Scriptures

This is how I found Ashlyn a few days ago- reading my scriptures!

Then she was reading her Church ABC book from Oma.
She loves that book- she always asks me to read it.

Ward Christmas Party

Rylee is telling Santa she wants a dog for Christmas.

Ashlyn loved Santa from afar, but wasn't too happy when it was our turn. Somebody else took our picture and it didn't turn out. We might have to try again- I don't know if Ashlyn will be too happy!

Cousin Isaiah came with us and Grandma and Grandpa Blatter were there too.

Our New Pets

Matt surprised us all with an early Christmas present- two hermit crabs. The girls were very excited. I, on the other hand, wasn't too thrilled, but they are better than a dog or a cat. I think I will be able to handle these much better- I won't ever touch them, but I don't mind them being in my house. Matt found a hermit crab in the ocean on our cruise that he wanted to keep, so I think he was more excited than anybody else!

Too bad they don't do much!

Not a Baby Anymore

I braided Ashlyn's hair today for church- I guess that means she's not a baby anymore. The braids made her look a little older. She even sat still and was so good while I did it! It's not perfect and it was a little wet when I did it, but it turned out ok. It even looked pretty good after church. But before her nap she wanted me to take them out. I guess this is something we both have to get used to!

Countdown to Christmas

Here are all of the ways we are counting down to Christmas.

This is the tree from the Friend.

Rylee's advent calendar from Oma.
(I went to get her chocolate for today and it was gone- the little stinker.
She wasn't very happy about not getting one today though-
so hopefully she learned not to do it without me!)

Ashlyn's advent from Oma.

I like the way Ashlyn is looking at Rylee-
like you better not touch my chocolate!

Aunt Lindsay made us this chalkboard countdown thing two years ago- I think.
I finally got some chalk from school for it!

Then I've had this snowman thing for years.

I had to throw in a picture of Rylee's haircut from the back. Matt wanted it cut a lot shorter, but I still wanted to be able to braid it and stuff. Last night I had a dream that Rylee had bangs- and I was so upset about it. She looked cute, but I couldn't believe that I told the person to cut bangs!! I don't remember dreaming about her actually getting it cut- just how sad I was after!

I had to throw in this one too from this morning.
Ashlyn loves going for rides in the doll stroller-
I think she's getting a little too big for it now though,
but it's not so easy to tell her that!

Haircut and Reindeer Antlers

I decided it was time to get Rylee's hair cut again- she hasn't had it cut since January. I probably should have cut it sooner, but I like it long. It needed cut though. These pictures are right before we went to get it cut- her hair had been braided the day before too, so it was looking a little crazy!

Ashlyn wanted to pose too like Rylee before we went-
so this is her hair before Rylee's haircut!

She got her hair cut yesterday, but I didn't take an "after" picture until today because I had parent/teacher conferences last night and didn't have much time after the haircut. We also made reindeer antlers today- so easy and the girls loved it!

Reindeer Ashlyn

Rylee traced my hands and helped me make antlers too-
she even took my picture!

Christmas Tree

The girls helped me decorate the house for Christmas last Friday. Rylee especially loved decorating the tree. She still takes them off and puts them in a different place and says, "That's better!" So funny! She's better at decorating than me!

Rylee is so excited for Christmas and I love it- it's fun for me to have someone to share the excitement with. We have a lot of countdowns going on- Oma gave the girls chocolate advent calendars (Rylee already ate the chocolate for the 19th because she had already had her chocolate for the day and wanted another one and got it without permission) and there was a Christmas tree in the Friend that you decorate. I cut out the pictures and each day she gets to put one on the tree. Each picture has a scripture on it and then there's a question for the day. It has been good to have that to help Rylee learn about the birth of Jesus Christ and help us remember the real reason for Christmas. We have also watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas a few times- the one with Jim Carrey. We've seen the cartoon too but only once on TV- we don't have that one on DVD. We can't wait until Christmas!