It feels like Christmas around here

 We are in full Christmas mode here - and no month has flown by faster than this one. Ever.  But, we did find time to fit in a zillion activities this month - the girls visited santa and Rudolph (Lucy was a huge fan of him), Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier, some sledding (down our back deck stairs like a true Chicagoan), and lots of shopping!  Lucy still has not gotten much into her Elf this year, probably because I am not having her bake mini cookies and drink coffee like all her friends' elves.  But, she definitely doesn't forget about her Advent calendar every morning and definitely knows Santa will be coming and that we should leave out some princess wrapping paper for him to use.  Who would know its so hard to find princess holiday paper?

We are heading to the Lacny holiday party Saturday night and Christmas day with Bill and Chris on Sunday.  Looking forward to starting all the holiday parties.  It always feels like Christmas once the girls have on their holiday dresses.

Happy weekend!

Checking out the big snow fall

St. Nick brought some things for the girls and Griffen (our once-in-a-while dog)

Green Day at school before Xmas break.

Happy 9 months - she celebrated by cutting her 1st tooth with another on the way!

Hard at work - it feel apart a few times but tasted delicious once we gave up and ate it

Weeeee

Not an exciting photo but Lucy and Leigh wore matching shirts to music and it made my day.  The cheetah dress was dirty and her purple flower dress is at Nana Kathy's.  Yeah!!!!

Thanksgiving 2013

Another amazing Thanksgiving in the books! My mom amazes me how she does it all - when we were little we just knew the dinner was going to be great, but the older I get the more I realize how much planning and day-of work goings into it. And, as our family gets bigger, the spread gets bigger.  Mom, you're amazing!! Hopefully one day I can host so you can just relax on Thanksgiving!

Not much explanation needed on the pics - just a fun, crazy day and I finally sat down to drink my first glass of wine at 8 pm after the kids were in bed.  Yes, the older girls do entertain themselves, but that doesn't mean they don't need a referee, which keeps Beth and me very busy. And the babies don't sit still.  They are the world's two happiest babies, but the pic below looks like they just despise Thanksgiving.  

Hungry? Bored? Mad at one another?

Fall 2013 Lost Footage

I admit that I am not on top of uploading photos these days - but usually when I get laundry folded and the kids eat three meals a day, it is a pretty productive day.  So, uploading pictures is pretty low on my list of priorities lately but I promise to be better for poor Leigh's sake!  Just like that she is 8 months old, pulling herself up onto everything, trying to take little steps while holding my hands, and putting everything and anything in her mouth.  This morning I learned that the reason puzzles say "choking hazzard" on the box is because if babies suck on pieces long enough, the rounded ends will come off - which is now missing off a piece in our house and I suspect Leigh ate her first piece of puzzle.

Lucy is more entertaining than ever - she says the most ridiculous things like "mom, you're killing me," and "you're making things so difficult."  I can only imagine what she will say in 15 years.  Love you too Lu!

Lots of random pics from the fall....

Happy 4th Bday Caitlin!!!

8 months?!!

Dress - check!!  It's gorgeous and hanging in my closet :)

Lucy got her nails painted with me - girls day out!

Another mommy/Lucy date to see a play - Llama Llama

Great Gra's babies

Besties

First puppy love

Happy Halloween

Happy wet, rainy Halloween!   Like every other holiday that we really celebrate for two-weeks straight, Halloween has been no exception.  Lucy had a party at her dance class last week (first official costume break out), spent the weekend at Bill and Chris' and did some trick-or-treating there, and of course today we were in full costume.  We went out to Carol Stream so Lucy and Leigh could see the girls in their costumes.  It rained and was cold, but the girls were adorable running around the neighborhood and the rain didn't seem to bother kids...they were just having too much fun to care about being wet.  It turned into a big party with chili, my parents, Bob and Neici, Stina and all the kiddos.  Both girls passed out just in time for the Switch Witch to come take their candy and leave a few gifts.  Wonder how many years I can pull this off. And, just a note, I notice the inequality in the gifts. I struggle with this....it doesn't mean I love Leigh any less :)

Happy Birthday, Birthday and 7 months

This was a week full of birthday days celebrated in everyone's favorite style.   We celebrated Joe's bday on Wednesday at Second City (thanks to Kate for being an awesome sitter!!).  He just wanted to laugh.  Easily accomplished there.  My mom celebrated her birthday on Friday by arriving in Vegas.  Drinks, best friends, warm weather, slot machines at random hours.  Yep, perfect trip for my mom.  And, Leigh turned 7 months on Friday.  She wanted to nap in the stroller and hang out in the Bjourn so we spent the day at the Children's Museum downtown.  

First annual Muskovich Family "last meal" bday party

A macho drink for his bday

Melts my heart every.single.day.