Bringing In The New Year!

We spent New Year's Eve with our friends the Nettles!  The kids had fun dancing and we had a ton of fun watching them.  The sparklers are always fascinating to them and it always makes me nervous to have them around the fireworks!  I think I do a pretty good job hiding my anxiety. 

Ryder

Chase

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2013 (Part 3)...The Zoo

The last thing we did before Travis' family headed home was visit the zoo.  It is always a fun place to go with family and the girls love seeing the animals. As soon as we walk in the first place Leah wants to go is the carousel, Grandma was more than happy to jump on with her.  

Leah also had to pose with every statue she saw!

 

She also just had to look at Uncle Braeden and bat her eyes to get him to take her on a camel ride!

 

We saw so many different animals...Leah loved the giraffes and Kenzie's favorite were the monkeys.  

Standing like a flamingo

My favorite to see are the Eagles!  I can't help but think of my dad every time I see them.  The Eagle was his favorite bird and I always remember watching him watch them with awe when we would go to the zoo or see them in their natural habitat. 

Christmas 2013 (Part 2)...Hiking

Since we spent most of Christmas sitting around, playing with new toys, and eating lots of junk food...we decided a hike would be a great idea.  We decided to take Travis' family on a hike that we love and that has one of the best views.  The hike is not very long, but on the way up and at the top there is a great view of the new Phoenix Temple that is being built.  The Phoenix Temple is about 10 miles from where we live and is set to be completed and dedicated near the last part of 2014.  We are so excited! 

Found a lizard tail along the way...no lizard in sight!

Funny faces

This is my favorite picture!

On the way home we stopped for a closer look

Christmas 2013 (Part 1)

I love Christmas time and I love having family here to celebrate with us!  We were blessed this year to have Travis's parents and brother, Braeden, here.  The girls love spending time with Grandma and Grandpa and Leah completely Idolizes her Uncle Braeden.  Poor guy cant get a break from her when he is here, she follows him everywhere and talks his ear off!  We all know that Braeden loved the attention though.

We always go out and do something as a family on Christmas Eve, this year we went to a movie.  We went and saw Frozen, which of course the girls LOVED!!  The best part was that the theater had recliners and we were able to reserve our seats online before going.  

We also have a tradition of opening up our Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve.  Leah and Kenzie were so excited to have matching pajamas they were literally on the floor laughing.

Christmas morning is great as a kid, but it is a different kind of great as a parent.  I love to just sit back and watch the girls' faces light up when they walk into the room and see that Santa came, ate cookies and that his reindeer ate the carrots.  Travis usually has to remind me to open my presents because I am enjoying watching the girls. 

Leah got a scooter, but Kenzie quickly took it over

The biggest box of chocolates I have ever seen

Braeden got Travis an awesome machete, I really have to step up my game next year!

Leah got "snow in a can" from her cousins

Leah and Uncle Braeden having a picnic

Meeting Santa Claus!

We went to a Christmas Party at Travis' work today.  The kids had fun making crafts and eating cookies.  Of course the best part was when Santa showed up...OK, so Kenzie wasn't too sure about the guy with the big beard.

Leah's Preschool Christmas Party

Leah had her preschool class Christmas Party today.  The kids wore their pajamas and had fun playing bingo, building a gingerbread house, and playing games.  It was so cute and Leah did much better on the singing this year...last year she say and cried through the entire song! 

She ate more candy than she put on her ginger bread house

The final product!

Kenzie enjoyed the party too