The holidays are here

Here are Skylar's Santa pictures as promised. We have been having fun preparing for the holidays. Thanksgiving was nice despite the loss of our Ma. I have to say that I am pretty proud to be a Markwith. When a divorced family comes together to have Thanksgiving together, to pull together as whole...as a family, in hard times...well I just think that is really big of them all. Skylar really enjoyed spending time with her cousin Colt. She is really good with him too. She also got to spend a little time with her cousin Izaiah.

It has been difficult, Skylar still asks for her Ma. It is becoming less often, but nonetheless hard to explain to her. She just doesn't understand the abstract right now, no matter how many times we try to tell her about it. I made her a photo album of all of the pictures that I have of the two of them together and made a story to go along with it, hoping it will help her being able to see Ma whenever she wants.

Skylar has thoroughly enjoyed the holiday season. This year was so fun decorating the tree. She was so funny. She went to the same place every time she put something on, and then she started trying to put her cars on the tree. She enjoys looking at the ornaments everyday and she even knows which ones she is not supposed to touch. She has discovered "The Wizard of Oz" so those ornaments are very tempting for her. It is her new favorite and I can't tell you how many times we have watched it in the recent days. It was both mine and Phil's favorite too so we are happy to pass the torch.

We started a new tradition this year called the Elf on the Shelf. It is a really old fashioned toy elf that comes with a story book. Skylar named him Olie and he comes to our house every Thanksgiving now. Every night he leaves to report to Santa and tell him about Skylar's day. Every morning he is in a new spot and she runs out to find him. Olie leaves with Santa Christmas Eve and will return next Thanksgiving. Skylar isn't allowed to touch him because his magic might go away and then he wouldn't be able to get to Santa, and we wouldn't want Santa to think she forgot about him. He can't talk to her, but he can listen so she can give him messages to Santa. I think Christmas is just as exciting for us as it is her. She lets us be a kid again too.

Two weeks ago we went to my Grandparent's cabin in Bryce. The weekend went too quickly, but it was the epitome of Christmas and really got us in the spirit. It is in the mountains, it was cold and we had a blazing fire. It was a great time with family and Sammie filled the house with the smell of cookies....Mmmm! Skylar really enjoyed herself. She made cookies with Sammie, played on the computer with Creepaw, read the newspaper with Sammie and watched Gabba with Troy and had her first candy cane, which she loved. We watched plenty of Christmas movies and just relaxed.

This weekend I watched Bella while her mommy worked and we had soooo much fun. Phil and I took two toddlers grocery shopping which was surprisingly easier than with one. The girls kept each other entertained while we got the shopping done. They were so good they got to pick out their own holiday blankets. When we got home we made snowman ornaments and cookies. It was a total blast and we can't wait to do it again. We also got family pictures done and Skylar's two year pictures. She was a little difficult at first, but one photographer came in and she was wonderful with Skylar. The photoshoot turned completely around and we got great pictures. Well, I think the next time I will update is after Christmas so Happy Holidays everyone!

Sky is 2!

Last weekend Santa made his first appearance at Spotsylvania mall. Before we saw Santa Skylar got her first professional hair cut. She was such a big girl, and totally looks like one too. Santa was on his break when we got there, but Sky didn't care. She tried to break in putting her legs through the gate and holding her hand out saying "hand, hand".
She thinks she can do anything when you hold her hand. When they opened the gates she ran in full force and came to a screeching halt at the Christmas tree. All she could talk about was Santa. She has been talking about "Chrissytime" since September and she changed her mind when we got there. Cousin Sammie came to the rescue and we got the most adorable pictures, then we got family pictures with Santa too. Afterwards we had dinner with Grammy and Creepaw, Aunt Theresa, Uncle David, Sammie, Troy, Aunt Sarah and Bella. The girls played all night and crashed hard.

Wednesday, November 17 Skylar turned two. She went to Aunt Krista's that day and was spoiled rotten. Aunt Krista and Uncle Danny threw her a little party and she had a blast.

Then when she came home we had dinner and a small birthday cake.


We prepped all week for her party, which was extremely busy with CLC and parent-teacher conferences, but we got it done. Saturday we had a party, but sadly Saturday morning Phil's grandmother passed away. We kept the party scheduled because we wanted to keep things as normal as possible for the little ones. The distraction was good for all of us. Skylar had a blast. She had most of the closest people in her life and all of her little friends there and she was very excited about that. We had an Olivia Party and she dressed as ballerina Olivia, but the ears were a little top heavy so we don't have any pictures with them on. Oh, well. She was adorable anyway. She got so many things, I have no idea what else to get her for Christmas, lol.
Now we are prepping for the holidays. Next Sunday we are going to get family/Christmas pictures and have Sky's 2 year pictures done professionally.

Skylar is about to turn 2!

Sorry it has been so long since I last updated. Things have been crazy at school and we have just been taking advantage of the cool weather on the weekends.





