Mills & Syddles: December

Our little neighbor friend, also named Sydney (second from left) had a bday! We went to High Rise Trampoline Park to celebrate. Can you see how red my Syd's face is?! That place is a workout. ;)

Next up was Sage's bday party! We went to see Ralph Breaks the Internet!

Syd and I had a little date beforehand. We had to drop Millie off for dinner before the movie, so we went to check out Christmas trees and have dinner on our own, just the two of us. It was special. She is SO into the christmas spirit this year! She is enjoying every aspect of it. We share a love for Christmas music too, and she sings along all the time. Love her enthusiasm!

Time for the Dillard's holiday fashion show! Millie loves it. She loves picking out the outfit, shoes, accessories...getting makeup applied. It's hard to see, but she has on some really long, dangly earrings that she just adored. She did an amazing job and looked so put together!

Surprisingly, Syd said said she wanted to participate this time too! She picked out everything she was wearing, as well. She felt cute...but she was admittedly nervous.

Time for the show! Syd walked the runway, and we were very proud of her for following through. But you could tell she didn't enjoy it. The second I met up with her afterwards, she said she didn't want to do that again. ;) Video: Holiday Fashion Show

Millie, on the other hand, walked the runway like an old pro! She was in her element.

If they walk in the fashion show, they get a discount on an item from the store. Syd picked out this sparkly fanny pack. So awesome. Looks good with that lipstick, sister!

The girls stayed the night with Nana, while JKK and I went Christmas tree shopping. The cats annihilated our tree last year, so we had to replace it. We decided to go with something a little different for awhile. We all really enjoyed having this funky red tree this year! And I spent every day of December spraying it down with cat repellent. ;)

I love Christmas card time!

The Christmas card winner this year was obviously Aunt Midge's. Kyle is still in a big dino phase, and I think it's cool that they all embrace it!

Nothing better than a weekend movie with some popcorn

Sleeping Queens still hasn't gotten old

Elf is one of our very favorite holiday movies. The girls loved their Buddy the Elf shirts this year! "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"

Piddy in dance class is the cutest. (She's in a room without windows, so I have to watch on my phone.)

OMG! Kendyl is only a freshman, but she made the Varsity Cheer team this year. Her cheerleading squad just won the 4A state championship in CO!! Proud of her!

Holiday Party fun

Wow! Juniper and Jasper surprised the girls with a big lego kit! (Sidenote: it's cute how the girls still pronounce her name Junifer) I've overheard Syd talking to the elves quite a bit, and sometimes I see her waving at them. It makes me smile just thinking of it. What a sweet age the girls are at...kind of a sweet spot.

They've really been into legos lately, so the elves did a great job!

Second annual trip to Stewart Family Lights! It. Was. Freezing.

Our besties joined us <3

Syd loves these things!

Ms. Amanda is so silly sometimes

They sell the most delicious kettle korn

Afterwards, we took the kids to Shogun. Their faces with the fire = hilarious. Choo choo, here comes the onion train! Video: hibachi time!

Jasper can't get enough of humidifier season

I volunteered to bring cookies to the girls school for a teacher appreciation dinner. I iced 100 cookies and thought I might die. Double batch is TOO MUCH!! Ha! But they are always delicious and worth it.

Time for a haircut - love it when it's fresh! We had her shave up a little more this time. Mills loves it. It really suits her.

Elle made all of Millie's dreams come true! For Elle's bday, she rented a limo and took the girls to fayetteville for a painting activity, dinner, and a stop to see the lights on the square. Tres chic!

Millie basically had the best night of her life.

My girls nights usually include book club or a movie, but we've branched out recently! We've been enjoying playing family feud at a bar/food truck place. It was Traci's bday, so we made sure to win that night. ;)

I'm so happy you're happy, my sweet Piddy. <3

Check out this cool dinosaur standing in front of an exploding volcano!

Lachlan's bday party was at Chuck E Cheese...never too old for a little fun at the Chuck!

Syd and Anniston are inseparable, as usual.

JKK and I got to get away for a night in Tulsa. I found the purrrrfect holiday sweater for him this year. He looks so handsome in it, right?!

We met Coco and Tony for dinner and had our own little holiday celebration - just the adults. So nice every once in awhile! Tony's Mike Tyson sweatshirt won the night.

I do love some holiday flair.

Continuing with the holiday celebrations: Christmas Carols and Cookies at the girls school. I made MORE cookies to take and also some for the teachers. It was a record holiday season for cookie making...I loved it! My pants are tight! ;)

Nana came...always supportive, always appreciated

Millie and Avery - one of her besties this year - helping us run the snowball toss game. There may have been a little flirting with the boys. So weird to start witnessing that stuff!

Several times a week, Millie has been bringing home a ukelele to practice. Pretty cool, Mills. The cats love to be serenaded!

Syd made a gingerbread house at school and loved every second of it.

freestyle shapes = nice work, Sydney!

Millie made this around thanksgiving time and we finally got it home. Gorgeous job! I wish the detail showed up better. She's quite the little artist! Sometimes she says she wants to be an artist when she grows up.

