Ice Skating

We went ice skating with the Smiths after Christmas. It was the Smith kids and Eve's first time skating, and Annie and Kate's second time. For being such rookies, everyone caught on pretty quick!

 

Aunt Steph and Uncle Mike taking care of Evie.

Annie, Liam and Kate

Owen, Kate, Evie and Liam.

Evie being adorable in baby skates.

Look at her feet! The cute!

Evie did not last long, so there are no photos of her skating at all.

Annie ended up like this a few times.

Kate was off to a good start!

Owen wasn't sure at first, either, but this did not last long.

Annie is so my daughter. She was way more nervous about falling than anyone else.

Liam was cruising!

Kate and Mama. I won't lie, I kind of used her like she used the cone...

Owen got the hang of it!

As did Emma :)

Emma, Owen, Steph and Liam.

Happy Annie

Emma and Kerri

Kate ditched the cone and was skating by herself like a champ!

Kate and Liam.

Ralls Christmas

It was an American Girl Doll-aplooza.

 

All the kiddos. Kate, Adam, Annie, Ella, Brady, Evie, Mallory and Madelyn.

Uncle Ed and Evie.

She was happier than she looks.

Brady being silly.

Ed and Adam.

Annie playing Legos with the boys.

Pa and Evie.

Pa and Maddee.

I love this one.

Ella, Kate, Annie and Annie's ridiculous hair.

Adam, Mal, Evie, Brady, Ella, Kate and Annie.

Evie and Mama.

Evie was getting tired.

Sweet girl.

It's a legitimate kids' table! I think this is the first year they had a kids' table. It was even in a separate room from the adults. I think this is so awesome. I have many fond memories with my cousins at the kids table. Funny things we still talk about to this day. Like that time Jackie stole the wine and -- well, I just mean I am excited for the girls to have that with their cousins ;)

Maddee and Evie.

Family photo disasters.

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Day 2013

On Christmas morning, the girls got up at 4 AM. 4 AM. I am sure you are saying to yourself, well, why would you let them get up that early?! And the answer is 1. we didn't, really and 2. there was sort of a failure to plan. We forgot to have the talk with the girls on Christmas Eve about what numbers on the clock were acceptable as wake up times. Therefore, when Evie got up to pee at 4 am, Annie and Kate woke up and that was pretty much all she wrote. Matt and I did attempt to hold them off. By 5 am, we had already endured one hour of "Is it time yet? Can we get up? When can we get up? Now?" So, we just gave in and let them go. 

 

I think my ridiculous face in this picture is me yawning.

I realized just now Annie's gift looks like underwear. It is actually "Molly's Polka Dot Outfit," which she wanted very much.

Evie and her new plasma car.

Christmas Breakfast began at about 6:30 am.

 

Due to our early start, we were in Cleveland very early in the day and all ready for the Hageman/Smith festivities.

Checking out the new Singing Machine.

Kate and Owen.

Emma and Jackie

Emma, Jackie and Uncle Jack.

Kate torturing Brian, as per usual.

Evie and Emma.

Jackie and Bitty Baby.

Evie and Bitty Baby. She was very pumped about this Snow White outfit for Bitty.

Annie, Uncle Jack and Kate.

Christmas Eve 2013

This Christmas Eve was a little different than in the past. The girls joined the church children's living Gospel, so they were all geared up for their big performance. And the Debrahs were celebrating Christmas Eve in their new home in Cincinnati this year, so we had to break our tradition and not spend the evening with them. We were very sad, so we tried to keep ourselves busy!

 

This is absolutely the most cooperative they were with photos all evening.

Kate, Evie and Annie.

 

Kate and I made a little photo booth the week before Christmas Eve, and we tried it out a little. Our buddies Mae, Andrew and Dane joined us later, too!

Evie

 

 

After that, it was time for the Children's Mass!

Annie was a shepherd, and Kate was an angel. They both loved being a part of it, and they did great -- especially with a completely packed church!

I don't know why she was smiling like this all night. She's still a darling angel.

Ready for Santa!