Christmas Program

The girls did so great at the Christmas performance this year. They both danced, sang and smiled! We could not have been happier!

Huntington Beach Tippi Toes

I am on the plane on my way back from Huntington Beach California where I trained our newest franchise owner Miss Laura Buchanan. She is absolutely amazing full of energy, spunk and sweetness. She is ubber hardworking and has a heart of gold. She and her family are living and breathing Tippi Toes and more especially this week as we worked 3 days straight most days from 730am-10pm on getting her ready to open. Her daughter Nico is 2 years old and talks nonstop Tippi Toes, knows the dances from beginning to end and wears her Tippi Toes gear all over the place. In fact, I was headed to the class and had not yet put on my dance shoes and she said "sarah, where you Tippi Toes shoe?". Her husband Ian is so supportive, excited and offered many ideas. They are a great team.

Laura had an unreal week striking deals with many preschools, fitness studios and community centers. Laura had a challenge that we haven't faced in a while - major competition. We certainly have our competition in areas where there are studios everywhere and many places with companies who do what we do. However, in her area specifically it is the headquarters to a very large company like Tippi Toes. This made selling every more exciting for me and a little nerve racking for her. I love coming up with a game plan, plotting out reasons why our company is better and sharing our love of dance with so many in the community. Laura hit a grand slam! Not only did she get into several areas but she actually got into many schools that currently uses this competition! This talks volumes about Laura and Tippi Toes and I was so happy. We work hard on having a great product and I was so pleased that others saw that too. Many of these locations have seen what the competitor does and told us how much happier they were with our music, our model and our attitudes! Yippee!!! That is the goal! In fact, a funny and possibly uncomfortable situation we were selling to a few schools as the competitor walked into teach class. We never chatted and I am actually not sure they know we are taking over the town but they soon will!! I can't wait to see what Laura does with her soon to be booming business!

Our best friend Benton

Many of you also have an elf on the shelf I am sure...do you love yours like we love ours? He is such a part of the family now. Benton has turned up in the greatest places and has left awe and wonder on kids faces.We get to hunt for him everyday sometimes a few times a day when he magically finds a new place to land! The best was the other night on Lola's birthday. My parents sent Lola some balloons, they arrived when she was asleep. I thought it would be a great idea to have Benton attached to the balloons, floating around the house. GREATEST IDEA EVER! The girls could not get over it, Benton was flying. The heat was on and so each time Benton would get by the air vent he would fly a little faster and spin. This entertained us for HOURS...I'm not kidding. Lucy was so scared he would touch her and he would loose his magic that she ran quickly in the other direction. Benton has also landed in our car on schools days, the bathroom as Lola is working on using the potty, on the girls beds (which makes bedtime SO easy) at the dinner table and many more places. He is a blast! I love Christmas time for the simple magic we get to enjoy. I have to admit Adam was gone on a 5 day business trip and I used every tactic I could with Sir Benton. We are thankful for him and love the amazement the kids get from him being around!

On another note....we are mainly focusing teaching the kids what Christmas really means so before you think I have gone over board with this, Lucy told me yesterday she wanted to get Jesus a blanket for Christmas. She thinks he looks cold in his crib. I was so thankful I realized what we were telling her about the birth of Jesus was still being learned with all the other excitement. For this is the real reason for Christmas!

Here is Benton flying around the dining room

looking down from a light

Chilling on the wall

helping with bath time

holding Lucy's tooth brush

waiting on the stairs

hiding in a shelf

looking over us at dinner

microwave

in the fridge with the milk

on the side of the tv

upside down on the blinds

in the tree

I love this video! Lola is in total amazement and Lucy just can't believe it! When Benton starts to move Lucy is amazed!

Happy Birthday Lola Caroline!

