Mills & Syd

Mills & Syd

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Christmas at Mimi & Pa's

Mimi had some big news this year and the family flocked around our matriarch.  It's always fun to see everyone, but I love the special attention Mimi received.  We do love our Mimi!
Nana's fickle girl
 
Brandon and his family were visiting!  Always fun to see my sibling.
And nephew and niece (and Leann too)!  They got the tall genes.
Newlyweds in the house!
Miles is still tired from the wedding.
Blake Haney!  I will always say that in my head the way he used to say it when he was little.  And his dad, also known as "raise your arm, larry".
selfie arm in action that day
miss these ladies
my original selfie partner
look at that radiant skin!  I wonder what they use...
I love how everyone indulges me.  Brandon likes to call that "spoiled".  As if.
Post-nap snuggles with daddy
Mimi and her "right arm" ;)
Group pics
along with selfie arm, I also have a mannequin hand
Momster <3
If only Kendyl could live closer...best buds
In true 2015 fashion
Mimi has had great news since these pics were taken.  She is just fine and back to her happy, smiling self.  Thankful, for sure!

Christmas with the Wilsons

Coco!  The girls were so happy to see Coco and her family!  For the record, we were too.  We haven't seen them much this fall; they have teenagers and busy lives and marathons to run!
Our tradition:  making gingerbread houses (and trains)
Complete Fail.
We still had fun.
I like Dan's long hair.  And Luc's willingness to participate in the activities and games.
We are so festive....
...most of us.
Ermagherd!  Coco can knit so well now!  She made a matching hat to go with Millie's gloves.  Cutest thing ever.  And useful too!
I love it when they come see us.  Millie loves to include Dan in her list of best friends.  We're trying to persuade them to move to Arkansas. ;)
Cousins!
Cokes & Mills <3


Christmas Break

We've had plenty of holiday fun this December!  We skipped the Christmas Train this year and went for ice skating instead!
First we watched a skating show...
...then we got to skate!
Our awesome petsitter, Traci, is one of the ice skating coaches, so we were lucky to get some one-on-one instruction!

Juniper and Jasper were so silly this year!
The highlight of the season for Mills has definitely been the arrival of Cayden!  Video: Fab Four Chaos
Syd and Beck have become the best of friends too!  Version 2.0
Beck had so much fun...he is ALL boy.
Syd gets red-faced and sweaty every time ;)
Dancing with Nana
Holiday treat making
Fab Four action at the trampoline park
the original besties
Holiday artwork from Syd
Not sure if you can read this, but it cracked me up.  What would you put in this present, and who would you give it to?  A unicorn!  From Millie to Mommy!
Millie made a Christmas Card at school
she was proud
watercolor
I guess it's a skill to put the stickers in the circles?  Sometimes these preschool skills crack me up.
Oh Syd.  It's been a helluva few weeks with this firecracker.  It all started the week before school let out.  Crazy meltdowns about wanting her pink coat (she doesn't have a pink coat), and not wanting to go potty or wear her pajamas to school (it was pajama week), among many other things.  Insane tantrums, right and left.  The last day of the semester, I convinced Syd to wear her nightgown, but we had to put leggings and a cardigan with it.
Back when I was still trying to give potty training a chance, I promised Syd a trip to Chuck E Cheese if she got a certain amount of Xs on her potty chart.  So we went.  It's a good thing she's so cute.  Not only is the potty training not clicking, but the chart business was also a bit over her head.  I think we'll try again in a month.
Fab Four picnics and playdates have been so fun!  Having them around has definitely saved my sanity.  Thankful they're here to entertain the kiddos and wear them out!
Millie enjoys making drawings for her thank you notes.  The people she draws are hilarious.  Everyone gets a bellybutton.
She made this card for her daddy...just because <3

The biggest surprise of the year!  Pink Lion!  A few weeks before Christmas, Millie dropped one of her snuggly things (Pink Lion) in the potty.  She sobbed and sobbed, so sad to lose one of her posse.  She went to the elves and told them (to tell Santa) to forget her piano and instead bring her a pink lion.  Christmas miracles do happen though, and Juniper and Jasper brought Millie a new one on Christmas Eve morning!  She was beyond thrilled.  It was a sweet moment.
Christmas handprint art to add to our collection.  Random Video: Dancing to Christmas Carols  Notice Syd's free bird dancing and Millie's a little more regimented about it.
Baking gingerbread cookies on Christmas Eve for Santa
We let the girls decorate and eat one that night.
Our family really needs a sugar break come 2016
After baths, we set out Santa's cookies and the reindeer's carrot.
Some little cookie monster took a bite out of Santa's cookie.  Guess who??
The next morning, she finished the job on Santa's leftovers.  Ha!  She just loves food.
Millie was excited that Santa remembered she wanted a piano with a microphone and a seat!
Lots of Christmas morning serenading
Stockings are always a highlight...lots of Frozen things this year: cell phones, necklaces, keys, etc.  That Santa really knows 4 year old little girls...
they play so well together!
figuring out the new toys...
Syd's favorite gift was a new Cinderella princess gown.  Check out Millie's fierce pose!
This Christmas break, I even got to see Kyle!  I made a quick trip to The Lou for a night.  We had fun playing trains.  Wish the girls could've seen him!
KK & Midge hit the dance floor...just like old times
FaceTime with Nana and Papa!  Mom has been spending a lot of time in Tulsa; thank goodness for modern technology!
Millie's new thing is holding Syd like a baby.  They both think it is so funny.
Looking forward to another couple of weeks of The Cruikshanks!  Best Christmas Gift Ever. ;)