New cousin

We quick ran over to Pella tonight

to meet our new neice, the girls' cousin.

Sophia Anne Palmer.

The girls loved her and 

Aubrey was very excited to get to hold her :)

Disney on Ice

The Disney on Ice tradition continues (our 3rd year)

and Avery's first time to go!

We had a little trouble with parking, but made it with 10 minutes to spare!

Avery, Jordan, and glow stick...good to go!

Mickey and Minnie

so captivated 

The Lion King

Tinker Belle

Peter Pan

Captain Hook

We got a meal combo with our tickets, which included pop.

Aubrey despised it, but Avery wanted "more orange pop!"

The Little Mermaid

under the sea 

FROZEN  - Queen Elsa

SO excited!

Anna and Kristoff

Elsa with "Let it Go!"

Olaf

grand finale with everyone!

We thought it would be a good idea to check out the 

Jolly Holiday Lights located at Adventureland for the 

Make a Wish foundation fundraiser!

BAD. IDEA!

We waited in line for an hour and a half!

We had the back seats down so the girls actually 

made it fun by laying and sitting back there

watching their movie, without being strapped in!

Avery loved the up close view of the movie :)

Aubrey got to "steer" until she put it in park ;)

Ahhhh, FINALLY!

It was about a 1/2 hour drive through the lights.

The girls loved it, maybe next year we

WON'T GO ON A WEEKEND! 

Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving, we went to Grandpa and Grandma Betty's for lunch.

We enjoyed family time.

Cousin Amanda "decorated" the kids

cousin Amanda with the girls

sorry for the photo bomb!

sleepy little stinker who refused a nap

lots of coloring and football watching

silly (and sad) faces

Grandma Char watched the girls as we hit some shopping Thursday night in Ottumwa. 

Meanwhile, I decided to get my cartilage pierced that night at Claires. 

That way I can wear my wedding earring (since I lost one).

ah, the spur of the moment decision ;)

Christmas Tree

Since Daddy got done with practice early, we decided to 

put up our Christams tree tonight.

The girls had fun going through their ornaments!

\

Seriously in less than five minutes, Avery

broke Minnie's feet off and Anna's head off of the ornaments!

Thank goodness for super glue.

#breakablemeansnothingtoher

Don't mind the unfloofed tree - we do that after we put up the branches.

Avery had fun with Daddy doing the top.

Avery was really excited about putting on ornaments tonight.

(Aubrey, on the other hand, reminded me of my younger self - moody. Oh the moods!

Couldn't wait at first, then got upset, then loved Christmas, then wanted to be alone!)

Ring true, Mom Van Grouw?!

Aubrey wanted to do a job all by herself - okay,

hold the lights!

Aubrey had a lot of fun decorating, too.

The arrangment isn't great but the girls did it all!

"Take a picture of us, Mom!"

Always fun to get the Advent calendar out with the velcro characters.