Christmas 2012

 One of Hailey's friends brought over her reindeer to play with at our house.  I caught the kids on it, and had to take a picture!

On the Sunday before Christmas we celebrated with my family.  Sadly almost half of our family was sick, so it was a small turnout.  It was quite calm, which was strange.  Able to make it was Mom and Dad, Cami, Meili and Ty, Scott and Alivya stopped for dinner but headed home because Scott wasn't feeling well, but left Daxton, Grandma Larsen was there, and also my brother Bryan.

We started the evening with yummy food and then headed downstairs.

Look closely at this picture and you will see how flexible my nephew Ty is!  He was casually sitting on the couch with his leg wrapped behind his head!

 

 My Mom always has us play a couple songs on her chimes....

 Dad, Daxton and Ty

 Hailey, Carter, Bryan, Meili and Cami

 Hailey got a pretty dress from Grandma and Grandpa

 Hugs....

 Carter has been wanting Mario Cart for a couple years now, he was soooo excited Grandma and Grandpa got it for him!

 Bryan got coveralls to wear while he doing his woodworking...

 All the little girls got lil' kitties...

 Grandma and Grandpa got Hailey a music player with a microphone which is perfect for her!  She loves to sing and dance.  She started belting out tunes right away...

 My family got to see what my life at home will be like....she turns the microphone volume all the way up and sings as loud as she can!

 

 Dad had to have a turn...

 This is just a random picture taken I think on Christmas Eve.  I love it when I catch them together, and they're not fighting...ha ha ha!

Christmas Eve day we got tons of beautiful snow!  It was nice to have snow for Christmas for a change!  We went to our churches Christmas Eve service and then came home for appetizers, read stories, and opened one present.

 Carter asked for "footsie" pajamas this year.....

Honestly I think they're so dorky at his age, but he loves them!

 Hailey got princess jammies...

Papa stayed the night of Christmas Eve as did Grammy.  She showed up late and the kids and her slept in the Family Room together.

 Christmas morning in all our pj glory....

 The kids with Maggie and Papa

 With Grammy

 Carter made Dad a wooden picture frame in scouts.  He was so excited to have something for Dad to put in his wood shop!

 He also made me a wooden man....

My favorite gift of all!

 The kids got spoiled as usual!  I didn't get a picture yet but Grammy painted a picture of Hailey in her princess dress to hang in her room.  I cried, like always!  It will be something Hailey will treasure forever.

 While I made breakfast everyone got busy putting together their toys!

Then we went outside to enjoy the fresh snow!

 I'm excited to put a close on this year, and I look forward to a new year of adventures!  As I reflect on this past year, it has probably been the toughest year of my life.  It also has been a blessed and beautiful year and I have learned and grown a lot!  As I think about my life in the last couple years, there is not one thing that I would change.  It has made me who I am today and I'm greatful for each day that I am given to learn from my mistakes, and to try harder to become a better mother, wife, daughter and friend.  I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family.  I have the best kids who teach me valuable lessons every day.  I also have an amazing husband who I have watched grow and change so much this year.  I am proud of the husband, father, and man that he is.

I think this picture is the day after Christmas.  I went to take a shower, and when I got done, I looked out the window and Carter was shoveling the driveway for me!  I thought it was so sweet and it totally made my day!

Hailey's Dance Review 2012

 Hailey had a Dance Review the week before Christmas.  A Dance Review is like a recital but more casual, and you only come to watch your little ones class, not everyone.  Its a 20 minute program and they did two tap dances and two ballet.

 Hailey has the same teacher as she did last year, Miss Jenni, and we love her!  She is always so fun, patient, and sweet with the girls!

 Hailey did great and soaked up all the attention !

 Here's all of her class.  It was hard to get them all looking in the same direction :)

 Daddy and Carter gave Hailey flowers afterwards.  As you can see Carter was thrilled to get a hug!

Grandma and Grandpa, Grammy, Papa, and our friends Barbara and John were all able to come and watch!  Afterwards all of us, minus Barb and John :( were able to go to Pizza Pie for some all-you-can-eat Pizza!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's hard to believe that Christmas is just a week away!  We've been having a fun December!  Larry the Elf is back and more mischievous than ever!  This day we found him bungee jumping!

 We went to visit Santa Clause.  Honestly I think this is one of the only years we have visited Santa.  I've never been one of those moms to force my kids on a strangers lap :)  The kids asked this year though, so we went!  

 Carter asked him for a snake and Santa looked at me, laughed, then said "Well, I better talk to your Mom about that one!"

 Larry toilet papered our tree one day, and then the next took a "bubble bath"!

 This year for our gingerbread house we picked one with a house and a train.  Carter did the house, and Hailey did the train!

Hailey couldn't believe that Larry stole her underpants and used them as a hammock on the light!

Larry loves candy too..

One day Larry got into the chocolate chips and they were poured all over the counter.  I had to laugh because the next time I saw Larry, all the chocolate chips on the counter were gone.....Carter said he "shared" with Larry!

Thanksgiving 2012

 I have been a horrible picture taker lately!  Life seems to be flying by much too fast!  For Thanksgiving this year we went to Bryan's Moms house.  The only picture I had was of the above, with the kids attacking Grammy.  Grammy made a really cool castle out of huge boxes for the kids to play in that day.  I thought I had a picture but can't find it, so I will need to take another.

 The next day we celebrated with my family.  We met up at Surf n Swim for a little bit and then went back to my parents for soup, ham, salad and rolls.

Grammy's 60th Birthday was the weekend after Thanksgiving.  She came up for dinner.

 The best part of the day was watching Grammy ride around the neighborhood on Carter's little dirt bike!  How many of your Grandma's ride a dirt bike, he he he!

On our trek around the neighborhood we stopped to pet some horses and the man that lived there let Carter and Hailey each take an egg from his chickens.

They took their eggs home and lovingly found nice homes for them!