Saturday, Sarah and I left the girls at home and did some shopping. Skylar and Phil had a Daddy-daughter day and he took her to Caladon Park here in King George where they walked the trails for a couple of hours. She was so excited and impressed with the outdoors. Phil said she kept saying "Wow, trees". When I got home we carved the pumpkin. This year Skylar did more than just a pumpkin dance on the table, she really got into it. Phil got on Nick Jr's website and printed out a Brobie stencil, so we had a Gabba jack-o-lantern this year.






Sunday was Halloween and it didn't go exactly as we had planned. Sky woke up from her nap grumpy and didn't want to wear the ears to her Olivia costume, so every picture consisted of pouty face. We went to her Pop's first, where Boomer (their dog) took off with Sky's Olivia and Phil had to tackle him to retrieve it. Then we went to Westmoreland Berry Farm for hay rides and trunk or treat. Skylar wanted to play on everything that was for the big kids, Mommy and Daddy were afraid she would get hurt; therefore, she screamed every time we pulled her away from something. Maybe we are a little too over protective sometimes, but at least we are protective. I ended up going to Sheetz and spending $15 in candy (we don't get trick-or-treaters so we didn't have any at home) just to make myself feel better. I couldn't jip my kid; I had to fill her pumpkin. We went home and she came up to me and said "tick-a-teat Mommy", so I gave her some candy.







Today I worked inside with the munchkin while Phil finally finished staining the deck. Every time he tried to do it before the rain had different plans. The trees keep our deck from drying at a normal pace. I guess you could say it was our fall cleaning day. I put a ton of baby things in the attic. It was sort of sad packing that phase away. We got rid of some toys, packed some away, and moved her toy box to her room. I knew I would have to make room for presents since her birthday and Christmas are right around the corner. She was wonderful while I put stuff in the attic. I pulled Nick Jr up on the computer and she sat right in the computer chair while I made several trips into the attic. I think I am going to send Phil up there with a flashlight though. I am pretty sure I heard something scurrying around up there. Where is Billy the Exterminator when I need him? If it is anything significant I might be calling my own personal hero "John Ginter the Exterminator", lol. He saves me from spiders and ants every year.

We are currently preparing for Skylar's 2nd birthday. It is hard to believe another year has gone by. We have rented out the Presidential Lakes Community Meeting house just because our house is too small for the kids and their parents. Skylar wanted an Olivia party so that is our theme this year. She wants a Moose and Zee cake though, so I guess it is sort of Nick Jr themed, lol. It is crazy to me that she can request these things. She is picking out Christmas gifts in all the catalogs that come too.

Santa is coming to the mall next weekend and we found out that if you go before Thanksgiving you get a free sheet of pictures, so we are taking Skylar Saturday. We will do a little Christmas shopping and then off to Grandmother's house we go...Grammy's that is. We are going to have a nice family dinner to kick off the holiday season. We are planning for two Thanksgiving dinners this year. First we are headed to Phil's Dad's and then in the evening we are headed to his Mom's. That weekend we are going to have our annual family pictures done and Skylar's 2 year pictures. I love the holidays!

Oh, one last thing that has us totally impressed and in awe. She has started to show appreciation for her food. She ate her Aunty J's lasagna last night and with every bite she said "Mmmm it tastes good, mmm delicious". What two year old says delicious, lol? I love it.

Pumpkin Hunting

Last weekend we had one last crab feast with the Markwiths. I have never seen so many crabs in my life...ever! Chris was sending them home by the bushel with everyone. Skylar wouldn't eat any, but found out she has a love of fruit. Her dinner came from Nana's fruit bowl and we have had to have a full stock of apples and grapes in the house at her request. We are going to try oranges this week. It was great to see the whole family and Skylar really enjoyed it. She loves Aunt Heather and cousin Paige, especially when they took her riding on the golf cart. It is the first time she has just gone off without Mommy without thinking twice about it.

As most of you know, because it is highly promoted, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. This cause is very near and dear to our hearts. We sport our pink in support of two of the strongest women in our lives. When I was a young child my Grandmommy was diagnosed and treated. Three years ago my Aunt Theresa was diagnosed and treated. Both of these women are extremely important to me and the thought of them not being with me today is paralyzing. We wear our pink in celebration of their survival in the fight. Not only do we wear it to support them, but to support the fight in finding a cure for all of those who are fighting for their lives and those who have lost their courageous battle. It is an important fight, so I encourage you to show your support not just this month, but everyday.

Yesterday we made our way to Belvedere Plantation. We met up with the Cook family as well as my Uncle David and his wife Chris. We had so much fun! Skylar was delighted with all of the things to do. It is certainly different than when we went as kids, but a good improvement. It is a little pricey, but it was completely worth it. Skylar loved seeing the animals and I had to strongly convince her to blow kisses to the goats instead of trying to stick her head through the fence. She got to ride her first pony and absolutely loved the pig races. When it came time to pick her pumpkin she was a little unsure of the hayride, and when we got out into the patch she was constantly entwined in pumpkin vines. Thank God for oxyclean; it took every grass stain out. We ended a wonderful family outing with dinner at Aunt Theresa's where Grammy had potato soup waiting when we got home. Next weekend Mommy and Daddy are headed to Fear Fest without little Miss Skylar. We will miss her, but are looking forward to some adult time with close friends Devon and Dusty. Until next time...