Best Christmas Pagent Ever!

Molly was the perfect little angel for her preschool Christmas program. She was so cute. She watched the teacher and did her best to sing every word and perform every movement just perfectly! We were so proud to see our little girl being so grown-up!

Molly's whole class dressed up like all the characters who were part of the manger scene. The teachers did everything and the kids gave the program as a Christmas gift to all the mommys and daddys.

Sisters enjoying their Christmas cookies at the holiday party after the program. The big man in red paid a visit to to party but Molly and Margot did not want anything to do with him. Guess we won't be standing in that long line at the mall!

The closing song of the program was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas!" It was adorable, before the song started they gathered up all their love into their hands and then threw it to their mom and dad while they were singing!

East Peoria Festival of Lights!

Last night the Reinhardt cousins along with Nanu and Papa came down for our annual trip to the East Peoria Festival of Lights. It was a huge hit with all the kids. We voted on our favorite part and collectively we all agreed it was the fireworks at the end.

This is my best attempt at a picture of the fireworks. They are better in real life!
Molly loved standing up in the car while riding through and admiring the lights!

Margot loved the lights and the drumsticks that we brought along as a little treat. Margot made us all laugh because when she saw lights that she really liked she would burst out into song, usually, happy birthday Jesus!

I think this is s fun one, maybe we can call it EP Festival of Lights at 90mph!

If you have to see the lights it really is worth the trip to central Illinois to check it out and you could even visit the McNutts while you are in town.

Here are all the kids, having a blast!

Margot's Party!

Margot had a fun second birthday party on Saturday the 6th! We invited over a few friends and celebrated our little lady who is growing up right before our eyes.

Margot loved her Cinderella cell phone from Miss Joy, Stever and Bobby! I am sure she is going to be a chatter just like mommy. She uses her phone to call Santa and tell him that she wants a baby doll for Christmas!

One of our adorable little friends, Mr. Bobby Morris, being just a little camera shy!

Molly, Margot and Celeste posing with the pink cake!

Margot checking out her candle, wait I thought that there should have been two!

Okay there she is, our little two year old girl loving her pink cake and her two candles!

Grace Family Christmas 2008!

After Labor Day, I began practicing with the Christmas choir at church. We were beginning to prepare for our annual Christmas program entitled Grace Family Christmas. The program this year was a review of songs that have been performed over the last fifteen years. As always the concert was amazing and the preparations were memorable as well. Part of my preparations are listening to the music and memorizing it, which in my case is best done in the car. Because somehow I am never in the car alone not only did I learn my music but so did Molly and Margot.

Molly and Marogt were very excited to get all dressed up and come see mommy sing!

Ellen Tabor and I sat next to one another and enjoyed many laughs!

Janet Maston, Jenny Nash and I ready for the show!

Margot singing Happy Birthday Jesus!

Molly singing Happy Birthday Jesus!

She is Two!!

Margot had birthday cake for breakfast this morning to celebrate being two years old!

Our baby girl Margot Isabell McNutt is two years old today. I can not believe that she has grown-up so quickly. Margot is a joy and we are so blessed to have her in our lives. She brings a fresh energy to any situation. She is curious and loves to chat about all the new things around her. Margot's favorite person is her big sister "Moddy" (aka Molly). Margot follows Molly around and imitates everything that she does. We are still trying to convince Molly that imitation is a form of flattery, but they do pretty well together most of the time. I wanted to share a few pictures of life with Margot Isabell!

Margot and big sister Molly. Margot was only three days old in this picture! I con not believe how much she has grown.

Six month old Margot was all smiles for the camera!

Our one year old girl. She was always a smiley happy little girl and has brought fun and laughter to all that are around her!

Margot at 18 months old, in June 2008, with her little pink stumpy arm. Margot broke her arm when she fell off the bed. She is a crazy girl and I am sure Mommy and Daddy are in for many more close calls with this little lady!

Fake or Real, that is the Question????

The McNutts have always had an artificial tree. We had a Christmas themed wedding and used a tree from our wedding in our home since that time. This year we were torn. Our original thought was no tree at all, between the curious little kittens and the two year old who gets into everything a tree with lots of little fragile ornaments sounded like a very bad idea. But poor little Molly really deserves a Christmas tree. So we decided on a tree with no ornaments, but a fake tree with no ornaments.... Okay we will get a real tree and it will have colored lights just like Molly wants but no ornaments. Here are a few pictures of us getting our very first real tree!

Molly and Margot at the tree lot. We decided against cutting down our own, a little much for the first year, maybe next year!

The tree man bailing our tree so we can take it home!

Hooray we have a tree on our cute little car and now it is Christmas! We will post more pictures later of the tree at home if it makes it that far!!!

Coolest Light Display Ever!

The Friday after Thanksgiving we headed out the check out the Christmas lights around Ottawa. After driving through every side street and ohhing and ahhing, we heard of the best light display yet. This display is on a home in Utica, IL. All I can say was it was amazing! Marogt was clapping and cheering. After this it is going to take a whole lot for a light display to impress the McNutts! The music that you hear in the background was a radio station that the home owner broadcasts!

November, What a month!

November has been quite a month for the McNutt family. We started November in the hospital with Molly's pneumonia. We have continued with lots of doctor visits to check ears and heal croup! We have also had interesting car issues with one rear ending and a scary ride into the ditch on the way home from the Thanksgiving festivities. We are definitely looking forward to December holding lots of FUN holiday activities. Here are some of the fun November moments in reverse order, sorry I have not yet mastered the photo download!

