An early visit from Santa

The annual Koops family party at the big red barn

Lucy, what did Santa bring you? I can't believe she sat on his lap!

Kadence opening her gift from Santa


"just what I always wanted! A barbie, now I have three, just like I am 3 years old. When I have my next birthday I can have 4!"

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful extended family. Tom made a surprise visit (and appeared as Santa), we were disappointed to miss Joy and the boys. Love you guys!

Lucy entertained everyone with her stories, energy, and my ever favorite--pretending to be a cat! We enjoyed great food, time to catch up, and gifts for the kids. It's amazing how much can change in a year, or even 6 months! We have one more baby on the way for 2010 (Ben and Laurie are expecting number 3 in July), will the Koops family grow by anymore, and will we be able to fit???
That is truly a gift from God!

Crafts

I've been busy, and it has done my heart some good to do some crafting. Makeup bags and tutus are my newest creations. A big thank you to my friend Rachel for coming over and giving me new ideas and support......and for 2010 I believe a craft show is in our future!

2 a days

ok--I promised this....but 3 hours and 15 minutes in the dentist's chair this morning has thrown me for a loop. I hate genetics (and today I am feeling bad about all the sugary things I have eaten). But most of all, why couldn't I have gotten some good teeth genes? A partial and 2 refillings, and a new filling.....my mouth hurts, and I'm hungry.

crazy kids

These girls crack me up. Kadence is just starting to figure out how to take things off, put things on, and how to just be silly. She does things just to make me laugh. Lucy is "a genius"....in her own words. SERIOUSLY always building, creating, and talking my ear off. She has the best stories. This morning she told me to come back to bed after I got up, because she had more to tell me.....something about her bear going to California to get something....

Kady modeling daddy's cap

Lucy's Dr. Seuss tower (I think she said it was an apartment building)

Sister love

Dancing in our shoes

Can you find Lucy in her fort? At least she napped that day!

The first big snow

Can you get two girls more excited to play out in the snow?? Lucy was ready before Kady even got out of bed!

Snow seats (kindof like bleacher seats) to watch mommy shovel

Lucy's favorite, besides eating the snow, is to just make tracks

The day started sunny, as we finished our snowman it started getting a bit darker

The snowman was happy because it started snowing again....

and then it was time to go in (can you believe it was noon....it was so dark I thought the sun was trying to set!)

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

I'm going to be playing a little bit of blogging catch up this week. I'll refer to them as two-a-days.

Our tree has been up since the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We took advantage of the warmer weather to cart our tree home in the trunk of the aurora. I know, most people wanted to wait until the snow and cold, and do the cut yourself.....seriously too much stress for me to have fun. So we went to flower land instead. We had a great time picking it out, putting up the lights, and decorating the rest of the house with Christmas stuff.
Lucy was so excited to put the tree in the same spot we had "last day". I can't believe she remembers this stuff. It is fun to really begin our own family traditions and spread the joy of Christmas!

Got it!


Kady didn't want a picture with her ornament...it matches Lucy's, except it's pooh

Lucy's 2009 ornament

Lucy was very good at decorating the bottom of our tree! and yes...it was a little taller and wider than it looked in the aisle of the store!

What a gift!

Hard to believe that these pictures were taken just a couple of weeks ago. Our generous neighbors have given our girls the greatest gift! Their very own swingset! We have finally put up the baby swing we got as a gift when Lucy was a baby, and both girls love it. They have had so much fun climbing the ladder and going down the slide. Lucy is a little leary, but that Kady girl just has no fear! Thanks Mrs. Alice and Mr. Bill!