Bouncing Babes!

These girls love to bounce. Whether it's the couch, a bed, a trampoline arena, or a bounce house...the girls have a blast every time jumping around like crazy kids. Is there anything better than happy children? 

I love these chicks! Oh and their Daddy bought them their shirts...he's so fashionable;)

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas. The girls LOVED opening presents. Each of them excited to see what the other one received. Daddy was able to Skype with us as well and watch the whole gift opening experience. The girls had to show him each and every present. It melted my heart and made me want to cry. I wish he could have been there in person. I kept thinking back to last year when he opened up the coffee mug Ella had painted for him and the hug he gave to her. I know he misses his girls desperately and wants nothing more than to be home with us. Two out of the last three Christmases we have had to Skype with him. Next Christmas will be different though. He will be able to spoil them with all the hugs and kisses possible! Until then, we survived the day surrounded by family, gluttony, and lots of new toys to play with. Very grateful it's over though and looking VERY forward to starting a new year!

 Our views of Daddy

 His view of us

 The girls got matching sparkly pink TOMS shoes and Madeline had to put hers on right away. 

 The one thing Ella has been asking for over and over again...a Barbie

 We should take stock in Leap Frog

 Yay! Tickets to see the Fresh Beat Band live in concert!

 Loving her teddy bear sleeping bag from Aunt Bunny!

 Madeline destroying Ella's coloring sheets. Didn't take long.

 The girls with cousin Hannah

 Cousins!

Family:)

To see more pics of Christmas click here.

Christmas Eve

I typically love Christmas season, but this year I just kept wishing the holidays away. There's something about not having your main squeeze home to help celebrate with that dampers my mood a bit. But I know next year I will be completely gung-ho on everything from decorating, to wrapping, to shopping...actually nothing ever dampers that. Make no mistake though, I did everything to ensure these girls of ours had the most perfect Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve with our family at Mass, and then headed to Granny P's house for her annual Christmas Eve Cocktail party. We stuffed our faces with delicious foods and beverages and the girls got to open a few presents. I don't know if it's her age or what, but Ella loved opening presents and asking for more. Yikes...I hope we aren't raising Miss Ungrateful. I guess I need to step up on teaching her "present opening" manners. She did, however, give huge hugs to everyone and say thank you. I guess I can't win every little battle.

After the party, we headed home for our own Christmas traditions. The girls changed into their Christmas pajamas and I read them The Night Before Christmas..a few times. Then Grandma read it, too. We left Santa some cookies and egg nog and carrots for his reindeer, sprinkled the "reindeer" food on the lawn and I tucked them in bed. I have never seen Ella more excited to go to sleep in her whole life.

A few pictures before church

Thank you Ella. This pic actually had a chance, too.

Giving up on a family photo

Individual shots are easier

I know this picture isn't perfect, but I love it. I loved their dresses! Thank you Aunt Bunny!  My girls literally stopped traffic at church because everyone had to say hello and tell us how pretty the girls and their dresses were!

She's growing up too fast.

Gma and her grandgirls

Adorable PJs from Auntie Jenny and Uncle Phil!

She was clearly excited about opening presents.

Everyone needs their own Dora Snuggie

These two will always make me laugh

Maybe this is why I had to read the book 10x. Is anyone paying attention?

Madeline wants the book....

NOW. Ella of course has other plans.

But she so nicely gives her the book (I am sure I am promising her something.)

This is what Christmas is all about...through the eyes of a child.

A very excited little child, too!

Putting the ornaments back on the tree after playing with them

My mom...without her I never would have gotten through Christmas!! 

Admiring all of the pretty gifts. Thinking that next year, each girl is getting one present. ;)

Can't wait for them to open it all! (and no they are not ALL for them! I am not that crazy)

My little Star

I witnessed the absolute cutest thing in the world: Ella's school Christmas concert. It was completely precious. The girls in her class all had to dress like stars and the boys were the animals in the manger. I was smiling from ear to ear watching her with pride as she actually sang this time and SMILED, too. I did get teary-eyed of course because it's yet another big (but little) thing Tom has missed in her short life. I know he would have been there smiling right alongside with me. 

Cara, Taylor, Emme, Isabella and Ella

Just a little snippet of the concert! Ella sings this song everyday!

Melted Ice Skating!

Seriously. It really was melting. The rink was melllllting (I am saying that in my best witch voice). But I guess that's what you get for ice skating in downtown Tampa, outside, in almost 80 degree heat. If you fell, your pants would be soaked. Needless to say, we didn't fall. Welllll Granny P took a dive, but I didn't get a photo of it so you just have to believe what I say. Even though the rink was turning to water we still had fun. I felt bad for Madeline because she really seemed interested in trying, but the skates didn't come in her size. She's such a determined tot that I bet she would have gone out there and skated circles around everyone. Maybe she will get to debut on the ice next year. The rink is in a gorgeous location downtown in Curtis Hixon Park. After we skated, the girls ran free in the open grass behind it and Ella tried to feed every bird blueberries. We took them to a late lunch and called it a day. Add it to the Florida memories list:) 

Watching...taking notes for next year.

That was pretty much all water.

Thanks for looking at the camera girls!

Granny P told me to take a spin around the ice so I pretended to be a pro figure skater and twirl around:)

My MIL has a heart of gold. This guy had no money to skate so she paid for him.   

Ella...very done with the ice skating and anxious to run around sans blades.

You go Granny P!!

Look how pretty the University of Tampa is!

My girl Madeline is growing up too fast.

I heart you Florida!

Eating blueberries. These girls would eat them 24 hours a day if I let them...which sometimes they do get them at every meal haha

Granny P speed walking again! 

View of the rink and the Glazer's Children's Museum. 

This picture is very Madeline. She would easily climb this if I allowed her to.

My girls:)

My girls not wanting anything to do with posing with their mama! 

It was hot enough to play in the spray area!