lately.

this fierce little lady turned 17 months on november 29th...

not too many new things to document - she'll have her 18 month check up next month.  she has had a cold/congestion for a month so i took her to the dr. friday.  they think she needs meds to finally kick it out of her system since it has lingered for so long - probably started as a regular cold & as it sat it became more of a bacterial infection.  she hasn't been sick with it - just an ongoing congestion sound and a runny nose at times.
she still prefers being outside.  she is still very loud and very friendly.  loves her "sisshy."  loves climbing and playing rough.  loves her rocking horse and the playground.  no longer uses a paci unless she's in her crib (OR if she is in someone else's care - childcare providers are free to do whatever it takes to make sure she is happy and they stay sane!)

last weekend we went to 2 christmas parades.  sat night was the boat parade downtown and then sunday was the mt. pleasant parade.

watching the boats.  they were really beautiful but it started to mist & was chilly so we didn't stay to see all of them.

at the mt. pleasant parade.  hayes only tried to join the parade 100 times!  that girl is fast and coy - thinks it's hilarious to run away from me.

some of our parade watching crew

sk and alden.  sk was in candy cane heaven!

my sweet girl.  she loves a good parade!  and lights and christmas and jesus's birthday, and santa and just everything about it.

this is a collage of sk's preschool christmas pics over the years at age 1, 2, 3 and her last one at 4.  off to kindergarten we go in august!  preschool is not over for us yet so i'm not getting into that whole post yet.  just enjoying these learning center days for now....

we are festive!  i think we need some big colorful lights in the top of our palm tree next year - or we have seen a green spotlight up in palms lately that shines on the branches so maybe we could do that.

sk went to a cookie decorating party and had so much fun - she didn't want to leave!

they played a little gift game

she also sang in the children's choir performance last week at church and did a great job!

sk is in the lower center wearing a light grey dress and it looks like she's picking her nose in the picture.  i have video footage of her singing but i just don't have time to download it right now!

that's our little life right now.  sk and i wrapped gifts this afternoon and then we went to the traveler's service at our church tonight.  it was really beautiful - lots of signing, communion, scripture readings and then we lit candles and made a circle outside of our beautiful sanctuary and sang Silent Night.  really nice to just be still and receive the message of the christmas season.  we are off and running full speed ahead this week and will leave wednesday for georgia after sk's christmas party.  praying for HEALTH for ALL of our family members - immediate and extended.  praying for safe travels and good times.  stress be gone!!  time to enjoy this time, to remember what we are really celebrating and time to just whistle while i work=)

these 2!!!!  fill me up with love!

well, these 3! 

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas....

the tree has been picked out...

picking out a tree means different things to different people.  for sk it means "going through the forest to find the most perfect christmas tree in all the land."  for hayes it means a chance to run and escape - luckily sk keeps her in check.  and very luckily, hayes thinks trying to escape while sis holds onto her hood is hilarious.  we may need to get that one a leash.

and trimmed.....

first ornament hung by the big girl

hayes is trying hard not to be naughty, but i do find her throwing a round "ball" around the house from time to time...

christmas pajamas are being worn every night....

the house is decorated (in and out). no pics to share for now.

the letter has been written....

complete with a little drawing.  her list: planes, turbo, panties, sofia costume, and mermaid doll.  her elf (lilly - last year it was birdie who she says she still loves but lilly apparently wanted to be her elf this year) and her secret angel (lucy) have been watching every move she makes.  lucy does not change positions - she flies to tell God about sk's days each night and then lands in the same spot on the tv cabinet.  lilly flies to santa and changes positions but she does not do anything naughty or creative.   

we've been to the festival of lights....

roasted marshmellows for smores'.......

  

and we've seen the big man.

hayes could hardly wait to see santa.  she pushed her way through the line and i had to retrieve her a million times.  but when trey put her up there she decided that his lap was no place for her!  she is trying to get down in this pic while sk is telling santa that she would like some new panties for christmas because hers have strings hanging off of them.  awesome.

we've seen and loved the new disney flick, frozen.

luckily trey and i got to take her since mimi came to town and kept hayes...

we're wearing our christmas themed clothes each day....

we are giddy with christmas excitement, maybe a little too giddy - sk seems to be "frolicking" around the classroom at the end of the day instead of quietly lining up.  she is in trouble for this behavior.  she told me this morning - "i think i'll still get gifts from santa because if you learn from your mistakes like i have then you can still get gifts." ha! 

christmas cards have gone out to family and friends (and even more fun - we have been receiving cards from family & friends which means sk and i get to open a little bit of joy every time we visit the mailbox.)  and in a couple of days i'll change my blog header pic to the joyful sister pic that is on our cards....let's face it, it's december and time to say goodbye to the anchor bathing suit pic.

and more holiday cheer is coming.  we have the boat light parade, mt. pleasant christmas parade, parties here and there, sk's christmas performance at school and singing at church, mickey's merry christmas party at disney, etc. 

all of that stuff is fun, but i just hope we can just relax, enjoy it all and remember the reason for the season.  it truly is the most wonderful time of the year!