Christmas Eve 2011

After taking care of a few things at home we headed over to my parents house on Christmas Eve to have time to spend with family.  We were joined by Derrick, Shay and Grace.  After an early nap the girls got into their fancy dresses and we headed to church.  Grace was still sleeping so Derrick stayed behind with her.  The girls did great at Christmas Eve mass and Maggie was excited that they played some songs she knew from her Christmas pagent ("Go Tell it on the Mountains")...she belted that one out!!  We headed back to Nana and Papa's to have some snacks and then a yummy dinner.  We all ate way too much food of course.  Next up was what Maggie had waited patiently for all day...some present opening.  We opened up presents from Derrick and Shay and Nana and Papa.  Before leaving Maggie made sure to sprinkle some reindeer food in Nana's yard to help Santa find his way.  On they way home Maggie remembered we had forgotten to set out cookies so she called Nana and of course they took care of it.

By the time we got home it was well past Molly's bedtime so she went straight to bed.  Maggie, Andy and I read the Night Before Christmas.  Then Maggie selected her favorite cookies for Santa, set out some milk and carrots, sprinkled the reindeer food in our yard and then finally headed to bed.  I told her she could get me when her clock said 6.3.0...we will see what happens....

Christmas with the Ensign's

Friday we headed over to the Ensign's to have a little Christmas celebration of our own.  They are our family and it is too busy to see them on Christmas because we each have our own chaos to partake in.  Usually Chrissy and I just get together with the kids because for the last few years it has just been too busy.  Lucky for us we were all able to get together.  We made a couple of homemade pizzas to devour.  The kids were able to entertain themselves.  Maggie and Lucas played while Molly explored and poor Layla enjoyed a movie while chewing away on her fingers to make her teeth feel better.  The adults were able to have real adult conversation.  I can't even tell you the last time the two families hung out together, it has been way to long and needs to be done more often.  We had so much fun.  After dinner the kids exchanged gifts...and then a whirlwind and we were home!  (Chrissy I have to say when we got home and Maggie was able to put her other earrings on the earring board you got her she just sat there and admired it.  She loved it and talked about how beautiful they looked, so much better then sitting in a box she said!)

Maggie's 5th Birthday

Maggie's birthday started out just like any other day.  I made her some muffins but then it was off to work and she had school.  Maggie took cupcakes to Rosa's and to school to celebrate with her friends.  She came home with a birthday crown and a book made for her by her classmates.  She had her last night of swim school so I made dinner and we planned to take her out the next day for a family dinner out to help celebrate. 

A Christmas Story

Sunday was Maggie's Christmas pagent at preschool.  The performance was the same as last year, but twice the fun.  Maggie had been singing all the songs for what seemed like weeks in preparation for the big show.  This year Lucas and Maggie were so excited to see us in the audience, the pointed, laughed and waved as much as they could (I think they were a little nervous last year, but pros when it came to round two).  They sang songs that told the Christmas story complete with hand motions and all. 

 They were so excited because Chrissy's mom (Lola to Maggie and Lucas) promised she would wear this reindeer headband and of course she didn't diappoint!  Chrissy has a picture of that on her blog if you want to check it out! :)

Message from Santa

Maggie's Message
http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/246755-vollerasmm/

Molly's Message
http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/246758-vollerasmm/

Maggie's Birthday Party

Today was Maggie's fifth birthday party.  Being winter and all we are stuck inside for Maggie's birthday.  We had done Bouncetown two years in a row so when Shay offered to babysit Marley (because it would be next to impossible to have a house party with her around) we decided the party would be at our house.  A small side project of mine has been to get the basement simi finished so the girls have another place to play and we have somewhere else to put all their stuff.  My goal was to have it finished so the kids that came for the party to hang out downstairs.  It was done and the party turned out to be a pretty decent success!  Maggie's best friend is Lucas and then her next closest friends are her cousins.  We had the family over and then we were also joined by Ethan, Jack and Becca.  The kids made gingerbread houses.  I had the candy and frosting all ready to go for them and the houses were preassembled which made the rest fun and easy.  After that little activity we had some food, presents, and cake.  In between it was absolute chaos, but everyone was happy.  Maggie absolutely loves all her presents and got a lot of great things.  Thanks to everyone for making her day so special!

