Last Christmas as three

We celebrated Christmas a few days early with just the three of us this year since we will be in Chesapeake on Christmas day. It was so much fun this year since Rachel actually understood what was going on somewhat. We loved watching her open presents and get so excited over everything!

Play-Doh and accessories!

"What is that!?"

She LOVES her new shopping cart. She especially loves putting her baby in the part by the handle, just like on a real one!

She likes her mini pillow pet, too!

She loves feeding her new baby... practicing for her new brother!

Dustin and I had a wonderful morning, too. I love my new tablet that he got me! I'm pretty sure he's enjoying his new camera equipment.

Big Girl Bed

While Dustin's parents were here, Dad M. helped move the crib and some other furniture out of Rachel's room and move in her big girl bed.

This was the next day after her nap. (She got a little hot wrapped up in her big blanket!) She did great! So far she has gone right down and hasn't gotten up until we go in to get her.

McCollum Christmas

This year Mom and Dad McCollum, and Benji and Katie came up to Roanoke for Christmas. It was fun to have everyone up here and I'm so glad they could all be here at the same time.

Lots of presents!

Aunt Katie was showing everyone a video... Rachel loved it!

"Kiss"

What a big present for Rachel!

"Thanks Aunt Katie and Uncle Benji for the bowling set!"

Uncle Benji put the doll house together from Grandma and Papa

She loved playing with the new doll House!

One day while everyone was here we went to Hotel Roanoke to see all the Christmas Trees

Papa liked the tree that was decorated with race car stuff.

Rachel has decided recently that she likes to put her hands in her pockets when she walks (especially if someone else is doing it!)

I had to take a minute to sit and rest my feet!

Love my little family!

Rachel was so tired after walking all around the hotel and downtown that she had Uncle Benji carry her all the way back to the car. She almost fell asleep!

We went to see Santa at Fantasy Land again this year!

We all had to wait while Santa got ready for us.

Rachel sat so nicely while he told stories and sang!

With Papa and Grandma waiting to get her picture taken

She liked Santa from a distance, but did NOT want to get too close!

This was as close as we got... She was close enough to get the candy cane from him, tell him "Thank you" "Merry Christmas" and blow him a kiss goodbye... don't know what got into her, she's usually so friendly!

We had a great time with the McCollum side of the family for Christmas! We are so happy that we could do so many fun things while they were here.

WAY Behind

Well, this has been an absolutely crazy Fall. I am so far behind on blogging, but hopefully I will be caught up soon. (You'll have to go back a ways though, because I will have everything back-dated.)

In the last five weeks...

We've had a lot of company

Gone Trick-or-Treating

Spent an afternoon at the Star

Celebrated Thanksgiving

Taken Family Pictures

Spent some time together as a family since Marching is over

Oh, and Gavin has drained me of all my energy (OK, Rachel may have had something to do with that too!)

Work has been taking quite a bit of my time this year also. I enjoy my students, just wish (like all teachers) that I had less paperwork to do so I could spend more time focusing on fun classroom activities!

So, with that being said, I'm heading to bed so hopefully I have energy to get a lot done tomorrow!

Family Portraits

Dad and Mom went with us to the Norfolk waterfront and Dad took some family photos for us. It was really bright and windy, so we didn't get any with the water in the background, but we did get a few on the pier and some by some buildings.

Dustin took a couple of me too, since we haven't been doing such a great job of keeping up with weekly pictures this time around!

Thanks for the ride, Poppy!

We needed an updated picture of Mom and Dad, too, so we got a few of them!

Some of the photos were taken a few blocks away from my parents house later that day. We all needed to get out and walk some of Thanksgiving dinner off, so we headed down there for a little fresh air and exercise!

Thanksgiving Weekend

This was our second annual Thanksgiving at the Maggiore's house. They are such a wonderful extended family to have and we are so blessed that they open up their home to us!

I can't believe we actually got a picture with everyone looking in the same direction. There may or may not have been about 5 adults and 3 kids behind the camera trying to get the attention of Blake, Rachel and Alli!

Rachel and Anna playing in the little playhouse.

Blake and Anna driving around the house in the jeep. I'm pretty sure the grass was worn out by the end of the day!

Barbara aka "Ba-Ba" taking Megan and Rachel around in the wagon so they wouldn't be left out!

Me and my big brother!

Joe's turn! Alli decided to join the fun, too.

Anna drove Rachel around the house...

Most of the way... she bailed part way around and Rachel had to drive the rest by herself!

Such a cutie!

Loving on each other!

Poppy and his girls!