Happy Birthday, Jesus!

We recently plugged in our video camera and watched our old home movies on the TV. The girls loved this so much, that we decided to video more often.
Because we are Diesch's and we do everything 100 percent, we videoed the entire Christmas........and took NO pictures with our camera. Epic fail! I so wanted to get several pictures of the girls in their matching Christmas dressess which were so beautiful this year! All we have are some phone pics. The girls had a blast as usual. Ava got a Leappad and Aubrey got the rockin Elmo among many other things.

Ava did attend Christmas Eve service with us for the first time in big church. It was so much fun with her there! The birthday cake this year was a Banana cake with carmel frosting......Anthony's new favorite cake.

I love that Ava truly understands why we celebrate Christmas! Happy birthday Jesus!!

Here comes Santa Claus, Here comes Santa Claus!

It was finally that time....the thing Ava has been asking about the entire month of December...Baking cookies for Santa time! Ava has grown so much this year. I didn't have to help her at all. She rolled the dough, cut the shapes and frosted and decorated the cookies all by herself. As you probably guessed, Aubrey did a little shape cutting, ate some dough and then made her own mess! Santa got some delicious creations this year!

Busted!

She looks grown up here...like an independent baker!

Oh yes, she did!

Proud of her cookies!

Christmas Bakers!

I cannot deny that I absolutely love having daughters who love to bake! Well, Ava LOVES to bake and Aubrey LOVES to eat. I can remember what wer were making here, but I know we were starting our Christmas baking! I love the holdiays!





A little sticker on the forehead only adds to the fun!

Pre-K Christmas Party

I was able to go to Ava's Pre-K Christmas party this year! It is times like this that I am so grateful to work part time. Ava loves her class this year, including her teachers Mrs. Gatton and Mrs. Gray. They are precious ladies and I am so grateful she was able to be in their class. The party started out with entertainment; 3 songs from the class: "Away in a Manager, Jingle Bells and We Wish You A Merry Christmas"! Ava was so into the songs, doing all the hand motions. We played Christmas bingo and had a book swap. I love the book Ava got this year. I think it is one of my favorites! Ava was able to decorate her own Christmas tree and eat yummy treat. Ava also made the most precious tile for Anthony and I. The tree is her footprint, the snowman is her handprint and her teachers said she did most of the little details. How cute is this? I love it!!!!

Singing away in a Manager....the little lord Jesus laid down his sweet head!

"We wish you a Merry Christmas"

Christmas Bingo!

Every year the exchange books....love, love, love this one that she got this year!

Decorating Christmas trees!

Enjoying the fruits of her labor!

Mrs. Gatton and Mrs. Gray

I am so grateful for these wonderful ladies!

Ava's First Dance Recital!

Ava has been taking tap and ballet this fall semester through Mrs. Sarah. Mrs. Sarah is a sweet lady who DONATES her time to teach lots of little children dance. She is a dancer who does this as a part of her ministry. After her first semester, it was time to have their Christmas recital. Dressed in red tights, tutu and a failed bun....my sweet girl took the stage. First was the tap routine. I must say, that Ava is quite the performer.....dancer, I'm not sure, but performer, YES!

She came out on stage giggling.....so very happy. When the lights came on she initially shielded her eyes. But then the show started. She was so happy to be on stage. At the end when everyone else bowed, she blew kisses to the audience. As her teammates were leaving the stage, she lingered there and gave out a laugh...the audience laughed back. Then Ava replied to the audience "Mom, is that you?" There was more laughter from the audience. Off the stage she went!!! Little comedian.

Last was the ballet routine. I think Ava knew maybe 15 percent of this routine. I think she was bored with ballet. As she came on stage and got down on her knees for the routine, she noticed Anthony and I in the front. She began to pose....like she was modeling. I think she gave us 6-7 poses. I captured some pictures of them. After the routine, again she blew kisses. I am not sure why she did this because I was trying to teach her to curtsy . But she did. Her dad yelled "Great job, Ava!" Ava yelled back from the stage, "Thanks, Daddy!"

Poppy, Gigi, Anthony, Aubrey and I where just smiling from ear to ear. Speaking of Aubrey, she loved to watch the dancers and attempted to dance in the isles right along with them. She has been telling me "dance class, too, mommy?" We will have to consider that! I think we will need to enroll Ava in drama in the future. So proud of our Ave....she just makes me smile and teaches me things unexpectedly everyday. I think I am learning more from her than she is from me! Actually, I know I am!

Poser before the dance recital....doesn't she look like a flamingo dancer?

Fun, Fun....and Brennan is here too!

Look at these babies watching the show so intensely!

Ava and Hayley!

We are so proud of you, Doodlebug!

"In a one horse open sleigh"

Last year I thought big....I thought "let's take our one year old and 3 year old on a 2 hour trip to look at the wonderland of lights!" When we got there, the line was several hours long. We had two very grumpy children and 3 very grumpy adults who had to turn right round and head back home. Major fail.

This year was our first year to be in our new house and I was so excited to see that our HOA does a horse carriage ride event to look at lights! Perfect. It's cheap, close to home and fun! Yay! This was on my dad's birthday, so we asked if Poppy and Gigi wanted to join us. We arrived and were sad to find out that the carriages were running behind, stuck on I-30. It was okay since there were yummy treats, hot coco, animal balloons and face painting to keep the girls busy. There was also a very special visitor....Santa and Mrs. Claus! Yay!

Our ride was origianlly scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Shortly after 7:00 p.m. the carriages arrived. Somehow, our names got skipped twice. I was beginning to think that me and Christmas light looking do not go together. The kids were getting restless and tired and so were we. After the momma bear came out in me, it was finally our turn. After 8:00 p.m. , we had our horse and carriage ride. Ava named the horses Jingle and Bell! It took about 15 minutes and was perfect! The girls loved it! We snuggled in our blanket and looked at all the lovely lights. There is one circle in our neighborhood who really does it up! Reminds me so much of this circle my parents use to take me every year located in Garland. There was also a house, where several of the kids did a live nativity scene! How neat is that!

Excited to see Poppy and celebrate his birthday!

Birthday boy!

Major excitement!!!!!

Ava's rudolph balloon!

Finally, sleigh time!

My baby girl!

I will say that the Christmas lights were a success and we will try it again next year! So happy to have moved into a neighboorhood, simply for things like this!