5 Year Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to my Wonderful Husband of 5 years.  Love you

Daddy Daughter Date

The week after Thanksgiving, Matt and Cami went on their first official daddy/daughter date.  Matt and Cami had been talking about this for sometime and they finally found time to make it happen.  Matt is the greatest dad and wants his girls to know how special they are.

It was a big deal, Cami and Matt both got dressed up.  Cami got to pick where they were going.  She chose to go shopping at the legends, dinner at 'the cow place' and a movie.

They both had a great time and the next day and almost every day since Cami has asked when they can do another.

Thanksgiving

I know I said that I would be a better blogger, but really you should have known better.  Truthfully I had a little blogging difficulties.  User error I am sure.  Anyway, Christmas is upon us and the celebrations have started in the Williams household! YIPEE.  My mom arrived yesterday after a huge weather delay but we are already enjoying having Nana here.

As many of you have noticed, you haven't gotten a Christmas Card from us this year.  With everything that happened it was just one thing I couldn't manage.  Simplify.  Next year I will hopefully be more on the ball and send them out.

So here is Thanksgiving.  We went to Matt's folks house (a short 1 1/2 hour drive...much better than 12 + it use to be).  We spent time playing outside because of the mild weather, eating way to much and loving on our sweet family.

Here are a couple of pictures of the Williams cousins.

from L-R & T-B:  Parker (8) Carter (12)
Josh (3) Peyton (14) Reese (8 1/2 mos) Paige (10) Samuel (7 1/2 mos) & Cami (3)

Hope you al are enjoying your family and friends this holiday season.  I will post an end of the year blog as a substitute to my annual Christmas card.  I will also try and get caught up on blogging....he he

blog fail

Well, I don't know what to say except that I have been a complete and utter failure when it comes to blogging.  The kids had a rough november and have been sick a lot...which in turn means I have spent the whole month 'catching up'.

I have also been working frantically on crafting and sewing projects that I am trying to complete before Christmas.  I know there are a few pictures from Thanksgiving on my phone that I need to download.  I'll get to it eventually.

We are well and happy.

FYI, I will be doing a year in review blog this year as I opted not to send out Christmas cards this year. Call it an effort to simplify, being lazy or cheap... I just didn't want to take it on this year.

pumpkin comparison

So for Reese for Halloween, we saved Cami's old pumpkin costume.  Here is a comparison photo.

Cami's Halloween Pictures

I decided to re-look at all of the pictures of Cami from past Halloweens.  That is the greatest part of holidays is that you are guaranteed to have at least one picture!  Here is one picture from each of Cami's Halloweens.

7 months

1 1/2 years

2 1/2 years

3 1/2 years

More Pictures

Here are a few more pictures from last weekends little photoshoot

I love how this silly one shows Cami's personality

new pictures of the girls

As I am sure most people can relate to, our second baby hasn't had as many pictures taken of her as we did with Cami.  I blame it on the extenuating circumstances of the last 6 months rather than on parental negligence.....we'll see if she buys that in 15 years.  Anyway, so I have been desperate to take some photos of the girls and some family shots. 

We went to Matt's folks this past weekend.  They live on a beautiful piece of property and this is one of the prettiest times of year.  So I packed us some 'nice clothes' and told my niece to expect to be put to work.  Peyton has an eye for anything artistic so I volunteered her for the job of taking our photos.

So here are the 2 most beautiful little girls ever!  I'll put up more as we have time to go through them and photoshop a few.  But these were so good straight from the camera I couldn't wait to share them!

Thanks PQ for sharing your wonderful talent!

Mothers Together Playdate

Mother's Together is the wonderful mom's group at our church.  It is similar to a MOPS type group.  It has been such a blessing to me since our move.  The women have been so welcoming to me. We are in the middle of our MT session which meets wednesday mornings, but we also have other activities that are fun and more social in nature.  This was especially fun for me, as I was able to connect with ladies outside of the table I sit at on Wednesdays.

Anyway, This monday, we met at Deanna Rose Children's farmstead.  I'm sure you guys are tired of reading about this place.  We love it there, and it is only open until the end of the month so we are trying to take advantage while we can!

Its not easy getting 6 three year olds to sit for a picture

waiting for a pony ride

watching a friend on the pony

Cami's turn

After we had walked around the farm, we went across the street to a park and had a picnic and played.  We had a GREAT time!  So much so that my kids both napped!  Thanks to Meghan for organizing such a fun play date!

A Cold Fall Saturday

The first full weekend in October was cold. Colder than usual that is, it was our first light freeze.  Of course we had a zillion things planned, so life went on.  Saturday morning we started out with soccer.  It was around 38 or 39 degrees when we started, it was overcast, so it didn't get much warmer.  The kids were troopers.

On our way.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Later that afternoon, there was a Color Run in Lawrence.  My sister-in-law Jill and I decided that it would be a fun sibling bonding deal.  We had a great time, despite it being about 50 degrees at race time.

Eric and Heidi (pre-race)

The girls (Jill and I rocking our awesome headbands...which were good to keep our ears warm)

Team Williams 

Post Race

The drive home.

A special thanks to Grandma, Grandpa and Nana for watching all the kids at a local McD's while we raced.  Fun activity with the fam....should we make it an annual event???

Time with Nana

My mom decided to drive out here with her little dog.  It was so fun to have them here with no other agenda but hanging out. We did some exploring in and around the KC area.  We went to a bunch of places that we had wanting to take Nana to.  It was so fun.  Matt and I were even able to go on a date....the first real date we had been on since we have been here in KC. Thanks again mom for watching the girls.

Crown Center.  Crayola Cafe

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope

Reese didn't enjoy Kaleidoscope as much as Cam did

One day we went out to a mall in Olathe.  They have a driver's license bureau and a fun place called Monkey Bizness.  So while I was waiting to get my KS drivers license Nana and Cam had a great time playing.

don't worry, she's not squishing her, she is keeping her from rolling away

We didn't just play, play, play everyday, Nana was a good sport and she let me put her to work.  She shampooed the carpet in our town home and did all the laundry.  It was great to have her help.  I will admit it was a bit of a transition to get used to doing things all by myself again.  Love you mom.  Looking forward to Christmas!