December catch-up

So, I've kinda been a slacker when it comes to blogging this month, so there are a few things that happened around here that deserve a little mention. First thing that rarely happens in Houston (although, it did happen last year too) it snowed! It snowed for quite awhile too, the kids loved seeing it, and as soon as Halli got home from school they were outside playing in it. It had piled up a little bit on the fence so there was just enough to be able to gather to make small snowballs and an itty bitty snowman.

Kevin and Halli making the snowman. It was a little difficult cause the snow was really wet, but they managed it.

So proud of their little creation. Love it!

we had our ward party, and the kids got to wear thei pajamas. Halli got to sing a few songs with the primary, I can't wait to see Peyton up there with her next year!

Then of course, it was time to meet santa. I was exhausted at this point, it was late, Peyton didn't feel like getting anywhere near santa, and Kevin was running around with Lexie, so it's just Halli. She was so excited to ask santa for her gifts.

One of the biggest things that happened this month was that Halli lost her first tooth! She was beyond excited and even pulled it out herself. She is basically the last of all her friends to lose a tooth, so she was glad to be joining the permenant teeth club. Funny thing is that the permenant tooth was already half in behind the baby tooth, so it almost doesn't look like she lost a tooth at all. Her two top teeth are loose now too, so we'll see which one's next!

And last but not least is Lexie, her hair is FINALLY growing, and I can actually get a little pony tail on top of her head. I love it, she looks adorable and people have stopped calling her a boy.

Now, if I could just get her to leave the bow in all day.

So, there's a quick catch up on our little family this past month. Maybe next month I'll do a better job of staying on top of it all!:)

Christmas 2009

Christmas this year was a little more mellow for us. I let a few things fall by the wayside that we normally do...sorry if you didn't get a christmas card or a plate of goodies, just didn't feel up to all of it. But I did get to spend alot of time with the girls, baking, and especially helping Halli make bunches of letters to hand out to friends and family. She was on fire this year, wanting to make gifts for everyone. I love that she loves to give to others, whatever she has to give, she wants to do it.

One of the most fun things we did this year, and something that I'm sure will become a new tradition for our family, was heading out a couple days before christmas to get sibling gifts. We headed to McDonalds for a delicious and healthy:) breakfast, and after that it was on to Walmart. each girl got $5 per sibling, Kevin took Peyton and I had Halli and Lexie and we spent a little while picking out something that they could give their sisters. Lexie of course could care less, but Halli had a blast trying to find something for Peyton for $3 so that she could still have money left to get her some candy. I don't know how Peyton reacted to it all, but I'm guessing she had fun morning hanging out with dad.

The next day on Christmas Eve, we spent the morning hanging out and making cookies for santa. The girls, as always, love frosting (or eating the frosting) cookies.

Eating the frosting, I have no idea how much sugar this girl has eaten in the last week, but I think it's safe to say our house desperately needs to become a sugar free zone very soon!

Then that evening we headed down south to sing christmas carols and eat pizza with some of Kevins extended family. The girls had fun, and we enjoyed seeing some family members that we don't get to see very often. Once we got home it was time to open their christmas eve gift, pajamas, read the christmas story, and unwrap our last book under the tree, twas the night before christmas.

I have never seen the girls go to bed so quickly and so easily before. They didn't fuss at all, and they didn't come out once. Santa was waiting to come, so I checked on the girls at 9 and was shocked that they were actually sound asleep. They were also given strick instructions that they were not to wake Lexie up when they woke up. They were allowed to go through their stockings, but they couldn't open gifts, and they couldn't wake us up. Amazingly, they did very well!

The traditional photo of the christmas tree, I love seeing it all lit up, and loaded with presents underneath.

Can I just say as a side note, I am in love with hobby lobby wrapping paper, it's SO pretty!

The big gift for the girls this year. They LOVED it, and played with it for over an hour before insisting that we get out of bed. It's massive, I know, but I justify it by saying that we have three girls, so it'll be good to have a big one, maybe they'll actually share it!

Pure joy while opening gifts, LOVE it!

Actually playing nicely together, that is until Lexie tried to join in.

Kevin, so excited about his tickets to the rockets/lakers game from my mom.

I know this is a pure disaster, but this was christmas morning. wrapping paper everywhere, toys everywhere, and three completely happy little girls. I had started putting all the wrapping paper in garbage bags, but eventually gave up, it was just more fun to watch the girls.

Last, I have to show one of Halli's gifts to me. She is so wonderful and creative. She wrote this letter to me and included all the corresponding candy bars. She knows me too well!

