Last Christmas Post

Remember THIS POST on my Thanksgiving place cards? Well, I decided to make Christmas place cards out of toilet paper rolls and a Christmas tree centerpiece with a paper towel roll.

Quite festive if I do say so myself.

This time I used scrapbook paper instead of felt. Had a nice Christmas touch if I do say so myself.

Thankfully I am NOT a Photographer

AMAZING DRESS!

By the look of my pictures that I post daily on this blog, we all know I am not a photographer. Well, here is the deal... I should never, ever try to photograph a wedding. Seriously, I have so many shadows and glares but I love taking pictures and hopefully their professional photographer will turn out a lot better than me :)

Cute one of the couple outside the temple.

With their photographer in the background. Sweet.

Here is a picture of some of my favorite people in the world. What an awesome family who all at some point in time have babysat my children. And fed me. And housed me. And let me swim in their pool. Fed my fish. etc etc etc. Basically what "adopted" families do for each other.

These 3 handsome men. I can't believe how grown up they are getting.

Wedding Hat

We went to a wedding today. Rich thought it would be awesome to switch up his "wedding hat" and wear a new one. If you have ever been to a wedding with Rich (or if he unfortunately came to yours...) you know that he likes to wear his hats.

This hat is special though.

This hat I won for him at a white elephant gift exchange. No joke.

The wedding and reception were wonderful, but I will wait to post pictures of the bride until she can post her own on facebook and such.

:)

Still Celebrating

The girls have been acting like it is Christmas every day this week. Ryann wore her Christmas PJs again and asked if I would take her picture in front of the tree. I told her "only if you hold still." Boy was she still.

I also forgot to post a picture of Rich with his new superman watch. He was too busy looking at it to take a good picture with it. But we do get a nice glare from his head.

And this was of Cara and her beloved candy cane. She later dropped in on the bathroom floor and it landed in some hair. So that was the end of her candy cane. You better believe there were tears.

Gingerbread Houses

What do you do with your old gingerbread houses?

I remember growing up my mom always made fresh gingerbread and real icing you could eat and we always had brand new candy to decorate. (maybe I am imagining this, but I believe that is the way it was)

Now there are kits. Kits that expire and you buy the day after Christmas to use for the next year.

Seriously?

Yes, I am guilty of this.

So we had new gingerbread men that we could frost and eat, but the house itself was old and hard as a brick.

That didn't stop Ryann and Grandma Mingo from decorating their hearts out.

I think it will be in the trash tomorrow.

And seriously, I don't think Ryann will notice it is gone with all of her other toys lying around.

Hexbugs and the Nativity

Ryann and Cara both picked out 2 presents for their daddy. A t-shirt and Hexbugs.

The Hexbugs were a hit because Ryann and Cara wouldn't stop playing with them. Ryann even made a little cage out of the Nativity set so the Hexbug could run around in and she wouldn't lose it.

Rich finally had to confiscate them today because he wanted a chance to play with them. This usually means he will be taking them to work. That is the only safe place he has to not lose things or have them broken.

That's life as a daddy:

Hide your toys at work or your kids will steal/break them.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas... and we are just getting started!

Have a wonderful day and I hope you are all able to spend time with those you love.

We love you and Merry Christmas.

Santa Train

I was lucky enough to get my Christmas present early!!

My sister in law Katie surprised me with family tickets to ride on the Santa Train in the beautiful Napa Valley.

We had to take pictures with every character that was on the train.

I tried to have the girls wear matching clothes, but Auntie Ashley busted out a horse dress for Ryann and thoughts of matching clothes were shot. Ryann wasn't about to take off this dress for anything!

It sort of looks like Cara is flipping us off, or trying to pick her nose.... I am sure it is one of those two things. You decide which. Either way both girls were happy with their messy candy cane faces.

Worst picture of my girls, but cute picture of Auntie Katie.

