Holiday Fun!

We have been busy doing lots of Holiday festivities!  We are loving doing all of this now because I know come January it's a few months of cold and not much to do!  On Saturday we went to see 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  Josh stayed home since he's still a tad too young to sit through a play.  Nana and Pop took him the Jingle Jam at their church before the play.  Nana said he is cute as a button but not quite ready to sit through plays:)   Last night we went on a Tacky House Light Tour with the Ash family.  We went in a limo and the kids thought it was the coolest thing every.  It was loud and crazy night, but we all had an awesome time thanks to some adult beverages:)  Hard to believe Christmas is in just one week!  What a fabulous holiday season is has been:)

Cora checking out our tree!

Making a Gingerbread House with Nana!

Ready for the play!

My girl and I!

Kelly and her girls!

Nana and her girls!

Loved getting autographs and pictures with the cast!

She told Santa Claus that her favorite part was the singing...so cute!

Ready for our light tour!

Stella, Cora, and Lauren!

Ready for a quiet ride....umm, not really!

The houses were amazing!

Cora was so excited!

Enjoying the ride!

Josh kept saying "Wow, wow!"

Playing with Eric!

Santa Claus is coming to town!

A few weekend ago we took the kids to see the Legendary Santa Claus at the Children's Museum.  We went with the McGuire's and Nana.  This was our first time to go on a weekend, so we were prepared to wait.  The time went by fast since everyone loves to play in the Christmas houses. I knew Josh would cry when he got up to Santa.  I was not prepared for him to cry throughout the line in the room.  I was so hot carrying him that I just wanted the photographer to take the picture so we could leave!!  Cora however loved every second of it!  Hopefully next year will be a little better:)   Afterwards, we went to the Christmas parade and saw the Lawler's with their grandchildren!  It was so good to see everyone!  It was very cold so we stayed for a little while before heading to an exciting lunch at Arby's.  It was a great morning and we enjoyed spending time with Nana, Aunt KK, Madelyn, and Ellie (all of our favorite girls!)

Ready to go see Santa!

The Russell/Lawler kids!

Josh LOVED the parade!

Our picture did not turn out the best, maybe next year!

Josh BEFORE Santa!

Cora posing with the Snow Queen!

She had no problem telling him what she wanted!

Nana and her girls!

LOVE this picture

Happy 5th Birthday Cora!

It seems like yesterday I was heading to St. Mary's hospital to meet my little girl and wondering if she would have red or brown hair?!  Our sweet Cora turned 5 years old yesterday!  We had an awesome party at Pump It Up (which she has been asking for this party since this summer!)  We had a ton of her friends and family for the party and it was a big turn out!  Cora had a blast and was exhausted by the end of the evening with all of that bouncing!  I am so proud of my sweet Cora and the little girl she has become.  She is smart, funny, energetic, kind, and loving.  She amazes me every day with something new.  Her beautiful little face makes me smile along with her short red hair.  I am so thankful to be her mom.  She (and her brother) are what make life so exciting and adventurous.  I love you the moon and back my sweet Cora Hillyer!!

And a huge THANK YOU to my sister for taking these amazing pictures with her new camera:)  She is now our professional photographer for all events!

Two precious girls

So excited to get the party started!

So excited when Daddy came!

Josh LOVED everything!!

Awesome picture!!

Here comes Cora!

So excited!

William and Alex C. from her class...she is in boy heaven!

The group!

Princess Cake!

Ready to eat!

Singing Happy Birthday!

Josh loving his juice

The amazing party favors my Mom made...what a talented Nana we have!

Cora and Nana...they sure do love each other:)

The birthday girl with her Mama and Daddy!

Grammy and Cora!

The girls (of course sitting next to each other)!

Cora adores her Pop

Opening her presents

She got some great gifts!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year!  I have so much to be thankful for...my wonderful family, a good job, our health, and especially my husband and precious children!  We ate lunch at Nana and Pop's house with the McGuires and then headed out to the Nolan's house for dinner. It was a long day with lots of good food!  We had such a good time with both families and are so lucky that everyone is in town!  It was a wonderful day and we are thankful to have celebrated with all of our family.

Our family!

The kids holding hands!

Ready to eat!

R

Josh playing outside!