Margaret's 27th Birthday

To celebrate my birthday Murray and I went to dinner at Texas de Brazil, YUM-O! We love this place! The couple sitting closely next to us were friendly. The only weird part was every time the guy told me something he would slug me in the shoulder and it hurt a bit each time. I guess I looked pretty tough to him.

Murray and the girls made me a delicious carrot cake :)


These carrots didn't make it into the cake, I don't think. I wasn't allowed in the kitchen but to take these pictures, so I am not certain.

I chose to play the paper bag game. Yes, I am picking the bag up with my teeth. I shortly face planted after this picture was taken. It was a wonderful birthday!

Christmas Cookies

Mary asks me every week to make cookies. If the cookie jar is empty Mary will tell me it is time to get baking. I told Mary we could go ahead and make some Christmas sugar cookies if she took a nap. After Mary woke up we had fun decorating some masterpieces!

Rachel's First Birthday!

Rachel turned one on December 15th! Murray and I went in to get her out of her crib and sang Happy Birthday to her! Oh, how we love this baby! Rachel is beautiful, sweet, smart, adorable and FUN! She really loved opening her presents and eating her cake! Happy Birthday Rachel!

Rachel loves this car from Grandma and Grandpa! She rides it all the time!

Gingerbread House

We made our traditional gingerbread house. Mary tried to eat the candy as often as possible.

Murray just loved getting his hands covered in icing. Actually, messy hands are one of the things that bother him most.

Rachie was there too but mostly watched and ate goldfish.

Karaoke

Mary had some fun singing karaoke at CMOM (Children's Museum of Memphis). She wore a Sully suit (Monster's Inc.) most of the time. She sang "If Your Happy and You Know It" and "The Wheels on the Bus". Mary's favorite songs to sing to on the radio are "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus and "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift.

She also did a little of her favorite activity, cutting with scissors! I am sure the post of something tragic happening with scissors is just around the corner.

Santa Baby

Our library had a special visit from Santa Clause. Mary refused to sit on his lap so we came to a compromise and she stood next to him in exchange for a candy cane. The girls looked adorable in these jammies from Grandma Gail.

Daddy Daughter Date

Murray took Mary out to see Wizard of Oz, just the two of them. Murray said she stayed in his lap the entire time. Mary came home talking about the snow and bubbles that fell on them and how she wanted to be Dorothy and make Rachel Todo. She really loved the performance and the time with her Daddy.

Ward Christmas Party

We went to our church Christmas party this year and it was a little different than previous years. It was outside and we walked 3/4 of a mile and stopped to see different things like an angel choir, three wise men, shepards and their sheep and finally Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. It was 32 degrees outside but totally worth it! It was a great experience and celebrated the true meaning of Christmas! Mary stared silently at Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus for a long time. She was amazed and believed them to be really there before us! She was hesitant but did go and touch the donkey they had with them.

The girls wore their pajamas under their clothes. They had on many layers! Poor Rachies cheeks and nose were pink.

One of the shephards sheep

Christmas Time is Here!

December 1st we started some of our Christmas traditions. Mary and Rachel got into their Christmas princess pajamas. Which were one of my black friday finds at walmart for $3! Yes, I am one of the crazies that loves black friday. Mary opened our family Christmas book this year and we pulled out the first pieces of our Nativity and Advent calendars. We also sang a few Christmas songs. I really love this time of year!