Aleeya's Birthday Party

Three days after Christmas we celebrated Aleeya's first birthday!
After all the practice at Christmas she started to understand how to open her own presents.

This little peanut of a girl is really learning how to put down a cupcake too!

After we had eaten cake Makaylee said, "what games are we going to play?" I told her that Aleeya is too little to play birthday games, but she didn't like that answer and she disappeared for a few minutes. . .

When she came back she was proudly holding THIS. When I asked her what it was, she said "It's pin-the-eye-on-the-baby!"

What a sweet and thoughtful big sister she is!

Here is the finished "Baby."

Birthday Party with the Grandparents!

The party continues. . . We also had Aleeya's four grandparents over to our house to celebrate Aleeya's first birthday!


Like I said, this girl knows what to do with cake!

Proud Grandmas!

Aleeya sure is loved!

Aleeya is One!

Happy Birthday my adorable baby girl! I don't know how time disintegrates when I look into your happy-baby-blue-eyes. It seems like yesterday I was holding all 7 1/2 pounds of you in my arms. I love you so much- but I do have one request:
Please. Slow. Down.

19lbs. 2oz. (20th %) 30 inches (90%)

"Miss Independent!"

Merry Christmas 2010!

Christmas morning is so much fun with our darling little kids! There is nothing cuter than being woken up to a bouncing 6 year old saying "Wake up, it's Christmas! Santa came! Get up, get up!"

The kids got everything they wanted, plus something that none of us did. . . THE STOMACH FLU! Seriously! We are really good at getting nasty illnesses on important holidays!

Baby's first Christmas! She didn't quite understand what was going on, but she didn't mind!

She got a little... scratch that, A LOT of help from brother and sister with opening the presents!

Christmas 2010 was a lot of fun, but we are hoping for a healthier 2011!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

Santa is coming in just a few days, and the kids couldn't be more excited! We went to see Santa at the fun Riverton Christmas lighting and the kids had their chance to talk to Santa in person! Makaylee was so nervous, she pulled a 'Ralphie' (Christmas Story) when Santa asked her what she wanted she couldn't remember! (Don't worry, when her wits came back we wrote Santa a letter and told him what she really wanted for Christmas... a Pillowpet!)
Rowen had a more direct approach, he was eyeing Santa's candy bag the whole time we waited in line, so when Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas, Rowen looked him straight in the eye and said "A Candy Cane!" and his wish was granted moments later! (And unfortunately my camera had a seizure and lost the cute picture of Rowen on Santa's knee. )

We were lucky to even get Aleeya to sit on St. Nick's lap!
Merry Christmas!

My Little Gentleman

Rowen looked out the window today at the fresh snow and said, "Uh-Oh! I needa shovel the sidewalk!" So, I helped him get his coat and gloves and outside he went. I watched him from the inside of the window for a half hour our so, and realized that he was going to stick with it for as long as it took! So I got my coat and gloves and joined him.



He was born a little gentleman, he loves to open doors for me and his sisters. He even compliments me when I have worked hard on something: "Wow, that was lots of hard work Mommy!" And if I am carrying things down or up the stairs he will say, "Do you have lots of things in your hands Mommy? Here, I will open the [baby] gate for you." What a little charmer he is!

Christmas Recital

Makaylee and her cute class danced to "Jingle Bell Rock" this year. The all looked so cute in their little red outfits! She even got a medal at the end of the recital.

Stairs: 1/ Knees: 0

For 6 1/2 years, every time I would climb stairs while holding one of my babies, I would worry about falling. I never did-- until today! Cement ones. It hurt. Alot. Aleeya was fine, unfazed really. My black & blue knees are another story!

Makaylee was so sweet, she worries so much! She was hovering over me whimpering and asking me if I was ok-- and I wasn't answering because I was too busy biting my cheek trying not to cry. The next thing I knew she was wrapping a blanket around me & putting an icebag on my knees! That girl is a natural born nurse I tell you!

Christmas Family Pictures

My sweet and talented sister took these pictures for us in Daybreak. These are our first family photos we've had taken since Aleeya joined our little family!
I am saving Aleeya's individual photos until her birthday in 3 weeks, they are worth the wait!

I am such a lucky girl to be married to this handsome man!

Oh Christmas Tree. . .

Oh Christmas Tree. . . You make such a festive background for pictures!

Gingerbread FHE

We built a cute little gingerbread house for Family Home Evening. We sang "The Wise Man Built his House Upon a Rock" and talked about what the song meant-- how we can build a strong house, both with our family and with our faith. The kids have never been so attentive during FHE! They were meticulous about how they decorated that little house! (Rowen ate about half of his candy before it ever made it onto the frosting though.)

(I was having a little bit too much fun with editing software!)



We are ready for you Santa!