Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone. Here are a few pictures from our Christmas morning. Thanks everyone for the presents!

In this picture Isaac is saying "This is the best Christmas ever! Santa you are the best!"Aubrey pretended to faint because she was really excited about this present.

Nativity

Every year we go to a family Christmas party at Nick's grandparents house. The kids get to reenact the birth of Jesus. This year Aubrey and Isaac were Mary and Joseph and Madelyn and Tavin were shepherds. Aubrey sang a solo and did such a great job! Even Maddie left her binky and sippy cup as gifts for baby Jesus.

This video is quiet (turn up your volume).

Dancer

Madelyn loves to dance. Anytime there is music on she goes crazy!

Big Sister

Here is a cute video of Aubrey singing and Madelyn trying to sing along with her. Maddie loves to do everything big sister does.

Happy Anniversary!

I cannot believe it has already been 8 years since we were married! I am so thankful I found Nick and that we could be sealed for time and all eternity in the Oakland Temple. I cannot wait to see what trouble we get into in the next 8 years (or until I get tired of him :).

Look how young Nick looks in this picture!!

FAMILY PICTURES!

So we finally got around to taking some family pictures and can I say I LOVE how they turned out! Thank you so much Michelle for doing them for us. Michelle is an awesome photographer. Here is the link to her site http://www.rustybucketphotography.blogspot.com/

Here are just a few of the pictures:

Slide

In order to keep some little hands busy in our house I decided to buy a slide. So far it seems to be working and they are even enjoying themselves.

Here is a little movie that shows just how much!




Here are a few pictures too.

Christmas Tradition

Every year we get ride on a small train at my in-laws neighbor's house. They set it up like The Polar Express and we even get to watch the movie while we are waiting for our turn. The first part of the ride has tons of Christmas lights and then we stop and get to see Santa. The second half of the ride is all about Christ's birth. They even have music that goes along with each part. It is a lot of fun and it is nice that the kids are able to see that Christmas is not all about Santa and presents.

Christmas Decorating!

We finally got around to decorating our house and tree for Christmas. Nick decided to take some pictures and I think I will continue to be the photographer in the family.

Ahhhhhhh!

Okay so I guess I am not allowed to leave the younger children in my house alone at all anymore (even for just 2 minutes). They decided to get out the markers and of course find the only permanent one left in the house and draw all over my kitchen. People usually say that after a while things like this become funny, but I am still not laughing. Maybe when I can finally get the last of the marker off my walls will I laugh.

Happy Birthday Katie!

Aubrey's friend Katie had a Hannah Montana party for her birthday! It was lots of fun and I am surprised that the girls knew so much (in the trivia game) about Hannah. Here is the cake I made for her. Happy Birthday Katie!

Cake

Here is a cake I made for a friend's daughter's birthday. It turned out pretty cute.
*I forgot to add that Shelley made and frosted the cookies!

Party

Today we had a Breakfast/Pajama 7th birthday party. We ended up having about 17 kids (not including Aubrey and Isaac)! Crazy I know, but it ended up being a lot of fun. Thanks Daniele, Kellie, and Heather for all your help!
Here is Aubrey's cake that I made. I has pajamas on the bottom layer with flowers and then flowers on the top layer. I didn't get any really good pictures of it (maybe Heather did?).

Snow day

I really don't like snow. It is beautiful and everything, but it is cold and I hate driving in it. You all have to remember I am a California girl. Yesterday we got quite a bit (from lake-effect). I shoveled the driveway 3 times! The kids love it though and had a good time playing in it. Maybe one of these days I will learn to love it or convince my husband to move to Hawaii.

Sorry this video is sideways. I will do better next time. It is still cute though.