2 to Grow With : Same old routine..and that is okay and good!

Sunday we declared to be a family day and skipped church. It mostly had to do with Maggie not going to bed until 10pm the night before and then up from about 1am to 4am crying and screaming just so she could come down and sleep in our bed! She is persistent! We loved her to pieces and kept her snuggled in her bed!

We spent the day snuggled home and then treated to the girls to a new experience... HOT donuts at Krispy Kreme! They were in awe as they watched them coming off the line and savored every minute as they melted in their mouth! Jimmy and I smiled and reflected back to one of my favorite memories from dating. We were coming back from a date downtown (no idea really where or what but it had to be downtown) and passed Krispy Kreme. The light was on and Jimmy made a comment about that as if that meant something...what? So when I acted surprised that the light was a symbol of something he acted shocked and then turned the Blazer around (the car he was driving at the time) so I could experience a HOT donut! I was not sure what the fuss was about until I took a bite....wow! So it was time for the girls to experience it too! Ha. We joked that we had failed as parents if they had not had a hot Krispy Kreme donut! The memories were too sweet! They would have eaten more if we let them. We did let them bring one home each to heat up for breakfast (although that is not quite the same as right off the line hot).

Maggie gave it a thumbs up!

Gracie asked why this was the first time!

Monday and Tuesday were chill out at home days with special sitters (Ms. Abby and Ms. Tiffany) while we headed back to get into the routine for the new year at work. It sure was nice to have time off to relax, but it was also good to be back! It was even better coming home to dinner at home and snuggles from the girls! It is a great way to start my day and end my day! Thursday was so cold the girls had a 2 hour delay, which they always love as that usually means they get to grab breakfast at Starbucks and come to one of our offices. Thursday was Mommy's office. Of course they were the hit of the office with lots of attention, candy and artwork they made for everyone's offices.

They were missing their friends so back to school they went on Wednesday. It was an early morning for them of having to be up AND ready. Over break they still were up earlier than I expected, but were much more laid back and some days stayed in PJ’s most the day.

This was weekend finally settled down and felt like a weekend after all the holiday events and travel. Praise God! We all needed it. We enjoyed Lilly’s birthday party at the skating rink with friends then all afternoon home! It was fabulous. Saturday night my brother, sister in and Ellie came over for dinner and to share Christmas. Between sickness, travels and other family in we did not do Christmas together like we normally do. It was a great night to visit together. The kids loved their gifts and Ellie insisted on a bath right away to play with all her new bath toys. That girl LOVES the water! I am not sure how I did managed to not get any pictures of Ellie! We sure are looking forward to her 2nd birthday party coming up!

Saturday morning smiles! We love these and after a few rough nights of little sleep we are back to seeing them. We have taken away her iPad and TV right before bed and that seem sot have helped. We will leap working on it and loving her to pieces to help us all sleep better!

Bella has enjoyed the time home and normal routine too. She had missed Ms. Gail (her buddy who comes to walk her while we are at work and school).

G Bug snuggles to wake up. Jimmy says often when he looks at her he sees me and calls her "little Rachael". She just smiles and knows that is a big compliment from her Daddy!

So this is our favorite to include in hot chocolate and coffee, but is seasonal. So we stocked up. We have this one left so the girls and I are using it sparingly. The first low key Saturday was a perfect excuse to use it!