What an amazing blessing from the good Lord you are sweet Lola. I am so amazed by you every single day of your life. You are so much fun to be with and literally the sweetest kid I know. You love to please all of us, especially Lucy. Lucy is your very best friend and anything she does you want to do too. You know how to say your "L's" but you call Lucy - Assy, which we are working on, but when you master it I know I will be sad. You talk so well and tell us exactly what you want...and we better get it for you or tell you why you can't have it or you YELL AT US....then kindly say "please!". You are so cute when you run, you swing your arms as fast as you run your legs. One of my favorite things you say is "Oh my goodness" you say this with the most perfect expression on your face. Your smile lights up a room and you always keep us laughing. Your face tells us exactly what you are thinking and your big blue eyes can tell a story all them self. You love being busy and love spending your time playing with your baby dolls and putting them in the stroller. You buckle and unbuckle everything that can be and have had that mastered for a while. You are the greatest snuggler and love to be held. You are great at kisses and hugs and give so many to Hank. You are the best big sister always making sure Hank or as you call him Hanky has his paci. You love going to school and you always talk about your friend Benson. Miss Noemi told us that she has to move you and Benson just far enough apart at nap time so you don't hold hands...which she says you do often. Your teachers say you are so good playing with others and are the most talkative in class. You don't like to watch TV, you would rather help me in the kitchen or do laundry. You love putting on lipstick, brushing your teeth, saying prayers and putting on my high heels. You love when Daddy tickles you and LOVES when daddy sings to you at bed time. You can sing the entire Oklahoma chat which I will say not many people can do. You are very smart, kind and loving. Daddy and I love you more than words can express and you impact us every single day. I love watching you change and grow so much each day. You will make your mark on this world and already have. I can't wait to see what God has in store for you....but for now I am just enjoying each day. Don't grow up too fast! I love you!

Lola's 2nd Birthday - Gingerbread party

We celebrated Lola's 2nd birthday this weekend by having a gingerbread party. All her friends came and we decorated gingerbread houses and got a special visit from Santa. Lola was so sweet and loved every minute of her party. She got so excited each time a friend would arrive. We are super blessed with awesome friends and had so many well behaved sweet kids it made the party that much more special. For her first birthday we had also invited Santa which didnt go over too well with the kids including Lola so I wasn't sure how she would do this year but she snuggled right up to him and sat in his lap for about 20 minutes. In fact I told her she needed to get out so other kids could talk to him and she said "no he is my Santa". Lucy on the other hand stood as far back as possible and decided writing a letter would be a better idea.

Lola the morning of her 2nd birthday party

Lucy giving me a quick pose

Sisters - these girls just love each other!!!

I loved her cake it matched her invitation perfectly

Grammie and Hank her snuggle buddy!

Ashalia had the total right idea with her gingerbread house

Kingston and Sawyer worked so hard on their houses.

Lola working hard for now...until she realized how yummy the icing was

Johanna getting every sprinkle in the right place

Oh yes! More snuggles!

Love this face!

cute cohen checking out the other houses

Look who arrived! Santa - most of the kids jaws dropped.

This was our girls face when Santa came through the front door.

Lola was quick to greet Santa

Lola telling Santa what was on her Christmas list...this year - cake, candy and cake. Really I am not kidding. She is very consistent with that and determined that is what he needs to bring.

Hesitantly Lucy sat with Santa too. We didn't make her, she wanted to for a second but would not smile for him. Lucy's list - a monkey robe, toaster and headband. Thats right...not sure where she came up with this either but very consistent.

Dayne - poor guys didn't want this to happen but we had to take a picture of it. He didn't peep the entire party until he was sitting on Santa's lap.

Lola got the hang of this!

Hank's first picture with Santa

Happy 2nd Birthday sweet Lola!

She asked Santa to help her blow out the candles.

Look at this cutie!

Playing with some of her toys

Snuggles with the birthday girl

A quick chick pic!

Grammie comes to visit!

Grammie is so cool! I love having my mom come to town and so do our kids! Here is what she was busy with!

Here are the Christmas jammies Grammie brought.

Singing Happy Birthday in bed to Lola on the day of her party

Snuggling with Hank - they did a lot of this and they both loved it so much!

decorating our house for the party!!!