December / Christmas 2009

It's been a busy month, but also relaxing since we decided to stay home for once the Christmas holiday instead of traveling as usual. We were fortunate to have Andrew, Leah and Taya come spend the week of christmas with us...we had a blast!




Andiee was excited to sit on Santa's lap at her "playgroup" Christmas party

Andrew, Leah and Taya on the train....

We took the kids on the "Polar Express" train ride on an old train about an hour from our house...we got cookies and chocolate milk, read the Polar Express book with the elves, sang christmas carols and got to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus when we arrived at the "North Pole". The kids got to wear their pj's on the ride....super fun!

Us on the train

Eating our cookies

Us with Mrs. Claus

The whole group of us in front of the train. Our friends Patrick, Nanette and Mikayla also came with us.

Andiee and Taya making christmas sugar cookies in their aprons

Christmas morning....

Taya and Andiee in the gigantic stockings

We found Andiee and Taya "pretending" to be sleeping on the couch

Opening the loot from Santa...

Daddy and Andiee

Uncle Andrew reading all the new books to the girls

Taya in the snow

Andrew and Kyle out cooking our annual deepfried turkey...YUMMMM...

Christmas dinner

Andiee snuggling with auntie Leah

Andiee helping Daddy put together her new "big girl" bed...in her jammies, rain boots and candy necklace....must have all these accessories to get the job done right!!

"I'll take care of this side, while you finish up the the other one daddy"!

Done at last....she LOVES it! Suprisingly, she doesn't ever get out of it and I randomly find her snuggled in her bed during the day...silly kid!

We took Andiee to the Children's treehouse museum for a day...Kyle and Andiee on the firetruck.

Sledding on all our new snow...I think we have about 1 1/2 feet total...and still more to come...we are loving it!

On the way to the park

Yummy hot cocoa with marshmellows after a day in the snow

Thanksgiving 2009 WA Trip

We had a VERY busy 2-week trip up to WA again for Thanksgiving...visiting family and friends on all corners of the state! We had lots of fun, 2 thanksgiving dinners with yummy food and 3 stuffed bellies!(= We were trying to visit as many people as we could because we won't be going back up there for Christmas this year...it will be the first year that we will be at home for the holiday in 3 years. We will miss being with everyone, but are very excited to spend x-mas in our own house, the Utah snow and have Andrew, Leah and Taya to share our fun with! Here is a few pics from our trip....


We stopped and spent the night at G&G Doolittle's on our way up. Andiee quickly became attached to her Great Grandparents....it was very fun for her to have some one-on-one time with them to get to know them a little better.

Andiee being pushed all over the house by Braedyn in a cart at Papa and Grandma Smith's house...she had a great time playing with all her cousins!

Cousins snuggled up in the blankets watching a movie

Grandma Smith got out her special tea set and had a tea party with the kids....Andiee is still talking about it!!

On to Grandma and Papa Knopp's house to visit the other side of the fam. Here is cute little Halle and her mommy.

Andiee's favorite thing...to talk Papa into taking her outside in the swing...it doesn't take much to get him talked into it!(=

Thanksgiving day...was also my friend Reta's birthday...the girls and very much enjoying their cupcakes!

Reta's daughter Ali

Uncle Andrew (or Scuttles as Andiee calls him) reading a book to Andiee

Andiee's new best bud...my good friend Ashley visiting from Australia. It was SOOO much fun to see her...and are planning a visit as soon as we can!

Andiee's new favorite game....having Kyle carry her around the house in a bag...yes, I know...she's a bit crazy!(=