It's birthday week

Katie and Aida are turning 3 this week. It is hard to believe that these two tiny girls are growing up so fast. They are so much fun and we are so blessed to have them both in our family. They are such good little friends and have lots of fun together. Happy Birthday Katie on Jan. 26th and Aida on Jan. 27th! We are having a double birthday party at our house for them on Saturday. Should be lots of fun!!!!

 

Another painting project

In two weeks Katie and Aida are turning 3. I love shopping for tiny girls, so I have found them a couple of darling little outfits at Children's place on clearance, but wanted to get them something fun to go with them. Last week I took Aida and Hailey with me when we went to tend Josh's girls on Wednesday, and Aida spent a good share of the time we were there riding Katie's scooter around the house. I went right out and bought her a scooter, but couldn't figure out what to get Katie. Josh mentioned it would be fun to have a little table and chairs. They already had a cute wood table I had found at a yard sale a few years ago, but it needed to be refinished, so I took it home with me and got to work sanding and painting it. On Saturday, I went to Ikea and bought some little chairs to go with it. I got them all built and hope she will enjoy it!!!



Here's a close up of the table and chairs. I am so happy with how it turned out!

 

Good bye Elder Levens, Hello Elder Signs

Wednesday was transfer day, I always dread transfers. We really learn to love our Elders and hate to see them go. Elder Levens is heading off to Kearns.


We are really going to miss Elder Levens, he has been great fun to have around.


Elder Aguilar's new companion is Elder Signs from New Mexico. He is the oldest in his family and is another great elder. We are happy to have him in our home!

 

My project for the weekend, painting a bookshelf.

This week, we have taken down all our Christmas decorations. I think I get tired of so much stuff and just want things to look clean again. Saturday, I decided that the nursery was out of control, and needed to dejunk it a bit. I had dress ups, and all kinds of things in bins up there, just too much stuff. I bought this tiny bookshelf at a yard sale a couple of summers ago, it was unfinished and has sat in my garage for the last few years. I have had all my children's books in a HUGE basket in the corner of the nursery, and I have so many books, it was overflowing, and always looked messy. If the girls wanted a book, they had to dig through the whole pile. So I dug out the book case and painted it, I took all the dress ups down stairs to the play room and got that room all organized again, and put all the books on the book shelf. It is amazing how many books I could put on a tiny little book shelf. It looks so much better!

 

There is still a lot of stuff in a small bedroom.......

but it feels so much better having it a little more organized!!!

It has been so nice to have a nursery, now I just need to keep it clean and organized!

Skyler and Kara's wedding

December 30, 2011 was a wonderful day for our family. Skyler and Kara were married in the Dallas temple. Mom, Dad, Lani and I were able to fly to Dallas for the great day. Robynn arranged for us to stay at one of her friends houses who was out of town. It was just 2 blocks from her house. We had such a great time! We arrived the day before the wedding, and spent that day visiting with family. Friday, the weather was amazing, a perfect day for a wedding. After the wedding, Robynn and Dick treated all of us to a fun luncheon at a great French restaurant right by the temple. After the luncheon, all the girls, (except Kara) went to the American Girl Doll store. Then it was time to go home and get ready for the reception. We headed for the reception, and ended up getting lost. Luckily, Ricky and Dick came and rescued us and led the way for us to find it. The reception was very nice. They had tons of delicious food, and fun music and dancing. That was the favorite part of our little girls and Pamela's adorable little boys, Oliver and Miles. The next day was New Years Eve, we had fun visiting again, and did a little shopping, before the yummy New Years Eve dinner that Robynn made for us. Sunday morning, we packed up and headed to the airport and arrived home in time for church at 11:00. We had such a great time, Robynn and Dick are the best hosts for a fun wedding weekend. Thanks so much!!!!


The girls had so much fun climbing in the trees while they waited. For some reason, Keelie really liked me, she came and wanted me to hold her and give her hugs a lot, I LOVED it!!!!


Hang on Brooklyn


Addison is so cute, when the sun gets in her eyes she winks, most of my pictures of her she is winking, there was a lot of sun that day!


Mom and Callum


Everyone is waiting to see them come out. (Aren't those little girls adorable!)


The proud parents get a glimpse of the bride and groom.


Skyler looked so handsome, and Kira was GORGEOUS!!!!


It was so fun to see the two little cousins,(and their parents) they are both sooooo sweet!!!


What a wonderful and BEAUTIFUL family Robynn and Dick have!!! It was a very special day to be in the temple with all of them.

 

Little Christmas Eve

In our family, for the last few years, we have been celebrating Little Christmas Eve. (It is Christmas Eve's eve) Most of our kids go to the inlaws on Christmas Eve, and then Christmas day is so busy, that we have really enjoyed doing our Christmas a few days early. Tonight we had a delicious dinner of chicken rollups, rice, yummy salad, darling Santa rolls, (see picture below) green bean casserole, amazing caramel brownies and peppermint icecream.

 

Here's a shot of everyone who came to dinner

 

It was fun to have all the grandparents and Lani, besides our kids and grandkids.

 

It's so nice to fit so many people in our kitchen!

 

Look at the camera Katie,(I think she is trying to make bunny ears on Abbie.)

 

Our big 3 girls

 

I was surprised, they really ate pretty well for being so excited for the evening activities

 

Here's the girls right after opening the presents from mom and dad, I love how excited they were about everything, and I especially love the look on mom and dads faces. These tiny girls are so blessed to have so many grandparents who just adore them!!!

 

Abbie is so cute, as soon as the girls opened the outfits we gave them, she had to put hers right on. I hope the rest of the girls look as cute in theirs as Abbie does in hers!

 

Lani brought a fun white elephant game with enough presents for everyone all in paper bags. Everyone had a great time trying to decide if they should keep their gift or trade it for the one someone else got. Jamie got an awesome chocolate orange.

 

All the girls were so excited when we brought out their doll houses! I think they are going to really enjoy them!

 

It was so fun to listen to them as they played with their houses.

 

Here's Aida testing out her new car.

 

Grandma Cline gave all the girls Barbie dolls to play with in their doll houses

 

Lani gave all the girls the cutest red wool coats! They loved them and they LOVE her! Mom and Dad gave them Clifford the dog books and stuffed animals, sooooo cute!

 

Just before the girls left, I told them the story of Teach the Children. I had Santa's bag filled with all the Christmas things, a tree, wreath, candy cane, ornament, etc. We talked about what each of them symbolized and asked them to try to remember what they mean when they see them. I think their favorite was that a candy cane not only symbolizes the shephards hook, to bring back the lost sheep, but if you turn it upside down, it is a J for Jesus who is the reason for the season!!!!
Right before everyone left, Jordan called and was at the airport in SLC for a 20 minute layover. We were so wishing it would have been longer so we could have all gone to see him! He got to talk to all the kids, and it made it fun to have him join our celebration, even though it was just on the phone! We sure miss him and Jamie, but are happy for them to be spending Christmas in California with Jamie's family. I hope everyone has as wonderful a Christmas as we did!!!