It's been awhile...Christmas week and my birthday

What a difference a year makes!
Last year, Brooks, Reese and Sloane were sick with RSV and we could not leave the house.
This year, we decided to make up for last year and take them to do some fun holiday activities!
Here they are at the North Park Trains exhibit... Trains!

Brooks LOVES trains!

He kept telling me "Mommy choo choo....Mommy choo choo"

The Gaylord Texas hotel is beautiful during the holidays. Brooks, Reese and Sloane loved the fountains...

Reese was in a happy mood that day!

I love this picture of Sloane...she just sat down next to the big reindeer...so sweet!

My handsome little man!

Sleigh ride!

We attended the family Christmas Eve church service. The children create a live Nativity....here are my 3 little stars...

Christmas Eve after church....they love our tree!

Stockings on Christmas Eve!

Christmas PJ's! Getting ready for Santa :)

Our house on Christmas Eve! We actually had a snow storm that night...I can not remember the last time it snowed on Christmas

Christmas morning....a White Christmas!

Look what Santa brought!

The Trio LOVED to open presents! We could not keep them coming fast enough...

Sloane kept saying "I need more presents...I need more presents"....so cute!

The girls....Sloane & Reese...

My 41st birthday was a couple of days after Christmas (Dec 29).

Steve arranged for some of our friends to meet us for dinner that night.

Ironically enough, it snowed AGAIN that night! What a birthday gift!

My friends....Tina, Casey, Melanie and Tonia....all Moms of multiples like me!

What an amazing end to 2009! I hope 2010 will be just as wonderful...

Santa's Village part 2: at night!

Well, as promised, we took Brooks, Reese and Sloane back to Santa's Village at night!
It was a hit....well, with a few meltdowns! :)

Here are Sloane and Brooks talking on a microphone and watching themselves on TV!
Sadly, Reese would not go into this house. The TV screen outside.....they loved this!

I just love this photo of Sloane...

Daddy and the Trio waiting for Santa! Notice their "Rudolph Red" noses.

Having fun!

Santa's Reindeer house...

Sloane with her red nose...

Santa's house!

The line to Santa's house...we waited for 30 minutes!

Santa! Guess who STILL does not like Santa? (thus why I am in the picture)

I am so happy we have been able to enjoy some holiday activities this season. Last year, the Trio had RSV and we could not leave the house for the last 3 weeks of December! So, we are trying to make up for last Christmas...I think we may take the Trio to a few more events before the 25th!

The holidays are a busy time!

Well, there is never a dull moment in the Hickey House, especially around the holidays. Since Brooks, Reese & Sloane are almost three years old we have really tried to introduce some family traditions.
As you can see, Sloane has discovered on the first morning where our "Elf on a Shelf" has landed after his over night flight to the North Pole to chat with Santa. I finally purchased the book and the elf....we read it that night...and the next morning, three little faces came running down the hallway...looking for "Sprinkle" (name of our elf)
The book!

The first morning after discovering the where abouts of our elf, Sprinkle, we were all off to attend two birthday parties! I like to dress up the little ones whenever we have something fun to do.....

Here's Sloane...

Reese.....

Brooks was too busy being a typically little boy, so I was not able to capture him in a photo!

Reese and Sloane LOVED their birthday party favors....especially the kazoos!!

Brooks..."the stud".....more party favors

The following Monday after the "birthday party weekend", I took Brooks, Reese and Sloane to see Santa's Village. It was a beautiful day...the temperature was in the 60's!

I just love this picture of the girls....looking at the fountain...

The girls!

Santa's Village!

There are several little houses.....it is only open at night so we plan to return one evening with Daddy!

Reese...

Brooks...

Sloane...

Sloane does not look too happy to be in the back!

December 17th was the Trio's last day of school before the holidays.

Here they are performing in their school music program. I was not sure how they would react to the audience of parents watching...

They quickly discovered Daddy in the crowd and all was good!

Hi Daddy!

Jingle Bells!

We love to sing!

PAMOM holiday party!

Here are a few more picture from the PAMOM party last weekend....

Brooks with his "other girlfriend"...yes he already has 2 girlfriends! Our family:

Reese

Last night before bed...Reese was playing with a baby doll. When I asked her the name of her baby she replied "Jesus". It made my heart melt! :)

We like to party!

We like to party! Lately it seems we have at least a birthday party or a holiday party....so fun!

The weekend after Thanksgiving, our friend, Ethan, celebrated his 2nd birthday. Brooks, Reese and Sloane enjoyed a bounce house, as well as face painting!
Steve and I were shocked when Reese asked to have her face painted...if you keep up with our blog you will understand. :)

Here is Reese with her "butterfly face"...

Brooks the "tiger"...

Sloane wanted to join with her sister as a "butterfly"...notice Steve holding his beer and my wine...ahh "kid" birthday parties! :)

The next weekend, my local Moms of Multiples group hosted our annual holiday children's party. We attempted another family photo with Santa. Notice that Reese is sitting on Steve's lap...and is far away from Santa. He had to quickly slide into the picture while holding Reese.

I guess Reese is now into face painting because she asked again to have a butterfly painted on her face!

I love this picture of Sloane! She just ran up to Santa and started talking to him. Maybe she was telling him what she wanted for Christmas....so cute!

Brooks, Reese & Sloane looking at the Christmas Tree. This seems to be one of the only pictures I have of Brooks. He was all of the place the day of the party! Such a boy. :)

Later that night, I had to bake Christmas cookies for a cookie exchange party. Yes....write down the date (12-5-09)....I actually baked something!!! These are my candy cane cookies......before:

After! I was up until 1:00 a.m. making these!

Christmas Tree, ballet princesses & snow!!

Well, it very rarely snows in Texas but last week, the Trio awoke early for preschool to see snow falling in our yard.
Words can not describing the emotions of our three little ones as they witnesses their first snow....all the way to school all I heard from the back seat was "Mommy snow...Mommy snow"!
A couple of nights before the snow, Sloane and Reese decided to play ballerina dancer.
They would not take off the ballet tutus at bedtime, so needless to say, they slept in their tutus.....
Here they are the next morning!

The ballerina princesses decided to help with the Christmas Tree too!

Sloane and Brooks "fluffing up" the branches on the tree.

Reese loved helping with the tree...