Gingerbread houses. A family tradition...

Every year since I can remember my family has made Gingerbread houses together. When we were growing up we would always invite a family over each year to enjoy the festivities. It was always something I looked forward to and it is a wonderful Christmas memory for me.

2006...

2007...

2008...

A Christmas performance and some yummy treats

Last Wednesday the 1st graders put on a Christmas performance for their parents. The principal narrated and the kids sang...The Night Before Christmas. The kids had a good time, most of the parents were there to watch. We definitely like the fact that her school does Christmas activities. There's a tree in the lobby, the kids learn songs, and there was a gift exchange in her class as well. Kaiya really loves it!

We kept the Christmas Spirit rollin that night...We made Christmas cookies and delivered them to our friends in the neighborhood.

Ella's first time in the snow

I am catching up on my blog because I am stuck inside (arrrr). Last Sunday we woke up to some snow on the ground and decided to take Ella out to see how she would like it. We bundled her up real good like Randy from The Christmas Story and took her outside. She loved it!

Santa pictures and the 1st snow fall

I rushed home from work, got the girls all dressed up for Santa, stood in line for an hour for a Santa Claus picture...

There were 3 to choose from. This one...

Or this one...

Last but not least...

Ummmm yeah. Do you see a theme to the pictures? Ella is crying in all of them.

When we got home the 1st snow starting falling. The girls were looking out at the snow. Little did any of us know this was the start to A LOT of snow.

LADYBUG.....ahhhhhh!!!!!!

Ella Rose is one tough cookie, she is pretty much fearless......except when it comes to ladybugs!?! We found her Kryptonite. So now when she acts up or talks back.....you guessed it- 2 minutes in the corner with a ladybug--ha ha ....just kidding... but she is afraid of lady bugs. I found this one on the Christmas tree. She was interested at first....then.....well.....the pics say it all.

Playing Doctor

I was sitting on the couch blogging or something and Cirdan was doing some stretches on the floor. I guess Kaiya decided that she needed to play doctor and put Cirdan in a full body cast. I looked over when she was done and saw one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Cirdan was such a good dad and just let her do her thing even if he was wrapped in a bunch of pink blankets.

The big 29! Birthday weekend.

On the 28th of November I celebrated my 29th birthday. Since it was Black Friday it was a perfect day to have a birthday...the biggest shopping day of the year...my favorite "sport"! That is my kind of birthday!

Cirdan woke up and went shopping around 4:30 in the morning so I woke up to him texting me every 20 minutes letting me know how many people were at the stores. He came home with some fun gifts a few hours later. I had a nice relaxing morning, got ready for the day and decided to go out and see for myself all the people shopping. We had some lunch at a yummy Thai food restaurant and then went to Costco (my new favorite store). Cirdan had arranged for my sister to watch the girls that night so just the 2 of us could go to dinner and see a movie. The movie was good and it was nice to have a night out with just Cirdan.

The card and gift Kaiya gave me...

Saturday morning we woke up and the plan was to decorate the house for Christmas. Cirdan went and got some Starbucks for us and an hour later he finally made it home with some surprises for me...

Sunday night we went to my parents house for a Lasagna birthday dinner and some cake.

I blew out the candles...

And all but one was blown out...

So they re lit the cake and I tried again...

And once again all but one was blown out....

Maybe I am really supposed to be turning 28!!

Random picture of Nathan... :)

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday. I love getting together as a family and eating my most favorite meal in the world...turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy. YUM. This year we had a small dinner at my parents house. Nate and Amy were in Utah so it was just Cirdan, Kaiya, Ella, me, Kaylee, Stacey, Casey and my parents. After dinner we drove to my Grandma's house where some extended family were playing volleyball at the church across the street. I couldn't play because of the shoes I had on but I had fun watching Cirdan, Stacey and my mom. I was impressed!! :)

Ham

Kaylee's mound of mashed potatoes

Where is Ella's other shoe??

In Casey's mouth!!

Gotta check out the ads for after Thanksgiving sales!


After volleyball we went to my Grandma's for some delicious pie.