Christmas I

What a wonderful Christmas Season we had this year! This year we spent Christmas Eve at our house for the first time in our entire marriage. It was really nice to just be us for the night. Grandparents Stegelmeier and Aunt Cathy came to help us open presents that morning before Church. Oh how spoiled we all were!
Hailee's loot included an Innotab with a Dora Game, some clothes, a computer, a kitchen with all the parts, Princess Paraphanilia, Snowglobes, playmats, a bathrobe, some books, a puzzle, a new work coat, a Bell Doll and some movies. Thanks to everyone who spoiled her. She is really lucky and so far has been pretty thankful for her gifts.

Carter's loot included basketball hoops, a little ride-on talking pony, blocks, a big John Deere tractor, a bear sleeping bag, some new clothes, a ball popping dinosaur, a workbench, a piggy bank, some sippy cups, his own tool and phone, a movie, some light-up baby toys, and some baby crayons. He loves to drag it all out, push some buttons and then find the remote or unroll some toilet paper. Thanks to everyone who spoiled our little guy. He is so busy and will definitely be using all his cool new stuff!

After Church we went to Grandpa Layne's for some more present craziness and some good Biscuits and Gravy. We love getting to spend some time with Uncle Jase, Uncle AJ, Aunt Roni and Uncle Tad. It does get a little crowded though!

Seriously Uncle AJ is crazy and he is lucky that not all of his pictures are of him sleeping. He was pretty strewn out this holiday. He worked alot he traveled alot and so he slept.

Just a little wrapping paper craziness!

I got my dad a desk calendar for his desk at work. It has some pictures of his family and then some funny quotes for each month. Overall it was a success! I need to take a picture of it at his office. I wonder if he has even set it up yet???

After my dad's we went home to crash and rest up for part 3 or was it 4?

My mom and step dad showed up Christmas Afternoon for another round of presents and food. They were able to stay the week with us and enjoy the chaos of the after-Holiday-effect.

Curt also got a little spoiled. And by a little, I'm not exaggerating. I think I failed this year.....mostly because he spoiled me so entirely. It felt like Christmas just didn't end this year because I got spoiled again for my birthday. Between all my new gadgets I have stayed pretty busy.
Thank you to everyone who made this holiday so special and memorable. We are very lucky to have you all in our lives!

Our cute nephew Logan came to visit!

My mom and stepdad's grandkids enjoying their first Christmas together.

Even after Christmas was over we still had one more Christmas Party to attend. The HILL Family Christmas Party is not one to miss! It was a blast as it is every year, and this year it seemed to be louder than it has been before.

We ate some delicious soups, bread, dips, and desserts.

Then we played some good old Santa Bingo.

It got a little heated so Tom started stripping down!

After Bingo we played a couple rounds of BUNCO with the Brown Bag Gift Exchange. It was very exciting with some really good gifts this year. I brought home an awesome pan and Curt got some Redvines.

Hailee got some really fun play mats from her cousins this year and we have had fun building forts. Carter loves it just as much as Hailee and then we all can spend a lot of quality time together putting all of it back together and in the tub!

Did I mention I got a new camera? I LOVE this camera. I have had so much fun capturing these kinds of special moments. I got to where I was so stinking frustrated with my old camera that I wouldn't take the pictures that I wanted to. Not anymore! Watchout people I am a photo snapping crazy lady!

Ward Christmas Party!

Don't you just love going to Christmas parties and gettin all dolled-up for pictures. I remember wearing this exact dress Hailee is in and going to a Christmas Party and singing at church. I am still in awe that she is that big and that I am that old.
While Curt was busily working away somewhere far off, we went to the Ward Christmas Party. It had such delicious food and delightful company. Hailee was especially happy to see her friends and to sing for everyone, sit on Santa's lap, and color a few pictures. I don't think she ate much. Good thing for her she has a hungry brother!
Hailee and her friend Leah. They go to preschool together and will be in the same class. They get to see each other often and I am glad they can be friends.

Hailee and Carter with the Big Guy. He is definitely a little intimidating. Hailee told him everything she wanted. She wanted an Ipad, a computer, a Bell CD, and a phone like her dad's. Carter just wanted a ball. Crazy Girl! Also I think it is hillarious that Hailee's first photo with Santa looks exactly like Carters. They are so in awe by him. Atleast it isn't screaming.

Can you tell how much Carter wanted to go see Santa. He kept doing that and poking around to check on him. I think he wanted to make sure he wasn't doing anything crazy. Carter's pretty strict on the rules you know.

The kids in the Primary sang such fun songs. Hailee loved every second of that attention and she sang her heart out, until they gave her a cool thing to hit. Then she pretty much just hit that the rest of the time.!

Hailee and Leah coloring away waiting for Santa. Hailee kept checking the line to see how close we were. She was pretty much zoned in on her target.

Advent Calendar!

One day while shopping @ Craft Warehouse in Meridian. I came across this build your own advent calendar. So I decided I would. I found some cute paper and some number stickers. I even got a few cones to go on the side. Then I went to work. I stained the wood. Then modged on some of that fun paper and the coordinating sticker. It was really pretty easy, cheap and CUTE. Then I decided that I wanted to make this my Christmas traditions advent calendar. I wanted to do something special everyday for Christmas. So I typed up a bunch of my to do's and put them into each little box. I also added a couple stickers and some candy to a couple boxes just to keep Hailee happy.

