Merry Christmas!

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Eliana was not going to sit on his lap. After she asked him for a baby doll for Christmas, she later asked us, as if Santa had forgotten, that she didn't get her baby doll from him.  We had to explain that we don't get gifts right after see Santa, but on Christmas Day. I love the three year old mind.

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We have way too many Christmas tree decorations. What you see on this tree isn't even half of what we could have used.

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What catches my eye most about this picture is how inseparable Eliana is with her baby dolls.

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Our family Christmas photo.  Denise is getting pretty good at taking a picture while stretching her arm and having no use of a viewfinder.

Happy Birthday Carissa!

It was a year ago this day that we had our second daughter, Carissa.  She will always be loved and always be missed.

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Always a bitter-sweet month we have in December.  But we just love including our angels in our annual celebrations.  Plus Eliana gets to play with a bunch of balloons afterwards.

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Eliana wanted to make a cake for Carissa that looked like a cake on one of her favorite T.V. shows, "Max and Ruby".

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Besides, who really needs an excuse to have cake?

Happy Halloween!

This was the first Halloween that Eliana really got into.  She wanted to be Tinkerbell.  Her and her cousins filled their buckets.  By the end, they were ready to crash to sleep.

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Tinkerbell

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Little trouble maker

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Through the rain and snow, they were determined to fill those buckets

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Be careful Elee, dad can drive a hard bargain

Halloween Traditions

Our Halloween tradition began with carving pumpkins.  This year we decided to try something a little different.  Since Eliana loves kitties so much, we looked online for a pumpkin kitty template.  Although it took a bit longer, the design turned out really cute.  Eliana loved her pumpkin kitty.  And, what pumpkin carving tradition would be complete without donuts!

 

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What a perfect pumpkin.  The gourd ain't so bad either, perfect for carving.

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Eliana has a fascination with baby dolls and kitties.  This jack-o-lantern is not a baby doll.

 

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She just loved her kitty-o-lantern.

Happy Birthday Eliana!

Our cute little Eliana turned 3 today.  She has been so excited for her birthday.  For the last several months she has been telling everyone that, “my happy birthday is in October”.  On the big day, though, I don't think her birthday really set in until she saw her birthday cake.  She loved it and had tons of fun celebrating with family.  We invited all to come to Pirate Island for Pizza and games. Here are some great pictures from the birthday party with many of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

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Always time for a family shot.

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Dad! Can't you see I'm trying to eat my cake?

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See dad, there is time for hugs after cake.

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What a perfect gift for a little ballerina princess.  Thanks aunt Marlee