Happy getting close to Christmas!!

Maggie and Molly have a countdown calendar made by Dave's stepmom Joan.  We absolutely love it and Maggie looks forward to seeing who gets to open a gift each day.  The shirts and pajamas are just a few of the things they have gotten so far.

Sorry for the red eye...I am behind in posting clearly and don't have time to edit right now!!

Santa 2011

So sadly enough only one child made it to Santa's lap this year, our seasoned veteran...Maggie.  Molly apparently was hysterical but gladly took candy from Santa afterward, told him thanks and even asked him to open the candy for her!

Friday Pizza Night 2011

One of the best things we love about Thanksgiving is actually after Thanksgiving.  Its been a tradition in my family to have homemade pizza the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Although its not exactly the same as in the past with little kids running around and all its still just as special and we look forward to it each and every year.  We were joined again as usual by Chrissy, Dave, Lucas and Layla.  As soon as they arrived Maggie and Lucas headed to the kitchen to make their own pizza, while Molly and Layla tried to share and play (Layla was fine, Molly had some trouble with this).  We had our fill of pizza, laughs and catching up.  I can't wait for it next year!

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday.  We were joined this year again by my aunts, uncles, cousin and grandpa (93 year old grandpa from Iowa made the road trip).  Andy headed out early for a game of football.  I tried to get a few last minute things together then headed over to my parents house to help set some things up.  After the girls took a nap we headed over to the Voller's to visit with family and have some snacks.  The girls had their fill of cousin time and then it was back to the Larson's for the traditional Thanksgiving feast, jello cubes and all.  We are so lucky to have family and friends that surround us each day.  It is even more special when that family comes from far to celebrate!

Happy Halloween 2011

This year after work I headed over to my parents as we have the past few years.  The girls were alreay there and ready to trick or treat.  Maggie had had a Halloween party at school so she got to wear her costume all day and loved it.  After an early dinner, warm chili, we were off to our favorite neighbors on Falcon Drive.  Maggie had a hard time having to wait for Molly and Molly didn't want ANY help which meant getting from house to house was quite a feat.  There were a few times I had to swoop her up and run to the next house.  Then she wanted to eat the candy right away.  It started to get dark and cold...Ms. Sherri, Maggie's teacher, lives in my parents neighborhood so we quick stopped my her house and then headed back to Nana and Papa's for a pumpkin cookie.  Then it was home with plenty of candy...Halloween success!



Halloween Preschool Parade

Okay so looking at my camera this morning (Thanksgiving morning).  I realized I haven't done anything on my blog since before Halloween.  Maggie had school on Halloween so she got to have a Halloween party.  Grandma went for the parade and took some pictures for us so we could see what Maggie's day was like.  Thanks Grandma for helping as usual!!

Hat Day at Preschool

Back in October Maggie had hat day at preschool.  Lucky for her Chrissy lent her hat from I think college.  She was thrilled!!

LEAVES!

I don't know what it is about them, but it doesn't matter how few we actually have in our yard, Maggie and Molly love the fall leaves!

Carving Pumpkins

Friday night we decided it was time to carve our pumpkins.  Maggie was excited to knew exactly what to do...it didn't take long for Molly to dig in.  She was happy to put her hands in and pull out what was inside, seeds and all.  Maggie told me exactly what to cut out for both faces.  Things got a little messy, but that is always expected.  Maggie helped pick out seeds so that we could toast those up to.  Next up...trick-or-treating!

Getting ready for Halloween!

Pumpkin Patch

There was a little bit of a window from when Andy got home from a Cross Country meet and naptime so we packed the girls up in the car and headed over to Big Ben's Pumpkin Patch to pick out our pumpkins.  Maggie chose several but we told her she had to pick her favorite one.  It wasn't long before our wagon was filled with pumpkins and we were one our way back home!

