8 nights of Hanukkah-the celebrating continues

This year Sydney is really into Hanukkah and all the festivities of the season. We had fun decorating a gingerbread house, cause who wouldn't like a house full of candy?! Sydney really took her job of candy placement seriously and did a great job!

And Olivia is enjoying opening presents and being a part of the action. We've been able to celebrate with family and friends. One night Sydney and Olivia celebrated with their cousins & Grandma and Poppie and then another night, Sydney boyfriend Braden and his family were able to join us for candle lighting.











Every year the Hanukkah fire truck from the Chabad comes to the neighborhood for singing, gelt and juggling fire. Sydney and I braved the rain and enjoyed this years show!

We've all gone a little crazy with gifts this year--its hard not to get out of control. Sydney is loving EVERYTHING! But the best gift for me is having these two healthy, happy, spoiled with love little miracles to celebrate each and every day. Hope you all celebrate and enjoy the miracles in your lives...

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate

We decided to do something different this year for Christmas. Typically we do some variation of Chinese food and movies but this year we went to the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor for an overnight stay and visit to the ICE exhibit. Check out these fun photos of the character meet and greet from the movies: Shrek, Madagascar, Puss in Boots and Sydney's new favorite-Kung Fu Panda. Olivia is more of a Disney fan and was terrified of the huge Ogre Shrek--but we had a blast at the hotel and fun new activity.










The Ice Exhibit was phenomenal--over 2 million pounds of ice made into sculptures and telling the story of Madagascar. We all had to dress in these large blue parkas since the room was below freezing but it was SOOO cool to see the story brought to life in the form of Ice. Sydney LOVED the ice slide and I regret not taking more pictures-this truly was a work of art.












Shrekfast the next morning was quite an experience with green ogre waffles, a chocolate fountain (yup--the chocolate is green too!), and Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots keeping us company. But the cutest little ogre princesses were Sydney and Olivia!
We had a wonderful holiday spending time together and we wish everyone and their families a very Happy Holiday!

Dancing Princess

A couple of weeks ago Sydney had her first official dance recital. Words can not even describe how ridiculously cute it was. I was so proud of Sydney (and her class) who all got on stage and danced! Sydney looked so adorable in her outfit and waved to the audience as she walked on.

Olivia thoroughly enjoyed the show as well and clapped whenever the audience clapped and sat mesmorized, stuffing her face with veggie straws...

First Sydney and her class did their tap dance routine to Itty Bitty Pretty One, then the other classes went and for the grand finale--about 70+ kids (ages 3-5) all danced to Walkin On Sunshine. Too cute! Can't wait for more dance classes in January!

Happy Hanukkah!

Greetings from the silly Martin girls (pictured here in their favorite hiding spot--under the high chair!). Since Jason is going to be out of town and missing the first night of Hanukkah, we celebrated early this morning and lit the menorah (sydney did the blessing!) and opened presents.
Sydney LOVES her new camera and I created a new form of paparrazi--she has been taking the most random pictures including ones of her breakfast, the table, the floor, me (jason was supposed to be in the picture but somehow he got cut out--sydney gets her picture taking from him!) and her favorite subject: Olivia. Can't wait to see what other pictures she takes and eventually share some with all of you.



Olivia loves her new Hanukkah playset (Sydney does too) and the girls enjoyed opening special treats from GiGi-a fun color wonder set for Sydney and an adorable puppy dog for Olivia which she loves to give hugs to.


The girls have a ridiculous amount of gifts this holiday but we are also going through some things to donate--i hope these girls realize how fortunate they are and will learn the art of giving to others as well. But having worked with families that have very little, i do know how lucky our kids are and how fragile life is and don't mind the overabundance of things.
Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate and warm holiday wishes this season. I personally feel so blessed and am thankful each and every day for the loves of my life and those who make me shine brightly.

December is here!

Last year it was the "purple girls"...this year we have matching outfits in pink and YES the sure do look adorable! Of course neither is looking at the camera but they were having fun playing around and I had to try and share these...


can you believe Olivia is 13 months! Me neither! she is just a bundle of fun and really getting around (and into trouble!). we even had to move the sofa to block the electronics that are set up in the corner.
Sydney is getting ready for her big dance recital (her first dance performance and hopefully not her last. And the holidays are coming so we took a drive through the Winter Lights show. Sydney had a blast!