Cookie Time!

We are so proud of Austin David Ritter! He graduated from UCF yesterday! Excited to see what he will accomplish next.

 

Yesterday was the 2nd annual Christmas cookie gathering at Grammy's and it was such a fun time. Cookies, babies, and puppies = a perfect day!

 

Addison loved every step of the process!

 

 

 

 

Most of her cookies had a tiny bit of icing and a mountain of sprinkles.

 

Grammy likes to do "bulk" decorating!

 

 

Then it was time to play outside!

 

 Grammy and Poppy got to experience what its like to force Addison to take a picture.

 

 

This happy baby says "mamama" now!

 

The pool was too cold, but they still had fun splashing!

 

Love these soft trees.

 

 Puppies and Babies

 

This may look like a joyful picture, but Addison was actually running for her life. She loved Sophie, but didn't want to be chased! To bad though, it was adorable!

 

 

 

Watching these two play was so fun! Welcome to the family Gunner and Sophie!

 

Poor Andrew had to work all day, but we've got some fun things planned for today as well.

 

Precious in Purple

Last weekend Scotty and Amanda came to babysit for us! We also got to spend some time playing with Colin and Madilynn! Thank you Scott and Amanda for giving us the night out! We went to a party on Fisher Island and it was beautiful, rain and all!

 

Madilynn is a very sweet, social baby.

She is also very mobile for 8 months old! I love her.

 

Audrey Diane

 

only 2 months apart

 

 

Uncle Scotty

 

Big brother Colin

 

As you can imagine, getting them all to sit still and smile was almost impossible. We managed to get a few good ones though!

 

 

 

Madilynn Olivia

 

I think we will cherish these pictures forever!

Thank you Sheryl for the beautiful matching dresses!

 

 

Excited about my ornament exchange with my best girls from college.

Here is the one Erin made! I need to get busy with mine...sorry girls!

 

 Christmas crafts

 

 carrots

 

Counter tops and sink went in today. Still waiting on the bar counter top, the plumbing, the appliances, and the back splash.

Daddy and his Lego girls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mommy photo shoot

The girls didn't get to wear their Thanksgiving dresses on Thanksgiving day because it was a little "cold", so I made them wear them today! I tried a mommy photo shoot and Audrey did really well, but Addison was way too cool for that!

 

I guess they are starting to look alike!

 

This is the best one I have of them together...It's hard to force a two year old to cooperate!

 

 

 

Abi our Elf!

 

 Addison loves this Fisher Price Little People Nativity that Nana gave her last year...I think it's funny when I ask her to share a toy with Audrey, she insists that Audrey plays with baby Jesus.

 

Abi and our stockings

Today's advent activity was to have hot chocolate. It was Addison's first time ever having hot chocolate and her first time ever having a marshmallow. As you can see, she enjoyed it very much!

 

The cabinets are finished in our kitchen! Yesterday they came and made a countertop template. Can't wait for it to be finished so we can start eating real meals again! 10 more days?

 

 Addison loves this playground.

 

 My very hairy doggie daughter. I shaved her.

Happy girl trying out the big high chair!

 

 

New Traditions

This year we are starting two new Christmas traditions: advent activities and Elf on the Shelf.

 

Saturday when we got home from checking CB Smith park out for the first time, there was a present from Santa in the doorway. It was the Elf on the Shelf box and movie! We read the book right away and named our elf Abi. Originally Addison wanted to name her Addison, but we settled on yet another A name!

 

This morning Abi was sitting on the advent calendar! You are not allowed to touch her (or she will loose her magic and won't be able to fly back to the North Pole each night).

 

 Day one activity was to decorate the Christmas tree.

Most of the ornaments are on the bottom half of the tree : )

Hanging some candy canes.

 

Tonight before bed we reviewed our day with Abi so she could tell Santa: ate breakfast, decorated the tree, went to toddler class at church, ate lunch, pooped IN the potty, took a nap and actually slept, dropped Daddy off at the car dealership (he is still there!), went to the playground and made a new friend and got really dirty, came home and took all her clothes off and then ate dinner, took a bath with Audrey, pooped in pants, played legos, read books, and went to bed. So overall it was a "nice" day!



Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving day at the Ritter's house. All the boys were home from school and it was a fun day. As soon as we walked in the front door we saw Austin doing pushups in the living room with the other boys crowded around counting and critiquing. I said, "typical". It is so fun to see all those boys together playing! Papa and Nana prepared a gourmet thanksgiving meal. Grilled turkey and ham, cranberry sauce, lentil soup, roasted brussel sprouts with sweet potatoes and onions, baked potato wedges with mustard seed, fresh green beans with sundried tomatoes and pine nuts, homemade pumpkin pie and homemade cranberry apple pie. It was delicious.

 

Turkey leg #1

 

 Turkey leg #2

 

 Addison devoured Papa's pie!

 

As soon as we finished eating it was time for another game...who can hold the pencil out in front of them the longest game. They were all so determined to win until someone tooted. Typical. It was a close game, but Austin won.

 

 Addison loves that Nana and Papa have shelves and shelves of books. Benjamin and Nana read to her.

 

Audrey Diane and Uncle Stephen

 

 

After playing poker, the boys decided to play badminton. I LOVE these pictures of them!

 

Uncle Michael

 

 I love the look of joy on Andrew's face! He loves spending time with his family.

 

Teresa Diane and Audrey Diane

 

Uncle Austin

 

Papa, he is swinging so hard you can hardly see the racket!

 

Uncle Stephen

 

On Friday, our kitchen was completely gutted! Monday they will come back to start installing the new cabinets!