Christmas 2014

Our celebration started on Christmas Eve at Nana and Papa's house.  Getting everyone ready is definitely a chore with a new baby around.  We had lunch at home and went ahead and had the girls put on their Christmas dresses before leaving the house.  (it already seems like we are going to be gone for weeks when we leave with all our bags and such so this was one less thing to worry about!)  The girls immediately searched under the tree for packages with their names on them, but had to wait very patiently till after dinner to see what was inside each one.  We spent time snacking and the girls had cousin time with Grace while Malory slept away.  Andy stayed home with her while the rest of us headed off to Christmas Eve mass.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner together as a whole family and then tried to make the present opening last more than just a few minutes!!

 

Then we loaded up the car and headed home to get ready for Santa at our house!  The girls picked out their favorite cookies and a few carrots, Molly insisted on chocolate milk for Santa!

 

Christmas morning was everything the girls had been hoping for.  Maggie was the first one up as usual.  She was perfectly content laying in bed with Andy and I and enjoyed watching the classic...A Christmas Story...until Molly woke which was well after 7 in the morning!  We started with stockings and then took a break for breakfast.  I should note...Malory slept through the whole thing so her Christmas took place a little later!  Of course after breakfast we headed to the tree and Santa was very generous this year!  Both Maggie and Molly got what they had asked for...Maggie a Hawkeye sweatshirt and Molly the Gingerbread fairy book...among other things...

 

Once Malory woke up the girls took turns opening the gifts that were left for her.  To capture the moment she is still sleeping but surrounded by her Christmas gifts from this year!





Then we packed up yet again to enjoy some time with Andy's family on Christmas afternoon.  There was plenty of cousin time, more presents and lots of snacks.

 

Presents aside we are so lucky to have our family and friends close and in our lives.  The generosity of all is overwhelming at times but absolutely does not go unnoticed and is so appreciated.  We are blessed to be healthy and happy this holiday season.  The holidays can be so chaotic and crazy, what is more than important is to just have the time to be with each other!



Christmas with the Ensigns

Sunday the Ensigns joined us for our traditional Christmas get together.  They came to use since we have Miss Malory and it was just a little bit easier to be home.  We made busy as usual.  The kids occupied themselves and played while us adults were able to chat.  We love being so close to these guys and haven't really had a chance to get together in some time so it was great to have the chance to spend some time together. The kids had their usual ornament exchange and then we attempted to get a picture...minus Malory.

Holiday Fun!

There are so many fun things to do to get ready for the holidays.  This weekend the girls were busy with some activities.  They worked together to decorate a gingerbread house.  They split the house in half so they had equal parts to decorate (everything has to be fair).  Then we were able to squeeze in both making our cookies and decorating them as well.  They are both beyond excited for Christmas to be here and working really hard to be good girls!

Molly at Preschool

Last week Molly had a little performance at preschool on Monday and Tuesday.  The kids learned a few songs that they sang together with the other classes.  Andy was able to go on Monday and I joined Chrissy on Tuesday.  It was good to get out of the house and nice to have the opportunity to see Molly in action at school!

Maggie turns 8!

Today is Maggie's 8th birthday.  I can't believe she is that old, time sure does fly by!!  At 8 Maggie loves a lot of things...enchiladas are her favorite dinner choice, she loves to draw and write and she wants to be some kind of teacher when she gets older...at least for now that's what she says.  Yesterday she got to spend the day with her Nana who spoiled her.  They went to a litter art studio where she painted a new piggy bank and got to paint on a canvas.  They did lunch and even came home with new black "high heels" to wear with her Christmas dress.  Today was a normal Monday so Maggie opened up a few presents before heading off to school.  While she was gone Andy and I were able to get the desk we got for her and Andy put together up into her room and have it all set up for when she got home.  I think she loves it, she was really surprised!!  My mom came over to stay with Malory so the rest of us could take Maggie out for a birthday dinner...her choice...Chili's.  We headed home for some cake and she spent the rest of the evening in her room at her new desk!  (confession:  the pictures I took this morning and evening I was taking all the while without my memory card in my camera...I blame a little lack of sleep...so the pictures I have included are reenactments of the evenings events!)

Maggie's Basketball

Maggie decided to give basketball a try this season.  She took to it very naturally and has absolutely loved it.  The rules are a little different than Andy and I are used to but she worked hard and had fun every game and practice.  This is definitely something she will continue doing!

