Merry Christmas!

Christmas was Awesome!

Bed Time...

Too tired to walk all the way to her own bed, Lily decided to take her baby dolls bed for a quick nap

Winter Wonderland Getaway

We got to go out to Utah to enjoy some cold weather and an early Christmas with Family. Eric loved the snow! I had to bribe him with hot chocolate to get him inside to warm up. Lily loved the snow too- she just didn't want to play in it as long as Eric did. I finally got Eric to lay down and make snow angels. He would make one, jump up look at it, then hurry an lay down to make another. He made a whole line of them across the lawn We put them both to work shoveling all that snow We got to decorate gingerbread cookies and a house with Aunt Ashley The cookies look almost as big as the kids!
Skip's Nana came from Washington state, to meet the kids and I. She is an awesome lady!
We had a Christmas party with Skip's family- but I forgot to get my camera out. We had a wonderful dinner, sang carols, told stories and opened presents. And they were sweet enough to surprise me with a birthday cake. Thanks guys!!! The night before we left to come home Mom made my all time favorite Chicken Casserole, and they surprised me with a tummy chocolate yule log, and presents for my birthday. It was the best!
We got to hang out with our good friend Zach, see Christmas lights at Thanksgiving Point, visit with our friends the Christensen's, shop, and hang out with family. Poor kids got bad colds and Lily got to make a trip to a clinic to check her ears, sure enough poor thing had an ear infection. The plane ride home was not fun for her at all! But she is feeling better now.
It was a wonderful trip, nice and cold, but way too short! We love you guys!!!!!

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Baking Has Begun...

It's that time of the year for baking lots of goodies... Some of the dough made it to the oven... Santa even stopped by to check on the cookies...

Marianna Caverns

While we were in Tallahasse, Mike and Annette took us to Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna. It has been forever since I have gone in a cavern and this was a first for Eric and Lily. At first Eric was scared that there would be bats, and that it would be too dark (not quite sure when the scared of the dark thing started). but once we got down in the caverns, and as long as he had a firm hold of Daddy's hand- he loved it Lily ony wanted to hold Uncle Mike's hand We had a great time. Thanks Annette, Mike, Bryan and Michelle!

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving up in Tallahassee with the Ladle gang this year. It was nice and relaxing, and a great little get away. The food was great! Eric was most excited about the rolls...I think he had at least 4 at dinner. Lily has found a new love... As soon as she finished what was in her mouth, it was wide open and ready for more. She would've eaten a whole can by herself.
Early Friday morning Skip, (yes I got Skip to go shopping with me...at 5am!)Annette, Bryan, Kristen and I headed over to Target for some bargain shopping. Skip was such a trooper. Unfortunately I didn't get my camera out enough to photo document our adventures.
We have so much to be thankful for, I'm not even going to try and list them all!

2 Already!

I don't know where in the world the time has gone- but somehow my little Lily has turned 2! The night before the kids Birthday, Skip and I blow up lots of balloons and decorate with signs and streamers. Skip and I were awakened at 6:00am but Lily yelling "balloons," "Happy Birthday!" "Mommy Daddy look!" She was so excited and totally knew it was her birthday and that she was going to get presents. Since I had a busy day at the church for super sat- we started right away with presents. Got the wrong kind of wrapping paper- it was a little hard to get off...poor thing. Big Brother helping her out. She didn't even wait for us to finish singing to blow out the candles! Still can't beleive she is 2!

Weekend Getaway

Lily and I got to go on a little Mother Daughter trip to Utah for my sister Faye's wedding. It was so much fun to be with my whole family! And Lily- lucky girl got to come along for the weekend. Lily had a great time hanging out with her cousins Austin, Dylan and Sadie. Girls hanging out watching Enchanted. Two of my all time favorite gals...I don't get enought time with these 2! All the girls. My brother's did an awesome job picking their wives! Shawna (sorry this is the only picture I have of all of us), Kim, and Marge are so awesome!!!!!Love them!Faye looking great in her wedding dress. Taking a little water break after all the dancing and socializing at the reception. It was a great weekend- but as the weekend always is- it was way too short! Hopefully at the next family get together we will get pictures with all the guys in there too!

Trick or Treating ROCKS!!!

So far during our parenting years we have only done Trunk or Treating. But this year trunk or treat was early and we found ourselves with nothing to do on Halloween. So we tried to go trick or treating at the shopping center. It started at 4 we got there at 5- majority of the stores were out of candy. Boy were the kids upset- they afterall had been promised candy! So I called my good friend Kristen Wilson and we went over to their house and trick or treated around their neighboorhood. Oh my fun! The kids loved it and I loved watching the kids run from house to house. Eric yelling "Trick or Treat" the whole way between houses and Lily yelling "Wait for me Eric"! About halfway around the neighboorhood they started to loose some steam. By the end instead of saying Trick or Treat, Lily was telling people "I'm tired" or "I'm sleepy" and to me "I want my bed" It was so much fun! And oh my heck...the candy...way too much here!

Family Pictures at the Beach...Finally

So after living in Florida for 5 years, we finally made it to the beach for Family pictures. One of the young women- Katelyn took the pictures and did an awesome job! Here are a few for you to enjoy...

Trunk or Treat

Last night the kids got to break in their Halloween costumes with a little trunk or treat action.Eric decided to be Robin Hood this year. I have to say his favorite thing about his costume (before he saw the bow and arrows) were the tights. Funny I know. He was really fasinated by them. Don't worry I told him that he is only allowed to wear them on Halloween! I was later informed by Skip that Robin Hood never wore tights- it was leather pants...
Lily was Little Red Riding Hood. She wouldn't put the hood up- but she was still adorableThey had so much fun- and made sure not to let their candy bags out of sight. Lily even snuck out of her room to grab her bag. She was caught as she hightailed it back to bed.

Finally-A Pumpkin Patch

We finally made it to the pumpkin patch. But after being there all of 15 minutes it started to rain. Luckily the kids aren't picky and will grab the first pumpkin they see.
Now it's time to decorate...nothing like a little paint...