While we were there we shared some exciting news with our family...
We're expecting baby #3!!!
We told the grandparents with these shirts, but we pretty much had to point it out to them after a little while for most of them to even notice! Everyone was excited!
Here are the girls at the airport the day we flew to AR.
The flight went very well, although no naps were taken even though it was during "naptime". I guess there was just too much going on for that to happen. Madilynn did amazing and was so laid back and calm she sat back and watched a movie pretty much the entire time. Elizabeth did well -like not screaming and throwing a fit, but she just had to be entertained constantly, so Michael and I took turns with her. Overall, the flights went really well and it was soooo much easier than traveling TWO FULL days in the car!
We arrived late Friday night then on Saturday (Dec. 18th) Michael and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary. We enjoyed getting to spend the day together!
My dad and Pam drove up to Fayetteville to visit for a couple of days while we were there. It was so nice we spent a little time at the park (with no jackets!) We had a great visit!
Elizabeth wanted to climb up the slide and then slide back down on her belly!
so big!
We took the girls up to the stride-rite store for some new shoes!
I didn't do a very good job of taking pictures all throughout the week...
Here are the girls with Mama on Christmas Eve.
I guess Elizabeth didn't want to be held, but we got one anyway!
Madilynn & Madison
Me, my Mom, and sister Ashlee
getting ready to open presents
We spent the night with Granny and Pepaw and spent Christmas morning with them. Elizabeth checking out the tree, and presents...
Elizabeth liked the bows!
Madilynn got some new princess dress up dresses and shoes. Here she is checking out the shoes and crowns!
wearing the "Belle" dress
Then Michael took Madilynn for a little ride on the four-wheeler. (The same 4-wheeler that his Pa used to take him riding on!)
For lunch we went over to visit Grandma & Grandad Pate and Kyle. Again I didn't do a good job getting pictures.
But, you can see Elizabeth loved the piano!
Then we spent the rest of the evening with Nana, Papa, and Ashlee.
Madilynn got a digital camera...
Elizabeth ready to open her present
She got a cute bag with her name on it - I love it!
Here we are on Christmas day the only picture of the four of us!
Madilynn and Elizabeth had fun with cousin Brianna
Elizabeth even tried on Daddy Gene's hat!
The day after Christmas we celebrated with Daddy Gene and Ladonna. I'm so glad they were able to make it up while we were in town!
We had such a great time getting to visit with everyone (and getting to share our news in person!). It was the busiest trip we've had though, and we didn't get to see some friends. It's hard when you only go back once or twice a year. We flew back to Utah on Tuesday the 28th. The flight went well again (left at 5:30pm) and we made it home that night by 10pm even after stopping by the store for some breakfast essentials!
Opening their gifts...
Elizabeth loving the new toothbrushes!
working hard getting those presents open
Elizabeth got a xylophone, and Madilynn got some new preschool activities/craft supplies!
Elizabeth kept smiling while she tried out the xylophone!
Our family in front of the Christmas tree!
The flight went very well, although no naps were taken even though it was during "naptime". I guess there was just too much going on for that to happen. Madilynn did amazing and was so laid back and calm she sat back and watched a movie pretty much the entire time. Elizabeth did well -like not screaming and throwing a fit, but she just had to be entertained constantly, so Michael and I took turns with her. Overall, the flights went really well and it was soooo much easier than traveling TWO FULL days in the car!
My dad and Pam drove up to Fayetteville to visit for a couple of days while we were there. It was so nice we spent a little time at the park (with no jackets!) We had a great visit!
Elizabeth wanted to climb up the slide and then slide back down on her belly!
so big!
We took the girls up to the stride-rite store for some new shoes!
I didn't do a very good job of taking pictures all throughout the week...
I guess Elizabeth didn't want to be held, but we got one anyway!
Me, my Mom, and sister Ashlee
getting ready to open presents
We spent the night with Granny and Pepaw and spent Christmas morning with them. Elizabeth checking out the tree, and presents...
Elizabeth liked the bows!
Madilynn got some new princess dress up dresses and shoes. Here she is checking out the shoes and crowns!
wearing the "Belle" dress
Then Michael took Madilynn for a little ride on the four-wheeler. (The same 4-wheeler that his Pa used to take him riding on!)
For lunch we went over to visit Grandma & Grandad Pate and Kyle. Again I didn't do a good job getting pictures.
But, you can see Elizabeth loved the piano!
Then we spent the rest of the evening with Nana, Papa, and Ashlee.
Elizabeth ready to open her present
She got a cute bag with her name on it - I love it!
Here we are on Christmas day the only picture of the four of us!
Madilynn and Elizabeth had fun with cousin Brianna
Elizabeth even tried on Daddy Gene's hat!
The day after Christmas we celebrated with Daddy Gene and Ladonna. I'm so glad they were able to make it up while we were in town!
We had such a great time getting to visit with everyone (and getting to share our news in person!). It was the busiest trip we've had though, and we didn't get to see some friends. It's hard when you only go back once or twice a year. We flew back to Utah on Tuesday the 28th. The flight went well again (left at 5:30pm) and we made it home that night by 10pm even after stopping by the store for some breakfast essentials! 
Madilynn is wearing her rain boots...the ground has been pretty wet with all of the snow melting.
She's so big! (Catch my shadow?)
Elizabeth in the little house
Now that Elizabeth can walk around at the park she was really into exploring everything. 
At about sunset we made our way to another park across town
tasting the leaf!
Just as the sun went behind the Wellsville mountains 
Then it was time to head home for supper. It was a relaxing Sunday. 
working hard!
All finished! It was just paper...I printed out all the figures and she colored and I glued and taped them together so they would stand up.
We don't have an actual Nativity to display yet, so this is it this year!
What Elizabeth's been up to...
Actually this is not entirely true her newest thing is to get into every cabinet and drawer in the kitchen - even the trash can on occasion. I finally have decided to just let her play with a plastic pitcher and a wooden spoon. She's spent lots of time putting things in the pitcher and then pouring them out. At one time she'd even gotten 3 jelly jars out of the cabinet and was trying to stack them and then pick them up. I didn't think that was very safe so I took them away. (I'm the one who dropped a jelly jar on my foot and sliced open a few toes as a child).
Friday afternoon the girls and I made Chocolate Crinkle cookies!
So silly
Madilynn rolled all of the dough balls in the powdered sugar
the finished result...they were so good too!!
After sharing with friends they were all gone by Saturday night!