I loved this whole experience. She would wake up each morning and drag out the next box for me to read.
Can you just see her anticipation!
I tried to stick to a theme, so The DAYS of Christmas it was.

And on the Fourth day of Christmas, you must look your best. Look under the tree for your very own Dress and Christmas Vest!
Then.... On the 15th day of Christmas make a special treat for all your neighbor friends to eat!

Some of the other things we did:

Made snowflakes.

Bought for someone on the Giving Tree.

Drove around looking at Christmas lights.

Danced to Christmas Music.

Learned a new Christmas song.

Went sledding (oh yeah we didn't have enough snow)

Wrote a note to Santa

Decorated Candy Canes for our Grandparents

Made presents for our Preschool friends.

Wrapped our own presents to our family. (Very interesting)

Played a game.

Decorated cookies.

Make Gingerbread houses.

Slept under the tree. (she ended up having a SO @ Aunt Cathy's)

Made an ornament.

Got an ornament.

Decorated our Christmas Tree.

Granted some of these things will change for next year and some of them were a little modged because we were working with a 3 year old. But for the most part I LOVE this tradition and can't wait to use this calendar for years to come!

Thanksgiving!- seriously it did happen.

I love the holidays. Complete with chaos amd noise, family, food, and fun times. This year Curt's family came up for Thanksgiving (we live here so we don't have to go anywhere, but everywhere all at the same time....does anyone else have that? Yes, the chaos.... love it!

Anyway. Aunt Cathy's house is always so much fun and with cousins it is even better. The kids spent time painting up masterpieces!

Nic got us to pkay some way fun games, which I love because I love games. I don't know why my bro-in-law is weird...but I'm sure it wasn't because I was taking pictures!

AND ..... of course we ate so much delicious and spoon-licking good food.

Then we took a nap, stretched,...and ate some more.

THEN...

We went to Twin Falls to see sweet baby Ruger blessed. We all stayed at a motel, ordered pizza, played, and had so much fun! I got zero pictures from the blessing day but Curtis gave a really great blessing and I am always a huge fan of the moment when you see all the men who care about you stand up together to bless a little tiny baby. Pure joy.

It was also a big day because it was Hailee's first time bearing her testimony. She has wanted to go up for a while but I ussually can talk her out of it. I told her to tell me what she wanted to say. She did, then I told her that she would have to say it and not get scared. She didn't. She went up and said. "I love my family. Love my mom n dad. I love Jesus. Name of Jesus Christ Amen." Tear Jerker. She is going to be such an amazing individual as she grows. I am such a proud mommy!


Finally. On Thanksgiving I finished my Cousin Cards that I had been working on for quite some time. The idea was that they could be trading cards for the kids and older people to get to know eachother better. I had a lot of fun and it was really nice to get to know some of the people I don't see as much. Just as an example here is Carter's Card.

This is the back of the card. It had information on each person. I probably should have listed ages on here so that if I did it again you could see how much things have changed. Oh well.

And the front of his card.

I designed them at home and then just took my JD to the local print shop and had them printed on Cardstock and then laminated. I have seen trading cards at walmart that you can make but that was after I went through this process. I am not sure how that one would work!

Fall Family Photos

A few shots from around the farm. I don't think there could be a better backdrop!

My friend Morgan was generous to come take our family pictures this fall. She did a great job considering what she had to work with! I need to get some of these printed before I end up taking new ones again!

The Three Amigos.

The kids and I spend a lot of time hanging out together. It is usually a lot of fun and excitement and we NEVER seem to stop. We try to stay busy so the time goes by faster until Daddy gets to come home.
I love this little shawl. My mom made it and a matching hat for Hailee. She didn't really want to wear it, which is the cause for the scowl. This was our farewell to summer Sunday. No more short sleaves around here! This photo probably sums up the rest of Carter. Such a boy this kid is, and we love him so much!

Curt was sent to work closer to some of our family so we decided to take the chance to go visit them and spend some time with him as well. We had a quick lunch with Christina and Curtis, Trudy and Ruger. It was so fun to see the girls play together. They both get so excited to see eachother. Trudy looked pretty cute in her Strawberry Shortcake hat.

We spent the weekend visiting my mom, stepdad, and grandma. It was a good time and Curt made the extra trip to spend Sunday with us. We went and saw the movie Puss in Boots and it was pretty funny. Hailee liked it, but there were a few parts directed more towards an older crowd.

He is so stinking fast these days and sometimes I am just not quick enough. Hailee was eating her dinner and ran to the potty. It must have looked really good because he scooted on over and started chowing down. Poor kid made a pretty big mess of his casserole, but he really enjoyed it!

My grandma and the kids. I wish we lived closer so I could spend more time with my GMA she is amazing.

This is how we roll into Walmart. Carter hates this hat, but he wore it anyway. Hailee hates being in the cart, but she did it anyway. I hate wrestling two kids while trying to get my shopping done, but I do it anyway.

A mother obviously invented this. I have only used it once, but I am making a mental note of where these seats are located. They are handy for so many reasons.

Go Boise State!

My Grandma LOVES watching Boise State Football. She is a dedicated fan and the rest of us really like them too. This summer we were busy painting rocks and I thought about painting one for her. It is pretty amature, but my kids make it look amazing!

Aren't these two the cutest fans in the entire world! Iam really biased!