Sisterly love

Not only are the girls starting to really play together and love it, they love smiling for the camera (or being super cheesy doing so).

Cookies

Cali decided she wanted to help me make cookies the other day while Katya was at school. In all reality, she just wanted to eat the M&M's and chocolate chips that went in.

Why am I so excited for this week?

1. Jethro is still on Christmas break!
2. Got a lot of cleaning and organizing finished. Things look so much better.
3. My sister is getting married tomorrow.
4. The girls love seeing their grandparents and aunts.
5. New Year's!
6. Grocery Shopping.
7. 11 am church!
   

Why am I so excited for this week?

1. No school!
2. Jethro has vacation!
3. Christmas.
4. Family here.
5. Dinner out with friends.
6. Projects to work on.
7. Christmas dinner.
8. Christmas movies.
9. Las Vegas Bowl

Ugly Sweater Party

Saturday night we had some friends over for good food and an ugly sweater party. It was loads of fun, the food was good, and we got some good laughs out of the sweaters.

The table

Tom and Cami

Jethro and I

Mike and Brie

Jason and Chelsea

Amber

Wes and Juliana

Awkward moment for the boys

Eating up

White elephant

One gift was super funny..

Many were pretty funny.

The girls

The boys

Why am I so excited for this week?

1. Warm enough to walk Katya to school.
2. Ward Christmas Party.
3. Parent's come into town.
4. Almost all my projects done.
5. Just about done with Christmas shopping.
6. Reading the girls a Christmas Book every night.
7. Christmas music.
   

All in a day's work..

Last Monday we decided to decorate the Christmas tree.

There was a little bit of teasing by way of hiding the Santa hat....


Screaming because her sister was teasing her...


Being confused by the whole tree thing...


Placing ornaments (the girls loved this part)...


And finally a completed tree with plenty of oohs and ahhs- especially from Cali.

Why am I so excited for this week?

1. Snow!
2. Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert.
3. Christmas music.
4. Christmas lights.
5. Friend Christmas party.
6. Doctor's appointment.
7. Hot chocolate.
8. Temple night.
9. Food.
   

Katya Still Escapes

This video is kind of dark, so if you can't see it that well, I apologize. Katya and Cali don't take many naps anymore, but they sometimes really need to. Katya would not stay in bed today, and so you get a video.

Family Pics

We ventured out late Thanksgiving morning to update our family pictures. Megan was nice enough to tag along and take the pictures for us. We have plenty of goofy pictures, but I'll just give you the best of the best.

(I had to include this because I just love it. Thanks Megs.)

Thanksgiving

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving filled with food, family, friends, and fun. Jethro started out playing flag football while I made my first turkey (I can't believe I forgot to take a picture). We took family pictures, at a fabulous dinner and then lazed around watching up. I just love Thanksgiving. I love that there is no pressure of gifts, super fancy decorations, or really bad weather (at least not this year). I loved being able to relax and hang out and reflect on what I'm grateful for. There is so much to be thankful for that I've made it a goal to reflect on it everyday instead of just on Thanksgiving. I think the one thing that I am most grateful for this year is where we live and the friendships we've made and experiences we've had here. I hope to be able to remember that and always be able to look on the bright side of things throughout life.

Now for some pics, and as usual, most are of the girls. Enjoy.

Why am I so excited for this week?

1. Christmas decorations.
   
2. December.
3. Volunteering in Katya's class.
4. Relief Society Christmas party.
5. Cali's 2 year check-up.
6. Jethro's extended family Christmas party.
7. Projects to keep me busy.
8. Turkey pot pie- love the leftovers.
9. Weekly menu is planned- sure takes a load off my mind.

Happy Birthday Cali!

Well, Cali turned 2. I just can't believe it. Sometimes I think she's big enough to be 2, then other days I wish she was still the little baby I could hold in my arms. She is absolutely a girly girl who loves shoes, babies, dress up, and attention. She also loves balloons, balls, and stickers. She is catching on quite well to talking and is pretty good at repeating everything we say. She is also a little on the bossy side and thinks she is the older sister. We love her to death and are so proud of her and happy to have her i the family.

She celebrated her birthday by having friends over to play some games and decorate cupcakes. She loved all the attention and having a party.

Coloring feathers for pin the tail on the turkey- Cali and Spencer

Katya hamming it up while coloring

Pin the feather

Katya, Spencer, Cali, and Nya

Bella and Mike decorating cupcakes

Spencer and Juliana

Cali and Nya

Katya and Megan

The kids loved the balloons.

Cali showing off her princess slippers.

Cali giving Spencer a thank you hug

The royal princess

Enjoying the festivities

Cali has had her eye on a certain baby doll at Costco for awhile and received it from Grandpa and Grandma and was ecstatic. She loved opening and watching daddy put it together. She has been inseparable from it since she got it. She loves the high chair, stroller, and bassinet. Hopefully the care she takes with her baby doll is a good sign how she'll treat her brother.