See you soon Hazel

I am about to cry my eyes out. I already know it. We are all packed and ready to go make our 12 hour drive back home to Phoenix and I am just waiting to kiss my sweet sister and her precious baby goodbye. I can't stand it.

I think Devyn felt like she was in pretty safe hands. My dad (OBGYN) was there, her sister who is a labor and delivery nurse and me who is a midwife. Seriously we have this birthing thing down pat. (haha!) I love the fact that we all come from different places to bring such diversity to the way we deal with pregnancy, labor, birth, and breast feeding. I think I will have to break that down in a post someday, to just talk about how we all bring something different to the table.

Ryann wants to know when we are coming back to see Hazel.

Isn't she perfect? I am going to be sooo sad on my drive home. Hopefully I will start thinking about Christmas in just 2 days and get happy again!

Minus One

My parents took Christmas card pictures with all of the grandchildren on Monday.

But fortunately they are going to have to retake them all.

Not because of these crazy girls being silly for all the pictures, but because their newest granddaughter was born this morning.

I will wait for my sister to share her story before I post it here. But after she shares her story then I will share all of my thoughts on it :)

Let me tell you. I am in love. It was amazing. There isn't anything much sweeter than a brand new life entering the world to a family that loves her so very much.

Ice Skating

Ryann and I were able to go ice skating yesterday thanks to my wonderful mom! We went downtown and laced up our skates (yes, there were some small enough for Ryann!!) and off we went. Ryann was very nervous at first and spent a lot of time hanging on the railing, but by the end she was doing a lot of it on her own.

She fell once or twice and thought it was hilarious! She just giggled and laughed and thought it was so funny.

Thanks Grandma! Next year maybe Cara will be big enough to go with us too.

Trip

Let's just say we are having A LOT of fun!!

yikes

I seriously haven't pulled out my camera more than once.

I better get cracking.

Maybe today I will get some good ones. I will keep you posted (literally- I will post pictures if I take some!)

Playing Kitchen

Cara and cousin Dean spent a lot of time cooking up their food for Uncle Cory.

They like playing in this little hideout in my parents house. It is perfect for 1-3 year olds. Ryann is even a little big for it.

Cara needed to feed Uncle Cory because he spent so much energy pushing her a Ryann around the house on the little play car.

Ready. Set. GO!

Come back and play Uncle Cory!

On The Road Again

This road trip we have a super sweet set up thanks to the *H family. 2 screens for the DVD player!!

Cara didn't seem to interested. But we made it to our final destination safely!

So Close

Almost done with Ryann's Christmas present. Rich might say otherwise, but he has really enjoyed spending the time and working on this present. He loves working with tools and creating a vision into a reality.

I love that Ryann helped vacuum up all the sawdust that was in the garage, without finding the present hidden in the corner under some blankets.

Thanks Heidi!

We have a wonderful friend who is so thoughtful and is always thinking of our girls. Seriously, she spent some serious time and effort picking out the perfect gifts for my girls. Cara has yet to remove the sweatshirt she bought her (except for a bath), and Ryann hasn't let the unicorn "buttercup" out of her sight.

Cara, Ryann and Peyton getting ready to open their presents.

Ryann and Buttercup

Cara's new sweatshirt and Pascal

Merry Christmas Heidi! We are excited to bring over your present soon!

Primary Sharing Time

Ryann was chosen to dress up on Sunday for sharing time. Being the totally responsible mother I left my class to take a picture of the nugget. Doesn't she look cute??

Christmas Dresses

We won't be at our church ward for the next two Sundays so I dressed the girls in their new Christmas Dresses this week.

I thought it would be great to take a picture of them by the Christmas tree.

Picture #1 "CHEESE" says Cara.

Picture #2, I say, "CARA, open your eyes."

she says, "I CAN'T!"

Picture #5,326

Just hug and have fun.

I'll take it.

Getting Closer

We are getting closer to the finished product. Rich started painting today!