First Birthday Coming Soon!

In preparation for the girls' first birthday, I've been doing a lot of reminiscing and looking through old photos. It's hard to believe the big girls napping in the room next to me used to be so tiny!

Betty Schwarma and Barbara Ganoosh

Colorado may have good Mexican food, but you can't beat Michigan's Mediterranean food! We took the girls to their first Lebanese restaurant, where we enjoyed good food and excellent music.

If you can't tell from her expression, Emily was in love with our waitress

Here's Betty Schwarma doing what she does best at mealtimes: attempting to take off her bib

Here's the adorable Barbara Ganoosh, enjoying some shish tawook

These girls love their CeeCee and PopPop!

I was hoping the sound would turn out better in this video...I was trying to capture the awesome music we had as a soundtrack to our New Year's Eve lunch...

An Evening with Cousins

While we were in Michigan, we spent some time over at Chris's cousin Liz's house. Emily and Addison are both in awe of Big Kids, which Johnny (5) and Heidi (2) most definitely are. Aside from the fact that the girls shared their germs with Heidi, a good time was had by all.

The girls met Joey, and have been begging for a puppy ever since

I love him!

Johnny showed the girls what five-year-old boys are all about

Photo courtesy of Johnny Jackson

Happy Birthday Liz!

And with big kids come big toys...Emily loved the kitchen

It's just like our stove at home but tiny! Amazing!

10 Months

Emily and Addison celebrated their ten month birthday while we were in Michigan. On their birthday, we went to Bronners, a Christmas wonderland that is open year-round in Frankenmuth, MI. With all the lights, Christmas displays, and Christmas music, it was quite the stimulating experience for these two!

Is that santa moving?

Those twinkle lights are dazzling!

This bear was just hanging out in the Christmas tree section and he asked if he could hold the girls. He promised not to eat them.

We're sick, but that's not going to stop us from having fun!

Poor girls came down with a case of hand-foot-mouth while we were in Michigan. Addison had blisters on her fingers and toes the day after Christmas, and the next day, Emily had a rash all around her mouth. Emily seemed pretty under the weather for most of the week, but they both rallied and had as much fun as possible with Cee Cee and Pop Pop.

Horsey!

Emily gets some love from Cee Cee

Chris is ready to teach Emily to play the piano

Addie shows off her drumming skills to Pop Pop

Christmas in Michigan

The Christmas celebrations continued when we got to Michigan. 

More presents?!?!

Look closely, and you will see there are three Paltes in this picture!

Emily gets a new onesie

Thanks for the help, Dad!

Hanging out with CeeCee, Aunt Rachel, and Uncle Mike (and Uncle Eric is getting beamed in from Turkey!!)

 

Addie helps Pop Pop

What a lovely Christmas vest, Uncle Eric

Later that evening, more family came, and Emily and Addison got to play with their cousins, Heidi and Johnny

Christmas in Colorado

Christmas was a really big deal this year. It was Emily and Addison's first, after all. We spent the morning of Christmas Eve at DeeDee's house with Uncle Dylan, Aunt Britney, and Callie. Then we went to Uncle Bob and Aunt Marsha's and spent the evening with the Nicoll family. Even after a jam-packed day full of family, food, and fun, we made it to the 8:00 church service before hanging our stockings and heading to bed.

Christmas morning was spent at our house, just the four of us, opening presents and packing for Michigan. When our bags were all packed in the car, we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Hicks' house to celebrate with the Hicks family. Then it was off to the airport to fly to Michigan on Christmas night.

Seeing as it was the girls' first Christmas, many many pictures were taken. Here are some of my favorites:

I love this girl!

Callie got a tool belt and tool bench. What a fun present!

DeeDee and her three Grandbabies

The Fam 

Addie sits with Great Grandma Nicoll

Emily explores under Uncle Bob's coffee table

What's under there, Em?

Three Beauties

Christmas Morning Magic

The girls got Chris an antique Thomas Edison phonograph record

Great Grandma Hicks and four of her six great grandchildren

Getting ready to head to the airport, Emily was strapped in but Addie was still loose. Chris and I were running around checking a few last-minute things when we were drawn to the carseats by sweet baby laughter. Addison was getting close in Emily's face and they were cracking eachother up. Of the many amazing and wonderful things about having twins, watching them play and laugh together is one of the very best.

Silly sister!

The Best Thing About Christmas Presents?

For a ten month old, the answer would be....wrapping paper!

How do you open your presents, Emily? 

Yum!

Ooooo, this is going to be a good one, I can taste it!

Give this green stuff a try!

Oooo, the red's pretty tasty, too!

What did you say? There are toys all around me? Well, this ribbon is all I need!

Santa came! And he brought us silver paper!

Having a snack in our new wagon

Santa knows how to pick yummy paper!

Oooo, this reversible stuff's pretty good.

O....M....G..... the best present EVER!

Yay!

Mmmmmmm.....

Hey, Michigan paper is delicious, too!