Pre Christmas festivities!

We had a very busy December this year.... I wonder why? Sarah had the most exciting Christmas season of her young life. Santa, reindeer, etc. really came to life for her this year. We spent many nights decorating the house (her new favorite past time), making ornaments, Christmas cookies and watching a multitude of holiday movies and cartoons. (I must admit, I love them as much as she does :) Here are some of the highlights of the first part of the month.


Just an example of our crafty pursuits at home with the girls. Sarah wore this face paint all day! We had a hard time cleaning off the purple nose. What fun!

Sarah is getting pretty good with the camera, she actually took these photos!
Other than cutting the top of Jason's head off in this photo, I think it was a success! Check out Alena's expression. Our double flash gets her every time!

Ashley and Sarah hung out in the kitchen making cinnamon/applesauce ornaments. We made many more before the month was through!

Our little one is now smiling at us (we couldn't wait for this development) Isn't she a cutie?


The three McReynolds cousins

Two out of three smiles ain't bad!

Alena is the happiest baby.

Sarah's Christmas play kicked off at "My School" around the middle of the month. They sang Santa Clause is coming to town...Sarah sang to the top of her lungs. Her version was slightly different than the teacher's, which made for a pretty funny concert!

Aren't they Cute in their Christmas duds?

Sarah's stage fright is a thing of the past.

Now for the main event, a visit from Santa! Maura went first...
And then Sarah. She was definitely awestruck this year.
Leah even got in on all the fun!
I must say, this has been a wonderful year of parenting. Sarah has grown up so much. I absolutely loved seeing Christmas through her eyes this year.

Thanksgiving week(s)

The weeks leading up to and through Thanksgiving were busy to say the least. Chris and I were running on fumes (long nights with a newborn) and Sarah's holiday schedule was filling our days with preparation, parties, and plays (whew!...). Before Thanksgiving approached, we were charged with making cupcakes for her preschool Thanksgiving party. We headed to Julies (who was also making the dessert for the party) so that we could make it a fun event!

Are there too many cooks in the kitchen?

They did a great job of making spice cakes and carrot cakes for the fall party. We even "borrowed" a few to test for ourselves!
Next up was the Thanksgiving play at Building Blocks. They always do such a great job with it. This year Sarah managed to be one of the stars of the show. She had the center seat on the Mayflower! She was so proud. If you look in the front and center of the boat, you will see some feathers. Cohen was rewriting history as the first Native American on the Mayflower!
> This is a terrific school and we are so blessed to have Sarah learning and having fun with people we trust.

Sarah has changed so much this year. Last year, she cried through the whole performance and I had to come on the stage so that she could finish. This year she waved and smiled through the whole thing!

Afterward, I asked the kids in the class to sit still for a photo. First came the boys...

Then the girls! It is so funny how they separate even at this young age!

Aren't they cute?

Back at home, Daddy found time for some hugs.

Sarah is still into posing. She cracks me up!

Leah is doing some posing of her own now. She is a wake much more. Her eyes are so beautiful!

Penny, my neighbor, labor nurse, and honorary grandmother came by for a visit. She was present for the births of both of my kids!

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Leah is liking the rocking seat (finally). I can put her down without reflux problems so that I can cook and clean now. Hooray!

I get flack for this outfit because it has "boy colors". As most of you know, I have never been and will never be a "pink" person. Sarah's favorite color now is pink (of course). I found a first Thanksgiving outfit for Leah that happens to be dark green. Everyone thinks she is a boy in it! I thought it was cute anyway.

Aunt Jennifer and Mamaw Elkins joined us at Mammaw's house for Thanksgiving dinner. It was their first time with Leah.

Leah slept through her first Thanksgiving Dinner! Oh well, she is too young for the pumpkin pie anyway.

Mom and Dad came down later that weekend. We went to Jason's house to help them babysit Alena while Jason and Ashley were at the UK/Tennessee game. Sarah loved clowning around for Alena. She longs for the day that Leah will laugh at her as well. Soon enough Sarah...

Mamaw getting some hug time with her girls.

Thanksgiving weekend, I took the opportunity to break out the many red outfits I have compiled for the girls to wear in the four weeks leading up to Christmas. This is the only semi-matching outfit they have, so I talked Sarah into a photo shoot under the tree. Leah was an unwilling hostage during the event.

I told Sarah when she met Leah that she was meeting her "best friend for life". I hope this is true for these two. Leah was pretty tired from church so, I got few smiles during our "session"

I love this photo. Sarah loves this little girl so much! I think you can see it here.

I had to throw this one in because this is the face Leah gave me throughout most of the "photo shoot"!

What mischievous looks....I wonder what they are thinking?

Sarah was sooo excited to do a "photo shoot". I couldn't convince her to quit posing, even when Leah had enough of it!

Once changed and napped, Leah is a much happier girl. She is now more able to play with Mommy, Daddy, and sissy.

What beautiful eyes...

Sarah just can't get enough of her.

Neither can Daddy...Her smile lights up the room! We are truly blessed!

I have so little time...

Hello all,
I have been so busy for the past 7 weeks (I wonder why?) that I have not been able to update the blog as I would like. I will try to get photos on here as quickly as I can, but the chronicling of the events will be sketchy at best. Here is the Coleman attempt at Halloween with a week old baby in the house. Sarah went to trunk or treat at church, followed by trick or treating in our neighborhood the next day. Caden and Cohen (the pirates) came over to join in the fun.

Sarah loves fall so much. I love this photo. It is quintessential "Sarah"

A bumpy pumpkin at trunk or treat. The kids loved it!

Arrg Mateys!

The fairest of them all.


Hey Clifford!


The Princess and the Pirate

The question is....Do they think they are related? They love each other soooo much!

Baby's first Halloween. No candy this year!

Strike a pose!

Sarah's friend on the street.

They are bike riding buddies normally, but tonight it is all about the candy!

Our neighbors got into the Halloween spirit as well.

I love this photo. The lighting is so cool!

Home at last, the girls decided to have a slumber party. Ha!

Sarah loves this little girl sooo much! We will see if it lasts when the crawling begins. I have a feeling all of the smothering Sarah does on Leah will be returned very soon.

More updates soon.