Singing her heart out

Friday was Bria's Christmas program at school and it was cute. They sang a bunch of songs, it was impressive how many they memorized.

 Bria loves her preschool friends and talks about them daily.

Ella! Love her :)

Amelia, she is such a sweetheart.

Bria and Charleigh had fun running all over the place before and after the program.

 Brian's Mom and Heather joined us for it and I know Bria loved having them there.

Saturday was our Christmas with Brian's Dad and family. We headed down early because Nate and Amy had their long awaited baby girl!!! They named her Charlotte and she is just precious, I couldn't get enough of her.

Look at that tiny bundle of cuteness!!

Erin and Jimmy live in Salem too so they were kind enough to watch our girls so we could go see Charlotte and Nate and Amy. The girls were beside themselves with excitement to go play with Gabe and Lucy (Erin and Jimmy's kids).

Brian eventually dragged me out of the hospital (I could not get enough baby) and we got the girls then headed to Dave's house.
The girls had a blast. Becky and Josh (their cousins) were so good with them and they played the entire time. Which was perfect, Brian and I relaxed and caught up with family.

Becky and Bria during the present opening part of the night :)

Tracy and Reese

Grandma Kathie

Hugs for Grandpa!

It was a very fun night and the girls walked away with adorable new clothes, games, and Legos. We headed back home that night where Reese promptly passed out. Definitely a success!

It's getting busy up in here people

This last weekend was eventful for us as we headed down to Albany/Corvallis to see family. I headed down on Thursday with the girls because my Grandma was in town and I wanted to spend as much time with her as I could. She is an amazing woman and I always love hearing her stories. I admire her so much.
It was very snowy down in Albany so when we got there the girls got to play in the snow which was a blast. Grandpa, Abby, and Cassidy joined in on the fun and even when it started raining the girls didn't want to come in. But with the promise of hot chocolate they did.

Reese with her Aunt Abby

My Dad teaching the techniques of a good solid snowman

Trampoline + snow= fun

Bria helping my Dad look for sleds in the attic

The girls love my Dad

Reese wanted to take a picture of Gigi

 We stayed the night that night and oh my word the girls gave me a rough night. I put them to bed in Abby's bed together and they were fighting so I finally decided to just go to bed with them and play referee. An hour after we climbed in bed they finally fell asleep, then Reese woke up which woke up Bria and to save me some typing and you some time, we were up half the night. Also, my girls slept on me the whole entire night. It wasn't that comfortable. I mean, I love cuddling but having 2 heaters on me and the fact that I dared not move for fear of waking the monstrous heaters.
Friday we spent more time with my Grandma and then headed to my Moms for some time with Yaya and a dip in the hot tub. The girls love it there and my Mom always brings out the fun toys including the Barbie's from my childhood which I love.
Friday evening Brian headed down and we went to his Mom's house. Bria and Reese had rehearsal on Saturday morning for the church Nativity program. The rehearsal went great.
After that Bria and I headed to my Mom's for our baking day. I think Bria liked being included in the big girls baking day. She got to spend time with her cousins and aunts and Yaya, all whilst making and eating cookies. Life could not get any better :)

Me and my little baker

The girl cousins (minus Reese): Kailey, Bria, and Jaidyn

My Mom and Jaime

Me and my big sis

Jax and Bria taking a break to play

My beautiful sisters!

Very proud of her decorating skills

All 3 Armstrong girls

Decorating the cookies

They love their Yaya!

 We headed back to grammy's and Brian and I had a mini date night in Corvallis which was fabulous. We got to see our friend Dave and his wife Cinnamon along with their two kiddos. We cheered with Dave at OSU so it's always fun to see what he's up to and there are always a ton of laughs.

When we got back to Grammy's the girls were in bed but crying. Blerg. So Brian slept with Bria and I slept with Reese and it went better that way. Not a fan of our girls being so hard to travel with, but hopefully it's a very short phase. And by short I mean microscopic...like it never happens again. 

Sunday at church was a lot of fun. The program was great and Bria did fabulous. 

Sweet Bria (I have NO idea how I add snow to some pictures, it literally just happens)

My perty little sheep all ready to go!

Grammy and her Granddaughters

Reese decided not to participate which didn't surprise me too much. She's a stinker these days. We love her anyway. But I am definitely reminded of how exhausting the twos are.

We finally headed home after all that. It was a lot of fun and we always enjoy seeing our family. It won't be too long until we see them again either! A week until Christmas, eek! So excited!!

My new job

Through a friend of a friend, I met Lark. She works with Dusty, actually, and is so sweet. She had a baby girl in September and returns to work in January so a month or so ago I was asking what she was going to do with Penny. She was unsure and still looking...and an idea popped into my head.

I LOVE babies. Love babies. Brian and I are done having our own, we love our girls, love our sleep, and love our life. So we are complete.

But that doesn't mean I don't love to snuggle with babies. I told Lark I would be available to watch Penny and the rest is history. I am the new babysitter to sweet Penny Jo, 3 days a week. I've watched her a few times in December to give Lark some practice leaving her, and also give me practice :) I'm in love with that sweet girl and my girls love her as well. It's truly a match made in heaven and I'm thrilled to pieces. 

With my new gig I'm thinking I will have a harder time blogging, so for those still reading (pretty sure it's just family which is fine by me!) I may be writing less and just posting blurbs and pictures so the family doesn't forget what the girls look like ;)

Bria has been asking for a baby sister so this is a perfect solution :)

Sweet smiles!

All tucked in and cozy

Reese has done really well with the change. She loves Penny and has been so sweet with her.

Watching TV and Reese had to have her arm around Penny

Trying to take a picture of my success with 3 girls, Bria was on my left, Reese on my right (both cuddling with me), feeding Penny and taking a picture of it all. Bam!

And to play a little catch up, here are some pictures from the last week or so.

Family game night at Nate and Roxie's house with the Buell's too of course!

We love wine

A few pictures from a random day at our house:

Just carrying Reese in a bag

At Weston's party, bowling!!

Pin the nose on the snowman!

And last but not least, my sweet girl fell asleep in the car one morning and I laid her on the couch where she continued to sleep. Clearly she was not feeling well.

Also, she went her pants so that was super fun to clean. Good thing we have a couch cover on that couch.