Joe's Pictures

These priceless shots are from my niece's husband Joe.  Anyway, I had trouble choosing and most don't need an explanation.  He was there for 3 of our 10 days and enjoyed our littlest subjects.  Thank you for sharing Joe!

Last day

And there was so much to squeeze in.  Jordie painted more nails, this time it was their toes.  They sat down in front of the fire and Morgan Leigh wanted part of this action. 

The girls went sledding again and Morgan Leigh stayed out much longer this time around.

Anna Grace in her "Texan" sledding gear, by that I mean cowboy boots.  I think she really believed that is what most people wear in the snow. 

Getting a snuggle in with the computer of course.  Morgan Leigh would crawl up with anyone to push keys on the laptop.

Having Nonna put in a french braid. 

Finally making friends with Dakota, the dog.  Morgan Leigh would point and say dog over and over when Dakota was around.  Yesterday she started kicking Dakota's ball around and that was great fun for the dog too.

Singing some tunes, I think at this point it was Josh Abbott.

Taking a spin with uncle Brad...

And a last picture with Jordie and her girls.  It was an amazing trip.  Each day was packed full with family, food, laughter, and of course the wine (18 bottles, but who's counting)  I am so grateful for the time to be with my family and for Matt to agree to 10 days with them as well.  I can't think of a better gift.  It's all about the memories we made. 

Naked girls

Ask Morgan Leigh about her belly and she's likely to show it to you.  Where is it, if it's full, etc.

But in our tradition, the girls have a little time every night without the clothes on.  Morgan Leigh insisted on wearing her sisters mittens tonight though.  It was chilly and she tiptoed away from us afterwards.

Here is Nonna cutting a rug with Anna Grace.  She was really winding down before bedtime.

And lastly, showing everyone her bridge or backbend.  Nonna got down to join her, but needed grandpa's help.  Another evening with lots of giggles and laughter.

New things

The girls were having a blast with all their new toys.  Jordie snapped this picture first thing this morning.  Love it!

ML was using Matt's legs as a ladder up to the chair.  She really is quite the monkey...

Matt and I took advantage of our time in Detroit to hit his favorite pizza place.  We left the girls at home and drove way south.  When we got back, they had built a fort in the front room and AG had conned Nonna into joining her.

During happy hour, uncle Brad with ML.  She looks so mischevious.

Christmas Day!

ML was so excited about her presents, that she thought she should just sit on top of them.  It was kind of hard to keep the little monkey that she is off of them!

The girls both got adorable fleece blankets from their cousin Haleigh.  AG's is her favorite colors and ML's is cupcakes.  Too cute!

Anna Grace poured over the American Girl catalogs that came this year.  I would guess she spent hours on each one that came.  She was thrilled to open Rebecca from Nonna & V.  She loves that doll and almost cried when she hugged her out of the box.

We took a short break for cinnamon rolls and ML was loving that.  She remembered how wonderful they are! 

Morgan Leigh is wearing the cupcake apron Aunt Kim got her.  It's a little big, but she put it right on and didn't take it off the rest of the morning.  She quickly cuddled up with her new quilt from Nonna and the new lovey too.  She is addicted to minky anything!  These were probably her favorite gifts of the day :)

She kept placing the lovey next to her face and grinning.  Happy girl!

We hurried to get Christmas dinner ready.  Because there were 12 of us opening presents, it took most of the morning.  We checked the turkey and it was done.  YIKES!  My mom made cranberries that ML inhaled.  I was glad that we put them on the plate after she was almost done with everything else.  Yum!

Jordie and AG painted candy cane stripes on their fingers after dinner.

And lastly, a picture of AG with Rebecca in her winter outfit.  It was a glorious Christmas day with the family.  I wouldn't change a single thing!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve Mass

After our tenderloin dinner, we snapped our family pictures.  I don't have all of them yet, as some were on Joe's camera.  Here are some of our favorites though.

Nonna, V and our girls.

Our family of four.

Anna Grace and her cousin.

And lastly, the shot that made me cry.  (I have a shot with my grandmother, my mom and I from so many holidays like this.)  I know Weedie was watching and smiling with her red lips too!

Christmas Eve Day

 This picture is from happy hour on the 23rd.  ML got really attached to the first stair.  She would go and sit down and pat the first stair as anyone walked past.  She wanted some company and everyone was willing to do that for her.

We also had a running joke on my brother on the 23rd after many failed attempts to get him to leave the seat down on the potty.  We wrapped the potty in saran and it took him until the next day to discover it. 

It didn't matter who she was with - you could usually hear AG throughout the house gabbing.  Someone would pay attention to the constant chatter that little one produces!

We took Morgan Leigh sledding today as well.  She was pretty even about the whole experience, not mad, or happy or sad, just taking it all in.  But I love this shot of her and my dad on the way there.

I took them on a spin together.  That's one advantage to sledding on the slope of a golf green, it was small enough to take ML too!

And small enough to convince Nonna to go for a ride as well.  I snapped pics all the way down and she has the same expression!  LOVE it!

AG finally having to walk the hill herself. 

And Matt with the girls.

Day 3

Sharing aunt Kim's stool.

Having a love with cousing Jordie.

And lastly, looking at the Christmas tree with Uncle Brad as Nonna and I prepared the 5 course italian dinner for Brad and Kim's 26 year anniversary.  Congrats Brad and Kim on what appears to be an electric 26 years together!  (PS thanks for not having me take pictures outside this year :)

Out of control?

It wouldn't be a "Stahlecker" family trip without a night of all out indulgence.  Matt and I missed the better part of the evening.  We walked in on this at about 7:30 pm.  Everyone was in rare form...and we were happy to catch the tailend of all the laughter.  From pasta strainers to double images...I love these crazy people I call family!

Sledding!

While we are visiting my brother and AG is taking advantage every day of the snow to go sledding!

She even conned her cousin Blake to pull them up the hills. 

Then she rode down on Jordie's lap!

She even got brave enough to go down face first!  What a good afternoon activity.

Getting warm after the fun with Jordie's coffee afterwards.

And waiting for dinner...