Christmas 2013

Christmas came and went quietly at the Weaver house this year-exactly as we like it!! Retail kind of kills some of the Christmas fun, but we were still able to find time to spend with each other and do all of the things we love. We even had Aunt J-Me here to celebrate with us. I can't tell you the last time we had family with us during the Holidays, so that was really fun for us.
Many years ago we embraced the Franz family tradition of doing all of our celebrating on Christmas Eve. It always starts with dinner. This year it was prepared by the amazing staff at Famous Dave's. I am totally thinking that is going to be a new tradition. My favorite part was not having to cook it and clean up was a snap. Such a good idea, so glad I came up with it.

Then it is over to the tree for family pictures. I am horrible with a camera, but I love torturing the kids by making them pose. Here are a few of my favorites.

Then it is off to the presents. We know that Christmas is not about the gifts, but we had some real favorites this year. Ali loves all of her gifts and jumps and screams with each one, but I think one of her favorites this year was her Laloopsy Goldie Luxe. 

 Goldie Luxe

Ryen's favorite gift this year was her Buffy the Vampire Slayer poster. "Once More, With Feeling" is her very favorite episode and the poster is a copy of the playbill. It is pretty stinkin' cool. 

 

 The Poster

The Reaction!!

Randy's favorite gift (and my favorite gift to give this year) was his Star Wars book ends. Super cool and they look great in his office. He already had a place for them so I thought I better get them.

 No reaction picture, we didn't want to tip him off. He had no idea. It was the best reaction ever!!

I got a couple of great gifts this year. My favorite is my i Home and this great t-shirt, cause yep I am Mormon and pretty dang proud of it!!

We spent the rest of the night hanging out, watching Christmas Story, and playing Disney Infinity. Christmas day was a little bit more of the same. We watched movies and played Apples to Apples, and had yummy dinner.

Christmas past

I love Christmas and all of its traditions. I love to decorate the house inside and out, all of the Christmas cards, the tree, everything!! One of my favorite traditions is that we take pictures under the Christmas tree every year. The first time I remember doing it was in Faro in 2006 and we have been doing it ever since. My kids hate it, but they are nice enough to endure it every year. Thought I would share some of my favorite from the past years before I share 2013.

 2006

2007

2008

 

2009

 2010

 2011

2012

First Day of School

We are currently on our 3rd week of school, so I am running a little behind... But school did start at our house. I can't believe how fast time flew this summer and well, just how fast life has flown in general. My oldest baby started HIGH SCHOOL and my little one started 3RD GRADE. I can't believe how old they are getting. Both are so beautiful and smart. As a mom I am totally in awe. The new school year brings on our normal challenges-homework, busy schedules, bed times. It has also brought on new ones like early morning seminary. Ugh nothing like being up around 4:30 every morning, but I have to tell you Rye is a total trooper. I took pics with my phone this year and the quality is not the greatest. Rye's are really not great, but we had no lighting--IT WAS 5:30 AM!

So amazing my little ones. So excited for a new year.

A Few Family Pics

This summer we traveled to beautiful Colorado for our Weaver Family Reunion. I was terrible about taking pictures, probably because all of my sister in laws take amazing pictures, so I only have a few to share. Some of my favorites were the pics of my family that Tamie took.

The Newest Member

Ali was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Saturday. It was a great day for the whole family and we were able to celebrate with friends and family. We are so proud of her decision to be baptized and she said she was so happy it brought a tear to her eye. Here are a few of the pics from that day...

 Ali and her Daddy just before the Baptizm

 Our little family

 Grandpa Weaver came all the way from Denver to share the day with us.

We were really excited that Grandma Betty and Aunt Cindy were there too. 

It's Great to be Eight

Ali's just turned 8 so we had some pics done for her baptism. One of the Young Women in our ward took the pics and they turned out soooo cute. I thought I would share. (I had her take a couple  of them where Ali is off to the left so that I could print the words right on the pic for her invite)
My baby is so gorgeous and getting so big. I just want to cry!!!

17 Years....

Randy and I celebrated our 17th anniversary this past weekend with what is becoming our traditional stay-cation here in Vegas. We took off pretty early in the afternoon and went to a movie. It was great, it wasn't animated or anything. Then we had some food at the Yardhouse and headed downtown.

We love, love, love the Cosmo so we stayed there and this was the amazing view from our room...

56 floors up looking over the Bellagio fountains. 

Randy surprised me with tickets to Rock of Ages. It was such a fun show. Loved the 80's hairband music and unlike the movie, everyone in this show had serious pipes. So much fun!!

PS no pics of us--we took some but at the time we were being lit by a serious purple light, so we ended up looking like purple people eaters... 

Rye is 14

My baby is 14. Yep, 14! I can't believe that only 14 years ago she came into our lives. It seems way longer then that :). She is such a light in our lives. She celebrated over a few days.

 First was breakfast with her Mom and Grandma and Waffles Cafe. 

Next she and her dad saw her most favorite band ever!!!

Ryen at the concert.

Then it was a little party with her friends. PJs, movies, munchies, and more. 

 

and finally she will see Love in March. Pics to come... 

An Eternal Family

On February 16th my sister's family was sealed in the Orlando Temple for time and all eternity. It was amazing--I really don't have any other words. I am so happy for them and was so excited to be a part of it. I love you guys...

 The Happy Couple.

Wendy, Aaron, Evan, and Avery

My favorite Coleman Family and Me

Christmas 2012--A Very Merry Christmas

We had a great little Christmas just the 5 of us. It was such a nice quiet night. Dinner, First Presidency Message, and Presents!! It is still rough trying to adjust to a retail Christmas, it makes the holiday short and sweet. I worked Christmas Eve and had to be back to work on the 26th at 5 am, so we made sure to enjoy every moment. For Ryen it was a Christmas of shoes, Ali it was Lalaloopsy, Randy it was comic things, and me a very awesome Kindle. Here are our traditional pics in front of the tree. 

 

 Rye Rye

 

Gator Mator

The girls and their Daddy

 The girls and their Mom

Ryen saw this on Pintrest so we had to do it.

The family

One of my favorite things we did this season was Elf on a Shelf. He was pretty naughty and we laughed a lot. Can't wait to have him next year.