We love to ice skate...kinda...

We got out our leg warmers...
well, Allikaye did...
I just stared at hers,
wishing I was cool enough to pull off leg warmers...
and set off to the rink!

This girl was so cute and excited
to skate for the first time!
Look at that face!

Back to ice skating...

This was how Miss Skater Chick
wanted to skate around...
her legs were noodles...

She kept yelling,
"I'm skating!"
"I'm doing great!"

And this picture was after 2 full times around the rink.
You heard it right...2 full times around...
and she was done...
dunzo...
no more...
no thank you.

She humored me and posed for this picture...
but her face gives her away...

Here is how she felt after those
2 times around...
big yawn.

Christmas for an Almost 3 Year Old...

Our Christmas time started at the

Christmas Eve Service at church!
Here is Miss Pretty Girl
posing in front of the
"rosettas"
(that's what she calls them)

Pretty Christmas dress!

Singing Christmas songs with popa!

Silent Night...Holy Night...

Then back to grandma and popa's house!
Here with cousin Mia...

Wardrobe change!!
GREAT grandma and grandpa Gerster gave the princess
a princess dress up treasure chest...
pretty perfect gift!

Then came Christmas morning!!!
Allikaye said she heard Santa during the night!
She said he went, "bump bump."
And he came through and got her a Barbie!
"I was really good this year!"

Allikaye also kept asking for "gum fish" in her stocking...
translation: gummy swedish fish...
she got em!

Grandma and popa know this girl too well...
they gave her favorite thing...
CHEETOS!
She opened them up and sat there eating them,
like that was exactly what she was waiting for...
we were cracking up!

A new baby that popa was calling "chuckey"...
not funny.
But she is loving this walking talking girl!

Tre Dog always has to help open the presents...

The finale was a trampoline!
Allikaye is a JuMpEr!!!!

See...she loves her new baby!
Oh - and she is sitting on mama's new
Keurig Coffee Maker!!
Woohoo!

The afternoon moved Christmas over to

Grammy and Pop's house!
A sleeping bag set...
princess of course...

Aunt Katie and her bboooyyyyfffrriiieeenddd...
gave Allikaye a new dance outfit!!

Wardrobe change!!

Even with all the presents and excitement...
this sweet girl takes some time to hug her
"buddy boy"

Then back to our house to take
advantage of all the new goodies!
BOUNCE...

Oh...and did I forget to mention that
this princess loving almost 3 year old got a
princess castle?
She is a girl through and through this one!

Such a fun Christmas time...
celebrating with lots of family...
watching the excitement and twinkling in
Allikaye's eyes...
loving every minute!!!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

All is Merry and Bright...

Hope you all have a fabulous
Christmas!

Filled with cozy times...
childlike wonder...

Reflection on all your blessings...

Thanks for the amazing gift given to all of us...
our Savior born...
Emmanuel.

And don't forget to laugh
and smile and treasure every minute!

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Christmas Recital...

HERE
IS
THE
CUTEST
CHRISTMAS
ELF
I
HAVE
EVER
SEEN...

We got Allikaye's tap shoes ready...
popped some popcorn...for stamina...

Then waited until it was Miss Allikaye's turn on the stage...

Let me just gush gush...
because my sweet girl performed the entire routine!!
She tapped....
shuffle stepped...
swung her hips...
and even blew the audience a kiss at the end!!!

I was beyond proud!
Elated!

Her is the dancing queen
with her post-performance flowers...

She was pumped and ready to dance more...

The star of the day...
well, really she is always the star...
but she chose Chili's for dinner...
mac and cheese please!

We then went to see a big pretty Christmas tree...
this face says that it is cold outside...

Then we visited Santa
and told him that Allikaye wanted a Barbie...

And topped the fun filled day off with a
pose next to a nutcracker...

This recital was so much fun!
It was a time that will be etched in my memory
for-ev-er!
Oh...I could go on and on...
I hope that I can upload the video when I get it!
I don't care who ya are...it is ca-ute!

Gingerbread Party!

Here are a few pictures

from our fun graham cracker house
decorating party...
my computer is not loading half of the pics -
so it will just have to be a few...

Here is Miss Thang working on her masterpiece...

This nicely constructed house was made by Allikaye's friend, Mallory...
It was a serious explosion of decor!

Here are Allikaye and her two besties...
showing their sticky fingers!

Here is Allikaye's finished product #1...
I asked her if she wanted a marshmallow snowman...
she decided on a marshmallow caterpillar...
hmmm...

And here is finshed product #2...
complete with half eaten marshmallow...

This was super fun...
and fun to have lots of my friends come over!
This is definitely a new tradition!!

Next to come on the ol blog...
some dance recital pics!
I don;t have the video yet,
but the outfit is enough to make your heart skip a beat!

Christmas Card...

Here is our Christmas card this year!
Announcing You on Etsy
designed them for me!
I L-O-V-E them!
You can click on it for a super big card for ya!

"We know how dearly God loves us,
and we feel that warm love everywhere."
Romans 5:5

Merry CHRISTmas!

My Christmas Home...

Welcome to my STAR filled home!
My Christmas tree is no exception to my love of stars...
Stars have such an amazing meaning
and significance this time of year!

My bigger stars I got when we lived in Germany...
definitely one of the top things I took from our life there!
Speaking of STARS...
look who's peeking out from behind the tree...
STARRY CAT!!!
I love me some 'C's' too...
Here is our special advent Jesse Tree...
we've got an apple, rainbow, world, ram,
cradle, tent, colorful coat,
and some other favorite Bible story symbols!

Here is my chalkboard proclaiming the good news!

Our fireplace...
stockings...
and advent log!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Despite all my lovely and special decorations...
these are my favorite...
the decorations made by the sweet and precious hands
of my angel...

Most beautiful wreath I have ever seen!

Merry CHRISTmas to you!

Let me know if you share your Christmas home...