santa all year long

For Christmas this past year Wes bought me and the girls the most thoughtful present. I really want to cry every time I think about it. He was anticipating how hard it would get for me to be cooped up all day with no break from the girls and the girls getting no break from me. So he bought us a membership to Thanksgiving point that gives us access to all of their venues anytime we want. I can't wait for it to warm up so we can use it to the full extent at the Children's Discovery Gardens and the farm. But, for now we mostly use it at Halle's favorite spot, the Dinosaur Museum. We have already paid back the cost of the membership because we have gone so many times. It never gets old. Halle can't believe we get to go so much since in the past it was a very rare treat to go. The girls absolutely love it.

So excited to go inside.

Halle visits all her favorite exhibits and digs for dinosaur bones.

Lily is in awe of everything.

With this purchase, he has saved me. When we start to get cabin fever we just pop over to the museum and kill an hour or two. He has given me the gift of sanity and the girls the gift of fun. And you should hear Halle talk about pangea. But, I think Lily's favorite part is the free kiddie cones at the deli.

Thanksgiving point promoted their memberships around Christmas time by saying you could "be santa all year long." How right they were.

christmas 2011

Yes, I am that far behind, but my darlings went to bed early and wes isn't home from work yet so I have a minute to myself to upload pictures. We spent christmas with the bells this year and it was nothing less than absolutely delightful. Halle was very into the magic of santa and truly believes in the naughty and nice list. I may have held it over her head a few times when I needed cooperation.

Christmas Eve Halle sang her "Away in a Manger" solo she had been practicing all month long. It was angelic and one of the highlights of our Christmas. Michele always finds matching pajamas that you won't just wear on Christmas Eve, but cozy stuff you'll want to wear all year round.

I have some gorgeous sisters-in-law.

They are so sweet with the girls. Halle was so excited Christmas morning.

She was extra good this year with all those big changes like becoming a big sister, potty training, and saying good bye to binkies, so Santa really delivered.

All she wanted was a "glair willows doll" (blair willows, princess charm school barbie) and the perfect christmas barbie doll set.

She received so many gifts from all her family. This girl is truly loved.

And Lily was just happy to be there.

There is nothing like this special time of year and a Christmas with children who believe in magic.

where in the world have we been?

Where has Halle been?:

To St. George and back, to play.

sick, sick, sick. I've never seen this girl just lay around, eating hardly anything and she certainly has never gone to bed at 7:30. This virus hit her hard.

Playing temple run, she is obsessed.

Playing with some imaginary friend named Kevin.

And Watercoloring, nothing new there.

Where has Lily been?:

To St. George and back, to play.

sick, sick, sick and was just put on another round of antibiotics because she is so congested.

In Mommy's arms or at Mommy's feet pulling on her pants all day long.

Looking for daddy around every corner.

Looking for food everywhere and don't even think about coming near this girl with a drink because you will be sharing it no matter what it is.

Where has Megan been?:

To St. George and back, to play.

Taking care of a sick family and swimming in a bath of germs. Gratefully no sickness for me. I believe in my immune system.

In her sweats, at home, wiping noses and bums. (not my own)

Pinterest!

At the church. This primary presidency calling is busy busy, but so incredible. Over 100 children in our primary! And Halle happens to be one of our 20 new sunbeams. I love having her in there!

Where has Wes been?:

St. George and back working long hours.

Work, work, and more work. Busy season has hit us full force.

Sick, sick, sick. He was hardly around the girls, but somehow caught the same bug. I do not believe in his immune system.

Amazon.com oh the deals he can find. I love to tease him about this.

At home, watching the girls, while I am at the church doing my duties. This wonderful man has really had to step in and take over.

hair

Halle let me put her hair in a bun for ballet class this morning. I had to do it quick because she was starting to whine. Oh how that girl hates getting her hair done. I was worried about how it was slightly off center and her cowlick wasn't laying flat. And then tonight I get on Facebook and see pictures of an old neighbor's toddler looking absolutely beautiful in a fluffy dress showing off her newly shaved head as she battles cancer. And I realized most of my little worries don't really matter all that much. And I'm holding my babies just a little bit tighter tonight and thinking of a sweet toddler and family who are showing us all what it means to have courage.

24 days of christmas

scenes from our advent calendar activities:

the living nativity in alpine.

started the season off right by traveling back in time to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. and Halle was very happy to note that this particular baby Jesus had a binky.

decorating our christmas tree.

halle ended up doing the whole thing herself and was very proud of it. i didn't have the heart to mess with her hard work so all season long we had lots of ornaments on the bottom half and no ornaments on the

homemade ornaments.

visiting santa's reindeer at thanksgiving point.

halle opted for ice cream instead of hot chocolate.

decorating ginger bread houses.

family christmas party.

complete with a kiddie nativity and a visit from the grinch. halle was a shepherd and miss lily was the baby jesus and surprisingly laid there the whole time

family night nativity.

i think this was my favorite thing the whole month. halle was dying to be mary and was so sweet with the baby doll that was jesus. it was pure heaven to see them all dressed up and watch her sing "away in a manger" in front of our lit christmas tree.

visiting santa.

halle was thrilled to tell santa she wanted a "glair willows doll" and the "perfect christmas barbies." Lily even sat with him and was very interested. she could not stop looking at him.

temple square lights.

temple square is always so gorgeous and magical this time of year. it is definitely worth the traveling and all the bundling up.

decorating christmas cookies for santa.

christmas eve matching jammies thanks to grandma bell.

asleep, waiting to see if santa came.

not pictured: Rachel's nutcracker performance, giggling at home alone bad guys, reading christmas stories, christmas cards, writing letters to santa, and so much more.

lily: 8.5 months

you are: giggly, long, chunking up, adorable, snuggly, determined, fascinated by your sister, curious, and in love with big people food.

you can: crawl, pull yourself up on furniture, clap, wave hello and goodbye, sign "more" and "all done", and give kisses.

you say: mama (when you are mad), dada (when you are happy), and ball.

you love: halle, halle, and more halle, chasing halle, mickey mouse, balls, chewing on spatulas and rubber spoons, eating whatever is on mom's plate, and the hanging mistletoe.

you hate: getting dressed, getting your face wiped, green vegetables and rice cereal with no fruit.

you have: two little teeth on the bottom, the most adorable ears, the sharpest scratchiest grip, and the best smile.

unique about you: you were congested for about two months which meant you didn't nurse very well and slept awful. we figured it was just a cold, but it wouldn't go away. the doctor discovered you had an infection in your nose that caused your nasal passages to swell. There was barely any air coming through your nose making it hard to eat and sleep. antibiotics cleared it all up and you sound much better. your spitting up and reflux has practically ceased, but you still need to be propped up and sleep with mom.

dancing in the kitchen

It was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. That time of day when we are all starting to go a little stir crazy, especially during the winter. My house was a wreck and there were gerber puffs all over my kitchen floor. I was still in my pajamas. Lily was still in her hand-me-down jammies with a hole in the foot and her big toe peeking out of it. Halle was still in her leotard and tights from ballet class that morning sitting in our big blue chair. We were listening to Christmas music (the she and him holiday station on pandora, my absolute favorite.) Lily was chewing on my hoodie string and smiling as I bounced and twirled her around the kitchen. If you were to look in through my kitchen window at that moment you probably would have seen a tired and grungy looking mom, a baby on the hip, dirty dishes, a messy floor, toys everywhere and you would also see just how incredibly happy I was dancing with my baby in the middle of it all. Always a lovely reminder to slow down and enjoy the beauty and happiness that is right in front of me.