Apple Orchard

We made our yearly trip to Kuiper's Apple Orchard.  The girls and I were joined by my mom (as usual).  Last year Molly made the trip in the Baby Bjorn.  This year Molly was excited to be on her own.  It was a beautiful fall day.  Maggie had her bag filled in no time and Molly didn't waste anytime biting into her own apple.  After our walk through the orchard we headed into the store to the some freshly made apple cider donuts.  It was nice enough we were able to enjoy these outside.  Now we need to find some time to make apple pie and homemade applesauce.

Molly 18 Months

Molly had her eighteen month appointment on Columbus Day.  Everything checked out great!  She didn't need any shots except for her flu shot.  She was a little apprehensive this visit and was definitely aware of what was going on.  At eighteen months Molly is repeating just about anything and everything we say.  She loves watching Maggie and tries to do what Maggie does.  Molly is obsessed with bubbles, playing with bubbles and having bubble baths is her thing at the moment.  She keeps us busy and is constantly on the go! (I don't have a pic...right now anyway...Molly won't stay still long enough to get a smile out of her!)
Molly's 18 month stats:

Apple Picking

Yesterday my mom headed out to Plano early to join Maggie, Molly and I in our yearly visit to Kuiper's Apple Farm.  It was definitely cold, but well worth the trip, the sun was out shining and the girls had a blast.  We took the tractor ride into the orchard.  My mom wanted apples for baking and I wanted apples for eating.  Molly was on her feet walking in between the trees chomping on an apple the entire time and just happy as a clam.  Maggie did all of the picking for our apples, one bag to bake something and the other for a healthy treat.  After we filled our bags as full as the could possibly be filled we headed into the store for the Apple Cider doughnuts.  They are to die for...actually when we first go there Maggie got out of the car and said...I think I smell the doughnuts...when do we get to get one??  It was warm enough to enjoy a doughnut outside and play on the tractors.  Then we headed home!  There is a lot more pictures from the trip, but keeping tract of the two kids was enough for me so most of the pictures were taken by my mom and she hasn't sent them to me just yet!!

BEARS FANS!!

Grace's Baptism

Whoops...this is a lesson in don't get so far behind in your blogging...Grace's baptism actually happened in August.  I am lucky enough to be her Godmother.  Maggie and I headed to the church since the actual baptism happened to be at Molly's exact naptime.  After the baptism and some pictures we headed to Joliet to a pizza place (forget the name) to celebrate with family and friends.  There we were joined by Andy and Molly.  We enjoyed some pizza, cake and then headed home.  P.S. Maggie took all the pictures from the baptism!!

Preschool Begins Again

Maggie was so excited to go back to school.  She talked about school all summer.  This year Maggie is going to school four days a week in the morning.  Her teacher is Ms. Tracy and the assistant in the room is Ms. Sherry (Nana'a neighbor).  Chrissy and I took a half day so that we were able to take Maggie and Lucas to school for the first day.  They jumped out of the car and Maggie didn't even look back.  She clearly had done this before and is just getting so big.  Chrissy and I headed to the Panera to get so much needed work done, might as well be productive since we had to take a half day anyway.  It wasn't long before time was up and we had the pleasure of picking Maggie and Lucas up.  Both working, we are so lucky to have the help of family to get these kiddos to an from school.  Andy's mom takes the kids and Chrissy's mom picks them up.  We took Maggie and Lucas out for a quick bite to eat, dropped them off at Rosa's and then headed to work for the rest of the day!!

Cookies and Milk Take Two

This year's Cookies and Milk I knew more of what to expect.  Chrissy and I took part of a school day to take Maggie and Lucas to their meet and greet.  This gives them a chance to meet their new teacher for the school year and have a little time to explore their new classroom.  Maggie found her little cubby right away.  This year the new challenge is making sure she goes to the right one, in her class there is another Maggie, a Maddie, Lucas and two Lukes.  What a world of difference from last year (in a great way).  Afterwards Maggie was able to enjoy a cookie and some milk before heading back to Rosa's and then I was on my way to a typical day.