65 degrees and pedaling!

Big news in the Schaefer household.  Miss Fifi can now pedal her trike without any help!  We are as thrilled as she is with this new skill.  This week we have enjoyed temps in the 60's  thus the girls had lots of time to play outside (and ride bikes too).   Unfortunately, this wonderful warm weather has not killed the germs my kids pick up.  Sophia is recovering from a not so lovely tummy bug.  Poor thing was sick 9 times on Wednesday!!!  But once she was ready to eat her first request was for chicken nuggets.  Here are a few highlights of our week at home.

Heading North

This past weekend weekend we went to MD to celebrate Pam's birthday and also to celebrate Christmas with my family.  We enjoyed spending time with our family and the visits always go by too fast!

The Schaefers

The girls loved seeing their cousins and Will & I enjoyed catching up with our family.  The girls had a ton of fun and passed out as soon as we got in the car to head home.  Isabella even slept in till 8:30 the following morning.  I guess she needed her beauty rest.

Isabella & Sophia with cousin Chase

Cousins: Isabella, Chase, Sophia, Samantha & Jacob

Enjoying the gingerbread house tradition

Pop-Pop with the girls

Even Rock Stars Get Sick

Yes, even rock stars get sick too.  My girls are proof of that.  One day they were making music and the next they were sick!  Thankfully, they are all better now but here are a few pics from last week.

Bell is rockin' out with the Dora guitar

Sick sisters like to snuggle

Sharing is caring, but not with germs. 

White tights & glitter shoes

White tights and glitter shoes.  Those are two things that my daughters love these days!  Isabella wants to wear her tights 24/7.  She says they are warm and comfy.  She even sports them with her princess nightgown.  Sophia loves glitter shoes (since her big sister also has a pair).   Looks like I need to stock up on them!

Fifi in her ruby glitter shoes

Bella in tights...even at bedtime!

Even if we go outside the dress code of "warm" tights and glitter shoes is still followed.  If the girls had it their way they would never take them off, not even for bath time!

Giddy up sparkle shoes

Loving her tights (despite the mulch clinging to them!)

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

Bubble Bath x2

This girls LOVE bath time!  Will has a knack for turning the girls bath into spa time.  As you can see by the photos below the girls were in bubble heaven!

Happy Isabella

Happy Sophia

Sophia always wants her baby, even in the bath!

Isabella loves the water jet!

Stinky Feet

 Since we are on the subject of getting clean I had a cute conversation with Isabella on our way to the dentist office.  Isabella asked me if her teeth were sick since we were going to the doctor.  Too cute.  Thank goodness her teeth are healthy!

New Years Eve

Happy New Year! 2011 went by fast but it seems as we get older time has a way of escaping us.  New years eve we headed to northern Virginia to meet up with my sister Megan.  The girls were super excited to see Aunt Megan.  I was also excited to not only see Megan but also to see Lorna, Grandpa Hanes and Paige (Megan's boyfriend).  It was so wonderful to spend time with everyone.  We enjoyed catching up and as always our time goes by very fast. 

2012 here we come!

The gang

Aunt Megan & FiFi

Sisters

Daddy & his girls on the last day of 2011

Sophia LOVED the dogs!

Christmas- Maryland Style

Christmas afternoon we headed north to visit family and celebrated Christmas with Wills family.  Isabella & Sophia enjoyed playing with their extended family at Uncle Mike's house.  They even had dinner at the kids table.  After a lovely dinner, we headed to The Schaefers for more celebrating.  The girls were in the swing opening gifts and enjoyed tearing off all the paper.  They were a bit tired and at one point Isabella climbed on the couch behind Sean "to rest".  The girls bonded with their new uncle Sean and opened wanted to open their gifts with him.  They also really liked the Santa on display!

The kids table on Christmas

Sophia opens presents with Aunt M & Uncle S

They girls liked Santa on display

Sleepy Bella & Uncle Sean

Poppy reading a book to Sophia

The following day, the girls and I went to visit my family.  We stayed at my grandparents which brought back many wonderful memories of when I was a child.  It has been about 20 years since I have stayed there but it seemed like only yesterday.  It was cute to see the girls ride a toy that I played with as a child.  The girls enjoyed spending time at my grandmothers.   

Having fun in Grams bed

Opening more presents!

Isabella loved her nail polish from Grammie

She also loved Grams backyard

My sister Gillian & I

Aunt Gillian & Sophia

Gram & Grammie are entertained by the girls

Isabella loves her Fancy Nancy doll from Grammie

On the 27th, my grandmother hosted a small family gathering.  I loved seeing my extended family and the girls had a blast playing with their cousins.  The kids all performed on the "stage" which made for cute entertainment.  My cousin Carrie and I did that on the same stage when we were kids.  There were various acts performed. Isabella and Sophia hopped liked frogs on stage for their act.  Sophia also enjoyed a little dancing on stage with the big kids.

My cousin Carrie & I

Ready for the show to begin

Sophia warmed up for the crowd

Sophia and her cousin Kelty

The cousins take a bow

Sophia asleep in her great grandfathers arms

Our Christmas was Merry.  We hope you all had a wonderful holiday too.

Christmas- Richmond Style

Christmas was delightful.  Each day the girls became more excited that Santa was going to visit our home. However, they became sad Lacey was leaving.  We were all sad to see Lacey, our elf, head back to the North Pole, but clearly he was ready to do some ice fishing!   The Night before Christmas we sprinkled reindeer food outside and left cookies & milk inside for Santa.  The girls went to sleep soon after a reading of the Night before Christmas.

Our elf Lacey, on his last night with us

Excited to feed the reindeer

Fancy Shoes FiFi

The girls each had a Santa countdown- every day they added on ball of "hair" to Santa. On the final night the pompom went on his hat. "When Santa's beard is full of white, then you know he comes that night."  It was great since it allowed Isabella & Sophia to count the days to Christmas.

Santa countdown complete!

Magic reindeer food (oatmeal & magic glitter)

Isabella makes sure there is enough food for ALL the reindeer

Family tradition- reading The Night before Christmas

Cookies, milk & artwork for Santa.  Isabella added the straw for Santa.

The night before Christmas

Stockings hung by the fireplace

Tradition- photo at the top of the stairs Christmas morning

Santa was here!!!!

My little makeup artist loves her Dora lip gloss



Isabella loves her FurReal Dog



The girls had a cold and were not feeling well.  That coupled with not wanting to share brought on the tears.  Sophia was upset when her stocking became empty.   They were both feeling out of sorts.

Sad Isabella

Sad Sophie

 Thankfully the tears subsided for a bit so the girls could enjoy a few more gifts. They loved their sleeping bags and tents (made by Will and I).  They enjoy having a special place of their own.  Best thing about the tent is that is can be taken apart for storage!

Reversible Chalkcloth Placemat by Mommy (Sweet SoBella designs)



Sophia was excited by her new tea set!



Sugar, anyone?



Relaxing in her green tent and sleeping bag



Isabella was ready to go back to bed in her new pink tent

Our Christmas at home was magical and sweet, despite us all feeling under the weather.   Isabella & Sophia enjoyed most of the festivities this year.  It was wonderful to see such amazement and wonder in their eye.   This was the first year that they were both able to open presents on their own.  The best present I have ever received is my daughters.  They are a gift from heaven.