Christmas Eve - Minute to Win It

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mom and Dad had worked hard and planned lots of "Minute to Win It" games for the kids to play on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.  The kids loved it and had a ball.  Three families went this year to Guatemala - ours, Karina and Chris's, and Ben and Emily Martino's.  The kids LOVED being together and there were no issues - they got along AMAZINGLY! 

Stake Youth Dance

 

 

 

 

 

Hailee has an awesome group of friends at church.  They are all in different wards but have really gotten close.  They love to hang out at each others houses on the weekends and enjoy being with others who have their same standards.  She loves her friends and is FIERCELY protective of them!

Early Christmas Morning

 

 

 

 

We went to Guatemala this year for Christmas to see Nana and Pop so we held our own families Christmas morning a few days early.  We still left out the traditional treats for Santa and the reindeer and just wrote a letter to them explaining the situation.  They were kind enough to come early!  We didn't let the kids get up until 7:00 (only Brady was already awake) because we had a late night of flying ahead of us.  The kids loved opening their presents and stockings!  They each pick a siblings name to purchase for and they love doing that.  I love how excited they are to give a gift to one another.  We then had yummy Santa pancakes and got ready to go on our flight. 

Camping Trip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In October we took a last minute family camping trip to Lake Ray Roberts.  It was cold but bearable!  The kids loved learning to make a fire, cooking dinner and s'mores over the fire, lots of hot chocolate and hot cider, playing with sticks in the fire, playing flashlight tag, going on a hike, climbing trees, skipping rocks, playing at the playground, tossing the football, and drawing pictures in the sand.   

Cousin Outings

 

 

 

 

I am so blessed to live around 2 of my sisters (we sure miss the Emily's and Mom though).  Every once in a while we get to get together and go do fun outings together.  This does not happen as often as we would like though.  In the past few weeks we have been able to go to the zoo and to the Dallas Art Museum.

Addi's Birthday Party

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What are the chances...it doesn't hardly rain here for months, but on the day of Addi's 5th birthday party it pours!  We had 53 people over here for a birthday party and had to adjust the plans.  Addi wanted an outside party with a bounce house, go-cart riding, a cook out, and a pinata and it HAD to be Barbie themed.  Well we had the bounce house but did not use it, no go-kart riding, but we did the rest.  We just moved it all into the house and garage.  It ended up working out great still and she loved it!  Her one request was that we hold it when Nana and Pop were in town and we accomplished that so she was happy!