January 2015

We spent a lot of January recovering from December.  In fact, Kate's facial expression in the picture above pretty much shows how I felt about the month.

Here are some highlights:

1.  My sister, Laura, got her mission call to South Carolina. It was fun to watch her open it via Skype.  

2.  New Years resolutions

3. Visits to the Thinkery

4.  My purse was stolen from my car while I was at the gym. I thought it was safer in the car than at the gym but I was wrong….won't be doing that again.  They managed to get $2,000 cash out of our bank account when everything was even on alert and closed. Ironically, they stole the money out of a bank in Katy, Texas.  I talked to the police a lot. Gratefully we got the money back...after 3 months.

My purse never leaves my side now.

5.  Chasing Mason everywhere because he learned to crawl.  

He loves dogs.

You can never have too much toilet paper.

Sweet Potatoes.

Laura's mission call...

Giggles

I don't even know how old Mason is in this video, maybe around 7 months, but I don't want to forget this sound.  Nothing beats giggles from a baby. 

New Years

New Years was a party.  The girls wanted to stay up tip midnight with their friends so we let them embrace the fun.  There were games, lots of food, and plenty of party blowers to make lots of noise.  We blew up a gingerbread house, as is tradition and we are glad Dave's hand survived the event. Oh boy!  We probably won't be letting the men make homemade bombs out of baking soda and vinegar again, it really does have a big explosion.  The kids made it to midnight and were crazy. Everyone had a good time and memories were made.  

Christmas 2014

We loved having a nice and quiet Christmas morning.  The kids broke through the traditional wrapping paper wall that morning and played with their new toys for hours on end.  Kate received kitchen toys, books for Abby,and a walker for Mason. The biggest surprise was a brand new trampoline in the backyard when they went downstairs for breakfast.  The girls squealed when they saw the trampoline and ran out to jump on it in their princess pjs.  While jumping, Abby explained how she thought Santa delivered the trampoline.  Apparently it was dangling by strings, tied to the bottom of the sled and when they came to our house they simply cut the string and it fell into our backyard in perfect position…because Santa is magical like that.  

We enjoyed the rest of the day relaxing.  Brett smoked a turkey on his new grill and the Millets came to join us for Christmas dinner.  It was the perfect day. 

Officially destroyer of all ornaments. 

Someone dipped into the lipstick and was caught going through all of mommy's make-up.

Cousins

Watching the Sound of Music, a family favorite.

The girls bought gifts for their Secret Santa and delivered them.  

Fun with friends over Christmas break.

Buddy the Elf was very popular again this year.  My mom sent us Buddy several years and he has been a hit ever since.  The kids love writing him letters and every once in a while change how they are behaving in case he is watching. 

Sea World over Christmas Break.  The girls got to sled in snow from their SNOW event and they were in heaven.  Everyone else in the world is getting away from the snow and here in Texas we spend lots of money to make our own. Oh, the irony. Ha!

Christmas Eve

We had our friends over on Christmas Eve and the kids had a great time doing a nativity scene.  Mason loved the attention he was getting for his part.  The girls, of course, all fought over who would be Mary so we had them all alternate. ;)

Lights

It's always magical to watch a child experience Christmas for the first time.  Mason was at a perfect age.  He was mesmerized with the lights.  I can't decide which he loved better, the lights or destroying the tree decorations. 

We opened a Christmas book from our collection every night in the month of December and the kids looked forward to it every night.  It was fun to have Abby read a lot of the books this year.

Oh Little Town of Bethlem

"Oh Little Town of Bethlehem…"  Our neighboring city had a fun 'Bethlehem Day' at their town square and it was fun to experience a taste of life when the Savior was born.  The girls loved making clay coins, dancing to music and watching the nativity.