Happy Birthday, Daddy!!

Dear Daddy,

Today is your birthday and we wanted to say that we hope you have a great day. We also wanted to show you a few of our favorite things that we get to do with you.

You share your chips with us when you come home for lunch.

You take us to fun places like the zoo.

You always have time for us when we visit you at your office.

You play with us outside.

You are definitely the best Daddy that we could ever ask for.  Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!

We love you,

Ava & Bryce

Celebrating New Year's in NC

Earlier this month we had a great New Year's celebration and visit with our dearest friends Joe, Mary Beth, and Lucy.  We have been starting the new year together now for 10 years.  In the past we went out for nice dinners and even did a fabulous casino cruise, but these days we have dinner at home and are lucky if we see the ball drop!!  However, we wouldn't have it any other way since we now have 3 beautiful little girls (and another baby girl on the way) that we get to spend it with!!   Mary and Joe also invited other family and friends over for the evening and we had a great time.  We had lots of yummy food and plenty of kids to go around!!!

The rest of the week was enjoyed with the guys golfing a couple of days and the girls shopping another.  Ava & Bryce had a fabulous time playing with Lucy.  They strolled their baby dolls all around the house, watched movies, and ate lots of snacks.  The girls love each other and it is so special to see them together since their mommies are the best of friends!  Thank you, Josephs, for a wonderful time!!  We love you all and miss you so much...... 

Lucy loving on Ava

Brycie and Lucy lounging around. 

Sweet William hanging out with all the girls.  Sorry that we didn't get more pictures with you.

Happy New Year!!!!!  

Sweet baby girls.........

Zoo Trip with Nana

We decided to take advantage of the warm weather that we had after Christmas and head to the zoo!!   Nana came along and we saw all kinds of neat animals.  We fed the giraffes, watched a jaguar, and rode on the carousel.  It was a very busy day.  After going to the zoo Nana took us out to lunch and then we went shopping.  Needless to say, the girls slept on the way home!!!!

Getting started at the zoo

Ava feeding the giraffes.

Watching the jaguar!!!!

Ava practicing her "roar" on the carousel. 

Brycie is still not too sure about rides.  She held on to the pole and Nana for dear life.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

Christmas morning came early in the Kriner home and Santa Claus definitely came to visit!! The girls woke up to rocking horses, a talking Elmo, and a new slide.  They loved everything and played the day away.  They could have cared less about opening presents this year so luckily I hadn't wrapped many for them.  Nana, Granddaddy, Aunt Joelle and Uncle Bryson were here and we loved having them share in our Christmas Day.  Later that night Mimi, Papa, Uncle Trey & Aunt Katie came over to see all of the girl's goodies.  We are extremely blessed to have a big family that enjoys spending time with one another.  It was a great day and such a joy to watch Ava & Bryce's smiling faces.  We hope that you all had a wonderful day with your families too!!

Brycie and her new pony!!  Pretty soon she will want a real one......

Ava with her pretty pony.

Going grocery shopping with our new cart.

Brycie and Elmo

the new slide

the "jumpie" castle

Sorting through their stockings, not surprisingly they knew exactly how to use their new cell phones!!

the famous foam blocks (the only good that came from the closing of Playtime Toddler)

Ava playing her new drum.  She's ready to start a new band with her Daddy!!!!

Christmas with Mimi, Papa, Katie, & Trey

The Monday before Christmas we celebrated with Mimi, Papa, Aunt Katie and Uncle Trey.  We had a delicious dinner and then we opened presents!!  Santa came to visit a little early and he brought the girls new baby dolls, strollers, and a table and chair set.  The girls were so excited and they have been strolling ever since!!  The biggest smiles of the night came from getting their new Elmo laptop from Katie and Trey.  What a perfect gift:)  We can hardly wait for next year when we will have a baby cousin to help spoil!!!! 

Ava and her new stroller

Their new table and chairs

Brycie and her new pram.

Mimi showing Ava how to love her new baby doll.

The famous Elmo computer!!!!!

Christmas Playdate

We had our Christmas Playdate/Party at our house and it was lots of fun!!  We played, ate lunch, had a visit from Santa, and made a yummy dessert.  We also had a winter book exchange and Santa even brought the kids a present. It was actually a chilly day so we bundled up and headed outside to make our Christmas tree dessert.  It was a busy day but all of the kiddos hung in there to celebrate with our fun little group:) 

"Big kids" dessert table

"Little kids" dessert table

As close as Brycie would get to Santa.

An actual no crying Santa picture!!

All of the babies!!!!!

Ava making her edible craft.

Brycie loving her dessert.

Stapleton Christmas

We continued our family Christmas with all of our cousins on Mimi's side in Folkston.  This year we had our Christmas celebration at Aunt Fran & Uncle David's house.  We ate, opened presents, and all of the little girls danced and chased each other around the house.  It was quite the time and next year I am sure that Lucas and Gabriel will be right there with all of the girls dancing and running around!! 

Lucas & Gabriel

All of the Stapleton grandchildren

Reagan & Riley

The girls opening one if their favorite presents.........  a pink "Little People" Princess Castle!!!!!