game on Nov. 13th. His Dad and best friend both flew in to join him for the game and Skylar was willing to drive 12 hours to get there. Instead of being left home the girls and I caught a ride up to Charlottesville to hang out with the "Briarwood hood!" Sky had an absolute blast despite some rain and a Utah loss while we had an absolute blast with friends who we had been dearly missing.

First on the agenda was Kylee heading back to Baker-Butler Elementary to surprise her good friends Lydia and Lara for lunch. It was so precious watching them back together again.

The Medders took great care of us the first night and the kids moved from one activity to the next. Kylee was so excited to have a sleepover with Lara. I don't think I even really saw Kylee for about 24hrs straight. The following night we crashed at the Budge household where Lexi couldn't wait to be with Chloe and celebrate her birthday. These two were darling as they attempted their first sleepover which basically was a long cuddle and book reading...better luck next time. Alexis has always been so proud of her friendship with Chloe. "Chloe is my friend!" Kylee was in non stop movement mode the entire weekend soaking up as much friend time as possible and even made it over to Lydia's to celebrate her birthday with her.

Thanks friends for a great weekend get away and for friendships that can pick up where we left off. You know our door is always open for you too.

Halloween Season

Thank goodness holidays are never just one day long! Celebrating normally goes on for an entire month. I love this time of year as one holiday just follows another making life extra fun and exciting in my eyes and of course the kiddos. Halloween Season began with the girls sporting their Halloween Target attire while making Skylar's birthday cake. (You all know you've bought it one time or another and "yes" these are outfits purchased the year before on mega sale:)
The girls anxiously awaited the "TRUNK or TREAT" as they had been eyeing their pink pumpkins for weeks and Lexi told us over and over how she wanted to fill her pumpkin to the top with candy.
They both were fairies this night as Lexi was dying to dress like her sister and we didn't have her Belle costume yet. Kylee was nice enough to go along for the evening as she specifically told us she didn't want to be the same thing as her sister this year.
Everyone did a great job with their trunks and I am always impressed with each ward we have been a part of. One family even had automatic horses to ride which both girls got a kick out of. One of Kylee's highlights was Rob and Miranda's trunk when a HAND came out and grabbed her as she got her candy. Alexis quickly moved forward at this point and Kylee insisted on going back later. They even climbed in and tried themselves. They would have stayed in that trunk forever especially when their favorite babysitter, Riley joined them.Alexis was "BEAUTIFUL BELLE" at her preschool Halloween party and for Halloween. She was ecstatic when it came in the mail from her cousin Saylor and immediately put it on. It was worn every day that week. She thinks belle has the prettiest dress of all the princesses because it is silky and to her twirls the most. It was absolutely adorable watching her pick the front up so she wouldn't trip on it and listening to her request glitter and make-up every time the girls got dressed in their costumes.
We had a great time together at her Preschool party. This was my first time getting to hang out in her class and we ate it up together. Many of the girls in her class dressed up as different princesses and she took it upon herself to name each one for me and was thankful there were no duplicates. With a little coaching she was willing to let me turn her into a Mummy and insisted on bringing home a roll of toilet paper to do it again. The Halloween treats were darling and Lexi had a blast handing out the treat bags she helped me make for each classmate. She kept asking when it was time to pass them out.

For the first time ever we finally took the time to trace the new intricate patterns on the pumpkins for carving and thankfully Skylar got into it as it is just not my thing. I will say they turned out pretty cool and we loved finally having a front porch to display them on. I love how Kylee gets so into everything we do and despite the gooey insides this year she dug in. I can't help but say...this girl is just so dang cute!
Kylee was into the vampire teeth this year and when she finally got a pair she had a blast with them and couldn't wait to take them into class to show them off.
My little fairy and princess made Halloween a blast and I loved getting them all ready. We still have candy left and I'm wondering when I will finally stop hearing can I have another piece of candy!!!!

FIRSTS...

This season has been full of a ton of firsts and now that most of it has passed I can say that we are adjusting well. We lucked out with 2 extra weeks of Summer. I was frantically getting paperwork turned into the school as I assumed it started around the end of August and was shocked when I heard them say, "We will see you on Sept. 1st for meet your teacher night" I quickly thought, shouldn't that be before school starts and then noticed that the first day wasn't until after Labor Day. Kylee was absolutely thrilled to discover she had even more time. She was so nervous to start at a new place and I wasn't even allowed to mention the word school the entire month of August. I could barely get her to say 2 words to the principal when we met her. I am happy to say that she is enjoying school and feels totally comfortable there. She is working so hard at making friends and impresses us all the time with how mature she acts about school situations. She goes with a smile and comes home with a smile and that is more than a mom could ask for at this point.
On the same day Alexis started pre-school. She is going on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I would have been a wreck but my parents were still in town and held me together that day. However, it all came out by Thursday as both of my girls were gone again. Lexi pretty much flew right in as she has been excited to have her own experiences but is now struggling a little bit. She looked so grown up with her lunch box in hand and sitting with her little class. One of her favorite things to do is share what she has made in pre-school with Ky when she gets off the bus. My favorite part of the day is the hug I receive when I pick her up.
Grandma and Grandpa were here for Labor Day weekend and Kylee was surprised with something she has been begging for for a long time. Ky got her FIRST American Girl Doll and is in heaven. (the beauty is that she has no idea it came from a garage sale)

Just a few days later Kylee lost her FIRST front tooth. It is just crazy how different they look once one of these teeth come out. The tooth fairy almost forgot to come and redeemed herself with a five dollar bill!!!!

The girls also started their FIRST dance class this fall. Kylee was a little skeptical but once she realized she knew most of the girls in her class from church she was ready to go. She is willing to give ballet a try in order to have TAP which she enjoys the most. Alexis on the other hand has been all smiles from the minute I mentioned she was going to take dance and insisted on having a tutu. She is just eating this experience up and looks absolutely darling. My favorite part is probably the outfits.

I also had the chance of taking Alexis on her FIRST field trip. Despite getting lost on our way and Lexi having 2 different melt downs in front of the class we had a great time together. I love getting to spend one on one time with the girls and enjoyed seeing how happy she was at each event. Her favorite was the hay ride. I'm trying to get her to make friends but her best friend is definitely her big sister and she even made sure we took a pumpkin home to her so she wouldn't feel left out.

Just a few weeks later Alexis and I joined Kylee on her FIRST field trip of the season to the Zoo. It is always a good feeling to see how excited she is when I arrive at things and I hope that will last forever. I'm sure this is wishful thinking...time will tell.