Gi~Gi comes to visit

We had such a great time with Gina when she came to see us last week

we had fun having tea parties, going to playgrounds & just being together!

We also had christmas with her, I was so excited about the super cool gifts I found on a budget this year...

this little gem

is a DVF that retails for $276....let's just say i didn't pay anywhere near that

- it was brand new- w/ tags still on @ goodwill - SCORE!

We then found this pretty little one on our sister's afternoon - another goodwill find
the pic doesn't do it justice, but each of the dots are sequins - so cute! and it was SO soft too! needless to say i wanted it for me.... but alas it wouldn't fit me, oh well - it looks sure cute on her, and while she's 1/2 way across the world she'll have some little things to remind her of us.

Thanks for a great time Gigi, we loved having you here!

christmas pj's

The girls got some super cute pj's for christmas from Emily's aunt & uncle (Thanks Biffs!)


and I had to post their pics because they're too funny not to share!



It is finally getting cold down here - in the mid-40s at night!
We turned out heat on for the first time last week & the girls are enjoying a few extra blankets at night!
We noticed on our way to church this morning that the leaves are changing - lots of reds, yellows and oranges along the side of the road. Can't say we miss the snow - seeing pics of what the MD family has is just fine with us.

Christmas Tree Garland

I decided to make a garland for our tree this year, but didn't realize just how much work it would be.

I started out with modeling clay

& made beads (with the help of the girls)



After that I painted them




& poked holes in them so they could be strung


Then came the tedious process of stringing



But it's finally done - and I'm quite happy with the end result





(caleb says i'm a little crazy & channeling my inner "martha stewart", but i'll take that as a compliment)