Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Ayla got to ride the train!

We made it to South Towne mall to ride the train on Thursday the 20th! I had promised Ayla I would take her before Christmas because the train wasn't out when we went to The Gateway mall on Friday.

 My Mom joined us!


 Me, Ashlyn and Ayla!


 Ayla looking out the window at Santa as we went by! 
I love how you can see her reflection in this picture!


 After the ride was over!


 Ayla was a happy girl!


See, here is a close up of the same picture!

Then we went to go see Santa!

 They had a cute set up with fun things to play with!


 Cute girl!


 Too fun!

We didn't get a picture with Santa because once again they made you purchase a package and their packages started at $29. 

Then I took the kids on the carousal they have there.

 Ayla on her horse!


 I rode with Ashlyn on the bench!
It was the only way they let babies ride the carousal.


My Mom took this picture as we were going around!

We had fun being able to finally ride a train!

I am glad we went there! Ayla not only rode the train but she got to ride the carousal as well. I think for now on I will just have to take my kids to the South Towne mall for the riding the train, see Santa tradition.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Fun with Ayla and Ashlyn!

First, I want to share some fun things I have had the privilege to do with my sweet, Daughter, Ayla!

                            
Kurt's Mom bought Ayla a gingerbread house so we made it at the beginning of the month. I loved that it was, "Rudolph!"


Just staring off!


The front of the house!


Ayla had a lot of fun putting on the candy!


She wanted to eat it right away! LOL!


The front!
I think it turned out great! This was actually my first time ever doing a gingerbread house! I know, can you believe it? I can't either, with me being a cake decorator!


She loved eating the left over candy!


Side view!


The back!


It came with some cardboard cut-outs of the some of the characters. Santa, Rudolph and the Abominable Snow-Creature were gumming candy! The only thing I am wondering is, where is Herby?


Ayla was so cute playing with the cut-outs with the house!


I have really enjoyed all of Ayla's paintings and drawings of Christmas trees! I even think in this picture there are stockings!

Sad thing is, Ayla got sick during the first part of the month. She had a horrible cold where she lost her voice. We had to miss a Christmas party that I had with some of my old Coworkers from ATG. Ayla was so sad the day of the party that I told her we would still have our own party. She made a few decorations. I made the cupcakes I was supposed to bring to the party and made up some games for Ayla to play.

One of the games was tossing Rudolph's nose!
I made her wear the antlers and toss a couple of red balls we had at some stacked cups.


Good job Ayla! You got one!


Missed. :(

We also played pin the star on the tree and toss the Christmas plush into a basket!


Then we had the cupcakes!


Cute little Ashlyn playing on the floor!


Then we drew snowman on Styrofoam cups!


Here is Kurts! Great job Honey!


Ayla drawing hers!


Here is all 3 of ours!
Kurt's, Ayla's and Mine! I loved that Ayla copied her Dad's! She did a great job! She even drew the smoke coming out of the snowman's pipe.

I then let Ayla open the 2 gifts I had for the party we were supposed to go to! She was really excited to get the kid's gift and I was excited to get the grown up's gift! Kurt laughed at me when Ayla opened the grown up's gift because I was so excited about it. He asked, "Didn't you wrap buy it and wrap it?" My reply was, "Yes, that is why I love it!" LOL! It was a Christmas hand towel and oven mitt that matched. I actually ended up buying the hot pads to match later.

After Ayla got better, we decided to do one of our Christmas traditions, go to the mall, ride the train and see Santa! I was very disappointed to find out that they didn't have the train at Valley Fair Mall this year. I called a few malls and found it at The Gateway. I was excited because it was outside and you would be riding through lit up trees! I was told it only ran on the weekends and that Friday was part of the weekend, so we went on Friday the 14th!

We started our night off at Wendy's for dinner!

Cute little Ashlyn, chillin in her stroller!


Lane and my Mom!


Ayla and my sister, Marion!

After dinner, we drove through the holiday traffic (crazy) to get to The Gateway. It took a long time to find a parking spot. We finally got upstairs to the mall. We went to see Santa, first. I didn't get a picture because they wouldn't let me take one without buying the package. I wasn't about to spend $20 for two 5x7's. We had already got pictures with Santa at The Festival of Trees. It was nice that there was not a line for Santa though.

After Santa, we headed over to ride the train but when we got there, there was no train. :(

I found out they put it away because of the rain.

Ayla was very disappointed. I was too.
I promised Ayla that I would take her to the South Towne Mall before Christmas to ride their train. It was indoors and they had it all week.


I love that I captured this picture of Lane!
He was so excited about the scenery! The lit up tree by the water fountain.


It did look pretty cool!

Off to the side of the fountain they had...

this!
I thought it was pretty funny!

After freezing and being disappointed, we headed into the near by toy shop they had.

It was a neat shop! It had some unique toys!


Ashlyn on a rocking something!
I don't know what it was, a dog?


This was some kind of squirting toy. I think this picture is awesome!

Just a couple of cute pictures to end this post!

One!


Two!

We still had a good time at The Gateway but I tell you what, I won't go there again for the train because I don't want to see my kid so disappointed.

There you have it! A post about fun with Ayla and Ashlyn!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Brooke's Birthday Party!

I seriously can not believe that our niece, Brooke turned 12! Where has the time gone? We celebrated her birthday on her birthday, the 3rd of December, at Chick-Fil-A. Her Mom set up a surprise party there. We all met there and then her and her parents showed up a little after we were all there! Brooke was really surprised!


Krista and Brooke's Dad, Chris!


Brooke's Mom, Suz, Grant, Carol Ann and in the background, Kurt and Ashlyn!


The kids had a blast in the very clean playground! I liked how clean it was!
Morganne (in front), Brooke (behind Morganne) and Little Kurt. Ayla is in this picture too you just can't see her!


Now you can see her!


I always seem to get such cute pictures of Little Kurt! He is such a cutie and photogenic!


Suz and Ashlyn!


Me and my Honey, Kurt! I love this man!


Brooke's cake!


Lighting the candles!


"Happy birthday, dear, Brooke!"


Good job Brooke!
I really like how this picture turned out!


Of course Ashlyn was memorized by the balloons!



She is just too cute!


Brooke was so kind to share one of her balloons with each one of her cousins!

We love you Brooke! Happy birthday!

We really had a great time!