The girls' first Christmas and New Year's Eve has come and gone but we have so many wonderful memories that will always stay with us. It has been a very, very special past couple of weeks. I think pictures will tell the story best...
The Monday before Christmas, Rob and I packed up the girls and took them on the train from Olympia to Portland for a lovely holiday lunch and afternoon of merriment with Rob's Aunt Norma, Aunt Mary, Cousin Spencer, Spencer's girlfriend, and Grandpa Dave.
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| At the train station in Olympia |
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| Aunt Norma and Margaret |
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| Spencer and Eileen |
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| Grandpa Dave and Margaret |
On Christmas Eve morning Rob's best friend Tyler and his family, who were visiting from Michigan, came over to meet Margaret and Eileen and see our house for the first time. Then the Kellys came by with Christmas presents for the girls (the most darling Hanna Andersson dresses)! Last but not least, for Christmas Eve dinner we went to Uncle AJ and Aunt Malia's house. Margaret and Eileen had so much fun playing with AJ, Malia, Grandpa Dave, Malia's mom Lacey, and Malia's brother Ethan and opening present after present after present!
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| Best buds and their kiddos ~ Rob with Margaret, Natalie, Noah, and Tyler with Eileen |
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| Eileen and Margaret fighting over Margaret's Monk-Monk |
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| Merideth with Eileen and Erin with Margaret ~ Thank you for the adorable dresses, Auntie Mer and Uncle EKelly! |
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| Margaret opening presents on Christmas Eve ~ Thank you for the puppets, books, and sleepers, Uncle AJ and Aunt Malia! |
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| Eileen and her new puppets |
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| Grandpa Dave with Margaret and Eileen ~Thank you for a wonderful first Christmas, Grandpa Dave! |
On Christmas morning, Eileen and Margaret woke up bright and early and opened presents. Santa was very good to the girls and found our new house with no trouble at all!
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| Dad opening presents with Eileen and Margaret |
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| Santa brought Eileen and Margaret a ride-on ladybug...fun times! |
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| Christmas morning with Eileen and Margaret |
Next we were off to Grandma Cary and Grandpa Pat's house for Christmas breakfast. Aunties Rebecca, Callie, Sydney, and Grandma Cary surprised Margaret and Eileen with their very own play castle! Uncle AJ and Aunt Malia joined us and we had a fun morning opening presents and watching the girlies squeal with glee at their Fisher-Price pull-along puppy. Thank you for the wonderful Christmas, Grandma Cary and Grandpa Pat!
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| Aunt Rebecca with Margaret, Aunt Sydney, and Aunt Callie with Eileen |
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| Margaret and Aunt Rebecca |
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| Eileen and Dad |
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| Mom, Eileen, and Pup-Pup |
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| Margaret yelling at Pup-Pup |
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| Grandma Cary and Eileen |
After breakfast we piled back in the car and headed south to Grandma Trish and Grandpa Jeff's house in Olympia to celebrate Christmas with the Stier/Hood clan. We opened presents with Grandma Trish, Grandpa Jeff, and Uncle Jim and then shared a wonderful Christmas dinner with Great Grandpa Bud, Great Aunts and Great Uncles, and plenty of cousins. Thank you for everything, Grandma Trish and Grandpa Jeff!
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| Grandma Trish with Eileen, Bert the cat, and Uncle Jim with Margaret |
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| Mom with Margaret and Dad with Eileen |
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| Snack time ~ Uncle Jim with Eileen and Grandpa Jeff with Margaret |
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| Great Aunt Becky with Eileen, Uncle Jim with Margaret, Great Grandpa Bud, and Mom |
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| Mom with Margaret and Dad with Eileen |
Funny little side note, Eileen and Margaret were totally obsessed with Grandma Trish and Grandpa Jeff's cat, Bert. Margaret was so enthralled with Bert she even started yelling his name! Sweet old Bert was very patient and gentle with the girls and they can't wait to come back for another visit.
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| Bert, Grandma Trish, and Margaret |
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| Eileen and Bert |
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| Margaret so overcome with excitement around Bert she could hardly stand it! |
We finished out the week with a visit from Uncle Jim, Grandma Trish, and Grandpa Jeff and then a fun dinner with Aunts Rebecca, Callie, and Sydney.
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| Uncle Jim with Margaret and Mom with Eileen |
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| Aunt Sydney with Eileen, Aunt Callie with Margaret, and Aunt Rebecca |
Last night for New Year's Eve we took the girls to a fun party at Erin and Matt Ferguson's house and then gave them some pots and pans to bang on to ring in the New Year. 2011 was the most amazing year for us and we can't wait to see what 2012 holds.
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| Happy New Year, Eileen and Margaret! |