Snow snow snow.... On November 30th we awoke to snow. We got 6 inches of the best snow ball making snow and the girls loved playing in all the white stuff!

Molly loved the snow. She has been very confused why there had not been snow before this. Her preschool teacher had told her that winter was when the snow came and they have their room decorated with snowmen and snow flakes. I guess she is pretty literal like her daddy asking everyday where the snow was!

Molly even broke out the sleds and took a ride down the tiny hill on the side of our house. It was the perfect start to winter!

This is a fun photo of the whole family including kitties, Bandit , Belle, and Ozzie, heading home from Nanu and Papa's after all the Thanksgiving festivities were over!

Molly loved the McNutt family Thanksgiving at Aunt Sue and uncle Bill's house in Rockford. She loves playing with her cousins Ashley, Kyle and Troy.

Margot had fun too! We had an early birthday party for our little girl who is almost TWO!

In Ottawa we headed out for the Santa Claus parade. Molly was very intrigued to see this man in red who lives at the North Pole!

All the Reinhardt cousins had great seats on top of the van to watch the Santa parade!

Molly and cousin Mia Reinhardt enjoying pizza and a few smiles before bundling up for the parade.

Margot the serious at Nanu and Papa's for the Reinhardt Thanksgiving. She loved watching the turkey cook and could not figure out where that turkey had gone after lunch!

Molly at Nanu and Papa's for Thanksgiving!

November days at home included lots of singing to our High School Musical Three CD. The girls love to use our coffee table as their stage! They are stars in the making.

Cute sisters at home. Getting so big and bringing such a joy! Through all the trials this year has brought the Lord has confirmed that our kids are such a blessing and we thank Him for them continually.

Margot showing off her new adorable coat for church. She gets lots of attention when she walks into Grace Presbyterian!

Minnie Margot!

My mom brought down an old Halloween costume of mine from when I was a little girl. It is a Minnie Mouse dress with matching Minnie Mouse shoes. Margot has gotten very attached to the Minnie shoes. Actually just the right shoe. She wears it everywhere and becomes very distraught if it falls off. Unfortunately the falling off part happens often since the shoe is three sizes too big!

Margot was showing Bandit her shoe this morning. She thought that maybe he would like a shoe just like hers!

Margot has mastered going down the steps while holding her baby and her blanket and carefully keeping the Minnie shoe balanced on her foot. She cracks me up, she is already a woman who can multi-task!Sweet little Margot! Or as we like to call her Crazy-Hair!

Pneumonia, YUCK!!!

Molly has pneumonia and it is no fun. She ran a high fever all weekend and after much worry and two sleepless nights, we took her to the ER at OSF. Once there they determined that mommy instinct is right and Molly was a very sick little girl. They admitted her to the peds floor and started her on IV antibiotics. Unfortunately the numbing cream they used on Molly's hand before the IV did not numb mommy's heart! It was really unfun to watch her scared and hurting and not be able to help. She is thankfully responding well to the meds and we are hoping to go home tonight!

Trick or Treat!

Halloween 2008 will go down as one of the greats. The weather was amazing, a beautiful 70 degrees that was perfect for trick or treating and enjoying the evening with friends. Both Molly and Margot were very into the whole candy thing. They were great at ringing doorbells and saying trick or treat. They even remembered to say thank you and wish people a Happy Halloween. It is so fun to watch our two little girls growing up!

Margot was a bumble bee this year. She was cute and loved to say buzz..... She is loving all the candy and definitely has enjoyed taste testing each piece that she was given!

Molly was a witch. She was the cutest witch in town. She loved her costume hat and all and when asked if she was the good witch or the bad witch she definitely wanted to be a good witch.

Molly and Margot enjoying Halloween 2008!

Move that Bus!

This isn't the greatest quality picture but it is taken of some pretty amazing people. In the blue shirt, holding little Jake Grys, is my friend Angie DeLost. Yesterday she saw a dream come true for a child that she works with. Angie along with Ty Pennington and thousands of on lookers were able to yell, "Move that Bus". They were able to give Jake Grys and his family a new home that will allow Jake to have the safe and independent life that he deserves. Angie persevered for three years working to get the Grys an Extreme Home Makeover and yesterday the miracle she prayed for was witnessed by lots of folks! Thanks Angie from the bottom of my heart and from all the others who have been changed by your hard work and determination!

Any Help in There!

Molly said the funniest thing today. She and I had gone into the bathroom at Jeff's office. It was an emergnecy pitstop on the way home from the grocery store. She went into her own stall and she was finished before I was. When she was finished she came over to the door of my stall and sweetly asked,"Do you need any help in there mommy?" They are such little parrots and so cute too!

Jump Start Halloween

Today was Halloween dress-up day at Jump Start Gymnastics! The girls were very excited to finally be able to wear their costumes. Margot was a bumble bee. Her favorite part of class is always blowing bubbles and here she is giving it her best try!

Molly wanted to be a witch this year. After much searching mommy found an acceptable witch costume and Molly was so excited to show it off! Here she is with all of the Little Lions classmates!

Margot also loves the bars and just hanging around showing off her muscles!

She got a big high five from her teacher Miss Peajay after all her hard work!

Molly had to tell me that witches can't wear hats to gymnastics, silly mommy!