Happy V-day

We had a great Valentine's Day! Nora was very excited about Valentine's Day this year. We did her valentines for school this past weekend. We got them from Michaels so she could put them together, they were pretty cute.
We woke up a little early and went and surprised my mom with a homemade valentine and flowers. We then headed to school and Nora had her party. I made her hair into little hearts (inspired by pinterest), but of course they didn't last long. I was very surprised at work when flowers showed up for me! I was speechless and that is saying a lot! Nora had a great time at her party and was very hyped up on sugar when we got home. All she kept saying was mom, mom, mom look, mom. OMG! She was so wound up that she posed and posed some more while I took her picture! Hope everyone had a great Valentines Day!

Love

I love when Nora yells out, "Oh Stella K...."

I love when Stella tells me something and I have no idea what she said.

I love when my girls play together.

I love when Stella grabs my hand and puts it on her back to rub it.

I love when Nora says, "You are the best mom ever!"

I love when does something new and she gets the oh so proud look on her face.

I love my girls to pieces. I am amazed everyday at the amount of love my heart can hold. I am so blessed to have these girls in my life. And there are days when I still can't believe I am a mom. Love is an awesome thing!

Snow 2013

This was the first real snow of the season!!!! And the first time that Stella has experienced the snow. We had to make shift some snow pants for her because we didn't have any her size. Poor girl wore Nora's from last year, but that didn't stop her! Nora lasted about 10 min and Stella did not want to go inside. We were out for at least 30 min. I guess she is our little snow angel! She loved going down the slide into the snow! Too bad we don't have a snow day or I would take her sledding. I think she would love it.

making a snow angel

getting ready to go out

all of us in our snow pants!

Nora loves to eat the snow. We had to teach her what to look out for!

Playing on the slide

ready to go!

All About Stella

Stella is 15 months old and just as busy as can be! Mimi (aka Rebecca) has nicknamed her Tink because of a movie but also calls her busy as does my mom and Aunt Boo. She just never stops and is in to EVERYTHING. She is on the go from the moment she gets up in the morning until we say it's time for bed. The girl loves to climb too. She climbs on everything. Some of her favorites are the glider in her room, the kitchen chairs, the arm of the couch and the couch downstairs.
She is such a happy girl though, except when she is in the car. Still can't figure out why she hates the car but she does. A 5 min car ride can sometimes feel like an eternity. She is not saying much, babbling yes, but intelligible speech no. She will repeat mom if I ask over and over again. Stella also will say RaRa for Nora and we are working on up. She has the uuuu part but no ppppp. She is just pretty darn stubborn and I know exactly where she gets that from ;0! She understands everything we say and will do most things that we ask of her. Stella's favorite foods right now are pizza and mac and cheese. If she could eat it for every meal I think she would. She is also a fruit lover.
We went to the doctor this past monday for her 15 month check up and she did great. The dr. reassured me about her not talking so much and said it was due to how busy she is walking and climbing. She had two shots and of course did not like it one bit. Weight 22 lbs 4 oz. (62%ile) and Height 31.5" (80%ile).  She did not gain any weight, but grew 1 inch in 3 months!

This is the smile that makes you forget what she just got in to!

After the bath, which she isn't the biggest fan of.

After bath playing and she was calling for Nora! Also, notice how she is not zipped? That is how she walks around most evenings. If she could take it all off she would. 

New Years Eve 2012

We celebrated NYE last night with our friends. We had 9 adults and 10 kiddos. Holy Moly! We had a great dinner ( I made the famous Harrigan potatoes!). Yummy ritas and a lot of fun! The kids played and watched a movie. We did a faux NYE and everyone was heading to their own homes around 10:00ish! Nora probably could have made it, but I wasn't going to push it. Happy New Year to my friends and family. My resolutions are to work less with Sweet Pea, spend more time with my family, and lose 20 lbs! Here are some pics from last night.

Christmas 2012

Wow, has it been a busy week! Christmas started for us last Friday and continued through Christmas Day. All I have to say is we are so blessed to have such loving families. We are pretty spoiled, kids and adults alike!

On Friday we celebrated Christmas with my dad and Grandma. My dad got Peter and I a Kuerig and we LOVE it. Nora got Rams stuff, which is excellent and Stella got some much needed things as well.

On Saturday we celebrated with my mom at Katie's house. We made out man! We also had some fun drinks that I made from Pinterest. I had grinch punch for Jalen and Nora and peppermint bark and winter wonderland martinis for the adults.

On Sunday we headed to Chicago.  We had to rent a car because we knew that with Santa coming to Chicago and the other gifts we receive we would not make it in the Vue. So we rented a car and my uncle hooked us up! He works for Hertz and we had a fully loaded Traverse!!! My dream car (and that is what I will be saving for now). It was a great car and the drive up wasn't too bad.
We hung out with friends and family on Sunday evening and had Lou's for dinner. Best pizza ever!

On Monday I went and took pics of Isla and Naomi and then that evening we headed to the McKearnans for Christmas eve. It was a very nice evening and it was good to see all the Reid side of the family.

On Christmas morning we woke up to Santa having found us and had a great time opening gifts from Santa, grandma and grandpa and then the Harrigan side of the family. Like I said before we are pretty spoiled!!!

We have had a great week and cannot wait to ring in the New Year! Here is to hoping our house sells quickly in 2013!!!

The pics are not in order (which bothers me) but enjoy!

Xmas Make and Take

Last night up at Nora's school they had a Christmas Make and Take. It was cute and it was for anyone that participates in the Parents as Teachers program through Affton. So it was mainly younger kiddos, but there were a few Nora's age. They had 5 different stations and at all of them you made something. The first station was a lacing station with a holiday card, the second station they made an ornament with their thumb print, the third station they decorated a snow scene, fourth station they made reindeer food and the fifth station was a cookie icing station. It lasted about 30 min. and on our way out the big man himself was entering the building. Santa was there and Nora was scared. I am not sure what happened between this year and last year, but she is scared of Santa. She wants to have nothing to do with him. As soon as she saw him she was ready to go home and headed away from where Santa was walking. We still have not gone to sit on Santa's lap and it should be interesting when we do. Here are some pics from the evening.

Nora reading before the event started

Playing and using cut outs with the play-doh

happily sitting at the lacing station

decorating her cookie

Daddy and Stella decorating their cookie

YUM!

Stella LOVED her icing covered cookie