Christmas in PA

Grandpa showing them the book they got them
Mark shooting his new Nerf Dart Gun from Uncle Ryan

Makenna trying to lounge in her new chair from Grandma and Grandpa H

We went out to PA a couple of weeks ago to spend Christmas with my family. We had such a great time and the kids had a blast. They just love playing with their cousins Madison and Bryce and all of their Aunts and Uncles. Here are a couple pictures, but a video that is just too funny. (Yes, we were all dressed in Steelers because we had the fortunate opportunity to all go to the Steelers/Packers game that day and watch the Steelers pull out an AMAZING Win!)

Christmas Tree Lights

Here are some pictures of Mark and Makenna from earlier this month when they were putting the lights in a ceramic Christmas Tree that I got from my Grandma. This was always one of my favorite things to do at Christmas time. They both loved doing it as well. I hope this starts a tradition with them that is as important as it was to me.

Sunday Best

Here are some pictures of Mark and Makenna all dressed up and ready to go to Church.

The Ring Bearer and The Flower Girl

Sitting on a pew waiting for it to begin
Checking out her basket of flowers

Our Handsome little man

(FYI...he wanted to save the flower so it's on his dresser in his room!)

Being so cute

Still Hanging out before the wedding

Judy did a GREAT job on her hair!

Here are some pictures of Mark and Makenna as Ring Bearer and Flower Girl before Erin's Wedding. Enjoy our Beautiful and Handsome Couple!

Flower Girl Take 2

Continuing to throw the flowers

Still throwing...not all gone yet...

The finished product!!!


Makenna was a flower girl again this past weekend in our friend Erin's wedding. This time Mark was the ring bearer and he loved it. They did so great and we couldn't have asked for anything better. We were a little nervous because when Judy put her dress on her to get her ready she started screaming that she wasn't going to wear the dress. Then she didn't even want her to do her hair. Judy did a great job convincing her and she finally agreed, but wasn't happy about it. As soon as we got her to the church she was okay. I think she just needed a little distraction from the dress. Her and Mark did great walking down the isle. I have the video of Makenna and Mark walking down the isle, but again stopped the video too soon. I thought that when I shut off the video that Makenna and Mark would sit down next to me...but little did I know that Makenna wouldn't stop until every single flower petal was thrown out of her basket. And heaven forbid one of the petals fell off of the runner. If it did, she would pick it up and throw it back down again until it was on the runner. So there ended up being a few flower petals down the isle and then one big pile. The other problem was Erin and her dad had already started down the isle when she was doing that so they had to walk by her as she was still throwing flower petals down! Overall though, I think they both did great!

Mark Artwork

Mark's Gingerbread House Cookie
Mark's Zombie...he liked it b/c he said it scared him. =)

Mark came home from school today with a Gingerbread Cookie that he made. I thought he did a really good job with it! He was excited to eat it, but I talked him into waiting so Matt could see it when he gets home from work. Also, during naptime he asked to color a Zombie picture. He has been all about Zombie's for some reason since Halloween. I think his coloring is getting much better and he is staying in the lines alot more.

Christmas Tree Posing

Makenna in front of our tree
Cracking up b/c she called me a "Turkey"

This is her over the shoulder pose

She wanted one in front of her tree too

I asked Makenna yesterday if I could take her picture b/c she looked so pretty and she said, "Sure!" So I told her to stand in front of the tree and she did all these poses and then running over to the camera asking to see it. Do you think I take her picture ever or what??? Then she insisted on going upstairs to take one in front of her tree. And if you notice the blinds are open so you can see out the window b/c when I tried to put the blind down she said, "No, then you won't be able to see the snow outside." OKAY. Wow, she really knows what she wants.

So, here is the story of how she got into that outfit:

I picked out the shirt and this is how the rest went:

Makenna: No, I don't want that shirt, I want the green one with the Christmas Tree

Me: But Makenna, this on is pink, your favorite color and see it has a pretty pink heart button at the top

Makenna: Fine, I'll wear that one with the button I guess.

Me: Okay, which pair of jeans do you want, the ones with the pink heart or the plain ones?

Makenna: I'm not wearing jeans, I'm wearing these pink sweatpants (pulls them out of her drawer)

Me: No, Makenna, those don't match, how about one of these nice pair of jeans?

Makenna: NO. Then I will wear these pink leggins.

Me: Just pick a pair of jeans Makenna.

Makenna: NO! I am wearing the PINK LEGGINS!

Me: Fine then you can wear a skirt over them so you won't be cold.

Makenna: NO!!! I"M NOT WEARING A SKIRT!!!

(Lots of fighting went on after that and rolling around on her floor getting her skirt on, but we made it through b/c I offered her the boots to wear. It was a LONG 5 Minutes!