Best Friends

Sunday afternoon, Jadyn had a play date with her best friend. Katie, being 100% princess already, did a great job of briefly converting our Jadyn. What you don't see in these pictures is the part where she put on make-up for the first time. I had to wipe most of it off so that everything she touched didn't turn red or pink or sparkly. Between the Tea Party and this play date, I think we may just have a princess of our own emerging. Karina will definitely welcome the company!

Tea Time!

Jadyn got to attend her first official Tea Party this afternoon. A friend of hers was celebrating her 5th birthday in the most girl-like way her Mom could think of. As we were getting ready, I could not believe how 100% girl Jadyn decided to be. We had to curl her hair, pick out special jewelry, shoes, hair bows, scarf, and of course wear a princess-twirl dress. The final touch was my favorite though: beautiful, white, frilly gloves. She was truly "gorgeous" as many people called her throughout our day. As we were heading to bed tonight, she declared: "This was just the best day! Mommy, can we do it again tomorrow and the next day and then the next day after that?" My heart just melted. Oh, how I love my Jadyn! Jadyn waving like a true princess.
Jadyn sitting next to the birthday girl, Isabella.

Jadyn posing with Brianna.

Winter golf challenge

We recently received this snowglobe puzzle. The object is to get the golf ball to balance on the tee which is stationary in the middle of the globe. Anyone that has been to our house since we got it has attempted, but not managed to make it stay in place. Mark spent just a few minutes of his time and somehow got it to stay perfectly. We decided to take a picture to prove that it is actually possible. This is really just good incentive to keep us all picking the thing up whenever we walk by it. Thanks to Julie's Mom for sending us this great time waster. It has been a fun way to drive people crazy when they visit us.

Something to be thankful for...

Today was a pretty crazy day. Both girls are sick with this horrible cold that is going around. At one point Jadyn sneezed 9 times in a row- her current record. Afterwards, we were talking about sneezes and colds and all the people in the world that get sick just like us. It eventually led to Jadyn's profound question: "What would happen if everyone sneezed all at the same time in our kitchen?" After a look of complete disgust as she thought of what she was asking, she decided that it would be the worst mess we have ever had to clean up. She then changed the question: "How about if all the pretend people in the world sneezed at once?" We then proceeded to clean up the huge pretend mess that they made for us. I have to admit, I have never thought about being thankful that everyone does not sneeze in our kitchen. Next time I am frustrated about having to clean the kitchen floor so often, I will have to say a prayer of thanks instead.

Cozy and warm

Thank you Gramda for our perfect new blankets. In Jadyn's words: "It is so fuzzy and soft, I could be a queen!" Neither of our little princesses will sleep without them now.

Friends and fun

Here are a couple of fun pictures from last week when we had some friends over. A big thank you to Chad & Cindy, Geary & Jeana, and Ben for making the trek out to our house despite the ice and snow. We had a great time!

From front to back: Jadyn, Nicholas, Andrew, Noah, KarinaAndrew, you definetely win the award for the best faces in front of the camera!

Graduation Day!

We made it! It has been a long year at times, but Mark is officially done with his probation year of fire fighting. They had a very nice graduation ceremony last Friday night. Mark received his badge and took the official oath to protect and help people in need.

We are so proud of him and can't wait to see where God leads him to be stationed starting in February. Congratulations, Mark! We love you!

Play, play, play!

Snow!!

This is the view from our front porch. It is so beautiful and peaceful- until a car goes sliding by unexpectedly.













And this is our backyard. You can usually see a sandbox and deck when we don't have 6 inches of snow visiting. We love it!

Late night fun

Even though we got home pretty late last night, Jadyn and Daddy had to bundle up and play a little before going to bed. (Mark has to work and may not be able to play in the snow by the time he gets home on Friday.) They had so much fun playing and making their snow kitty.

Love at first sight

Last night, we spent some time over at Uncle Nick and Aunt Stephany's house so that we could get in a little cuddle time with little Caelan. Jadyn is completely in love with the boy! She just wanted to hold him and hold him even though her arms were so tired they were falling asleep. It was so fun to watch her and hear her sweet words whispered to him. At one point, she actually decided: "He could be my little brother- as long as it was okay with his Mom and Dad. He wouldn't have to live with us all the time, we could just borrow him when they didn't need him to feed him or something like that."
She was even okay holding him when he was "crying and squeaky" some of the time. Karina is also attached to him. She just wanted to keep her hands near him in some way. She would touch his head or back and just smile and giggle "Baby K-yin night night" or "Baby K-yin crying" and throw him a kiss. It was very hard to say goodbye and head for home. I am sure we will be back very soon. He has two cousins that can't wait!

Caelan Cole Foree

Today was a great day. We became an Aunt and an Unlce again!

Mark's brother, Nick, and his wife Stephany had their first baby... a son named Caelan Cole Foree! Here he his at an hour and a half old. He's very handsome - okay, he's cute!

Jadyn and Karina were very excited to see their newest cousin! Jadyn's face lit up and she couldn't stop looking at him. She even leaned in to Daddy's ear and whispered, "Can I touch his fingers? They're even smaller than mine!"

Congratulations to new parents Nick & Stephany!

(For those who thrive on the details... He was 8 lbs, 9 oz; 21-1/4 inches long, and born at 4:48PM today)

We miss you already!

Julie's family was up visiting from California over the last week. We had lots of food, music and dancing, playtime and storytime together. The girls were ready to go back on the train with Grandma and Grandpa this morning so they "didn't have to miss them so much."

Jadyn making a tower to crash cars into with Grandpa

Karina with her favorite things

Karina watching Aunt Marcella's birds with Grandpa

First Pigtails!

Karina is so excited about her "pretties" in her hair!

Spoken like a true Washingtonian

Jadyn, looking out the window this morning as she eats her breakfast, ponders out loud,
"Mommy, will there ever be a day without clouds again?"

Fun fingers!

Jadyn received a total of 12 new colors of nail polish for Christmas. (Thank you to Aunt Marcella for 10 of them!) Of course, we had to try them out right away- all 12 colors. Jadyn even figured out that we could put 2 colors on each thumb to make it so we could use them all. She was very proud of them!