Girls, take note. I read a lot..and in 2018, I read over 40 books. This one was a highlight from the year. I listened to the FLOTUS read it, and it was just lovely and so inspiring. Take your academics seriously, girls!! You never know where it will lead you and what opportunities will present themselves.

Nana sent this pic to me and I couldn't quit laughing at Syd's face.

She makes all sorts of crazy faces these days...and she talks with her hands a lot. I love her little hands.

...and she's really into headwear!

Especially holiday headwear!

Some gems from Millie's schoolwork when learning about how other countries celebrate Christmas:

roast beast - I laughed out loud

spelling is tough ;)

I love looking through Mimi and Papa's old photo albums. Doesn't this pic of my mom look just like Syd?!

When Jayme and Melissa come home for the holidays, we usually get a quick visit!

We met them for lunch and got to see Rene and Larry too!

Friday night with the Cruiks and their giant cats Video: Fab Four on a Friday night

Cayden and Mills trying to recreate this pic from 2014. Ha!

Time for the last day of school before winter break, which means it's PARTY TIME!

First we went to Syd's kindergarten party! Syd's little friend, Sawyer (on the right with Elf pajamas), is the MOST INTO CHRISTMAS. She tells Syd she is going to Elf training at the north pole soon, and Syd gets genuinely sad the she wasn't invited. I'm not sure how to handle these conversations. ;)

Then on to the big second grade bash! Millie was so sad before school this morning because it was pajama day and she didn't have a robe and slippers to wear. (We had to throw her robe away a few months ago because of an unfortunate incident with scissors.) Mom to the rescue - I let her unwrap one of her presents under the tree early! The puppy dog robe and slippers were a hit and she went to school thrilled!

playing games - they seem so grown up!

Syd's homeroom teacher is amazing this year (it's not me, ha!) - she sent home two gorgeous homemade ornaments for our tree. Tiny Syd in a snow globe...

...and Syd drew this snowman and wrote her name, and then the mom embroidered it on this small hoop. So nice!

Oh Jaspy...

It's such a busy time of year and everyone is tired. Sometimes we melt down...

A couple of months ago, I was looking for holiday volunteer opportunities for our family. I decided to go with a time slot at our local walmart to ring the bell for the salvation army. For two hours, we stood outside, the four of us, and enthusiastically raked in the dough. It was a learning experience and the girls needed some reminding at times of why we were there. Overall, I'm glad we did it! Video: Millie sings for us, Another Video: cute Piddy

A few days before Christmas, Papa and Grandma Tricia and Maya came for a visit to do our celebration.

The girls painted these garden stepping stones for Papa's backyard! Millie's is a flower.

Syd's is a rainbow turtle, and she could not have loved this project more! Right up her alley...she was so proud of her work!

Grandma Tricia working on a blanket and Syd trying to "help". Look at her little tongue poking out in concentration.

game time

Millie's thank you notes are quite lovely this year

Nana's turn! The girls made stepping stones for Nana's house also!

Rainbow ALWAYS for Syd! (I'm going to predict that she may get a rainbow tattoo one day.)
We had dinner at Nana's house and were talking about what Christmas means to us. I said in a way, it's like thanksgiving, and we should be thankful for what we have and our friends and family. And Syd chimed in that we should be thankful for toilets also. Good point. Definitely thankful for toilets, Syd! Hahaha, she's so funny.

Nana got the girls this fabulous L.O.L. dollhouse! It was top on their list. Wowza!

Syd is in heaven. She always gets a little mad though that she has to leave toys at Nana's. She wants to bring everything home with her!

The girls stayed the night with Nana to get more play time with the dollhouse, and JKK and I got an early morning workout in together. That never happens, so it was kinda fun!

Christmas Eve squeeeeeze - Millie was so excited, she had a hard time going to sleep. And then she got up at 4am and got into bed with us. It's hard to be patient!

Syd's class made some reindeer food (oatmeal and glitter) at her party, so we made sure to set that out, plus some cookies, milk, and notes to santa! Notice that Syd's picture says "four santa". ;)

And then it was finally CHRISTMAS MORNING! Millie was in a frenzy. I think everything was opened and checked out within a few minutes...

Santa brought these amazing American Girl dolls for Syd, complete with outfits, a wardrobe, a scooter, and even a bike seat for Syd's own bike! It's exactly what Syd was hoping for!!

Santa brought Millie a hoverboard and a huge Harry Potter snitch bean bag chair! She was on that hoverboard immediately! Video: hovering later in the day , Another Video: Fab Four Hoverboard magic

A girls first diary <3

Syd got a unicorn pikmi pop that smells like marshmallows...she loves that thing!

They were so excited and happy with everything...such sweet girls

These guys REALLY love the bean bag chair

Look at how happy this girl is...

Ruh Roh - Nana came over on Christmas morning on her way to Tulsa. Millie fell a couple of times off her hoverboard and hurt her tailbone. Nana snuggles helped.