We tried so hard this weekend to make some great holiday memories! Haha, well, we failed a bit but still had fun. Friday we baked off the Christmas cookie dough we made last weekend, all went well except for the chocolate chip. What is wrong with me? I cannot make a chocolate chip cookie to save my life! They were flat and crumbly...overall just not good (although they did taste good!). Saturday Chris and Em went to the Jump Yard and let me have some alone time (so much appreciated!). Em was able to do EVERYTHING because she is 40 inches tall! WHAT?! When did that happen? She was a pro, loved climbing loved the slide and took a nice 3 hour nap! We may need to get season passes...if they have such a thing! Saturday night we had the GREAT idea of going to take the Rapid to see the lights downtown. After waiting in the rain for over a half hour it finally came...to take us to Tower City...guess what all of the lights this year are in Playhouse Square. Opps! And the toy solider was not even there! What the heck! We made the best of it and looked at the window displays and walked around a bit, but overall a bust. Sunday Chris whet to the Brown's game (another HUGE let down) and we had an office Christmas party that evening. So a few good things, a few challenges, but as always we had fun together as a family. Can't wait for the next week to pass-then both Chris and I have 2 weeks off to spend with our girl!

I just love the progression of these photos...

hmmm don't mind if I do...who needs a spoon?

I'm so funny, I'll just eat it with my fingers!

Oh wow, that is really good!

Happy Kid!

Em and Nana in front of the window display.

Slide was Em's favorite! I think I would have been scared...glad Daddy took her! 

Christmas Cheer!

Wow! What a weekend full of Christmas cheer! Friday we went to  Chris' school for a little Christmas party and Em got to sit on Santa's lap. She's done great with Santa this year (last year she was still a little scared). Saturday we went to the Berea lighting display downtown. Em got to see fireworks for the first time, ride on the merry-go-round, eat ice cream AND hot chocolate. To say she was happy is an understatement! Sunday we had breakfast with Santa and then Em, Grandma and I made our Christmas cookie dough. Like I said, busy Christmas weekend! But so fun! Such a blessing, couldn't ask for a better gift than that little girl!

Em and Santa!

Merry-go-round ride with Dad!

Christmas Tree lighting (Downtown Berea)

Our family!

hot chocolate-her very own!

haha Crazy kid!

Em and Grandma making cookies! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know that I say it often, but it is just true, we are so blessed. Chris and I were both able to spend Wednesday-Sunday with our gorgeous girl. I have to admit I was pretty sad when I had to drop her off at daycare today (although she was super excited to go see Suzie!). We just had a great, fun, chill week/weekend. Em was on her best behavior (for the most part) and even did well with no nap on Thanksgiving (although by about 6pm she was pretty punch drunk!). I'm so excited to start the Christmas Season and can't wait to continue to make memories with our prefect little family! Enjoy!

Date night! Em was an angel at dinner-so we let her pick out whatever cake she wanted out of the case. She polished that thing off in no time!

Daddy and Em enjoying Twice the Night Before Christmas (if you have netflix-check it out. Em is currently obsessed-we haven't watched Daniel Tiger in a week!)

Getting n touch with her inner baby!

It was a crazy day-never got a good picture of the cute dress-but this gives you an idea. Oh, and Em pretty much ate that whole tray of veggies...and dip.

Black Friday shopping!

We had such a fun, yet lazy weekend. It's been kind of nice not having plans. As we go into the hectic holiday season, we are just enjoying the down time together. Friday, Chris and I had a date night and went out to dinner and saw Mocking jay. Grandma and Em hung out-all was fine until bedtime. Let's just say it ended in some tears and Em sleeping on the couch cuddled next to Grandma and KC. Saturday we went swimming with Aunt Caitlin and Uncle Opa (Mark). Em had SOO much fun. I think she thanked me like 30 times during the weekend for taking her swimming. The little fishie has no fear-she put her head under, went down the small slide, jumped in, you name it. Saturday night we tried to go to the tree lighting ceremony at Crocker Park, but by 7pm it was cold and rainy and still not lights on the tree, so we headed home. Sunday was just hanging around the house, watching football and running errands. Em's quote of the weekend"what the bugger nuggets?". Not even sure what that means...

It's Snowing!

So we are getting ready for Christmas! Em was SOOOO excited about the snow this year (oh and the Christmas tree, and candy canes...). We had a great weekend. We were able to visit some good friends in Columbus (and tucker out some toddlers) and spend some family time together. Enjoy the pics (and video-it cracks me up! I think Em needs to get enrolled in some dance classes for Christmas!)

Yummy!!

Tuckered out Toddlers! (we are totally at the mall in this pic-about an hour past Em's nap time!)

SNOW!

Tastes good Mom! 

Thankful!

Wow, for the first time in a while we had no plans this weekend. Just got to spend time together as a family! Chris has been out of town for the week taking his 6-8th graders to DC so it was great to just all get to be together. While we had no plans, we jam packed the weekend with fun-hot chocolate, ice cream, friends, family, football, playground, park. You name it. And I took like no pictures (hey, I was present in the moment!) I think Chris has a few more pics on his phone, so I'll try to post more later. I'm just truly thankful for my great little family. I think the look on Em's face below really sums it up!

Happy Halloween!

Ok, so we all know that I really only like Halloween because that means that it's almost November 1st, meaning I can listen to Christmas music! Don't even judge, I don't want to hear it! :) We had a fun Halloween, but it was downright cold. Em was supposed to be a monster (appropriate right?) but after wearing the costume earlier in the week she was not having it on actual Halloween. So, she was a cheerleader (Cleveland Browns of course!) wearing a coat. How creative. Oh well, she had fun!

Let's see, what new on the Em front. Em is cute as ever, lots of fun, tons of energy. She loves cooking with mom and dad-anytime we are in the kitchen (even if it is to make toast) she asks for us to "get my stool" so she can be a part of the action. She also is showing such a range of emotions and creativity-her imagination wows me every day. She will have LONG conversations with herself, or her animals. It is very cute. Love this age, and love our little girlie! Oh and in super awesome, you have no idea how good news-she will let us watch a TV show other than Daniel Tiger. Em watches about a half hour of TV each night-and she has ALWAYS wanted Daniel. The last two days she has asked for Mickey Mouse and then Super Why. I'm just so happy to not have Daniel Tiger songs stuck in my head 24x7...

Mommy, Em and Uncle Adam! (yep, that is a chi tea latte with Baileys in my hand...you wish you thought of it!)

What a beautiful girl!

haha yep, that about sums up our Sunday with this one!

Sassy millassy with her piggies in!

Daddy and Emmy at BWs trick or treat