Christmas Vacation

I was thinking about my new year's resolutions today and one of them is going to bed earlier. Much earlier. So here I am at 12:58 am blogging. Well.... it's not the new year yet. Anyway we got back from Oregon and we had such a great Christmas!! I feel like my trip was way too fast but we are thankful to have spent the holiday with family and lots of cousins. I hope you all had a very merry Christmas too!



Haylee and her two cute cousins on the polar express train. It was so much fun. We went to the real north pole, saw the real elves and talked to the real Santa. Haylee was the perfect age for it. She just couldn't believe we really went all the way to the North pole. The train ride started out with hot chocolate, which Haylee spilled all over herself, but I enjoyed. And gingerbread cookies. Then all eyes lit up when our conductor announced we arrived at the northpole. Such fun memories!!




Me and my man ready to go on the polar express




Just me and my cute sister, Sally, holding her adorable little Claire!




Very excited when the train finally left and we were on our way to the real north pole!




It was so exciting when the real elves came onto our car on the train. They were so much fun and very delightful.




I wish you all could have heard the sounds of pure excitement, squeals, and claps as Santa came into our car of the train. Oh my goodness it was so exciting!!




I love that Haylee is giving Santa two thumbs up




This is the first time Hunter would get even remotely close to Santa. Probably because he was real!




Hunter so happy to be eating at the kid table for Christmas Eve dinner instead of a highchair. Hot dogs and cucumbers. Yummy!




Here is the real Christmas Eve dinner being enjoyed by Haylee and Weston. My mom makes the yummiest Christmas Eve dinner with such a beautifully set table. I love it!




My little nephew Brandon is a Christmas Eve baby so here he is opening his present on his first birthday. I can tell Hunter is trying to figure out how he can get his hands on that present.




And he found the perfect opportunity when Brandon wasn't looking to sneak in and finish opening his present. Little stinker!




Running down the stairs on Christmas morning about to turn the corner to see what Santa brought! I love the excitment in her face!




The beloved snow white dress she has asked about 6 different Santa's for. So relieved all the santa's came through.




Riding his new plasma car. Thanks Santa!!




I love Hunter so intent on looking at his new truck




Weston in his new boise state snuggie, throwing his bad call brick. Thanks Sal!!! What we really feel like doing is throwing our Boise state brick at the bcs voters instead! I got a new camera so this will be the last post with poor quality pictures. From here on out pure professional pictures I tell ya. Well maybe just a step up from my last camera.




Hunter playing with his new train. I love Brandon in the back just chillin on the skateboard.




He decided to take a stab at the skateboard




And finally, not happy to get dressed up, leave his toys and go to church but I thought he looked cute in his Christmas outfit anyway!


Ok, I'm off to bed. Happy New Year!!!

December

We've been having a fun December getting ready for Christmas. I haven't been taking too many pictures but have a managed a couple.

Our annual decorating of the costco gingerbread house. Haylee was really good at it this year.

She wanted hers to look just like the box. She did all the decorating herself. I think she got pretty close to the box.


We love to make crafts around here. Christmas time is so much fun making trees, snowmen, snowflakes, and presents. Our fridge can only hold so much art though.


We even made a few ornaments this year.


Hunter is really getting into all of our art projects too. He could color all day long.

Spokane

We made it to Spokane and are pretty much all moved in. Weston was hired to work for Henry Schein Dental and has been working and getting trained in boise for the past couple of months. But the position is for Spokane, so here we are. Luckily there is no snow yet. Yay! I hear they get a lot so we had to stock up on our snow clothes. I think Hunter is going to make some great snow angels this year! (If he can move)





I bought Haylee her very own Christmas tree for her new room! The very first thing she wanted to do when we got here was set it up. We had to go shopping together to pick out ornaments. She had so much fun picking them out and putting them on her tree. I thought she placed them pretty well. She thinks it's pretty special to have a tree in her room. Now the hard part is keeping Hunter away from her tree. I don't mind him destroying the family Christmas tree but Haylee has declared Hunter off limits from hers.

Family

I am thankful for a thousand things every single day but today as I was looking at some family pictures I couldn't help but post about how thankful I am for my family. Words cannot describe how I feel about each and every single person in this picture. My four sisters are my very best friends, and I'm so proud of my brother serving a mission right now. I am constantly in awe of my parents. My family has done so much for me and my own little family now. I'm so sad to be moving away from three of my sisters. Luckily it's not too far away. We are moving to Spokane, Washington in the next few days. I should be packing like a crazy lady but all I want to do is hang out with my sisters!! What a blessing to be a part of such an amazing family!


This picture was actually taken at the beginning of the year. My new little niece Claire hadn't arrived yet.

The celebration

We had a great time celebrating Haylee's birthday today. Haylee decided she wanted to have a balloon birthday party, which I was so excited for because I love balloons. I have loved living in Boise so that we can be by so much family. They make all of our parties so much fun. My mom and dad were even able to be in town for the special weekend. At the end of the day Haylee said she wants to be 4 forever because it's so much fun. Except for when she wants to be a mommy, then she has to be old she said. I think having a balloon party was a big hit!!

We have a tradition in our family that Weston always brings the kids balloons in the morning when they wake up. It went very well with our theme this year.

My Baby

My baby is now 4. Happy happy birthday Haylee. Even though we aren't celebrating her birthday until tomorrow I've been thinking all day about my sweet girl. I remember so well when I held her for the first time. I was now a mom. I couldn't believe she was here and I was holding her in my arms. I couldn't even imagine what a child of mine would look like. Her big blue eyes just looking up at me. I was the only one her could provide her with all her needs. I was so worried as a new mom that I wouldn't be able to calm her down when she cried. What could I do for her? All it took sometimes was just being with me. She would snuggle up to me and she knew I was her mom. Oh I just loved my baby girl!! Even now I still cringe when she cries. I hate when she cries. I just want everything to be perfect for her all the time. We will always have that special first born child bond. Sometimes I feel so bad with how many mistakes I make with her. Everyday I always try to be a better mom because she deserves the best. Oh she is so special to me. We love you Haylee!!!

pumpkins

One of the reasons I married this man was so that I could have a hot, big muscle man wearing a pink apron carve my pumpkins.
And he does a great job carving those stars and hearts into Haylee's and mine pumpkins.


We had two pumpkin carving parties today. We told Haylee we would carve pumpkins after church. But she just couldn't wait. So me and Haylee carved the little pumpkin. No big muscles needed for that.


She was so cute carving her little pumpkin




Such a great little helper

Hunter's way of carving pumpkins was eating the pumpkin off the stem for the most part. He has a mouthful here I can tell. Hope it's healthy for him.



Have a fun Halloween tomorrow!!