All Aboard...The Polar Express

This past weekend we took the girls up to Akron to visit my brother and Rachel and Abbott. While we were there, Luke and Rach booked us a trip on the Polar Express. It is a simulated train ride to the North Pole. It is about 2 hours round trip.

Here they are ready to board the train.
Harper is waiting to get her ticket punched.

We all got to wear our jammies. It was very warm, almost too warm!

They even served hot chocolate and cookies, like in the story.

After the train conductor punched tickets, the train took off.

We brought along our books so we could follow along while one of the elves read the story.

Here we are at the North Pole. All of the kids went to one side of the train so they could look out at all of the elves. They even spotted Santa.

The girls had soo much fun!

On the way back, we sang Christmas carols. Parker sang We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

I think this one is a keeper!

Finally...Santa! We picked him up at the North Pole. He made is way through each train car and talked with each child individually about what they wanted for Christmas. Parker told him what she wanted, but Harper just looked at him. Rachel's nephew Conner was funny. He was all about Santa!

Santa gave each kid a bell too. Harper has hers hanging on our tree now.

I just loved this photo of Conner with Santa and his bell.

Special Thanks to Uncle Luke and Aunt Rach. We had so much fun! Both girls have already asked if we can go back next year:)

halloween happenings

For 'Ring of Lights' the girls were part of the Toy Story gang. Parker was Bo Peep (Woody's girl) and Harper was Jessie (Buzz Lightyear's girl). Baby Abbott was the Itsy Bitsy Spider.

We ran into Austin and Johnny along the way and walked with them.

Daddy and his girl!
I went to Parker's School and walked around with her while they did their parade at school. She got a cute litte lamb on her cheek. She is with her best bud, Julia.

Here is a close up of her sheep. She was so proud of it.

The night of trick or treat we went to Tucker and Kaiden's house to trick or treat with them in their neighborhood. Max was Buzz, Kaiden was Woody, and Tucker was a boxer.

Woody and his girl!

Buzz and his girl!

Last Saturday, we went to Kyle & Holly's to their annual Halloween party. I went as Punky Brewster and Matt was Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights.

Lately Ozzie has been joining Bella on our garage roof. Usually Bella would sit up there and meow for food. She could see in the back porch that way. Now Ozzie has decided that he will get up there when he is ready to come inside. It is so funny seeing a rott sitting next to a cat! Our old dogs would've had her for dinner! Often times we find them just sitting there watching the traffic!

Last Sunday we raked leaves and stacked wood!

Parker enjoyed it now! We'll see how much she enjoys it in 10 years!

She took a picture of us stacking wood under the coop!

That pretty much sums up the End of October! Hopefully I can post more in Nov!

Parker and Harper made the local paper!

Check out the girls! They made the paper today. We took them trick or treating to the ring of lights last weekend. I'll post more pictures later!

http://www.examiner.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16000:happy-hauntings&catid=34:local-news&Itemid=55

They are the third picture with the people in the crazy yellow hats!

Toothless Wonder!

Last Saturday night Parker came running into the living room freaking out because her tooth wiggled. I tried not to freak to scare her, but I was thinking what in the heck! She's only 4. I called a friend of mine who is a hygienist. She recently discovered that Parker's 6yr molar is coming in in the back of her mouth! She said it was normal and that her adult teeth were just ready to come in! I was relieved to hear that it wasn't tooth decay or something that was making her teeth fall out! It was drama from then on out. She was terrified of having a hole in her mouth. So we called all of our family and they expressed their excitement for her and talked about the tooth fairy with her. It eased her tension and the panic disappeared! And then we discovered that both front bottom teeth were loose!

On Sunday, she spent the entire day wiggling that tooth. Eventually she was able to stick her tongue under it and flip it forward. By late afternoon, it was sideways and twisted! Right before dinner I told her I was going to dry it off for her, but instead, I yanked it. We were so excited, that she couldn't even remember if it hurt! She was so excited to put it under her pillow.

That next morning she completely forgot until I reminded her to check! She was so excited that she got money!

That was the first tooth! Last night I went to pick the girls up and her second tooth was sooo loose and barely hanging on. I got up to get a tissue and Grandma Rosie accidentally bumped her arm when she was wiggling it and it knocked it out! She was so excited! She loves to stick food in her gap now!

Today we were cleaning out the garden and pitching some of the rotten veggies and came upon this massive zucchini! It was 24 in. long. 15 in. around. and weighed 7 lbs. 6 oz. It was darn near the size I was when I was born, just a bit longer!

Introducing baby Abbott

So, I finally have a nephew! My brother and sister-in-law had Abbott Kahlo Ross on Sept. 21. He was 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 21 1/2 in long. We went to visit them this past weekend and the girls were sooooo excited to hold him!

Parker held him first. She was so excited. You can see it in her face!

But it was clear that Harper was overjoyed about the whole thing as well! She was so giddy and couldn't stop giggling while she held him.

The morning her water broke, I told the girls. Harper said, "Now we can't wash our hands, now we can't use her sink!" She told Matt that Rachel needed a new sink! Too funny::)

I love this one of the 3 of them! Precious!

Parker today noticed that Rachel still had her after belly, like we all did, and asked "So, who else do you have in there?" From the mouth of babes! I think she needed a twix bar!
And of course on the way home Matt and the girls were trying to talk me into having another one! Sorry, I'm done:)

Long time no post!

I've uploaded some pictures from the end of summer! I've been really busy with school now and don't have time to do much of anything!

Below are some pictures from my step sisters wedding. All the girls took a limo ride!

Parker sang Karoke. I was so proud of her!
They sang, The Climb, by Miley.

Harper danced like this all night long!

I love this picture of them!

Parker and her Grandpas! My dad, which is Annies step-dad, and My step-dad, Dave was the minister! We call him, The Rev. (He does it on the side!)

Here's what's coming up in the Garden. They look great!

Harper and her baby. She holds her like a baby and Bella lets her. It is funny to sit back and watch them.

Harper at the Fair. Her smile shows how much she enjoyed this ride!

Lunchtime was rough. She fell asleep after eating.

Parker finally got to take the dirt bike out!

Notice her boots!

Matt was busting his but to keep up with her!

I love it when she sits back like this!

My hopes are that things with school will start to get back to normal and I can post more!