New Year's Eve

We spent the first part of the day at home getting some things done. I realized that I am quite limited on my winter decorations so I got to work on a few crafts. I was able to finish a winter sign and table runner. The other day I went in search of some winter fabric. Can you believe that I could not find a single yard of it and I went to every fabric store! I was pretty frustrated. In the end I bought some blue fabric. I got home and started to think about how I could make it more wintery. I finally decided to applique on a Snowman. It turned out super cute! I was excited to put it on the table!

Made with my new Cameo. I just can't say enough good about that machine! It cut the letters out so nicely!

Isn't he cute!

For the latter part of the day, we headed to have dinner with Mark's family and to celebrate New Year's with them. We were able to play lots of fun games together and have lots of fun.  Around 9:00 pm, we celebrated the New Year with the kiddos. They got to have some ice cream and say cheers to the New Year. They even got to do some poppers. After celebrating, we got the kids put in bed so the adults could play a few more games. It was sure fun being able to celebrate a new year with the family. I can't believe that 2011 has come and gone already!

Some of the highlights of 2011

• Mark celebrated one year at his job

• We were finally able to purchase our first home in June

• We found out that we would be adding another baby girl to our family

• Carter Family Retreat at a cabin in Heber

• We were able to vacation in Hawaii for a week

• Vanessa started Preschool

• Owen's vocabulary and personality really took off

• Called to be the Bear Den leaders in Cub Scouts

• Sabrina was called to be the Assistant Ward Chorister

 We are excited to see what 2012 holds for our family.

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas!

Since Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, we decided that we would wait to open the presents until we got back from church. We woke up early and Vanessa was so excited to see if Santa came that she ran downstairs to see. She started screaming "Mom, mom, Santa came! Santa came!" She was so overwhelmed with joy and excited she hardly could contain herself. She immediately wanted to open the presents but we had to tell her that we need to go to church first before we could. She was very disappointed but once we got her moving and dressed she was able to forget about it. Church was great. It was neat to actually go to church on Sunday so we could celebrate with others the Savior's birth! It was a very spiritual meeting and a great start to our Christmas day. After church, we raced home and the kids wanted to put their pajamas back on before opening presents. What little cuties!

Mark's family came over to watch the kids open the presents so that was fun having them there. Christmas was so much fun this year with the two kids. It was so much fun seeing their excitement. Owen loved opening his presents and was even more excited when he saw what was in them. Owen must have been a very good boy this year because Santa brought him just what he wanted which was the Land Before Time DVD and a book called Dinosaur Roar. He also got some dinosaurs, coloring book, dinosaur puzzle, dinosaur glow in the dark pieces, mega blocks, and bath toys.  He loved all of the dinosaur things he got! Vanessa got just what see asked for too! She was estatic when she saw that she got the Disney Princess Dress-up book! She wanted to play with right then. She also got markers, a coloring book, a Disney Princess Leapster game, lip gloss, a puzzle, and the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bitty Market.  She was in heaven with all of the toys she got. 

Mark got the Mario Strikers Wii game, a Tin Tin Series DVD, a case to put his signed basketball in, a car emergency kit and I surprised him with a gift certificate for laser hair removal. He was way excited about that! I got the Inheritance Book (last of the Eragon Series), Harry Potter DVDs, a scarf, a turquoise necklace and earrings, and Mark surprised me with some Copper bottom pots and pans! I was so excited for those!!!

We were able to play with our toys for a bit then went over to have lunch with Mark's family and to say goodbye to Amanda and Solomon who were flying out to Chicago just after lunch. We really enjoyed having them here for the holidays and it was sad to see them go. Just before they left, we all gathered downstairs and the Sorensen kids told about one of their favorite memories of Christmas. It was neat to hear all their thoughts.  It sure sounds like their parents made it very fun and special while growing up. 

 

We stayed and played for a bit but then it was time for us to head home so we could cook our first turkey dinner! I was a little nervous that it wouldn't turn out right but it turned out perfect! We had a delicious turkey, mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, fresh cranberry sauce and apple pie. Mark's family was able to join us for the meal and stay and help us play with some of our new toys.

Christmas came and went so quickly but it was sure fun this year to see the kids get so excited. We had a wonderful Christmas!

I forgot to take a picture of the turkey and dinner but I did get a picture of us enjoying the delicious apple pie and ice cream.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was an eventful day. We were able to get some things done around the house during the day before the evening came. The kids also were able to sprinkle their Christmas Dust on the lawn so Santa would be able to find them that night. Vanessa has been asking me everyday since she got it from Santa if she could sprinkle it on the lawn. Finally the wait was over and she was so excited! Owen had fun throwing it all over the lawn for a few seconds and then asked me if he could just dump it all out.  It was pretty funny.

 

In the evening, we headed over to have dinner with Mark's family. We enjoyed a nice dinner with them and had fun playing games and just talking. We also were able to make our traditional cookies for Santa. Vanessa and Owen had so much fun making their own cookies. Owen was super excited when Grandma pulled out the dinosaur cookie cutters. He couldn't get enough of them. When it came to frosting his cookies, he took over the green frosting. Vanessa had a little too much fun when it came to frosting her cookies. She was hoping that Santa really liked frosting and sprinkles.

Owen's Dinosaur Cookie

Vanessa's Yummy Pink Cookies!

The kids also were able to open up their Christmas Eve presents which were some pajamas and their Christmas pillowcases. Owen got his very own this year and loved that it was green and had Santa on it. We were able to get the kids home and set out their cookies and milk for Santa. Vanessa was excited to leave Santa some cookies and to have him eat hers.

A Visit From Friends and Carter Family Christmas Party

On Friday the 23rd, we were excited to get a visit from our good friends Josh and Roshawn Jones. They were passing through as they traveled to visit family and made a quick stop to see us. We are always so excited to see and visit with them. The kids loved having Anellina and Carsten at the house to play with. They have the cutest kids. I kick myself for not getting any pictures! We had fun visiting with them and exchanging gifts. I was able to make them a Jones family sign using my new Cameo and it turned out so cute! I was excited to be able to give it to them. They got us the Just Dance for Kids Wii game and a winter snowman dish set! Time always goes by too fast when they are visiting. We miss them so much and hope that in the near future that they will be able to move back to Utah. In the meantime, we will just have to plan lots of fun vacations to go and visit with them. Thanks Jones family for stopping by!

I love love love my Cameo! It made making this sign so easy!

Later that evening was the annual Carter Family Christmas Party. This year it was held at Mark's parents house. It was sure fun visiting with all of the family. We had a nice dinner of soup and rolls and were able to play some fun games with them. We also got to exchange gifts with each other. The kids got a fun book and game from Grandma and Grandpa. Owen loves reading about dinosaurs!  The adult couples played a game to exchange our white elephant gifts.  I ended up getting a Wells Fargo Cookie Jar (which in the end I gave to Kimberly to give to her boss at work. He loved it!) and Mark got a basket with some chop sticks. We had a lot of fun laughing at our silly gifts.  We really enjoyed the evening with family and always treasure the time we get to spend with them!

The Sorensen Family

The Carter Crew!

Yes, we like to be silly!

Our two little princesses!

This year we made family hand print pillows for the Great Grandparents. The kids had so much fun making this and it turned out darling.  The Great Grandparents really loved them!

  The guys had a lot of fun playing Just Dance!

Also that day, we were able to put together a funny Christmas video with the family. It has been somewhat of a tradition for Mark and his sisters to make fun videos. It was sure fun making it and it turned out super funny and cute! Thanks Arianne for putting it together.