Christmas 2010

Christmas was so much fun this year with the girls. Even though Abby doesn't get the idea of presents yet, she had a blast playing with all her new toys. We had a very nice holiday.

Abby playing with the book Erica got her.

She loves to lay on her belly and flip the pages.Mike came up and went to the Wood's Christmas party with me on Thursday since Chris had to work late. He spoiled the girls, as always.

Our tree

Anna decorated most of the ornaments by herself. Abby loved to grab the decorations so the nice ones were up top, the homemade ones were on the bottom! At least this year it was her, and not the dogs!
Getting ready for Santa!

Anna was so excited to put cookies and milk out for Santa.

And the next morning, she was excited to eat the one cookie Santa didn't eat!!
Christmas Morning!

She asked for Big Fuzzy Noodles (Fuzzoodles)

They are seriously the cheesiest things.

She made Chris build them.It's all about the Polly Pockets.

Mike got her the "by the pool" lounge set, I got her in "in the pool lounge set".

She loves them!

Abby was happy with the wrapping paper, boxes and empty packages.

Oh and anything that made noise!

Heading to Grandma's
My cousin Ethan got a huge Nerf gun, so of course we had to play with it!

Steph and MomLarry and Jodi
Will, Colby, Shawn and Steph Our family

We had a very nice Christmas. We got season passes to Lagoon again since we had so much fun going last year. It makes it nice because you can go for a few hours here and there and not feel like you have to spend 10 hr straight to make it worth the money.

The best gift was an oil painting Chris had made. I had taken a picture of the girls on my cell phone just before I returned from maternity leave last February and sent it to Chris one day. He took that picture and had it made into an oil painting. The wife of one of his coworkers is an artist and did an excellent job on it. Abby's big bald head is so cute!

I love how it turned out. So surprised when I saw it on Christmas morning.

This picture doesn't do it justice. If you are ever in our home, make sure you see the real one!

I'm feeling crafty!!!

The last week before Christmas and I AM FEELING THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT!! What does that mean? It means I get CRAFTY!! Forget the hustle and bustle of what makes the holiday so commercial, and really take the time to think about the reason for the season and just stop and breathe. When I craft, it's just me, the glue gun and my thoughts. It's my down time. My relax time. My re-coop time.

So I've found a few new craft sites and got some great, easy ideas. I actually have completed these boards, but I'm waiting for that silly measuring tape to appear so I can hang them in Abby's room. I made a few for Anna's room and did manage to hang hers. Pics to come soon!

So this week I'd like to work on these cute skirts. They seem pretty easy to make, however I don't own a sewing machine so that's the one thing stopping me. I might hand sew or see if I can find a used machine online for dirt cheap or ask around to borrow one.

Click HERE for the tutorial

Another craft I thought would be super easy and cheap to make are these fun coasters. I got the idea of a new craft site I came across call Joy Is At Home

Click HERE for the tutorialThey seem super easy to make and would be fun gift ideas. I like the idea of using them as candle stands too!

LET THE CRAFTING BEGIN!

Ward Christmas Party and SANTA!

Saturday was our ward Christmas party. Chris and I are on the "unofficial, official" party planning committee. It's our first calling!

Friday night I helped set up chairs, tables, decorate and prepare for the big day. Saturday morning I was back at the church at 6:30am ready to cook! I made a joke with my sister that if I had known Mormon's woke up so early on their days off for this stuff, I would have gone Catholic! (come on, that's funny!!) But I will say I can pretty much finish out 2010 without another pancake!

The breakfast turned out great. The church was packed, there was plenty of food, a great devotional and best of all...SANTA!!

Anna was so excited to see Santa and tell him what she wanted.

You can pretty much see her saying "First I want this, and one of these, and next don't forget this, and if you have time..."

Abby actually walked right up to him (with a small push from Chris)

She wasn't 100% sure of him, but she didn't really mind.

Abby's like "Okay, this is weird. I'm just going to hold really still until the fat man puts me down"! Great Santa pics this year!!

Party for a Princess

We helped celebrate Avva's 4th birthday, princess style, at the Treehouse Museum last week. Erica went all out with the Princess stuff. It was a super cute kids party.

The birthday girl

Climbing the cage

All Abby wanted to do was climb up the bridge and slide back down.

They both love the fish tank
Chris sitting in the Oval Office
Princess Randi, Princess Britney and Princess Anna




Erica dressed up like Sleeping Beauty.
I don't think Anna recognized her!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVVA!

Wintertime Fun

How do you keep the kids busy when it's too cold to play outside all day?

You play Santa, Santa, Reindeer You bug the dogYou try to pull ornaments off the Christmas treeYou make craftsYou nap with dadYou bundle up to stay warm!

(Isn't that the cutest hat? My neighbor gave it to Abby. It's become one of my favorites!)

He's kind of a big deal

Chris was awarded the TOP BRANCH MANAGER award for Q1 FY2011 for the 2nd time in a row AND was ranked #9 (top 10%) for overall individual sales for his area. Both awards are based on Utah/Idaho branches. Way to be babe! So proud of how hard you work.

Chris's favorite thing to say to me lately is "I'm not sure if you've heard, but I'm kind of a big deal". Okay Ron! Okay!

Two very different little girls

My computer crashed over the summer and I thought I had lost ALL pictures prior to April of this year. Luckily my awesome neighbor was able to retrieve everything off of it for me. I've had so much fun looking back at all my old pictures of my dad, Anna as a baby, our first house, etc. I'm always being told how much Anna and Abby look alike so I decided to compare their 1 year birthday pics.

You be the judge.

Anna and her cake

Abby and her cakeAnna at 1 year

(she looks like she's pooping'!!)Abby at one year ***
Anna definitely had more hair!!
Both were walking at 11 months.
Abby sleeps through the night since just past 4 months, Anna wasn't until well past 1yr old!
Anna never put things in her mouth or got into things, Abby is the exact opposite.
Abby is definitely our snuggly baby. She loves to be held and cuddled with.
Both girls are hams and LOVE to laugh.