Big Catch Up!

I know I gave myself permission not to blog regularly, but it really starts to stress me out when I go too long.  My last post was before Thanksgiving!  There is too much to catch up on really, so I will say this: The holidays were wonderful!  It was ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS to be in Portland FINALLY after all these years.  For the first time, we woke up on Christmas morning in our OWN house, where Santa had visited and brought many presents.  It made this redhead's heart happy!  On to the pics!

We had some snow last week, although, unfortunately it did not result in a snow day. The kids had fun running around, however.

A quick pic of Daddy asleep with Sweet Emma.  Pete has been working SO hard lately.  He is burning the candle at both ends working on his admin licence, while working full time, and being an awesome daddy and husband.  We are so proud of him and thankful for how he is taking care of our family.

On their own accord, Lucy and Sofie participated in "Rocket Rides" around the house the other day.  This is something Andy and Pete used to do, but we had not told the girls about it; they just discovered them on their own. :)

This is from a long way back ... Courtney (the girls' nanny) took Lucy ice skating.  She LOVED it!

This is from Thanksgiving.  Sofie and I did the Turkey Trot around Oak Hills.  It was supposed to be a family affair, but Lucy wasn't feeling well, so it ended up being Sof and I.  It was a great way to start Turkey Day though.

More pics from Turkey Trot.

I love this sweet pic of Sof.

Emma with Great Grandpa on Thanksgiving night.

Lucy and Sof playing on a beautiful day at the park.

Emma is too cute right now.  She is crawling everywhere, can pull herself up, and is constantly smiling.  Right now, my only complaint would be that she still doesn't sleep through the night, but she is so cute, I can't complain too much.

I love this picture of the girls - to me, it pretty much captures life right now.  Lucy with her own hairdo going on.  Sof being silly.  Emma in the mix of everything, just taking it all in.

Cute girl standing up.

Sweet Sof is entering that lovely end-of-twos-beginning-of-threes period.  Not my favorite of all stages, but, again, she is so cute, how can I be upset?  She is such a sweet girl, with a great big heart, who still loves to be cuddled.  

Sisters ... again... another classic pic.

Cousins Brady and Drew came to town for an early Christmas - always a highlight with Lucy and Sof.

Lucy had "Strawberry Dog" from preschool during Christmas Break.  She was obsessed with Strawberry Dog and really missed him when she had to take him back to class.  It was really sweet to watch her with him and watch her "take care" of him.

Pete took Lucy to the Nutcracker put on by the Arts and Communications Academy - one of the options schools in the Beaverton School District.  She loved it and loved dressing up for it in her Christmas tree dress.

A couple of pics from Zoo Lights - another holiday hit!

Lucy sleeping with Strawberry Dog.  It's a bit blurry, but I had to get it in.  She slept with him every night and was very clear that covers could not go over his face. :)

We visited downtown for a trip to Pioneer Square and Macy's.

The girls wrote letters to Santa.

Lucy is so sweet in this pic.

Year two of another holiday tradition - making gingerbread men at Auntie Katy's house.  This year we did it on Christmas Eve morning.  It is SO much fun and the girls LOVE it.

New hats from Christmas.

Another pic with Strawberry Dog.

Pete took Lucy with him to a Beaverton High School basketball game.  She dressed up in OSU gear so she would be in BHS colors.  (We are o.k. with that, as long as she doesn't wear duck colors.) :)  She had a great time until she threw up all over the hallway in front of some high school kids.  Pete said if that wasn't birth control for teenagers, he didn't know what was. :)

As always ... life is busy, busy, busy, but good.