Happy Birthday Grandma!

Over Thanksgiving break, we had mom and Jim over for an early birthday celebration. Mom's birthday is on December 15th, but she will be very busy with work on her birthday, so we thought we would celebrate with dinner and cake before the crazy schedules begin.

Livi and Joey loved having mom, Jim, and Sherman over for the evening and celebrating with grandma. Happy birthday mom/grandma...we love you!

The Heiple Christmas Card Photo Shoot

Here are my favorite pictures from this years Christmas card photo shoot. Everyone cooperated very well, and I think I got some good shots!!!

Happy Thanksgiving...Christmas

This year we spent Thanksgiving with the Heiple clan....and whenever we celebrate Thanksgiving we also celebrate Christmas! We had a great time! This was our first opportunity to meet our new nephew/cousin Abiti. (Ben and Jess adopted a little boy from Ethopia and brought him home in October.) We were also able to spend time with all of our family which is very hard since everyone is spread out in Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Illinois. It was so nice to have time to play games, visit, and let the cousins play, play, play!

A big thank you to grandma and grandpa Heiple for hosting everyone at their house, for all of the delicious meals, and for a fantastic Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Ronald McDonald House

In November, Jason, Olivia, Joey, and I made a meal for the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield. Although we never needed to stay at the Ronald McDonald House, it is always near and dear to our heart. Many parents who have children in the hospital are welcomed to stay at the Ronald McDonald House. Jason and I met several parents up in the NICU who were a long way from home and had children in the NICU. We have always wanted to give back to the hospital in anyway possible and we now feel like we can. Every year we participate in the March of Dimes, but now we are going to try and donate a meal every other month to the Ronald McDonald House.

Seeing Olivia sitting next to Ronald McDonald brings back an ache in my stomach. It was tradition to sit with Ronald every day we went to visit Joey in the hospital.

The First Thanksgiving Feast

This year Olivia was able to participate in the First Thanksgiving Feast! In our school, the Kindergarten class studies Native Americans throughout the month of November and the first graders study the Pilgrims. Then close to Thanksgiving time, the two grades gather for the First Thanksgiving Feast. It is a lot of fun for the children!

Olivia was able to dress up in her Native American outfit. She was able to give herself a Native American name and she came up with "Dancing Giraffee." Livi said that she loved to dance and that she loved giraffees; so she came up with "Dancing Giraffe."

I absolutely love experiencing all of the "firsts" with Livi! I always get teary eyed with each moment!

Baking Cookies with Grandma

They each have their own baking technique !

The Christmas Train

A couple weekends ago, mom and Jim took Olivia and Joey to Monticello to the train station. Mom's company was holding a Christmas party there. Olivia and Joey had a blast! It was a lot like the Polar Express. They had cookies, candy canes, sat on Santa's lap, and even received an early Christmas present!

A big thank you to grandma and Jim for taking Olivia and Joey to their Christmas party and letting participate in the Christmas magic. I love this time of year and seeing the excitement in their eyes!