Happy New Year

One of the many thing we were excited about with our new home was being able to have more people over and host more often.  With a bigger space and an open concept living room and kitchen, we are easily able to do that now.

So we hosted the family New Year's Eve party this year.

I was so busy being a good hostess (and enjoying myself) that I forgot to take any pictures.

There was LOTS of food (I actually ran out of counter space, which I haven't done in this new house).

There was LOTS of family (26).

There was LOTS of fun (even if Tony swears every year that we should throw the game Encore in the trash after we finish playing).

So much fun, that Miriam didn't want to miss out.

I let her stay up later than normal, but she had missed her nap that day and was acting quite sleepy.

This is where she ended up crashing after Stan put her in bed.

2012 has been a great year.  We've enjoyed growing and learning together as a family.  I am so grateful for the blessings and sweet moments we have seen this past year, and look forward to new year filled with many more.

Christmas

I LOVED Christmas as a child.  My mom did so many wonderful things to make it magical and had so many great traditions that I loved.  As I got older, Christmas lost some of it's magic and thrill (as do a lot of things do when you get older).  

This year I felt that magic again, through the eyes of my children.  Miriam understood and was more excited about everything this year, Jesus, Santa, presents, lights, etc.  It was so fun to watch her excitement.  

When I was a kid I always had a hard time sleeping on Christmas Eve and would lay awake for hours in anticipation.  

I felt that same excitement and anticipation (though thankfully I did sleep) Christmas morning as I waited for everyone to wake.

Miriam was thrilled to see the presents.  She asked if Santa had come, and I said "why don't you go see if the cookies and milk are still there?"

 When she saw this, her jaw dropped and she gasped to see that he had indeed come.

Then she asked if she could eat the crumbs.

The girls were thrilled with all the gifts (even though you wouldn't know it from the stale expressions I managed to capture on the camera).

Miriam's baby doll crib, from Santa.

Eliza with a toy that lights up.

Miriam didn't care who the present was to, she really just wanted to open ALL of them.  So even if it was Daddy or Eliza's, she had to help.

Barbies.

Even Eliza was excited to tear off the paper.

Daddy's big present...

Dirt.

He did ask for it.

 Oh, and a gift certificate in the dirt to a local nursery.  He is excited to design and build a new garden this year.

The girls' cuckoo clock from their grandparents. 

Eliza didn't seem to understand that the crib was for dolls.  I guess she is still the baby.

Lots of dress up clothes.

I, of course, was behind the camera the whole time.  Most of my gifts were not a surprise this year since I had managed to find some super deals on them and had purchased them myself before Christmas.  But I still greatly enjoy my sewing table and ipad.

We enjoyed a quiet morning at home with our new gifts and then spent the rest of the day at my dad's house with my sister Rebecca and her family.  We received exciting news that my younger sister Anna received an engagement ring for Christmas.  What a great day! (even if it didn't snow).

Visit from Santa

We had a special treat this year.  During our normal Sunday dinner with the family, a special visitor dropped by.

 The kids were so surprised, and so good while Santa was there.

 Eliza walked up to Santa just before he called her name, like she knew it was going to be her turn.

 Brooke was terrified and clung to her daddy for dear life.

Miriam told Santa she wanted a Barbie.  We'll see if he delivers.

 It was such a special treat and we're so thankful Grandma Janet told him to stop by!

Holiday Dresses

I admit that I have a weakness for cute kid's clothing.  It is especially hard to resist the darling dresses the stores have for little girls.  

So here are just two Sunday's worth of adorable Christmas dresses on some adorable sweet girls.

Lights

We had to go out.  It was the Saturday before Christmas and we hadn't partaken of any of the local Holiday cheer yet.  

So we went shopping at the Promenade.

We had my very favorite white chocolate milkshake at Steak n' Shake.

And we saw the lights at the Bentonville Square.

This is how Miriam attempts to keep her eyes open while we take a picture.  I guess she can't open her eyes without opening her mouth...

Good times and greasy food were had by all.

Jump Zone

A friend of ours invited Miriam to the Jump Zone, a fun play place with huge inflatable bounce houses and slides.  

I was excited, but nervous because Miriam isn't exactly a dare devil or one who loves to try new things.

And I was right.  

She was terrified when we got there and clung to my side.

Until she saw the bouncy horse, and then she was in heaven.  As her friend Reagan went from slide to slide, Miriam followed her around, dragging the horse with her so no other kid could steal it.

I thought to myself, this is going to be awfully boring (I had left Eliza with a babysitter so I had my hands free), and I felt a little bad for our friends that we weren't much fun.

  So I gave her some time to acclimate the the chaos.  Finally after many attempts to bribe and "invite" her to try them out, and many refusals on her part, I decided there was only one way to get her to try.  I had to do it with her.  It worked.

Don't get me wrong.  I am not one of those parents who is going to force my child to try something that they really (kicking, screaming, crying) are scared of.  But I really felt that she would love it, if she could only get over her fears and give it a try.

And she did.  After I went with her the first time, she went down the slide nonstop.

We decided to try a bigger one.  The same thing happened again.  So, I took off my shoes and went up with her again.  

She LOVED it!

And yet a bigger slide.

You guessed it, I had to try this one with her as well.

There was one more, even bigger, slide we didn't get to, but we'll save that one for next time. 

And to reward these girls who played so hard (notice the red cheeks), popsicles.  

 

Christmas Cookies

This year we decided to make sugar cookies with Miriam.  She was SO excited to do it and she helped with every step of the job.

A messy cook, just like her mother.

She was way too energetic to actually sit down during all of this.

 Later I made my array of sweets and treats.  

The finished products.

We had lots of fun delivering the cookies and treats to our new and old neighbors.  Miriam loves saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone!