Anika at 2 Months!

Smiles, Snow and Dancing!

So, Anika has been smiling for weeks now- since she was about 3 weeks old- but I've had the hardest time catching her cutest smiles on camera.  This was the best I could get for a while. 

  

And then one day, I finally got a good one!  It's just the happiest face you've ever seen!  The kids are always so excited to get her to smile at them. I love it!

           

We had our first snowy time of the year. Like REAL snow. And it just dumped a ton! 

The boys couldn't wait, so when they got home from school, they went out and played in the cold until it got dark and dinner was ready. I didn't get pictures of them because I didn't want to go out in the freezingness. BUT, Afton went out to play the next day so I snapped a picture of her- look how deep it is! I'm actually writing about this, um, maybe three weeks later and the snow is STILL out there!  I have a feeling it will last until spring... 

Since September, Afton has been taking a Contemporary dance class at the Orem Rec Center.  She has LOVED it.  For $30, 45 minutes a day, 2 times a week, it was definitely a good investment.   Afton learned how to skip, stay in line, take turns, do good somersault, stretch, jump spin, hula hoop... She also learned some cute rhymes like "One two, buckle my shoe" with movements for each one.  Afton is always talking about "Nani said this, at dance class. Nani does this, at dance class".  While she danced, I walked with Ellie's mom, Paula, around the Rec's gym. It was great for her and me!

To finish it all up, they had a dance recital up on the stage at the Orem Friendship Center. The seven little girls got to wear their princess dresses and dance to Cinderella's "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes." It was pretty awesome.  All but the last picture is from the dress rehearsal.

Blow a kiss and wave goodbye!

Look at the height of that skip!

After the real recital, Afton's teacher gave her some Star glasses and a candy bar- she was very happy about that!

Thanksgiving Turkey Time!

Thanksgiving was a glorious event- just having a break from school schedules was awesome. But, we worked hard for our play time and I think it made the days seem longer. Every morning we would get up and clean out closets, toy rooms, shelves, floors until every one was ready to cry (mostly me) and then we played the rest of the day. By night, it felt like three days had gone by!

On Wednesday, we took a (short) trip to Spanish Fork for a Smith Thanksgiving- shoot the turkey, play games, make pies, eat turkey sandwiches and pie for dinner. Yep, it was great.

Ani got some good Aunt Cindy time

Weston made our lovely turkey this year

Every one took shots at the poor turkey

It didn't survive the day...

This is Josie. I don't think I've ever taken a picture of her, so it was about time- for posterity's sake.

 

Uh, that's Lexi. She was hungry.
On Thursday, the actual big day, we cleaned some more, I made cranberries and Zach made three different kinds of mash potatoes, including a dairy free version for me.  I was oh, so glad about that! They were delicious.  At 4 we went over to the Largey grandparents for the fancy, eat on china/drink from goblets, kind of dinner.  We played a good round of Apples to Apples and then headed home for bed. Whew!  Being dairy free ensures I don't over stuff myself which will be good for these holiday times... well good FOR me, at least.

A Great Day in the Largey House!

The day before Thanksgiving break, we had one great day in the Largey House.

Weston came home from school after winning 2nd place in the Turkey Trot-yes!  He won a delicious Pie with four different flavors in one. This was also great because it had no dairy and Mommy could eat it (I'm on a strict 'no dairy' diet until Ani's green poop goes away..."  Last year he got 3rd place, this year 2nd, next year 1st?  He's one speedy boy!

 Hyrum came home like normal and didn't say a thing about his day for like an hour... We were just driving to the store and he starts telling me about how they got their science fair projects back and 25 kids from the 5th and 6th grades were chosen to go on to the next round.  I was asking him all kinds of questions about it and he was answering and then FINALLY he says "Oh, and I'm one of them!" and he pulls out an awesome medal.  That boy! He's such a tease!  But, man we worked hard on that project- he deserves to move on!  Thanks to Grandpa Lee for making it all possible- the project was all about Geodes and Nodules which Grandpa happens to have in great supply. He let us weigh, measure and cut open stones to see if they were geodes or not. It was great!

 We also decorated for Christmas, making it an even better day... :)

Things we do...

Besides beginning our Christmas projects, dance class for Afton and taking care of a baby, we've been fitting in other fun things like making matching skirts,

 Having fun friends come visit us- this is Anika and Lucy Poff, the daughter of my good friend Emily.  She was born two weeks before Ani and they came to visit us all the way from Nephi.  So fun!

 And we play with fuzzy headed girls- look at that fro!

 I'm constantly trying to catch Ani's super cute smile when her eyes squinch up and her cheeks are so round- I always miss it. But, Afton always takes the opportunity to jump in the pictures...

Cute girls!

Little Anika- One month old!

This tiny girl is One month old!  I think the first month is the longest and then they start to grow too fast! But, Ani has been one good baby aside from some grumpy nights.  She sleeps well, she eats well and she smiles so cute!

 This was one of Afton's hand-me-downs. I love it!

 Look at her beautiful eyes- will they stay blue?  Who knows but it will be fun to see!

At she still has a lovely head of dark hair! It's so cute and fuzzy...

At about 3 weeks she started having green runny poop... still haven't figured that one out yet.

Halloween 2013

Halloween was a low key event this year, due to having a tiny babe.  The kids went to Grandma Norviel's party on Sunday where  Afton starred as Little Red Riding Hood- pretty sure I love this dress (it was mine) and this girl!

We hit up the ward Trunk or Treat with a Davy Crockett, a Robber, and a beautimous Pinkalicious.

She looks JUST like the real Pinkalicious from the books! 

 And, our little Anika - um, she didn't really have a costume. She didn't really go to any parties anyway... But she was still cute!

The boys wore their costumes to school and then Ani and I hung out at Grandma Largey's while the big kids went out for a little trick or treating.   WAY too much candy was had by all!

Master Chef Jr cake

After watching an episode of Master Chef Jr, the boys got inspired to make a cake.  It kind of looked like Unicorn poop by the time they were done... Lots and lots of sprinkles!

More Baby Ani

She's Finally Here! Baby Anika made it!