Merry Christmas!

I have a new found love for Christmas! For a few years Christmas was beginning to be about just presents, lists, budgets...Now experiencing Christmas with my children is something amazing. They get so excited. We drive around or go for walks almost every night to look at Christmas lights. Their eyes light up when they see Santa and we love singing holiday songs. We spend less time worrying about gifts and just enjoy being with everyone.
We woke up Christmas morning to delicious sticky buns from our wonderful friends The Freemans...

We waisted no time getting to the presents...

Kaykay wanted nothing but ballerina slippers. She squealed when she opened them. She immediately changed into her ballerina outfit...

Santa brought Taylor a Princess Vanity that is also a keyboard...

We then went over to Gpa Joe and Gma Mona's house for more presents, food, and best of all family.
Me and Baby Gia...

Auntie Maggie & Uncle Mike gave Taylor this highchair and bassinet, which she loves. She is such a little mommy...

Uncle Josh with Gia...

Auntie Mag & Uncle Mike gave Kaykay this digital camera. I will have to post her pictures later. She is actually very good at using it. I definitely recommend this gift.

Kaykay & Gma Mona working on one of the puzzle they gave her...

April loves Christmas...

Gma Lisa & Papa Mike relaxing on the couch...

Daddy & Kayleigh playing with the new laptop Gma Mona & Papa Joe gave her...

We love our family and had a very special Christmas!

Christmas Eve

We had everyone over to our house for Christmas Eve. We had lasagna (thanks mom), egg nog, and of course some presents. The girls had so much fun and we loved having our family here.
Auntie Jenny bought the girls these awesome microphones, which were a huge hit. You push a button to record yourself and the other button to playback. Kayleigh was way into it. She would belt out her princess songs then listen to them smiling. So cute!

Auntie Kari and Uncle Joe sent this jewelry/makeup box, Kaykay flipped out! She loved all the goodies that were packed inside. Nail polish, makeup, hair things, fake nails, lip gloss, and all that glitters!

Gia cuddling with Papa Joe...

Daddy putting together a princess tent from Auntie Jenny...

Auntie Maggie, Uncle Mike, & Gia...

We left these treats out for Santa and his reindeer. I hope they enjoy!

Jarecki Christmas

We celebrated an early Christmas this year with my family before Jared and Carrie headed to Chicago. Grandma Lou was in town, which is always a special time for the girls.
Taylor's favorite gift was her baby Ariel doll with a bottle. She loves babies and loves to feed and cuddle them. She opened this present first and sat there the entire time. She did not want to open any other presents, but was completely content to sit there feeding her baby while everything went on around her.

Kaykay, on the other hand, went to town tearing into each present. I think she is still at the stage when ripping open a present is more fun than the actual present.

Kisses from Gma Lou are the best...

Addie had fun with her new big girl toys too!

Princess & The Frog

Kayleigh has been preparing for this day for weeks! She picked out a Princess Tiana dress and Princess Tiana shoes for her very first time to the movie theater. She did not end up wearing the shoes because "they just aren't sparkly enough" but we found some other pink ones at home that "matched perfect". We went with Gma Lisa and GGma Lou. We had popcorn, lemonade and gummy bears! Kayleigh has had a bit of a cold the last few days, but she did amazingly well. She did not talk at all and behaved perfectly. The rest of the day has been pretty rough. She has an awful cough and can not sleep. But this morning was wonderful memories!!

She did not have a pink crown to wear. I had secretly bought her one a few weeks ago. Well last night she was like "Oh well, I guess my Snow White crown will have to do." So this morning I surprised her with this and she was in love!

Please note the man with his daughter behind us. If you ever, I repeat ever, see them at a movie..sit as far away as possible. They apparently think it is ok to talk with outside voices whenever they want throughout the movie, despite many dirty looks and shhshhing from my mother and I.

Auntie Jenny & Calli

We had some special winter visitors for a few days. Josh's sister Auntie Jenny and cousin Callie (which is Taylor's age) came to visit. We had a great fun filled few days. The girls even had a sleep over at Gpa Joes and Gma Mona's house, so Mommy and Daddy could go to a Christmas party. They had so much fun and I don't think they were even ready to come home the next night. We dropped them off at the airport at about 3pm and had to return at 8pm to drop off some diapers. Their flight was delayed a few times and they did not anicipate sitting in the little Mesa airport for so many hours. I felt so bad, but hopefully their trip was worth it and we will see them again soon!
The girls played in our backyard until it was dark out...



Princess dressup time...

Thie Family Pictures

The girls took pictures with some of their cousins today. Calli was here from South Dakota and is the same age as Taylor. Gia is the baby and is 3 1/2 months. Kayleigh was the "big girl" and I was so proud of her. We had talked for a few days prior to the shoot and I had my fingers crossed both girls would at least take a few pictures. Gia was in a great mood. Taylor and Calli were good but had no interest in sitting still for pictures when they could run around and play. Kaykay was the superstar. She sat and posed whenever we told her. She held the baby and sat with her arms around Taylor. Yes that is right...she was basically hugging Tay and smiling!! We did bribe her with gum, whatever it takes!

Papa Joe & Gma Mona with the girls...

Calli Kay...

Gia...

Family Pictures

Pictures with a 3 year and 17 month old is quite interesting! One wants to sit when the other wants to run or they don't want to touch each other or one is crying or both are crying or one has her legs open when wearing a dress but occasionally a few beautiful pictures are taken. The talented Britney Florence did our pictures again this year. The girls looked gorgeous and I can not wait to order some prints! Here are some of my favorites...

A Daddy & his baby girl...

Can't get much cuter than this!

Two Princesses!

Kayleigh is obsessed with dressing up! It is rare that we are at home and she is not wearing a princess gown. She wakes up in the morning and goes directly to her dress up wardrobe. Taylor has never really noticed. Well I got home from work and found Princess Taylor! Gma Lisa dressed her up and of course she loved it. She will now go grab a gown, bring it over to Josh or me and want us to dress her up. It is so stinkin' cute. Kayleigh has so many outfits she doesn't even mind sharing them with sister. Now we have not one, but two little princesses!!