Author: pazmeyer

the drake

Bright and early the day after Christmas we headed to Chicago to celebrate with my family. We met my dad, Melissa, Auntie Becky, Uncle Darnell, and Madison at the Drake in downtown Chicago. It’s a gorgeous hotel. Really stunning with their gorgeous Christmas decorations. The hotel is located on Michigan Avenue just blocks from the American Girls store and all things fabulously Chicago! 
We spent 2 1/2 days downtown. We exchanged gifts, ate at Carmine’s (my absolute favorite Italian restaurant), visited Water Tower Place and the American Girl Store, had lunch at Harry Carey’s, explored Navy Pier and the Winter Wonderland Exhibit, took a horse drawn carriage ride, and dined at Morton’s. It was a fun-filled trip and the girls were wonderful! 
Opening her Lightning McQueen laptop

Annabelle and Madison

The giant tree at the Drake

merry meyer christmas

Christmas evening we headed to B’s parent’s house to celebrate with the extended family. Annabelle, Reagan, and Gwyneth had matching dresses and looked super, super cute. All the cousins had a wonderful  time exchanging gifts and celebrating together. 

This isn’t a very nice picture to post, but I had to document how sensitive Gwyneth is these days. She goes from laughter to tears in about 30 seconds flat. But don’t worry she’s back to laughter just as quickly. Something tells me this one isn’t quite ready to give up her nap yet….

The Meyer Cousins
My sweet girls
Ryan and Reagan
This was the nicest photo I could get of Jocelyn and Nathan together. 
Auntie Chriss and Auntie Jen

That’s one happy little girl

The three little princesses in their capes from Auntie Chriss and Uncle Paul

christmas morning

Santa has arrived!!
I expected the girls up at the break of dawn but I had to go in and wake them up at 8:45. I’m not complaining, I never mind sleeping in. The girls were thrilled to see all their packages under the tree and were very pleased to see the milk and cookies had disappeared. 
Annabelle had requested 44 ponies. Santa brought her one giant pony, because of course if she got 44 there would 43 little girls who didn’t get any. (Yep, that worked!) She also received books, movies, all things Barbie, Ariel, and Hello Kitty. 
Gwyneth had requested Buzz Lightyear. Santa delivered with an action figure Buzz Lightyear and a Stuffy Buzz Lightyear. The big hit was the stuffed Bullseye (that’s Jesse’s horse…to the non-ToyStory-fanatics). She opened up her horse and did lapse around the house screaming “It’s just what I always wanted”. Santa did good. 

The girls picked out special gifts for each other. Annabelle received a Barbie and scooter and Gwyneth received a Jesse doll. They loved their gifts and both took a lot of pride in what they purchased for each other. They picked them out all by themselves! There were very big hugs exchanged after this photo.

books from cali

Gifts arrived from California and the girls were so excited to open them. Maeva, Eliana, and Gabriela sent new books. Super cute! I read to the girls every night before bed and it’s always nice to add some new material to the routine. (Gwyneth knows Green Eggs and Ham back and forth so time for something new….) Thanks Auntie Stacy! 

girls night out

B planned a night out with Don and I wanted to treat my girls to a special night out. Of course they requested Monkey Bizness. They love this place. We splurged and had pizza there and the girls played hard. I love, love, love watching them at Monkey Biz. They play so well together, do a great job of taking turns and just wear themselves out. We had a great girls night out!

playdate with bella

Bella is one of Annabelle and Gwyneth’s best buds. Her mom is a great gal and needed a little extra time to get some Christmas shopping done. I offered to pick up all three girls from school and have a playdate at our house. My girls were thrilled!! They had so much fun playing with Miss Bella and her mom got all her Christmas shopping done. Good times all around. 

spoiled by gus and missi

My girls are super spoiled…..spoiled rotten! Gus and Missi give them lots of love and attention and for Christmas they showered them with gifts. They know my girls so well and bought them gifts accordingly. New sleeping bags and night masks (ha!), Princesses for Annabelle, Cars for Gwyneth….huge, huge tube of gum for all! 

I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure this doesn’t meet OSHA standards…..

holiday recital

The girls performed in their Christmas dance recital and I was the stage mom. Oh yeah, look out….we’re taking this to the next level. I kid, I kid. It was fun to be able to spend the recital with them and their friends, but I prefer to be in the audience watching the show. 
The girls were so very stinkin’ cute. I couldn’t be more proud and very and very excited for them. This was Gwyneth’s first show and I was worried about her getting stage fright. Nope, she rocked it! This girl has absolutely no fear! Annabelle was a rockin’ and tappin’ toy soldier and Gwyneth was a sugar plum  fairy. 
We devote two hours a week to dance school and it’s not always easy to get there. I stress every week about  getting my work done and making sure they make it to class on time. I always threaten that this session will be the last…..and then I see the recital. I see them smile, dance, perform and I immediately retract. It’s a vicious cycle, but we’re signing back up for the next session. How could we not? Look at these little dancers….

happy birthday, renee

Renee is three! We celebrated her birthday with pigs in a blanket and raspberry cupcakes. The party was at Carl and Cindy’s house….Cindy was my roommate freshman year of college. They have two dogs so you can imagine that hysteria that ensued when my girls walked in the door. They warmed up pretty fast and were quickly petting the dogs. Another Christmas miracle?!?! Perhaps! Tis the season!
Renee is just a tiny little peanut, but she is full of personality!

santa breakfast

After a wardrobe malfunction with the girls (I was really pushing them to wear their Christmas dresses but they are in love with these twirly dresses from Poppy and Melissa….look who won that battle), we headed out bright and early to the Wildlife Experience for Breakfast with Santa. We met up with the Carlsons, Silvermans, and the Braidmans and luckily Keith pulled some strings and got us reserved tables. We were just far enough from Santa so none of the kids were freaked, but close enough that my girls ate breakfast watching him and slowly built up the courage to go sit on his lap. 
They did great! Hopped right up on Santa’s lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas. Gwyneth very quietly requested a Buzz Lightyear, Jesse, and Bullseye. Annabelle requested 44 ponies. Not stuffed animals as Santa thought….”the kind that you ride and will poop in our backyard”. Oh my! I don’t think Santa had heard that one before. 
The breakfast, the company, the visit with Santa, and the trip through the museum after breakfast were all fabulous!  

Action photos of the twirling. I will give the girls this much…they are GREAT twirling dresses. 

Patiently waiting in line for Santa

Miss Gwyneth requesting her Buzz Lightyear

Not only are they sitting on Santa’s lap, they are smiling. This must be some kind of Christmas miracle!!!

Jennifer and Jack

Sometimes there’s just no denying that she’s my girl…

Craft time

Sweet sisters