Christmas Downtown

We made our annual trip downtown this afternnon. It was also an afternoon of firsts, though. They were giving free carriage rides outside of Macy's, so we waited a few minutes and then hopped on. We had never done this with the girls before. Olivia was in her glory!!! The three girls even got to ride up front with the driver!! We saw Santa at Macy's and then walked to the train display at the Duke Energy building, but it was closed. (I think the girls were happy.) We made it back to Fountain Square and Dan, Grace, Olivia, and Emma went ice skating. It was Emma's first time! I was the official picture taker. I don't know who had more fun, them or me laughing at them going around and Emma saying, "I got it. I got it.", and then falling. It was a real hoot!!! Olivia was much improved from the last time we went, considering I couldn't let go of her last time. Many great memories were made this afternoon!

The girls waiting for the carriage.

The girls on the carriage ride. I love Olivia's face!

Helping each other out in the beginning.

"Hey, Ma! Look at me!"

This is one of my favorites-Emma looks like she is hanging on for dear life!

Zion Christmas Program

This morning was the annual Zion Sunday School Christmas program. Olivia was a wiseman (wisewoman), Emma was a pig, and Grace read part of the Christmas story during the program. Olivia also played "We Three Kings of Orient Are" on the piano, which I thought was fitting since she was one of the kings.

Don't you just love the beard?

Always smiling!

Breakfast with Santa at Zion

Saturday was breakfast with Santa at our church. Here are a few shots:

"Really, Santa?"

"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"

We awoke Saturday morning to a winter wonderland. It was so beautiful!!! When Dan opened Olivia's shade in her room to show her the snow, we discovered we had six visitors in our back yard!

Holiday Preparations

The past week or so has been busy at home and at school preparing for Christmas. Grace had a violin concert last week as well as a chorus concert. Emma was asked to help play the jingle bells at Grace's violin concert. She was so excited, and had been asking me for weeks when the big day was. As you can see from the pictures, she loves to perform! On Friday night, we made gingerbread houses. Instead of making just one, we tried a minature village this year, so we each had our own house to decorate. It worked out well, and we even have a nice little display on the shelf in between the family room and the kitchen now.

Can you tell she was in her glory?

This is what Emma did best-eating the icing!

The Biggest News from Thanksgiving!

I was in such a hurry trying to update my posting last night, that I forgot the biggest news of the Thanksgiving holiday! I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT AGAIN! (Can you hear me whooping and hollaring all the way down here in Cincinnati?) We all have so much to be thankful this year, but the blessing of Drew and Steph expecting is something that we are all especially thankful for. I can hardly wait to hold that little bundle of joy!!! Congratulations Drew and Steph!!! You all are going to make wonderful parents! God has truly blessed you!

The Perfect Tree

We found the perfect tree! (Of course, I say that every year!) We got a big one-so big, Dan had to get the ladder out to put the star on the top! The girls had fun dragging it in and having their hot chocolate. It's always so much fun to go out to Sugar Tree Farms!

"Your're almost there, girls!"

Festival of Lights '09

We headed over to the zoo Friday night for the festival of lights Friday night to help kick off the holiday season. We enjoyed all the lights, a train ride, and a 4-D movie! We saw parts of the Polar Express in 4D, which was so cool!! You could smell the hot chocolate and the Christmas tree, feel Santa poke you in the back when he cracked his whip, it snowed, and water even hit you in the face when the train screetched to a halt and the ice went flying. It was quite an experience. I wish I could have captured the excitement on Olivia's face. It was priceless!!!

Emma was looking a little tired by the time we got to the train.

Daddy and Mommy's annual train picture. Thanks, Livi!

Thanksgiving in Michigan

We headed up to Grammy and Papa's for Thanksgiving. It was a great weekend, as usual! The dinner was wonderful and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family. We made a trip to Bronner's, which is sure to put anyone in the Christmas spirit, and we even surprised Papa with a 60th birthday party! What great memories!!!

Audrey telling me the letters on the blocks. She is amazing!!!

After dinner entertainment-a play written by the Hamilton girls and starring all the cousins!