Christmas came and went in a flash.  We were blessed to have Aaron home for over a week as he was able to take a little vacation time before busy season begins.  We were also blessed to spend time with Aaron's grandparents who live in Montana and were down visiting and staying with Aaron's parents.  Makenzie loves to look at Christmas lights, so we spent many evenings looking at them (usually the same houses-she never tired of them) around our neighborhood. We also went to Rockwall to see a house we visited last year that is decked with lights synchronized to music, and accompanied by a performance from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  We decorated cookies at the McGilvrays (a family tradition) and spent Christmas Eve at our church.   Aaron and I were even able to squeeze in the movie, Marley and Me (thanks Grandma for watching the girls).   If you have seen the movie and enjoyed it, I would recommend the book-it is better than the movie.  Perhaps I am a little biased since we have two two labradors.  Ashlyn didn't have a clue what was going on Christmas morning, but Makenzie had a much better understanding this year and was VERY excited to get a dollhouse for Christmas.  She has played with it every day and I keep wandering how long it will take for the newness to wear off.........hopefully, not for a long time.  We hope your families had a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior!

On the Move

Ashlyn is now 8 months old and started crawling about three weeks ago when her daddy was in Canada.  She actually started a couple of days before he left, but every time he came home from work and I tried to get her to move, she wasn't having any part of it.  I think Aaron thought I was making it all up, but sure enough, the day he left, she took off crawling across the floor.  This is a bit earlier than Makenzie who crawled around 9 months old.  It only took Ashlyn one full day of crawling before she started pulling herself up on everything.  I guess she figures the wood floors under her knees are not so comfortable and she would rather be on her feet.  We'll see if she follows in her sister's footsteps and begins walking before ten months.  My guess now is that she won't, given that they are complete opposites.