Go Pac Go!! Road trip to GreenBay!

We went from a couple fun girl days in Chicago to an equally fun road trip up to Wisconsin! Matt and McLleyton drove down and picked us up. We headed to the airport and picked up our friend Craig and his daughter Elise and headed to Wisconsin!

 Over the past few years Matt and Craig have become friends with a player from the Packers and he invited us to come to a game! An offer we couldn't pass up- especially for our Packer lover McLleyton!! :) And although our family loyalties still remain with the Colts, McLleyton's first choice is always the Packers and with a friend on the team it's definitely become a family affair! Matt, Craig and I went to the playoff game last year and a game at Lambeau is a pretty awesome experience!! It was such a treat to share it with our kids! (especially from a warm suite! yes, I know SO spoiled!!) The kids loved it and still talk about the experience all the time! 

Dinner out the night before the big game! (Stenner stayed home with Grandpa and Grandma!)

McLleyton definitely thinks Mr. Criaig is pretty great :) 

 Headed to the game... someone was excited! 

 Cute girls (and their dolls :))

Feeling thankful we didn't really have to bundle up :)... 

 Seeing the field for the 1st time... 

 So sweet :) 

 Shaelyn and Elise love being together!! Such a treat to be with our California friend!! 

Playing football in the hallway at halftime...

And meeting the legendary quarterback Bart Starr... 

 

 The kids picked the biggest treat they could find on the dessert cart! 

 Love that my girls love and know football :)... 

 Can't get any cuter than in her Rodgers jersey... 

 McLleyton might want to join the Gross family :)... 

 The kids getting to meet Ryan (Mr. Pickett :)) for the 1st time and getting to say THANK YOU!!!! 

 Downstairs with the Trophies 

 And the LONG car ride home! But, so worth the fun experience!! 

We are going to be cheering tonight and hoping for a big Packers win!!! :)

Early Christmas...in Chicago!

For Christmas my parents gave the girls American Girl Dolls! That in itself is a HUGE gift (especially when you are 7 & 5!), but this came with an extra special gift...a trip to Chicago to pick them up! 

My girls play with their American Girls for hours and hours! Shaelyn's look almost as good as new. Monreau's all have crazy hair and look very "well loved" :). But, even with different play styles they will spend hours creating imaginary scenes and stories! So, adding a doll to their collection was a BIG deal! 

We planned the trip and for two months before the girls would study the magazine. The decisions were so true to their little personalities! Shaelyn, had her heart set on the year doll McKenna. She had been wanting her all year and did not waiver for an instant. She did extra jobs to earn money to buy her accessories and she was SO excited about finally getting her. Monreau, sweet Monreau, changed her mind every week! Each week it was a new doll and a new reason of why she wanted her! I loved listening to her :). Shae and I would laugh and wonder which doll would finally win out in the end! 

We drove down first thing Friday morning. We had the JOY of one of my mom's best friends- who was visiting from CA for the weekend- join us! We love Laurie and it was such a treat to get this time with her! It was good Grandma prep for someday... she is going to be an amazing one :)! 

As we arrived at the store Monreau had made up her mind! She picked Marie-Grace! We checked out her whole section and then Shaelyn asked to go find McKenna. As she asked me an employee of AG heard her. She immediately told us (in not the kindest or even close to gentle way) that McKenna had sold out. They didn't have a single item of hers in the store. Poor Shae was SO sad! She couldn't hold back the tears! We talked it through and she could order her- but she was on back order until January. I was pretty impressed with her patience and willingness to wait to get her and leave the store with out a doll.  Once we got over the disappointment we had a great day! :) Which included afternoon tea at the AG restaurant, amazing Christmas trees, Chick-fil-a take out, The Sound of Music & sleep over at the hotel! Such a fun, fun day!

Headed to the store... 

 Tea Time!

 Marie- Grace!!

Beautiful friends!!!

 Love these two!!

Our hotel was just around the corner and was a great place! 

Good morning! 

 The next morning the girls met Santa :)

It looked a lot like Christmas!

It was fun to put up the tree this year and watch how excited the kids got about their box of ornaments. It was sweet to listen to them tell each other about each one, where it came from, who had given it to them. Fun memories! When we remodeled our house it gave us the perfect spot for a tree! I love having it up!! 

It was also fun to celebrate at the girls school with them as they enjoyed an afternoon of crafts! 

Monreau with her ginger bread house! 

Kindergarten is fun!  

Shae and Sophia! 

Their class! We did a fun group gift! The kids were so excited to give it to her!