Christmas Came Early To The Holbrook House!

Madison, Ashley and Tori sent Santa Claus a letter telling him to bring gifts early to the Holbrook house since we would be out of town in Utah. We took all the gifts up to my parent's home and let the unwrapping begin. The girls were so excited when we told them Santa had come by and dropped off some presents and that they could open them NOW!!!
Ashley had been eyeing this Barbie Cash Register every time we walked by it in Costco! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!!!

This is my mom telling my girls that their Great Grandpa (who died Feb 2008) had left them some money to put away for their college funds.

Madison really wanted this cupcake maker from Santa Claus. I, on the other hand, wasn't very excited about it. I know it will just sit next to her "little oven" in the kitchen that she got a couple of years ago. We made cupcakes with it this morning. Lets just say making one cupcake at a time takes forever, but the girls seemed to really enjoy it. Especially frosting them!

We always wrap Santa's gifts in this boring newspaper wrap so it looks completely different from all the other gifts. The girls seem to really like this idea!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Madison!

I can't believe my baby girl is six years old today. Wow, time has just flown by. I remember bringing her home from the hospital and Joe leaving the very next day for a dental school interview in Arizona. Madison is such an amazing little girl and brings so much love and happiness to our family. She is still obsessed with her girlie, princess stuff, yet can run faster than all the boys in kindergarten and kicks some major booty on the soccer field. Every day is such a joy and I just love her to pieces.
We had a BIG family/cousin party on Sunday and today (Monday) being her actual birthday, we spent the day doing everything she wanted to do. Including going to Jack in the Box for curly fries for dinner and getting a churro at Costco. I love how she asks for such simple things. I would have loved to go get an Outback sirloin special or Ruth's Chris, but we can do that on my birthday!!!

Madison has needed a new bike for quite some time. Her knees would literally smack her in the face while riding her old one. She rides without training wheels like a pro!

Madison loves her Leapster and has been so bummed that it broke. She was thrilled to open up a new one tonight.

Grandma Holbrook sent Madison the "Holiday Barbie"!!! I let Madison open this before she went to school. Can you tell how happy she is in the photo???

Madison specifically asked for a flat cake with princesses on it and not a barbie cake. I was kind of surprised by her request! We used rings with jewels and pushed them into the cake to give it some bling.

I was a little worried about Ashley because she wanted some presents to open too, but surprisingly she did pretty well.

Her cousin Kayla (my twin brother's daughter) gave Madison the whole Snow White ensemble. Madison loves dress up.

And Tori just hung out all night being the little sweatheart that she is!

Nutcracker Performance and Santa Claus

We have had a very eventful weekend with office Christmas parties, ballet rehearsals, shopping, and visiting Santa Claus. When Santa asked Madison what she wanted from Santa Claus she replied "a cupcake maker". When Ashley first answered the question she said, "a drink" then she quickly responded, "a ball"!!! She is such a funny little kid.

After many months of practice, Madison was so excited to finally perform in the Nutcracker. She was a Suger Angel and just loved her costume. Her class got to hold candles (fake ones of course) during their performance and wear wings. The costume couldn't have been more perfect for Madison. We were able to get seats right next to the aisle that Madison would be walking down so I could get a close up picture before she went up on stage.

Madison is the one right in the middle!

Thanks Todd and Christianne

Way back when I first found out I was having another girl, Todd and Christianne bought this cute onsie. I have been waiting for the day when Tori would be big enough to wear it. I just love the "frog" rear end. Too adorable! I just love Tori's chubby, dimply, legs. How come its not adorable on all the Mom's???

Thanksgiving Weekend!

Wow, what a weekend we had. I just love it when Joe has a few days off. Too much food and WAY too much fun! We spent Thanksgiving day at my parents' home with my brother Steve and his family and my sister Karen and her family. I have to say how blessed we are to have this new, sweet little girl! Tori is such an amazing, GOOD baby I can't believe it. She is cooing and smiling all the time. It just melts my heart!

I think with each girl I have the flowers and bows just get bigger!

I am the only one that likes yams with marshmellows on top in my family (besides my parents) so I make them every year! I can't have Thanksgiving Day without my yams! That is my nephew Tyler who snuck into my picture. I can't believe he is going to be 20 in February!

My dad about to carve the turkey!

Joe and his girls enjoying a day off from school and work!

Ashley adores her baby sister Tori and is always wanting to hold and kiss her.

Tori Pictures and Blessing!

This past Sunday, Noveber 2nd, we blessed Tori Jacqueline. It meant a lot to have so much family come in to town to help us celebrate this very important event. Tori slept all through the blessing and sacrament, but when it came time to take pictures she lost it and cried through most of them.

I forgot to mention one funny thing that happened while I was in the hospital. When I got into my post-op room after having Tori, I was getting ready to call it a night when I reached out to answer the telephone and my IV popped out. Blood literally started squirting everywhere. I mean everywhere!!! I was holding Tori at the time and she was absolutely covered in my blood. I called for the nurse and told her my IV had come out. When she walked in she started to freak out because of all the blood. She couldn't believe that I wasn't freaking out also. Because I give injections and see blood all the time with my job this did not bother me at all. I was more annoyed that I had to have all my sheets changed and poor Tori needed to be cleaned up before I could get some sleep. The nurse covered Tori up completely before she left my room to change her so that people in the hallways wouldn't see all the blood that covered her. I should have taken a picture, j/k!!!

Joe's mom was able to fly out for the blessing! It was so fun to have her here!

Princess Cinderella and Super Girl

Halloween was so much fun this year. Joe's mom was in town for Tori's blessing so she was able to help us celebrate and carve our pumpkins. Madison surprised me this year and decided she didn't want to be a princess and wanted to go as Super Girl and Ashley chose Princess Cinderella.

Soccer Saturdays!

Madison loves to play soccer and actually is quite good at it too. She chose to go to her soccer game early last week instead of going to the Pumpkin Patch. Is this kid for real??? I just love the picture below because it truly shows her competitive nature and how hard she plays out there. She takes this sport seriously. Right before Madison is flying through the air and headed for the goal post she kicks the ball in for a goal. Her collar bone smashed into the goal post and she was pretty upset about it. But, as soon as I told her she should rest the injury she quickly said it didn't hurt anymore and ran off to continue playing. No way did she want to sit out! This is Madison's team. They are called the Fire Dragons! Madison has had a lot of fun with her team this year because most of them go to her school and are in kindergarten with her.

Tori Jacqueline Holbrook has arrived!!!

Tori Jacqueline Holbrook arrived on Septemeber 30th at 3:12 p.m. She weighed in at 8 lbs. 3 oz and is 20 1/2 inches long. We named her after my sister Jackie who died from cancer September 8th, 2006. The labor and delivery went well and she was out in 1 1/2 pushes. I know you all wanted to know that little detail. Madison and Ashley are thrilled big sisters and are always trying to sneak peeks and hold her whenever they can. It is too cute!

This is the same little outfit that Madison and Ashley wore when they left the hospital as infants.
Very proud big sisters!

My dad holding grandkid #21