Thursday, December 30, 2010

Happy 3rd Birthday, Addilyn!



We love you! We're planning to take Addilyn out for dinner -- her choice. We asked her where she would like to go for her special birthday dinner. She thought for a minute, then answered enthusiastically, "Hy-Vee!" I guess we're going to Hy-Vee for chinese. She could have Zoey's, but it is her choice!




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Monday, December 27, 2010

Merry Christmas 2010!

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year. We had a bit of a scare on Dec. 23 with the whole family having some form of the stomach flu. Fortunately, we all made it home to be with family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Santa came to our house on Christmas Eve morning. He left so many goodies...

Shrek 3 DVD

A book for Stella

A Cinderella doll for Stella

Shrinky Dinks!!!

Sisters first Christmas

On Christmas Eve, we went to Grandma Judy and Grandpa Bruce's house. Santa left lots of goodies there, too!

We all love Santa

Presents!!!

Santa Stella

Stella & Grandma Judy

A Hawkeye Shirt!

On Christmas Day, Santa dropped a load at Grammy & Grumpy's house!


More presents!

Stella's hat

Addilyn's plate

Family picture

Opening presents

And on the day after Christmas, we got even more presents at Papa & Grandma Shari's house!

It's a Little Mermaid Salon!

Playing with gifts at home!

Thank you to everyone! We are very blessed to have such a loving family. We love you all. And we love you Addilyn & Stella! More presents to come in exactly 4 days for Addilyn's 3rd Birthday!



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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sledding!

It's not winter in Iowa without some sledding! We started at Roosevelt School in Cedar Rapids - the home of the steepest hill in town. It was certainly too steep for Addilyn, but daddy gave it a shot. Apparently, the hill funnels to one point, and no matter which direction you try, you always seem to hit the tiny ramp at the bottom. This ramp sent daddy flying in mid air, and left him with a few bumps and bruises... but Addilyn got a laugh out of it! We finished the day off at Jones Park and played on the snowy playground and sledded some more. Finally, we came home to some hot chocolate with marshmallows! Winter in Iowa can be so much fun.




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Saturday, December 4, 2010

Christmas Tree!

Daddy only has one rule when it comes to cutting down the Christmas Tree. It has to SNOW first! Guess what... last night, we received our first snow of the year. Off we went to Kirby's Christmas Tree Farm in Toddville, Iowa. What a fantastic place. We look forward to it for months every year. The snow was beautiful, the sun was shining, making sparkly glitter all of the ground and trees. Before we left, daddy told Addilyn how the process works. We get all bundled up in our coat, hat, gloves, mittens, and boots; we drive to Toddville, Iowa; we get a saw; we pick out our tree; we cut it down; we drag it back to the car; we pay for our tree; and BEST OF ALL - we eat homemade cookies and hot chocolate. This place is so great. They even had wonderful, friendly Iowans who held our little Stella as she slept while we drank our hot chocolate. Tonight we're off to the Fire and Ice Parade, and tomorrow it's Disney on Ice!

Addilyn kissing Stella at the tree farm

Kirby's Tree Farm - Toddville, Iowa

Stella slept through it all!

The whole family and our tree

Addilyn searching for the perfect tree

Mommy & Stella

The best part -- cookies!



"Kid" in the snow

A snow angel!


SLEDDING!

So excited for the snow

Catching snowflakes

Shoveling!



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Sunday, November 21, 2010

Weekend before Thanksgiving!

Addilyn and Daddy went to the Blue Strawberry Coffee Co. in Cedar Rapids this morning for coffee and cinnamon rolls. We had some father-daughter bonding time, and ate an awesome breakfast. The girls also received some early Christmas gifts today from a friend of Grammy. We had a great weekend! Now, we're looking forward to Turkey Day!!!






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Friday, November 19, 2010

Stella is 2 months old!

Daddy recently went to San Diego on a business trip. He missed his girls so much! Daddy brought back some beach stuff for the girls and gave them lots and lots of hugs and kisses. They are both growing up so quickly!


















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