Sarah, Dan, and the Garbes Clan: December 2012

Addison's 3 year pics!

Okay, behind on these too! They are just too good not to share. Unfortunately we will be looking for another photographer though, as Nichole is going to stay home with her new baby. It is going to be quite the adjustment, since she has been with us for 10 years, when she took my senior pictures. Going to be hard to let go, but there is always going to be change and I should just get used to it! So here is our last photo shoot with Nichole. I am so grateful for all the wonderful photos she was able to capture from my senior pics, our engagement pics and wedding pics, to watching our family grow through her camera! I will always cherish the photos on my wall!

So here they are...

Swimming!

We took a little trip to the pool this weekend. It felt great to get the big ol' belly in the pool and Addie had a blast. I think we will be taking more trips for some water fun!

Starting the new year off with and UPDATED blog!! Hurray for ME!!! Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year! Looking forward to a fun-filled 2013!

Christmas 2012

This year we had 5 Christmas' to celebrate. It was a blast this year with Addie and she really got into unwrapping gifts. The excitement of a three year old is priceless!

This year, we had a little elf from Santa visit us. I guess Santa thought Addie needed a little extra watching, so he sent Annabelle to the Garbes home...

Addie did okay with the Elf, I am hoping next year she gets a little more into it. One night at Max's Christmas concert, I told her that she has to be good because Santa is watching. Addie replied with, "He can't see me mom, there are no windows in here." Dang that girl is good!

This may be one of the few reasons Annabelle came to visit...

She used my eyeliner to make herself a kitty cat. She honestly pulled this off in a few minutes while in the bathroom. I will admit, she did a pretty darn good job of making herself look like a kitty cat!

We got our first REAL Christmas tree. It made the house smell so nice. I don't think we will go back to artificial. Addie also had fun picking it out, other than complaining that her eyes were cold. She also had a great time decorating. I love how amazing the world is to a three year old!

We went to Max's Christmas concert to watch Max sing.

We also made cookies for Santa. Addie had a blast doing this as well. Addie thanked me all night for daddy and I helping her make Santa cookies. She said that Santa really likes cookies!

We celebrated Christmas Eve with going to church for our kids' service. I am teaching again this year, so I had to keep a bunch of three year olds rounded up! Addie loves to sing in front of church and does well in Sunday school. She talks about Jesus quite a bit now, which really makes me one proud teacher!!

After church we celebrated Christmas with Dan's side, which is where Addie's spoiling began! We celebrated Christmas morning as our family of three, then with my family. I can't even begin to list all of the gifts that Addie got for Christmas, but some of what she got included: Polly Pockets, Princess things, clothes, Dream Light pillow pet, bead kits and a lot of other arts and craft things, Barbies and a Barbie car, a giant doll house that is taller than her, and LOTS of other things. She has way too much family that spoils the girl to death! Her favorite toy of the year came from Santa, which was her Doc McStuffins doctor kit. She got a play house from Dan and I, which she also loved!

The cute thing about her play house is she actually calls it her "clinic." One of her new favorite shows is Doc McStuffins on the Disney Channel. It is about a little girl who goes out to her play house and her animals come alive with her stethoscope. In the show her play house is her clinic, so that is what Addie calls hers. She takes her doctor kit and sees patients! It is SOO cute to watch and listen to her!

We are getting anxious for our other Christmas present, but I guess I am going to have to wait to open until March!!

We also continued our pajama tradition this year!

We hope everyone had a blessed Christmas holiday! Looking forward to next Christmas with TWO little girls!

2012 Wrap-Up

Get ready for a HUGE post due to my neglect of updating our blog. I wanted to start off the new year up-to-date...so here we go! Seriously, hold on...it's a long post!

The past few months have been filled with lots of excitement! Over Labor Day weekend we took a trip to Minnesota to Gull Lake. We had a blast with the family and it was a wonderful get-away. We had just moved into the new house, so it was a little crazy at the time, but I am glad we took the time for a breather within all the chaos!

During September, we also got to watch Uncle Max play a little football! Addie loved cheering him on!

We also took a girl's trip to Des Moines for a little shopping...

To end the month, we celebrated three years with Miss Addie. I still can't believe how fast this little girl is growing.

In October, we watched cousin Hali play a little volleyball...

and win at state!

We also did a few random things in between...

Things like getting ballerina's hair really, REALLY stuck in a comb. It was a "mom had to cut my doll's hair" type of day...

Went for our 3 year check-up. Addie was NOT this happy when we left and she had to get three shots!

Addie also helped Momma make some pumpkin bars!

We got a glimpse of Addie's little sister right before Halloween...

Then came Halloween. Much to our surprise (wink), Addie wanted to be a princess...

We also carved pumpkins. Addie was slightly grossed out by the slimy pumpkin!

In November Dan and I celebrated our 27th birthdays. Man, did this milestone make us feel old. "Late twenties" -- ugh...

Dad and Addie making Mom's birthday cake...

We also had a blast playing in the leaves...

We ended November with our first REAL Christmas tree!

2012 was the year of babies. Addie loves babies and it has been great practice for her to be around them.

Addie with baby Alexis...

Two of Dan's cousins had baby boys. So Addie has really been loving them up when she gets to see them.

Addie with Evan...

Addie with Tucker...

and a few other random photos...

Emma and Addie are the best of friends...

Oh, the silliness of a three year old!

Grandpa attempting to explain Battle Ship to Addie...

Addie was very excited to see her first snow of the year. She woke up and immediately wanted to go outside. Dan told her that she should probably eat breakfast first. Addie responded' "No, Dad. There is no time to eat. I HAVE to go play in the snow!"