 

 

A visit with Santa

We knew the girls would still want a chance to visit with Santa this holiday season.  I ended up getting just the three tickets knowing we were going to have a baby around the same time.  I stayed home with Malory while Andy took the girls and joined The Ensigns for the Oswego Holiday Express.  I missed the moment, but they were sending me pictures to keep me in the loop.  Maggie asked Santa for an Iowa Hawkeyes sweatshirt which has been on her list and Molly asked for the Georgie the Gingerbread Fairy book.  They got to see a real reindeer, go searching for elves and have some cookies with Mrs. Clause.  We are beyond excited in the Voller house for this holiday season and for Christmas to come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Malory Marie Voller

Last Monday I was induced to have our third baby...another girl!  Malory Marie Voller joined the world at 1:10 p.m.  She was 7 pounds 12 ounces and 20 and a half inches long.  She is absolutely wonderful and we love her so, so much. 

Voller December Birthdays

Last Sunday we celebrated Maggie and Ava's birthdays.  Maggie and Molly were so excited for cousin time, especially since Caitlin and Kiley were not around on Thanksgiving.  Uncle Chris came to pick up the girls to give Andy and some time to finish up any last minute things before the baby arrived.  Andy was able to join everyone for presents and cake.  Maggie enjoyed all the gifts she received!!

 

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we were back to our usual routine.  My extended family made it into town and we just did our usual thing.  Since they do their traveling on Thanksgiving our dinner is usually later which meant we had plenty of time to spend with Andy's family and the girls got their fill of cousin time!!  We headed over to Voller's in the early afternoon and just hung out.  We then went to my parents house for a feast!  We ate too much, laughed, told stories and just got to be with each other which I am most thankful for...a happy, healthy family!!  Our festivities would not be complete without the traditional Friday after Thanksgiving homemade pizza night.  My dad made the dough, but Derrick and Andy have taken over making the pizza.  The kids of course got in on the fun joined by our family (not by blood, but just as close) the Ensign's.  There was plenty of pizza to go around.  The kids ate, played, ate some more, played some more...




This will probably be our last family picture as a family of four...we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the baby and trying to get every last thing on our list taken care of before she makes her debut!

Naperville Marathon 2014

Andy and Chris chose to do the Naperville Marathon again this year.  Andy put in  a LOT of miles training and was excited to run.  The girls and I were able to find a couple spots to see Andy, Chris and a few others that we knew were running including Dave, Chrissy, and my friend Melissa.  Andy finished in nearly the same time as last year, just off by a few seconds.  He was a little disappointed and it already thinking about the next one!!

Patiently waiting for Daddy to run by!

Andy is here in this crowd behind the guy in red!!  Its not easy to watch for him, cheer and take pictures all at once...this was the best I got!!




Maggie tried to run along with Andy, he was just about done here!

Trick or Treat

This year, while driving to work, it was actually snowing on Halloween.  I knew it wouldn't stop the girls, but it did shorten the festivities a little.  I picked up the girls after work and then headed straight home.  We warmed up with a bowl of chili before preparing for the outdoors.  We were joined by Nana, Auntie Shay, Gracie, and Drock.  Chrissy, Lucas and Layla got dropped off at our house as well.  Andy's brother, wife Meg, and baby Natalie came over too, but they stayed home and helped with the trick or treat friends that came by.  All the kids were bundled which meant you couldn't see much of their costumes, but they were excited nonetheless.  We made it all the way from our house to Chrissy's (with a few cul-de-sacs in between) before Molly was done.  Maggie stayed there to warm up and then Andy and Dave took out Maggie and Lucas for a little while longer.  It was a cold, but successful candy collecting night!

Voller Halloween and Pumpkin Carving

Grandma and Grandpa wanted to get all the cousins together to have a little Halloween celebration so we did just that earlier this week.  The girls got a chance to wear their costumes with their cousins and had a lot of cousin playing time.  The evening was complete with a pumpkin hunt (just like an Easter egg hunt, but for pumpkin) and prizes afterward.  It was fun to see all the kids in their costumes and to spend a little time with family!

Last night we finally got around to carving our pumpkins.  The girls were beyond excited and I am sure it doesn't surprise you to know that Molly dug right in.  She loves to be a mess.  Maggie on the other hand only picked up a pile of "pumpkin guts" so I could get the picture.  Tonight they eagerly await for Halloween and all the fun festivities that go along with it!