My Babies are TWO!!!!

Yes it is true.....my babies are TWO!!!! I have no idea where the past two years have gone. It is AMAZING to me how much Skylar and Alysha have changed during the past year. My girls are all over the place, they have to do everything by themselves, and they are talking like crazy!!! This morning the girls had their two year check up and thankfully both of them are healthy!! Skylar is 29.8 pounds and stands at 2 feet 9 inches.Alysha is 25.4 pounds and stands at 2 feet 8 inches tall. This evening the girls opened their birthday gifts from Scot and I. We got them a doctor's kit and cookie and cake play food. Skylar and Alysha are listening to Aunt Heidi and their cousins sing them Happy Birthday! After they opened their gifts we had dinner and their birthday cupcakes! After dinner they opened their birthday cards from Great Grandma Hoekstra. and had a wrestling match with Daddy. Now the fun begins....potty training and getting rid of the pacifers! Wish us luck!!!

Christmas Evening

I think the best gift that Scot and I received on Christmas day is the fact that the girls did took a three hour nap!!! I was so thankful that they did get a good nap because we still had one more party to go to. Around 5:30 we headed over to Scot's parents to celebrate Christmas with them. We had a nice ham dinner and afterwards opened gifts. Again, the girls had a great time opening their gifts. What do you think of Skylar's cool headband??? Got to love it when your two year old has to do EVERYTHING by themselves. Alysha and Skylar both received doll strollers from Grandpa and Grandma. Alysha thought it would be fun to use it for herself.
Skylar used hers to push around, Kringles, Grandma's Reindeer. Mason opening up his football.The girls' and I surprised Grandma with a serving tray that has pictures of their first Christmas Tea. The gift almost brought Grandma to tears. I know she will treasure this gift for many years to come. Skylar had a lot of fun helping others open up their gifts.

Mom and DadHolly and Bryson
Opening stockings is the Christmas traditions Grandpa and Grandma Van Dam do for the grandkids. It was so much fun to watch Alysha and Skylar open up their stockings this year because last year they had no idea what was going on. DVD, puzzles, I Spy Books, candy, little people car, winter hat, are just a few of the fun items the girls found in their stockings this year. LOVE how excited Skylar got when she found dot candy in her stocking!!!Family Christmas PictureChristmas 2011 was FANTASTIC. Watching the sparkle and joy in Skylar and Alysha during this holiday season made me look at Christmas in a whole new way! I can't wait to watch them in the years to come and make more memories and start more traditions!!!

Christmas Morning

This year we switched things around and celebrated Christmas in the morning with my family. It was fun because the kids were able to show up in their new Christmas pajamas from Grandpa and Grandma! What a fun tradition to have for the kids!! Below from left to right is Skylar, Eli, Alysha, and Gwen. The girls had a great time opening up all their presents. Shopping carts, stuffed animals, dolls, doll cradles, and little people are just a few of the items the girls received. Eli liked the moon dough gift that we gave him. However, he was way MORE excited about his big gift, a John Deere Gator!! This year, Cadence, was able to join us to celebrate Christmas. We were also thankful that my Grandma DeVree decided to join us to celebrate Christmas. After all the gifts were opened we had lunch. The girls do such a good job sitting at their little picnic table. Usually, Eli sits with the girls but this time he decided he was too big for that table and had to sit with us adults.
Unfortunately, we had to leave around 2:00 because the girls had to get a nap in before party #2. We had a really hard time getting the girls to leave because they were having so much fun playing with their cousins and all their new toys. Overall, our first party of the day was a success!!