T-W-O

It's been two years already?!

We celebrated Reese turning two with a family birthday party at our house. It was Sesame Street themed and most of "the gang" was able to be there.

Elmo made it--

along with his two great loves--crayons and goldfish!

Cookie Monster made it, too!

Mmmm! Cookies! Nom-Nom-Nom!

There were PB&J and Cheese Sandwiches--

Hey it's a two year old's party!

Every party needs balloons and cupcakes right? 

Check and Check.

There was also some awesome "Elmo Singing with the Stars" entertainment. Who doesn't wanna hear Will.i.am, Goo Goo Dolls, and REM sing with Elmo? Exactly--no one!

Reese looves her Cheetos so we made sure she had 'em.

Nom-Nom-Nom!

She can eat them while talking

and driving. 

She's talented. 

What else is there to say?

Reese loved being sang to. I wish I had recorded it. Her reaction was priceless.

She was gifted a lot of new goodies. She was very thankful.

I think Reese's love of Elmo rubbed off on someone.

Cousin Karson is now Elmo's #1 fan.

Peek-a

BOO!

Who's now T-W-O?

Happy 2nd Birthday Reese Caroline!

You are so loved.

Christmas 1, 2, 3

We had three Christmas celebrations this year.

First we made our way to Tulsa to have a pre Christmas with The Sanders.

Reese really enjoyed swimming in Grandpa and Grandma's pool. Nothing beats swimming in a heated pool in the Winter!

After Reese was showered with gifts (that I don't have proof of) in Tulsa we headed back to OKC for another pre Christmas get together with my Mom, Don, brothers, and sisters for our Sibling Gift Exchange.

I love seeing each person's reaction to opening their gift. Bryan received some new tennis shoes from Kate and Glen. I've seen him wear them a few times since so I guess he likes them!

We had a quiet Christmas Eve and Christmas at home this year. I must admit it was nice to have some quiet time on the actual holiday after all the busy pre Christmas celebrations. What was not so nice was the croup that Reese had leading up to Christmas, on Christmas, and after Christmas. If you're keeping tabs on all Reese's illnesses this year (which I'm not because I've lost count) it's another holiday spent sick for her.

We still forged ahead with the Christmas festivities (despite Reese being up all night hacking) and she seemed to enjoy her presents from Mommy and Daddy.

Reese checking out her loot.

Riding Rody.

Falling off Rody.

 

Pushing her shopping cart.

Playing in her kitchen.

On Christmas morning Reese was surprised with even more loot from Santa.

Belle is currently Reese's favorite Disney princess. This is fitting since Belle loves to read as much as Reese does. She's worn this Belle t-shirt several times since Santa's visit.

Cutting up her play food.

Hard at work on her wooden name puzzle.

Wearing a Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer hair clip.

So cute.

Jumping on the trampoline!

Riding Rody some more!

Watching Reese play with all her new toys was fun, but the absolute best part of Christmas morning was sharing it with Papa Bear and Nana Charlotte.

Nothing beats cuddles from a Nana you love and a new furry friend.

Red Cake Day 2012

On December 9th (yes, over a month ago) we met in Shawnee for our annual Red Cake Day to honor my Grandma Carol. It's definitely a day I look forward to during the holiday season.

Tea Parties were had.

Girls giggled and talked and played.

Naps were needed but refused.

Mothers and daughters bonded.

Nana's love tank for her "grands" was filled.

Reese's love tank for all furry friends was filled, too.

Bellies were fed.

Relationships were strengthened.

Red cake was devoured.

Thanks for hosting another memorable Red Cake Day!

Aunt Christi, I love you bunches.

Christmas is All Around Us

I don't have pictures to show for our Thanksgiving.

Reese got a GI bug a few days leading up to Thanksgiving so we had to cancel our plans with Joe's family. We were really looking forward to spending the holiday in Tulsa with his parents and his sister and her family, but sometimes "that's the way the cookie crumbles" I guess.

We stayed home, Joe cooked a turkey, and my mom shared some of their Thanksgiving goodies with us, so we did get to feast just not the way we would have most liked too. Some highlights of the day were vomit and diarrhea watching The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and being with the two people I love most. I truly do have a lot to be thankful for and (joking aside) I do need to always remind myself of that.

By Friday Reese was feeling much better so we headed out to our annual Christmas tree spot.

On the way there I told Reese we were going to a tree farm. She responded, "Farm? Sheep! Baaa!" I said, "That's right we're going to a farm, but not that kind of farm." She was so excited. She kept making sheep sounds in the backseat. It was cute.

Here she is checking out the Christmas tree selection with Elmo's help (of course).

Reese posing by the big bear sign.

She looks so small in comparison.

This girl was happy to be feeling better and in true Rocky style...

Ran,

and ran,

and ran!

While still taking breaks to walk while holding Daddy's hand through the tree farm grounds.

It was a great time (as always) at the Martinbird Tree Farm.

After getting home from the tree farm the real work began. See, I like to get the whole house decorated for Christmas during Thanksgiving weekend. For one I have Joe's help and two I like my house to be Christmas"tized" for as long as possible. 

Our real Christmas tree decorated.

And our four artificial trees decorated.

Yes, if you added we have five Christmas trees total. 

Call me crazy.

Let's see...there's the Snowman Tree,

The Santa tree,

The tree divided (OU/OSU),

Boomer Sooner!

and the Angel Tree.

Hey! My Aunt Pam has 30+ Christmas trees in her house each year, so please no judgement on my measly five trees!

We also put up a Christmas Village and 

I decorated my Grandma Carol's old chest and filled it with Christmas movies.

Needless to say there was a whole lot of decorating. 

Christmas is all around us. 

I'm loving it!