Decorating our Christmas Tree

Kelly helping Daddy put lights on the Christmas tree (while holding her baby at the same time--by her legs!!!)
We have a picture from last year with Kelly next to the tree topper....she was all smiles. I wanted to get one again this year but she was a little more hesitant and didn't know what to think! (Plus, Daddy had a harder time lifting her up too!)

Heaters are fun...and I'm really careful!

Brian got out the space heater for our TV room today. We shut that room off in the wintertime because it gets really chilly with the large sliding glass doors. Brian was watching TV so Kelly decided to check out what Daddy was doing. We taught her "hot" and that she can't touch the heater (she reminds us of cats though, because she wanted to get as close to it as she could, without touching it). She set down a pillow, put a leg on each side of the heater, and sat down. It was so funny! She never once touched the heater!!!

Playing with my cousins!

It's not too often that a lot of the cousins are together, so when we have a group of them... we try to get a picture. Here was our best attempt today! It is so much fun to see the kids play and interact with one another!

Kelly's cousins!!!!! (Missing Benjamin and Daniel)

This was our best attempt to get 9 kids (6 and under) all in a picture together!!!

On the couch (L-R):

Helena (18 months), Brice (2 and a half), Racquel (4 weeks), Kelly (17 months), Logan (4 yrs.), Landon (5 months), Jackson (2 yrs.)

Behind the couch (L-R):

Peyton and Isabella (both 6 years old)

Some of the girls.....Isabella, Kelly, and Racquel

Snacktime before we went to the Festival of Trees....Helena, Kelly, and Jackson (Kelly and Jackson are drinking their milk after their naps)

Katelynn and Kelly before we went to the Festival of Trees....Kelly was having a snack (a raw carrot!)

On Friday afternoon, after naptime, we decided to take the kids down to the Festival of Trees for a little fieldtrip outing. We bravely took 9 kids....(all 6 years old and under) out together. All went well and the kids had fun looking at the tress, lights, etc.

The group waiting in the lobby to go look at the trees. Kelly and Helena were dancing!

Kelly and Katelynn looking at one of the trees together. (This was Kelly's favorite tree) She liked the string of marshmellows...she kept touching them and thought they were really neat.

Kelly touching the puppy's nose...it was attached to one of the tress with a dog theme.

Kelly and Brice looking at one of the trees...I was teaching Kelly (gentle) and to only touch with one finger.

Thanksgiving day was busy....of course, like every other holiday! We got to see all 6 grandparents, though, in the same day...so that was nice. We had lunch at our house at noon with Grandma & Grandpa Murray, Grandma & Grandpa Snyder and Uncle David. For dinner, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Mulgrew's and saw 8 of Kelly's cousins. (Missing were Benjamin and Daniel) It was a fun-filled day!

Kelly and Jackson playing together....they were so cute (and both shared really well)...this was Thanksgiving night when Kelly already had her PJ's on. It's the only picture I took on Thursday!

"Put me in, Coach!"

Kelly loves wearing swim goggles these days.....when she finds them in her basket of toys, she comes up to me to put them on her. She walks around with them for a little bit....it's ADORABLE! (I haven't tried having her wear them in the pool yet.....but sometime soon). She's my future swimmer!!!

Trip to Chicago: Wed. 11/14- Fri. 11/16

Molly and I....with our daughters Myka and Kelly decided to take a trip to Chicago to see our other college roommate, Sarah. Sarah just had a new baby boy on September 26 and we wanted to meet him. She is also Michaela's mom. It was a fun few days....just the girls......and Baby Sam! All the husbands were working!

Kelly (17 months), Myka (2 and a half years). and Michaela (18 months)

3 friends on the couch in their matching PJ's!

My friend Sarah and her new baby Samuel!

Baby Sam's "safe area"...he looked so cute all swadled up surrounded by blocks!

Kelly and Myka playing with the kitchen in the toy room.

Playing with puzzles in the family room.

DANCE PARTY!

It wouldn't be a complete visit together without some bathtub pictures!!!

Bathtub fun!

3 friends in a bathtub!

On Thursday, we decided to get out of the house for a little bit before their afternoon naps. We wanted to go to a park, but it was TOO COLD outside. We instead took them to the play area in the mall. Here are a few pictures!

Our ATTEMPT to get a picture of them at the all...they ALL WANTED OUT!!!

(We put them in this canoe...they couldn't get in their by themselves)

Kelly crawling through the turtle!

Kelly and Michaela playing at the mall!

Trip to Minnesota -- Fri.11/9-Sun.11/11

Meeting Daniel on Friday night! He seemed so little....yet he was a lot bigger than Kelly. I don't remember Kelly ever being so little! Daniel is such a good baby. I love having another nephew!

Holding Daniel for the first time....he was wide awake! He wanted to see his Aunt Emily!

Brian holding Daniel for the first time....Kelly didn't know quite what to think and wanted to be right next to Daddy!

Grandparents of 3!!!

Everyone around Daniel!

We celebrated Benjamin's birthday on Friday night. Since he turned two on October 18 and his brother Daniel was born on October 24 he didn't have a big birthday party this year. (Daniel was over a week overdue)

Benjamin blowing out the candles on the birthday cake I made him! (2 cars, each with a candle...as the antenna!)

Celebrating Benjamin's birthday....he turned "2" on October 18!

We had to make time for swimming during our busy weekend!!! The kids had a lot of fun...and the parents and grandparents enjoyed the hottub!

Brian M. and Benjamin and Grandma and Kelly

Floating in the pool with daddy!

Mommy giving Kelly a little swimming lesson in the hotel pool.

Saturday afternoon was spent playing outside for a little bit.....it was cold for the parents, but of course the kids didn't complain!

Our family!

Dads and kids!

Kelly LOVES to swing!!!!

Swinging on Benjamin's new swingset!

Playing in cars outside (all bundled up)

Bumper Cars!

Benjamin pushing Kelly in the backyard.

It was an early Christmas for Kelly....she was so excited to play with a bunch of "new" toys! These were her two favorties from the weekend...she sat in the desk below more than anything! That was by far her favorite new toy....she claimed it as "hers" for the weekend! She also loved the Leap Frog Fridge Farm set. She played with many other toys, but these were by far her favorites!

Kelly LOVED this desk!

Kelly loved the Leap Frog Farm Animal Magnets on the Fridge.

Grandma Murray made the 3 kids shirts with snowmen on them in an attempt to get a Chirstmas Card picture. This is the best picture that I have on my camera...it took some work to get Benjamin and Kelly to both want to sit on the couch (TOGETHER) at the same time!

Cousins! (Benjamin - 2 years, Kelly - 16 months, Daniel - 3 weeks)

Baby Daniel

The Mulgrew family (Brian, Katie, Benjamin (2 years), and Daniel (3 weeks old)

On Sunday, we decided to spend a few hours at the Mall of America. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe....Benjamin and Kelly thought that was fun! Then we took them to the middle of the mall and let them go on a few rides. The kids had fun (the daddies too)!

Brian and Kelly with the frog from Rainforest Cafe...Kelly didn't know quite what to think of the frog!

My brother Brian with my nephew Benjamin at Mall of America waiting to go on a ride.

Brian and Kelly riding the trucks at Mall of America...notice them honking the horns!

Brian and Kelly riding the train at Mall of America....when the train stopped...Kelly waved to Mommy! It was so cute!!!