2010 iS hErE!

Another decade & hopefully another year with not too much craziness! I don't know about you...but I am glad 2009 is over! And I am not about to share all my resolutions with ya...but one of our family goals is to keep better in touch with our friends this year. We are so lucky to have some of the most amazing friends...and it is too hard to let any of them go. However, it is good to develop a deeper relationship with some and keep in touch with all. So I must say it is pretty much impossible to do it all...but we at least started out the year right with going to dinner with some of Josh's friends at Red Lobster!

NeW yEaR's EvE FeStiViTiEs

The day before new years eve Amanda had a rockin' bday party and it was the best way to start off the new year's parties!
We arrived in style in a stretched Excursion limo to Buca di Bepo for dinner, and then went to Keys on Main for some piano & singing. By the end of the night my voice was raspy...but it was so fun! Thanks Amanda! And Happy Birthday!

And then for New Year's Eve, to start, Josh and I went to breakfast with Tanner (josh's brother).
Poor Emily was sick...(get better Em!) Later, we went to Chelsey & Dave's house (josh's sister) and had yummy food. Chelsey and Charissa (both josh's sisters) are the most amazing cooks. I love that we get to benefit from it!

Then, we raced home to get the kids in bed, and dressed for our Murder Mystery party. This was super fun and I laughed so hard at the costumes and acting. We have some funny friends!
does she look like a killer to you?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

cHrIStMaS DaY

Waiting to open presents...
Santa was good to us...maybe because the kids fuiiled the manger with strips of cloth for each kind deed they did. And the kids just loved tearing open gifts- Aaron would just throw the paper up in the air with each tear (just like what you'd imagine on a movie). He especially loved the helicopter, baseball batting machine, basketball shot, bakagon, and transformers he got.
and Annelise was so gracious with every present (saying how much she loved Santa or us). She got legos, a special necklace in a star box, a robe, track suit, many mermaids, and some crafting sets. Believe it or not but she actually took a nap from all the excitement and we have the picture to prove it!


Cole just was in awe of what was going on...
and Josh, I think he is relieved that Christmas is over- and I am of course sad. I just love Christmas and all the fun, madness and magic of it all. Until another year...
I did get the camera I have been wanting..and here are my first few pictures...




ps...thanks to our wonderful friends the Menloves for our yummy brunch!

ChRiStMaS eVe

Our Christmas Eve started with dinner at the Yeates' home and then the nativity, a visit from Santa, and then PRESENTS! The kids were so excited to give their gifts to their cousins and to see what they got from grandma and grandpa. It was so fun. We then did the tradition of giving new Christmas jammies and setting out cookies for Santa. Annelise & Aaron got to call Santa's sleigh phone 3 times during the day to hear his updates and were so into hearing from him. It was a perfect day.


Seeing Santa one last time for those last minutes wishes...

and another failed attempt to get Cole to warm up to "the big guy"

Children's Nativity...Aaron was a wiseman...that apparently is still seeking the group (since he wouldn't stand for the picture) Annelise was an angel and Cole was a shepherd that was still gathering his sheep (insisting on staying in my lap)
COOKIES FOR SANTA

PaRtY aNiMaLs We ArE...

Here's some pictures from a few of the many parites we went to this December...


And some pictures of the crafts Annelise and her cute friend Payton made...
And our fun excursion to the Ogden lights this year...(it was FREEZING!!!)

Oh ChRiStMaS tReE...

we love you...and were sad to take you down today...

We ventured to the mall today...and let me tell you it was nuts! We had VERY little shopping left to do- we mainly went so the kids could see Santa. I thought Cole would do better- he was really tired! But the other two kids love Santa! The whole ploy to say "santa is watching"...to get the kids to behave isn't working anymore. I wish I could say it was! Especially since we are off from school for the next two weeks! I hope we make it to Christmas without too much stress!

MeRrY ChRiStMaS

DeAr SaNtA

Since I keep the postings I post in a book- I just had to include the cute letters to Santa my kids did this year.


I also have to talk about the cute tradition we are doing this year...we have a life size manger by our tree. And if the kids do something nice for someone else, they get to put a strip of cloth in the manger. The goal is to make it soft for the baby Jesus before his arrival on Christmas. (There is a catch...if the manger isn't soft for Jesus, than we don't deserve for Santa to visit our house.)

The kids have been really into it so far! Even Aaron! He will go get a blanket and put it on me or Cole, or he tries to feed Cole, or will do something nice for Annelise (sharing or getting her a toy) Annelise is really capable of doing great things since she is older, and some days she amazes me with her kindness. I am glad they are learning about the true meaning of Christmas. It can get lost in the business and the excitement for gifts. It is a truly magical time of year though. I love it and am sad each day when it ends- meaning that we are a little closer to it being over.

jen whiting...you rock! What else can I say?