Baby Teeth

Our baby girl has lost her first two teeth! I seriously can't get over it. She was pretty darn excited for that first visit from the tooth fairy...

The second tooth was a little more traumatic than the first...
But before long she was showing off her toothless grin...
{and a little leftover chocolate:)}

Sis, you seriously need to stop this growing up business. I promise, it is for the birds! But I am in love with your new grin.

Christmas Lights

We met up with Gramy & Papa at good ol' Tony's pizza for some delicious grub. It is a family favorite...

We gabbed, and stuffed ourselves, and chased crazy two year old's. It was a merry old time...

Bode & Parke were fully entertained with the janitorial supplies...

Then we bundled ourselves up, and headed off to see some Christmas lights!

While we were there we stopped in to visit with Santa himself... just in case he had forgotten our Christmas wishes.

Ty gave Parker a little pep talk, and it worked like a charm...

He hopped right up there...

The Judge, and Gramy.

{Once again, ladies he is single if you know of any cute girls!}

Sophie girl... in her fabulous holiday garb.

It was snowing so perfectly. The kids were having so much fun running around in it!

The sis was perfectly content hanging around her Gramy & Papa... I don't blame her one bit!

We thawed with some hot cocoa and scones.

What could be better?

Ford Christmas Party

Papa is always so cute to invite us to his Ford Christmas party {I'm pretty sure he gets sort of excited to show off his grand babies}. We always have so much fun, and the food and company is superb! We sure do love that Mimi & Papa...

Me & my babies...

Thanks Papa! We absolutely adore you.

Sunday Dinner

Steph was feeling brave, and invited our rowdy bunch over for a Christmas Sunday dinner. She pulled out all of her Christmasy goodness for the occasion, including this darling nativity. The kids loved it!

The chicka's in the kitchen... the dinner was delish!
Gramy & Wyatt... that boy is sweet to the bone.

Matt & Erika and their cute little family...

Sophie girl found herself a hot new ride...

Gramy reading 'I Believe in Santa Claus'...

These two are train buddies... it is so darn cute!

Zac, Papa, Steph, & Wy-Wy just hangin' out...

It was loads of fun.

Steph, I think we are going to be expecting this again next year... no pressure:)

Baptism and a Christmas Card

Have you ever had a picture that no matter how many times you see it, it brings tears to your eyes? That is this picture- to me. You see, my Kaden {my eldest baby} is going to be turning 8 this next year, which means he will be baptized a member of the church. As you can see from this picture, he is not alone. There are times I question how we ended up where we are, or if this is the place we are really going to raise our children. When I see this picture, my questions are easily answered. I know this is right where we need to be... surrounded by great examples. Kaden's friend Davis was the first to turn 8, and his darling {and very talented} mother Heather decided to put this picture together. I am forever grateful that she did... I am just envisioning another 11 years down the road when these boys are turning papers in to serve the Lord all over the world. I just know I am going to blink, and that time will be here. There is my handsome little guy right in the middle...

At the baptism all of those boys got up and sang 'Armies of Helaman.' It was precious, and of course caused more tears. It got Kade really excited for his special day. After the baptism everyone was looking mighty cute, so we ventured out to the nature park in hopes of snapping a pic for our Christmas card. The kids love the nature park, so it wasn't a difficult task...
Can you see what a great big brother Kaden is? When he's not cranky, he's the sweetest thing ever:)!
Love. All three of them. To pieces!
It was difficult to decide...
But this was the winner!
{the one I made everyone trudge through the mud and stand in front of a dumpster for:) Nic complained, and thought I was crazy, but loved the results! See hon, just trust your baby}

Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful holiday season!!

Festival of the Trees

{Oh, my heck! I keep deleting pictures, and can't figure out how to move them down to the bottom again. Sorry for my incompetence. Kaden chatting with the elves... I thought this was adorable! and couldn't leave it out}

Rylie started a little dance class in our neighborhood this past fall with some of her friends. It has been a roller coaster of emotions because well, she's a girl... and sometimes girls are emotional:) Some days she is excited to go, and some days she is crying and clinging to my leg! {I prefer when she is smiling and skipping into her class without me by her side. It is good to be loved, but sometimes it is a little over the top! and I want to pull my hair out} Anyways, when I found out that her dance studio would be performing at the Festival of the Trees I was elated! I love the Festival of the Trees, and it has become a tradition for us to go every year. This year was going to be extra special because our Ry-bug was going to be dancing{or so we hoped} I had a prayer in my heart the entire way down, just hoping that she would not be scared and actually have the courage to get up there and do it. When she started to complain of a stomach ache I thought, "Here we go...it's not gonna happen." But when she saw her friends all running around and having a great time, she immediately jumped in and joined the fun. I was thrilled!

My sweet mom came down with us, and it was so fun to be there with her. It was a good thing she came equipped with suckers! The boys were growing a little impatient waiting for their sis...
Sucker kisses...
Rylie was a little unsure, but at least she was up there... and doing the dance! Yay!! Ry-bug, we couldn't have been more proud of you...
There she is on the end there... nice pointed toe sis:)
Oh, my baby girl... how has she gotten so big??

And after...

Just check out that ear-to-ear grin. She was so so happy, and felt so special. Rylie, (and I am not going to say "sweet" friends because Nic is starting to tease me that I say "sweet" too much, but there is no other way to describe them!} Whitney, Kendal, and McCall...

Rylie and Miss Alana... the most patient and kind dance teacher around {trust me- we've tested her}

Afterwards we were ready for some grub...

Rylie still on cloud nine...

Next we were off to the kids corner. We've got nothin' but love for the kids corner...

Kaden in the giant bubble... he loves this, can you tell?

Ry-bug gettin' her primp on...

Parker and Mimi doin' some serious bonding...

Ornaments decorated, faces painted, reindeer antlers on, fish pond dum-dum's devoured, elf wands waved, fingernails dolled up, boy in giant bubble, check! I think we covered just about everything, and then it was off to see that jolly old elf...

The baby one finally gave in and had a little snooze while we waited for Santa!

When Parke woke up it was our turn, and he was having nothing to do with Santa. Darn it! But Kaden and Rylie were sure excited to see him!

Bode and Parke were thoroughly enjoying their canes...
Before we left, it was back to the kids corner for one last chat with the elves{cue kaden picture. I know, seriously? seriously}. Then we checked out a few of those wonderful trees... I am always so amazed at the creativity and talent that goes into each of those trees. It is such a special cause. I always leave the festival feeling very blessed.

And that night as we were getting ready for bed, Rylie looks at me and says, "Mom, it wasn't even scary!" Referring to her experience on the stage earlier that day. It was music to my ears. I just hope she remembers that when it comes time to go to class next week... hmmm. What a great day!