Tahoe time with the Loscutoff clan

We just got back from an amazing 3-night stay at our family cabin in Tahoe.  Our time was spent with Will's family, as we celebrated Dedushka's birthday.  It was truly a wonderful time filled with happy girls, lots of games and family bonding.  Even Will's brother, Walter, flew all the way from Florida to join us.  

We started off our first morning with Will's famous pancakes.  Maggie helped him crack the eggs and mix.  Maggie LOVES helping in the kitchen as much as she can.

The girls really tried to play ping-pong with Will and Uncle Walter.  It was a bit tricky for them to hit the ball, though.  I guess we will have to practice more.

There was VERY VERY little snow up at the cabin.  Fortunately the girls didn't seem to mind and we were still able to find small patches around that was enough for the girls to grab and throw.

I love these sisters!

We spent a lot of time exploring around the cabin, climbing rocks, poking the ice in the creek and splashing rocks in the water.

Queen Kate on her throne.

 Princess Maggie.

Walter and Will

 Kate spent a lot of time hanging out with Walter.  She loved cuddling up next to him.

We crafted and painted a bit at the cabin.

 We found some fun toys in a closet and built a little doll house too.

Of course, Kate insisted that we all play "Pretty, Pretty Princess!" Will won the whole game!

 All the Pretty Princesses!

Most of our weekend was spent playing games since there was so little snow.

 Maggie loved her time with Dedushka!

Grammalene taught Kate how to play dominoes.  It is now Kate's favorite game to play (endlessly)!

Even the adults played lots of games too.

We also celebrated Will's dad's birthday at the cabin with some yummy chocolate cake.  Happy Birthday Dedushka!

One afternoon we spent a while exploring outside to find a beaver dam.  Along the way we threw snowballs, climbed rocks and tripped over many sticks.

Snowball fight!

Iced-over beaver dam

Maggie really enjoyed hanging out with Uncle Peter.  He was a big help with putting on her mittens and holding her hand while we went exploring.

Great weekend! Wonderful family time!  Priceless!

Great Grandparents

Kate and Maggie are so blessed to have wonderful great grandparents.  We greatly enjoyed our time spent with them this Christmas season.  We love you Gigi, Grandma and Grandpa!

Painting Purple

The start of 2015 is the perfect time to give a boring white bathroom some fabulous color!  The girls helped me select a paint color and paint the walls for their bathroom.  The chosen color is "Stylish Tone", a.k.a. light purple.  The girls rolled on paint for over an hour and actually did a really good job painting and not making too big of a mess!  The bathroom is definitely a perfect girls bathroom!

Christmas 2014

Well, another Christmas has come and gone.  It is always amazes me how much preparing I do, months in advance, for only one day, but it is always worth it.  This year's Christmas was fantastic, filled with too many toys and too many sweets, but lots and lots of happy memories.

On Wednesday. the girls and I headed to church for our Christmas Eve service (unfortunately Will had to work).  The girls were so beautiful in their Christmas dresses!  Their picture poses sums up their personalities well.

I figured out how to use the timer on my camera so I could get into the picture too. :)

Christmas morning brought a flood of presents and toys.  Maggie received a doll that looks just like her...blonde hair and blue eyes.

Kate was excited to receive her Doc-Mobile...a pretend animal clinic, on wheels.

 Opening more presents!

Maggie's BIG present was a new play kitchen.  Will spent almost 3 hours putting it together a few days before.  Keeping it hidden until Christmas morning was a bit of a challenge.

Maggie is my helper in the kitchen.  She loves measuring and pouring when I am baking.  On Christmas she helped me decorate Jesus' birthday cake.  She piled on the M&M's and sprinkles.  She takes her decorating job very seriously!  I am predicting she will have a passion for baking or cooking in the future since she loves playing in her pretend kitchen and helping me in the real kitchen too.

In the evening we headed to my parent's house for Christmas dinner with my grandparents and sister's family.

 Maggie and Kate always love singing "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" each year and blowing out the candles.

Great Christmas!  Now back to normal life and normal routines (well, after Christmas break is over and the kids go back to school.)

Christmas Baking!

Lots of delicious baking has been happening in our house.  We made a plate of goodies for our neighbors on Friday including pumpkin fudge, Russian tea cakes, chocolate chip bars and peanut butter/Hershey kiss cookies.  The girls were BIG helpers by pouring and measuring for me.  

Tonight we made sugar cookies for Santa.  We can't wait till Christmas!

Ready to bake in our aprons!

Cowgirls

It is the first day of Christmas break and after doing some Christmas crafts and shopping we are now pretending to be cowgirls.  The girls are using a styrofoam stick for their lasso and a rocking horse for their pony.  Giddy up!

Maggie's "Go Tell It On The Mountain"

Here are a few pictures from Maggie singing with her preschool at church on Sunday.  She is in the front row, wearing a red jumper with black sleeves.

Will's Birthday, Loscutoff Christmas and Christmas Singing...all in one day!

Yesterday, December 14, was the busiest day of our Christmas season.  Maggie sang at church in the morning for her preschool, Kate sang at church in the evening for Kid's choir, it was Will's birthday and we celebrated our Loscutoff Christmas.  Despite the busy schedule, it was a wonderful day, filled with special family time and joyous celebration!

Maggie was excited to sing with her preschool at church.  They sang "Go Tell it on the Mountain".  She did a great job singing up front and performing her hand-motions that went with the song.  She was super duper cute!

Kate was also a very enthusiastic singer!  The kids choir performed 4 songs and were all beautiful sung!  The highlight was  watching Kate's facial expressions while signing.  She was very animated and at times would yawn while singing.

We exchanged gifts with Dedushka, Grammalene, Uncle Peter and Auntie Megan.  There was quite a mess after all the gift opening was complete!

The girls received tennis rackets and balls from Dedushka and Grammalene....all kid-friendly for learning their skills.

We also enjoyed some birthday pumpkin cheesecake!

Kate received a "Sew Cool" threadless sewing machine.  She and Grammalene sewed pillows for the whole family.

First pillow, an adorable owl.  (all supplies provided in a kit)

The men watched football while the girls played.

 Happy family time...unfortunately I am not in the picture since I was behind the camera. :-)

Kate's Christmas dress matched her special doll, Lucy.

After the late Christmas concert at church, the girls were acting a little goofy and ready for bed!

I love my family!!!