Reese

Reese is a big time mover and shaker.  She definitely keeps me on my toes.  Apparently it is more fun to sit in the upstairs toy basket than to play with the toys.

Ballet, Tap & Tumble

So, for Christmas my mom got Cam ballet lessons.  We have kinda gotten to the point with our kids that they have SO many toys, I have been trying to think of experience type gifts rather than things!  So anyhow...  I came across this 8 week dance lesson package through our county parks and rec dept.  It seemed like the perfect length to try and see if Cami enjoyed it.  We signed up for classes tuesday mornings from 11-11:50.  We thought it'd be a nice break for Cami and allow mommy some good one on one time with Reese to run errands around the dance studio.

So we have been anxiously awaiting the day, we get all dressed and drive over there....and there was no one there (except for 2 other moms with excited 3 year olds).  Apparently there was a miscommunication between the dance studio and parks and rec.  So needless to say we were very disappointed. The next day the dance teacher called and said that Cami could join her Wednesday evening class.  It is the same age group, but an ongoing class.  So away we went.  We have been to 2 classes so far and she has loved it.  She gives us a lesson as soon as we get home.  

Girls Update

I know what you are thinking....'girls update' your blogs are always about your girls.  What can I say.  

Cami will be four in about 3 month. I can't believe it.  She is so smart.  We have opted out of preschool thus far.  We have felt that she is well adjusted that she doesn't need the social part of preschool and I have been working with her on basic stuff as often and we can fit it it.  She recognizes every letter and can tell us the sound each letter makes.  She also can write every letter and numbers 1-10.  She also knows how to write her name, her sisters name, mine and Matt's from memory.  She love make believe play and has the greatest imagination.  We are always playing hotel, restaurant or family where she is the mommy.  She is also showing signs of athleticism.  Several times awake she does batting practice in the basement with dad.  She uses a plastic bat and he pitches a tennis ball to her.  She has been doing so great, so great in fact that we have had to change to a hollow plastic ball as we are afraid she was going to break something.  She recently started dance class (I'll post on that later). We read a lot, and go to the library about once every 10 days or so.  She is kind, very sweet and so tenderhearted.  She loves her sister and is a great big sister.

Reese is a pistol.  She is adventurous and fearless.  She thinks she can do everything her sister does.  She is a speed crawler and speed cruiser, but no walking yet.  She is 10 1/2 months old and still has no teeth, so that has been frustrating for her and exhausting for us.  Her fine motor skills are remarkable.  She can pick up and ball rolled to her and throw it back.  She gets into everything and we've already had to put up the baby gate up to keep her in one place (something we didn't have to do with Cami until closer to her 1st birthday).  She is an eating machine!  Matt and I are counting down the days until she can have cows milk because she is eating us out of house and home with all the formula she is going through.  

Here is a side by side of Reese and Cam about the same age

Science City

2 Weekends ago we ventured downtown to Union station.  There are great family attractions there, this time we went to Science City.  We had such a great time exploring a new place (indoors on a cold day). As always, I forgot my good camera and only had my phone.  We were able to bring a lunch in and have a picnic on a bench.  It was a great day and wore the kiddos out!

Where RJ is standing is a piano

More music

astronaut Cami

Building

Construction time

RJ even enjoyed herself

Digging for Dino fossils

Watch out....Sisters at play!

Winter

So winter in the Midwest.  I have to admit I was very worries about how this desert girl would handle Kansas winters.  Well, we got a late start and I think its been mild-ish.  But I think I am adapting well.  One of the biggest differences is the lasting snow.  In NM, even when we did get snow it was gone my midday.  Not here, it is definitely lasting.  Here are a few pictures of us playing in the snow on new years day.

More Christmas part 2

Last Christmas Post.

Of course I forgot to take a picture of the tree prior to us digging into to our Christmas presents....but needless to say we had so much fun.  Christmas through the eyes of your kiddos is such a blessing and joyous occasion.

Reese was def more interested in her sisters goodies than her own.  Cami quickly figured this out and started opening RJ's presents for her so that her sister would leave hers alone.

Nana digging into her Santa bag

RJ's first Christmas.  Can't believe this little sweetie is going to be 1 soon.

Santa brought RJ puffies....JACKPOT!

Jumper for the basement from Aunt Karen Lisa and Uncle Mike

Matt's special present for Cami (a pinterest idea I found).  It is a city  he drew in permanent marker and we included cars and they were able to color in the city and drive and play on it!  She loves it.

 After opening presents at our house, we played cleaned up and had a delicious dinner.  Then we packed up and headed for Holton.  We celebrated the Williams Family Christmas on the 26th.

With 16 of us plus my mom....the amount of presents and santa bags that we have to go through is A LOT!

RJ actually slept through most of the present opening, but we saved her presents for her

Me and my love....our 8th Christmas together.

Grandpa and C

 Grandma and Grandpa and all the grandkids..... best looking kids around!

Grandma and Grandpa got the littles matching overalls!  They are adorable, Josh and Sam got brown and our girls got pink.  I see some photos in the future.

 So thankful to our friends and family that made our holiday season such a joy and blessing.  Most of all We are thankful to the Lord who provides for us daily and gave us the greatest gift of all.

More Christmas

As I started going through pictures for this post I realized that I haven't uploaded all our Christmas pictures yet.  But I figure that is okay, I'll just split it up into two posts anyway.

So while my mom was here we went to Branson for the weekend before Christmas.  While we were in Branson we were fortunate enough to have breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus.  What a treat the girls (especially Cami) expressions were priceless.

We got home on Christmas eve.  It was kind of exhausting and fast and furious, but we had a great time.  Christmas eve we unpacked from Branson & did laundry, made Christmas cookies for Santa, went to church and came home.   Matt made an extraordinary dinner and we all went off to bed with excitement for the magic of Christmas.

Mommy and her girls.  We are wearing matching sweatshirts that Grandma hand painted.  It is our official Christmas Eve tradition.

Cam and I baking cookies.  Luckily I thought ahead and made cookie dough before we left for Branson.  All we had to do was roll, cutout and decorate.

Nana and Cam decorating Cookies

Our sweeties all dressed in their Christmas Jammies

Reading the night before Christmas