Top 10 in 2010

2010 has been quite a year! I compiled a Top 10 Events in 2010 for the O'Dell girls (together this year). It is a "summary", if you will, of their year.



1. We started the year off welcoming Lilleigh Rae into the world. The girls couldn't love their baby cousin more if they tried! 2. Tori performed in her first ever dance recital. Mom was a bit nervous, but she made us so proud! She didn't even hesitate to get out on the stage!

3. Emmalee finally got to see Shamu for the first time. She is a HUGE animal lover and seeing Shamu in real life brought tears to her eyes!

4. Tori finally got to attend Vacation Bible School. She is much more apprehensive of new situations than Emmalee is, so I was very proud of her for going and not crying at all!

5. Emmalee started first grade with her beloved teacher, Mr.s Fox. She is having a fabulous year and is growing leaps and bounds in her reading!

6. We found out we would be adding another O'Dell munchkin to our mix; this time a boy!!!

7. Tori started preschool. She wasn't sure about it at first, but now she really enjoys herself. She has an amazing teacher and helper, along with lots of friends from church in her class.

8. Tori, since she is going to school in Chillicothe, started going to a babysitter, who, for the first time (other than a teenager) isn't family. She has adjusted quite well and seems to have Miss Holly convinced she is a laugh a minute!

9. Emmalee performed for the first time as a member of Shapes Dance and Acro's competitive team.

10. Emmalee had her first ever speaking part in her school's Christmas program.

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The girls have really grown and changed a lot this yer. We are anxious to see what 2011 holds, especially with baby brother's birth in just over a month!

Emmalee's Stats:

Height:46 inches

Weight: 40 pounds

Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Activity: Drawing

Favorite Books: Mercer Mayer books

Future Career: Scientist and a Baker

Number of Teeth Lost: 6

Tori's Stats:

Height: 41 inches

Weight: 32 pounds

Favorite Color: Blue

favorite Activity: Playing Musical Chairs

Favorite Book: Apple Countdown

Future Career: Cheerleader

Christmas 2010

We packed all we could into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and we had a great time. We started by making cookies for Santa...

Putting the cookies onto the cookie sheet

Then we opened some gifts from each other

Emmalee LOVED her Dukes of Hazzard shirt

So did Daddy

and so will Baby C once he gets here (Tori got one too, but she wasn't quite as impressed)

Tori, on the other hand, was thrilled with her Teacup Piggy

And Emmalee loved her crystal growing set

Following a fabulous dinner at Uncle Brian and Aunt Brandi's, we got ready to go to church for candlelight service

The girls loved being able to pose with some of their cousins before we headed out

Then we attempted a picture with all the cousins once we got back to Gamma and Pappi's after church

And with Gamma and Pappi

Then we got down to the business of opening gifts. Emmalee was thrilled with this pink pillow for her new rock-n-roll bedroom

Tori, who is infatuated with pigs, loves her pillow pet piggy

Emmalee got a pink BB gun, which she LOVES

Then, after what seemed like just a little bit of sleep, the girls woke up to see what Santa had left

Emmalee LOVES her MP4 player

Tori was satisfied with her new clothes

and her pretty new pillow

which matches her sister's

Tori especially loves her Olivia play set

Emmalee jamming to her MP4 player

Then we got ready and ventured up the road to Grandma and Papa's for Christmas there. We didn't get many good pictures, but the girls really enjoyed themselves and their gifts.
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Christmas was time spent with family, and that was what really mattered to all of us.

Christmas Parties 2010

Two kids in school; two Christmas parties. I love that I have been able to attend all of the girls' parties and school events this year due to the generosity of my fellow coworkers who willingly cover my classes so I can go.

Tori eating a yummy cookie

Tori coming back into the room in time for the party

Getting ready to play a game

Playing a game

Smiling for Mommy before I had to return to work
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Emmalee's party was December 20, and we were in charge of treats. Emmalee couldn't pass up the opportunity to have some delicious Francine's cookies.

Emmalee eating her treats

A shot of Emmalee and her table "mates"

Tori attended the party with us and had to stand next to sister
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All in all, a fabulous time was had at each party, and the girls came home with more sugar and gifts than they knew what to do with!

Christmas Programs 2010

Now that Tori is in school, everything we have to do is multiplied by two; for example-Christmas programs. It seems like all we did was run, run, run the month of December. Emmalee's first grade program was the day before she turned seven, and she even had a speaking part. She nailed it, and she was even full of confidence!
Emmalee before the performance

Emmalee during her speaking part

Singing along

Emmalee and her bestie after the program

Tori before her program

Tori and Koby during the performance

There are some smiles...

She had the BEST time

In fact, they all did!

Tori and her buddy Koby after the program

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Emmalee then performed a mini-cantata with the church choir. She isn't a big fan of choir, so this may have been her final performance. Only time will tell, I suppose...

Emmalee and the children's choir

A close up of Emmalee

And a final shot of our little choralier