Last Week's Celebrations

I'm sitting here literally watching the clock. Mark arrives home in two more hours after a 3 week traveling schedule. I have spent the afternoon trying to "pass the time" by cleaning my house, making welcome home cards with the girls, watching Oprah, and reading WAY too many blogs (including my own from last year). When it dawned on me....I haven't blogged about our last week! That's a GREAT way to pass an hour at least!

So, here we go!

Last weekend, we got to see our Mark Daddy Daddy for 36 hours. And, it was literally wonderful from beginning to end. The girls were so excited to go INSIDE the airport to surprise him. And, here they are hugging his neck, after running to him through the entire baggage claim area screaming! (sorry it's a bad picture....I was far away....because I didn't run. :)

We were all so glad to see him, and it was adorable to watch the girls react. Kendyll is always the most emotional when he leaves and the most excited when he returns. But, this time, Carlie gave her a run for her money. All weekend, she couldn't stop smiling and hugging on Daddy. She said countless times on Friday how she couldn't wait for daddy to be home. She prayed for him the whole week, and asked him how his work was when he got back. You could really tell she had missed him....he has never been gone that long since she's been alive, I don't think!

And, the cutest was Abby Kate. She's too little to ask "Where is my Daddy?", but she literally was laughing, hugging him, and patting him with the biggest smile when she finally saw him. Her heart broke when she had to sit in the backseat and not see his face while we drove. Pure sweetness.

We were very thankful that he got to come home....and we're very thankful to Uncle Joe and Aunt Nancy for being the reason he was allowed to leave his training. :)

Christmas with the "California family" had been planned for months, so Mark's new company allowed him to leave for the weekend to celebrate with us.

We had so much fun at our first Christmas celebration (even though I was awful at taking pictures!). Some Babe's Chicken, a wonderful Christmas breakfast and steak dinner prepared by Grandma, football in the backyard, and lots of visiting time with cousins and family. Here are a few of the very little pictures I took! (shame on me!)

Doing the hokey pokey at Babe's....

Sophie was the best 21 month hokey-pokey dancer I've ever seen! She LOVED it!

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was Uncle Chris! The girls had so much fun playing with him, and being crazy with their cool uncle. This is one of my favorite pictures ever of Chris and Kendyll....

Doing some dancing, posing for some pictures, and playing around with cousins...

These "littlest" cousins are yet to really discover each other...but, when they do, it's gonna be pretty fun!

Both Sophie and Carlie were wanting Pops to hold them, so of course Pops said "Somebody take my picture!". And, we did as we were told. :) So cute!

Kendyll and sweet baby Ty. I think Kendyll would take him home if she could...
It was a great Christmas to kick off our season...and Kendyll and Carlie have been highly entertained by their new gifts. A magnetic princess set for Carlie and a special big-girl treasure box with lock and key for Kendyll!

We are now looking forward to repeating the above "airport" pictures in two hours, when our Daddy returns yet again. Right now, I'm repeating my prayer over and over for a safe arrival of his plane and a wonderful reunion with our little family. :) We'll be back tomorrow to blog about our surprises waiting for Daddy tonight!!