HE'S MAKING A LIST...

This year we took the girls again to the Holiday celebration in downtown Elk River. They loved seeing the animals and sitting on Santa, telling him of their hopes for double-strollers for their dolls. They even got to get their nails done and have their faces painted at a salon. There also was a sleigh they could sit in and a place to decorate a stocking and everywhere you went there was hot chocolate and cookies, what could be better than that. They had a blast, and the weather was pretty good too. Now lets only hope they can make it on that "good" list....

The rein-deer

Abby & Ally

Riding in the sleigh

Sitting on Santa

Abby getting her nails decorated

Ally showing Daddy her freshly polished nails

Abby's face painted with Santa

Ally's face painted with a stocking

....AND CHECKING IT TWICE!

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving with the Gourley side

Ally & Papa

Taylor Beckham Sean Ally Curt & Abby

Me Taylor Beckham Sean Ally Curt Abby & Jolynn

Grandma & the grandkids

A VISIT FROM COUSINS

We were so lucky to get to spend a little over a month with my sister, Jolynn and her kids before they moved to Vegas. Taylor and Abby were as always inseperable and had tons of fun doing lot of girly things, and Ally loved tagging along behind them. She also found some time to bond with Beckham. We had so much fun we are sad to see it end, but excited that we will be able to visit them in Vegas, where it is much warmer than it is here. Thanks for coming you guys, the memories will last a lifetime!

The kids playing with Aunt Jen on the trampoline

Great Papa Stephen & all the kids

Taylor & Abby making homemade ice cream on Taylor's b-day

Taylor Abby & Ally

Abby & Taylor

We even got to celebrate Taylor's 6th birthday with her
Ally & Beckham playing with moon sand
Ally & Beckham snuggling during a sleepover

Abby & Taylor

Abby & Taylor with their gingerbread houses they made at a gingerbread house making party...they had sooo much fun!

The three girls....it was impossible to get them to all cooperate at the same time

the three girls being silly

Grandma & the kids

Me & Jolynn

Me Jolynn & Mom

NORTHSTAR COMMUTER TRAIN

Curt got us free tickets to ride the Northstar Commuter Train right after it opened. I have to admit I thought he was a total dork for even wanting to ride the train, but there were about 2000 other dorks just like him lined up to ride it. The ride down there was very crowded, but we did mange to find seats even though they weren't together. We went to Nicollet Mall and found Applebees...yes I know we could have just gone there in Elk River, but I was very nervous about there being enough room on the train for our ride home, that I just wanted a familiar place to eat so we could do it quickly and then find our way back to the train station. The ride home wasn't nearly as crowded, and we did find seats together this time. The girls had lot of fun, and loved every minute of it. I have to admit it was a fun family outing, and I am glad we had the opportunity to go...will I do it again...probably not :D

Daddy & Abby

Mommy & Ally

Ally

Ally & Abby

Abby & Ally

THE AMERICAN GIRL DOLL STORE

Abby was invited to a birthday party at the American Girl Doll store. She had so much fun eating and sharing a lunch with her doll. This will probably be something she will always remember. And yes they even bring out food and drinks for the dolls.

Abby and her doll

Abby Judie & Sam with their dolls

Abby feeding her doll her dessert!

RAKING UP THE LEAVES

Every fall the girls always enjoy raking up the leaves and then jumping in the big pile. Ally especially enjoyed it this year. They also attempted to help us rake, again Ally was a little more enthusiastic about helping than Abby was. The weather was just gorgeous this day too.

Abby

Abby & Ally

Ally

Abby

Ally

Ally

Abby attempting to help

Ally helping