Fun with Nanna and Cousins...

Last week Nanna came to our house to keep Cooper for a few days while I worked and when she headed home Saturday Anna Lauren went home with her and said she was going to stay 5 nights. Well, she only got to spend 4 nights before Daddy and Mommy spoiled her fun, but she still had a good time with her Nanna and cousins for the 4 nights and 5 days she was with them. And what is really impressive is that Nanna and Aunt Paula took pictures to document the "fun" memories they made during this Christmas season...what better time of the year to be with your family!

Saturday night Nanna and Anna Lauren kept Bently while Joey and Barbie went to a Christmas party. And guess what Nanna did to the girls...yep, what we did every Saturday night...pink sponge rollers!

Supposedly both girls loved them but took them out before they went to sleep...oh...they'll have to learn how to sleep in them so they have pretty girls on Sunday morning. Think this was more fun for Barbie and me because it reminded us of our childhood.

Every year we go visit Brookhaven's Winter Wonderland (more lights than you could ever imagine)...this year it was warm when Nanna took Anna Lauren so they got to get out and play / take pictures...

Anna Lauren told me she was calling her MeMe while in this helicopter...

This year has been "special" because Anna Lauren is beginning to understand the "true" meaning of Christmas...

Mrs. Claus...

Santa's reindeer...and yes, it is a bit on the "tacky" side but the kids LOVE it...

Aunt Paula had "cousin" cooking making day on Monday...all 5 of them made cookies together while poor Cooper was stuck at work with Mommy! We missed out on the fun, but I'm so glad Anna Lauren got to spend this special time with her cousins.

Proud of her cookies....

Jake had the winning gingerbread man...

The finished cookies...

After cookies, they headed to the playground at Aunt Paula's school...and yes, Ashton is a little big for this tractor but looks to me as if he was still having fun!

My sweet little monkey!

Fun day with cousins...Anna Lauren, Ashton, Bently, Jake and Reid...

And a day wouldn't be complete without "silly" faces!

Ridgecrest Baptist Weekday Christmas Program...

On Tuesday night, Anna Lauren and Carson danced their little hearts out at the dance recital and were all smiles...BUT...on Thursday morning, not so much. They had their school Christmas program Thursday morning and from the time they stepped on the stage Carson started crying for her Mommy...I mean really crying for her mommy...so...I think Anna Lauren fed off of Carson and just kind of stood there and went through the motions. She sang some from behind her hands, but her fingers stayed in her mouth throughout all 3 songs. Holli Grace on the other hand, put on a good show just like she did Tuesday night!

This was before she realized Carson was crying...she was searching hard for us...

Little smile because she sees some people she knows...Daddy, Mommy, Nanna, and Cooper...

And here are the hands...kids are so funny...you just NEVER know what they are going to do!

Here you can see Carson's hand...she was reaching for her Mommy...

And Holli Grace singing her little heart out! They really have LOVED music this year!

After their program...Kaylee, Holli Grace, and Anna Lauren...

And the one and only Rachel with Anna Lauren, Holli Grace, and Cooper...

1st Ballet Recital...

Anna Lauren has been going to ballet at school every Thursday morning since August and Tuesday night was the BIG night...it was her very 1st dance recital. Going into the recital, I was a little negative thinking this is silly, it is going to be chaos, etc. But I was so wrong...it was so sweet and so much fun! Not one little girl cried, they all danced their hearts out, and I have never seen so many smiles. I think out of the 165 pictures I took, I have one picture where Anna Lauren has a "weird" look.

Of course, we had to enjoy the night with Anna Lauren's best friend, Holli Grace! We picked the girls up from school at the same time, went to a friend of Holli Grace's family for hair and make-up, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and headed to the recital.

So enjoy the pictures...I tried to limit myself but there were just too many cute ones!

Anna Lauren getting her make-up done while Holli Grace gets her hair done...

Nanna and MeMe got to enjoy the night with us...here Nanna is putting on her mascara...

Make-up done, and she knows she is looking pretty!

Time for the bun...

Holli Grace with hair and make-up all done...

At Disney on Ice, I didn't get too many pictures but these girls were full of poses and smiles this night...they were beyond excited!

And what made this night even more fun were the high school girls who were there to help them get ready...

The Italiano Family ~ Guy, Tucker, Regina, Brooks, and Holli Grace...

Anna Lauren insisted one picture with Holli Grace before we could take one with just our family...silly kid!

Sweet Cooper...his first of many of his sister's events!

Proud grandmothers...MeMe and Nanna...

Laura Kelly and I standing in chairs at the recital...us mommies will do anything to get good pictures of our sweet girls!

The recital is about to start...look at those sweet feet under the curtain...

Here they are...dancing to Bingo...

Look at Anna Lauren's foot...I LOVE it!

Dancing to Beauty and the Beast...

Love this picture of Holli Grace...dancing to Frosty the Snowman...

Teacher told them to make a sunshine above their head to keep the rain away...

The girls got flowers from Daddy after the recital...

Best picture of the night...LOVE it!

Anna Lauren and Kaylee...

Anna Lauren, Holli Grace, Kaylee, Miss Leah (teacher), Carson, and Sara Kate...