Christmas 2015

We had a wonderful Christmas at home with our little family.  We are so blessed with many wonderful blessings!  This year the main things that the kids got was a Foosball table from Santa, and tablets from us.  I included more details about this Christmas in the photo captions.

Getting these guys to pose for a picture is hard enough on a normal day.  Forget it on Christmas Eve!!

Zander just LOVES to get clothes! haha

He couldn't get enough of this book he got

Haylie in her new P.J.s

This is one beast of a Foosball table

Christmas Morning!

Charlotte got a bed for the living room.  She loves it.

Opening the tablets. Haylie thought it was just a case at first.

Putting together the Lego set from Uncle Darin

Making gourmet dog treats from a kit she got from Uncle Darin

Charlotte enjoying the new bed

The treats are ready and so is the dog!

Lego set completed

Haylie's 10th Birthday

Some years Haylie's birthday on December 1st falls close enough to Thanksgiving that we can talk her into a family party on the weekend after Thanksgiving and then avoid the stress of a friend party.  This was one of those years.  We opened presents and had Klondike Bars at Grandma and Grandpa's house and then headed to a trampoline place in Layton and treated all the kids to a pass to jump.  Most of the Dad's and Uncles got in on the action too.  It was a fun time!!  On her actual birthday she opened her presents from us, including a new bike, and we went out to dinner.  I love this fun celebration times with my own little family too!  I can't believe I have a 10 year old.  There are so many times that I watch her doing something in the kitchen or something and think that it is almost like having another adult sometimes.  She is quite handy as a helper in the kitchen.  She is very smart and kindhearted.  I love her and am proud of the person so is growing up to be.

Thanksgiving 2015

Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite holidays of the year.  I think it was when we kind of made it a tradition to go to my parents house every year.  I love being able to hang out with family, enjoy some serious comfort food (like Darin's stuffing) and have some great laughs.  I have just come to really treasure these times and look forward to them every year.  This year was no different.  These pictures show the usual table set up, depending on how many people we have.  Some of my family alternates where they spend Thanksgiving, and the Arizona folks usually can't make it.  The pictures also show one of my favorite guys, my dad!  He smokes a mean turkey in his smoker on the back porch!  Love him so much!