Lots to catch up on!

I've been absent for a while due to a very busy December. We have been busy celebrating birthdays for Patrick and Emily, celebrating Christmas and learning how to have a crawler and a preschooler in the same house!

 

Earlier in December Emily's preschool performed their annual Christmas program. It was very entertaining, as usual. I decided to surprise Emily the day of her program with a new "Elsa" dress so she was busy playing with the tule layer for much of the program but did manage to sing and perform in-between her twirling :)

Santa and Mrs. Claus also made a visit!

We also continued with what's now become a holiday tradition: cookie decorating. Instead of getting together to bake cookies, my mother in law buys sugar cookies from a bakery and we spend the afternoon decorating them. We outdid ourselves this year with 12 dozen cookies decorated and who knows how many pounds of icing!

Christmas was extra special this year with the addition of Aubrey! We spent Christmas Eve at the Harrisons enjoying good company, a delicious lasagna dinner, gift exchange and more treats than needed. Aubrey made it to her usual bedtime, around 7, but Emily partied on until the bitter end. We looked for Santa on our drive home, but alas, he was not in Minnesota yet.

However, he made it to our house sometime throughout the night and left goodies behind for all that were good this year. Emily received a doll house and some treats in her stocking, Aubrey had a few pouches in her stocking and a couple of toys and Patrick and I both received treats from the big guy. After checking out Santa's gifts, we exchanged gifts from each other before heading out for the day. It was such a nice morning with our little family!

       

   

    

  

After our Christmas morning, we headed north to my parent's house. We exchanged gifts, enjoyed a delicious brunch and ended with playtime for our new gifts. It was a perfect Christmas Day!

                       

Last, we made a quick stop to Grandpa Bruce and Nana Michelle's house on Christmas evening to share holiday cheer!


It was a lovely season and a fun holiday. As the new year approaches, we are looking forward to playtime in the snow (now that we have some!).

Thanksgiving weekend

So Thanksgiving weekend didn't turn out as planned. It all started Wednesday night/Thursday morning when the baby woke up vomiting a little after midnight. After giving her a bath and changing her crib sheets, I brought her to bed with me. All seemed well until about two hours later when Emily woke up vomiting. The baby to sleep in her crib and after Emily's shower and bedding change she was snuggled into our bed for the remainder of the night.

Thanksgiving morning came and we broke the news to her families that we wouldn't be there. Everyone was acting fine but we thought it would be best that the girls get some rest and we didn't want to pass anything on either.

With no sign of the plague, we kept our plan for the for a white elephant party on Friday evening. We decorated the house for Christmas and had family over to eat drink and be merry.

Saturday rolled around and we were still OK so we kept our plan for Emily's first birthday party with my family since my sister and her family were in town. They were set to arrive around 4 o'clock and at about 3 o'clock Patrick told me he wasn't feeling well. We went back-and-forth about whether he was well enough to attend but in the end he ended up quarantining himself to our bedroom for the evening. Although the celebration was a bit more chaotic due to the last-minute change of plans, Emily had a great time. Thanks for being there to celebrate Mulforts!

Unfortunately, we passed on the plague to my mom, dad and brother-in-law. Luckily, it was a short-lived illness of about 12 hours. We are back to normal and I think everyone else is too.

Thanksgiving is done and we are looking forward to the full on holiday season!

Aubrey-8 months

Our baby is 8 months! Aubrey likes to eat, play with her sister and attempt to crawl. She's not on the move on all fours yet but I don't think it's that far off. The girl likes to rock on her hands and knees and she has figured out how to get into sitting position from laying on her tummy. Aubrey loves to be with her family, especially Emily. The two really do share a special bond. We love you baby!!

The birthday girl

Emily is four. Holy crap, Emily is four!! I can't believe that four years have gone by since we first met her. Its hard to remember life before Emily, although I'm sure it was filled with lots of extra time for napping and money for whatever we wanted!

Mothering has been the most challenging and most rewarding experience of my life. I wouldn't trade the hugs, kisses and "I love you"s for anything in the world. Her excitements are my excitements as she has given me the gift of experiencing life all over again.

Emily has become quite the jokester and entertainer. She loves to be with her family and friends and will defend what she thinks is right til the bitter end. She loves to make her sister laugh and is looking forward to the day that Aubrey can play with her. Emily is up for anything, you name it and her response with be "yes! Let's do it!". (Except running errands 😀 )

We love you Em, we look forward to everything that your future holds!