To translate her 6 year old writing, it says:

dear mom,

when you change Lexie's diaper, you are a butterfinger, when you work you are a sweetart. When you laugh you are an airhead. Sometimes you are a rolo, when you eat you are a kit kat. When you tell a joke you make me snicker. when you eat starbursts, it is yum.

love, halli

We had a wonderful christmas, it was relaxing and enjoyable, and we got to just spend time together as a family. I have been given the greatest gifts every in our three beautiful daughters, and my amazing husband, what more could a girl ask for?

Family Pictures

While we were in California over Thanksgiving, my family all got together for some major photo sessions. Individual families, the whole family, kids, and even one of my very best friends from high school. I was able to practice some of the photography I had learned from my class, and even more fun, the editing! Plus, I was able to get some great photos of my family to hang up, and put on our Christmas card.

So, way too many photos to follow, but these are some of the family photos I took of my sister and her hubby, my brother and his family, and one of my best and oldest friends, Aubree and her cute family too.

Brittany was a little over 2o weeks in these photos, so she was wanting to show off her belly even though it's not all that big!:) But it sure does look cute!

This is my brothers family and his two little boys, who are adorable, and are great at getting their photos taken, unlike my girls.

This is one of my favorite photos, I love how the boys are looking at each other.

This one is slightly blurry, but I love it anyway!

This is Aubree and her husband Tyler. I've known Aubree since we were 9, and I remember way back when teasing her and calling her "Aubree Berry", who knew she'd actually end up marrying the boy we always teased her about, and now that's her real name! They have the CUTEST kids, and their son, Cohen, is seriously photogenic!

Finally, after way too many photos, here are some amazing pictures taken by my sister-in-law, Kate. She did a great job, especially considering we had to have two different sessions because during the first one, a little girl was VERY unhappy, and the second one, another sweet baby girl was freezing, and kinda grumpy. But Kate was good and still got some great pictures, despite working around my kids.

And lastly, the whole family got together to get a huge family shot. We hadn't all been together for 3 years, so it was great to have all the aunts, uncles, and cousins under one roof. I don't have a picture of the whole group, cause it's on the other computer, but here is a picture of my nephew and my mom, that I just loved.

Grandma & grandpa with their 6 grandchildren. Lexie is a little off by herself, but she was happy, when we tried to get her closer in with the group, she just started screaming, thats what happens when you have a very stubborn little girl. I absolutely LOVE this photo and how happy they all look together, what amazing grandparents, and what wonderful cousins my girls have.

Thanksgiving fun

My parents have a tractor, this leads to tons of time outside with the kids driving the tractor around the yard. This year, Lexie was old enough to be able to drive it with dad, and boy did she ever love it!

They drove around and around the yard, and she was as happy as could be...then it was time to get off, and this was what she looked like.

Poor girl, Kevin had pity on her and picked her up to ride again.

Before we came out to california, my sister and brother decided that on thanksgiving day we should have a tractor race. You'd think this would be more common in Texas, but we had to come way out to california to do it. This is the whole gang following my dad around to learn the course, which included chopping some wood, and picking an apple and taking a bite.

Kevin was the first to go, and he did pretty well, until he ran over the bush, but hey, it was WAY better than me! I have never driven the tractor before, so frankly, I'm just glad I didn't die. But I did lose pretty bad I think, Halli even did better than me. I think my dad was the winner, but he's kinda got the upper hand, you know, owning the tractor and all.

My nephew Tyler, ready to start the race.

My other nephew, Chase. This was the fun face I got when I told him to smile at me. He's a cutie, gotta love that crazy personality! We love seeing these boys a couple times a year.

I love this happy girl, she loved having all her uncles to play with and throw her around.

We had a great thanksgiving with the family, although my mom votes for it to be at my house next year so she doesn't have to cook...we'll see if that ever happens:)

Fun in the leaves

I am beyond thankful for all that our Heavenly Father has given us, and the ability we have to find joy in the little things.

I am so thankful for the chance I had today to watch our girls build a leaf pile and spend the better part of the morning playing in it, (something we don't get to do in Houston, cause as far as trees go, we've only got itty bitty oak trees that have almost no leaves).

They were able to enjoy Gods creations without even thinking twice about it, but as their mother, I will make it a point to think twice about all that we have been given, and hopefully pass that on to them.

Be prepared for an onslaught of photos, they were having too much fun, and I took too many pictures!:)

By far, my favorite photo of the day, they're just happy, and beautiful and I love it!

Enjoying the harvest in my parents yard. Can I just say that if you like pomegranates, let me know, they have a tree that's bursting with them!

Sorry for the excessive amount of photos, but what can I say, I've got the most beautiful subjects a person could wish for!