Alisa turns 3!

The Lisie Bear recently had her third birthday party, and we decided to go with a Team UmiZoomi party (this is her favorite TV show, they have mighty math powers.) They had most of the stuff available for printing on the NickJr website, which made it all more convenient than usual for me.  I don't usually like to go with an all-character, all-bought party, but this way, I still personalized it a bit for her, and she loved it all anyway.

 Super Shapes! Sandwiches

 

 Pattern Power Fruit Skewers

 

 Geo's Shape Splitters (really, it's a lightsaber...)

 

 Umi Car cake

 

On her actual bday, we were watching the super bowl with Jeff's family, so we brought a cake and sang at half time.

Some of Alisa's current favorites/tricks/developments include dance class, singing, playing dolls (a LOT!) snuggling, Team UmiZoomi and now a whole new dimension of fit-throwing.  She can be very loud and very mischevious, but it is also the very sweetest thing in the world when she says "thank you, mommy" in the little girl voice of hers, which she does quite a bit. Love her to death!  She teaches me a lot about life, love and acceptance, and I am lucky to be her mommy!

New Year's Eve 12-13

This year, we started off the night by having dinner with the Radcliffe's at Famous Dave's (yum!)  We intended to go to Zoo lights after that, but our girls were very sick, so we skipped that and went to hang out at my in-laws' for the night.  We had many lovely snacks, played Phase 10 Twist, made lotsa noise, and only had one or two kid-sleeping-casualties.

On New Year's Day, my family wanted to have a big dinner, so we went early(ish) and I tried out my new donut maker for breakfast - pumpkin donuts.  We hung out there for a lazy day until the fancy dinner (we had Duck a l'Orange - so nom nom nawesome!)

Look how adorable

For New Year's resolutions, I simply have two general thoughts: First, the simple life, and second, discipline - in all areas.  I know they're kinda vague, but I have actually made some progress on both this year, maybe for that reason.

Finally... this is the year I turn thirty.  Waaaaaaahhhh. That is all.

Christmas 2012!

It seems I was so busy/having so much fun for the actual Christmas festivities that I didn't take any pictures!  We started out Christmas Eve early with a trip to Ogden to visit with my extended family (they always meet at noon so we can get together without interfering with other plans.)  Actually, Jeff got called in to work at the last (7am) minute, but just for a few hours and was off just in time to go with.  We had soups and sandwiches, played our usual game of white elephant BINGO, and generally visited.  I guess there was also a pinata, too, but we left at a very specific time because it was Jeff's family's year for Eve festivities.
From there, we went to Grantsville to have Eve with the extended Poynor family.  We had ham and salads/hors d'oeuvres dinner, exchanged many lovely gifts, played the left right game, etc. From there, we went to Chris' house to exchange family gifts since we could not all get together at the same time the next day.  That was a fun exchange.
From THERE, we went to my mom's house to sleep over so we wouldn't have to wake up super early the next morning to drive down.  The girls were up with Christmas movies suuuuuuper late, but Jeff and I (i.e. Carson) were actually the first ones up suuuuuuuuper early (like, before 6!) The girls especially enjoyed seeing the remnants of cookies, milk and reindeer carrots they left for Santa. We opened gifts (Santa brought their Cuddluppets to grandma's,) had a great breakfast and then lazed about with our new gifts until our awesome Christmas prime rib dinner (complete with goblets and bubbly.) Some highlights were my mixer and griddle, some sweet games and Jeff's hard drive filled with TV and movies.  The girls loved their Cuddleuppets, various dolls and a castle tent. My favorites for Carson were a playmat that my mom made, a rockin' music station and a onesie he got that says "Dude! Your wife keeps checking me out!" Late in the afternoon, we headed to our house to finish off the gifts.  (At that point, I was reminded how I need a much bigger house.)
We were incredibly blessed this year, as we always are. I love, love, love the holidays, and all the time we get to spend with family.  They went by so quickly this year!  Can't wait for the next ones! :)

 My pretty stack from MalMal.

 

 My first Christmas!

 

 Apparently the forward-facing camera on my phone is of horrible quality.  But these are the only glimpses of our Christmas outfits.

MTMMS

(Watching Go Diego, Go)
Diego: Can you say whirlygig beetle?
Amelie: Rirlylig beetle!
Alisa: Really big beetle!

Amelie: What's this?
Mom: A calculator. It helps you do math.
A: Oh! It will help me learn math in the car!
(turns to walk away... pauses...)
A: ... what's math?


M: Sounds like you are being a tattletale.
A: (stops and turns dramatically) How could you say that to a child?

(Carson and Lisie both fell asleep)
Mom: What should we do now?
Amie: Watch movies, snuggle and eat gum!
M: OK!
A: Let's get this party started!

Festivities Mishmash

Alisa wanted mr take her picture in front of this tree at her gymnastics class.

This year's cookie exchange!

These are from Dad's work kids' Christmas party.  They had balloon animals, crafts, goody bags, a sweet raffle, cookie decorating, face painting, and of course Santa!  (Except he was already gone when we went to see him! We had a blast!

This little gem of a video if from my Relief Society Christmas Social.  I seriously love them!

Santa, Santa Everywhere

Above was at the U's opening gymnastics meet, and these are from our ward party.

We have seen many a Santa this year, though the girls were never overly excited to sit on his lap.  Carson always seemed to be absent or asleep, but he was there for a really cute cousins one.

Park City

A while ago, a friend of mine had a week at a condo in Park City, but couldn't stay the entire week, so she split it with me!  My family and I headed up for some relaxing time and had a blast!  We swam, used the spa and sauna, ate from one of their restaurants, watched lots of movies, played games, had cocoa and cider by the fire.  It was an all around good time! On our way back to town, in some serious snow, we stopped at the Olympic museum.

10 years in the making...

This month, my Jeffrey achieved his goal of earning his Bachelor's Degree!  He graduated with a BS in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology.  I'm so proud of him for hanging in there and getting it done.  All the while, he has been working full time and supporting his family, and still even has a great GPA.  Good work, Daddio!

In other related news, Jeff was recently offered the position of detective for SLCPD!  He moved over after only 4.5 years on, when most usually move with closer to ten years behind them.  He has always wanted to do that and has been loving it so far. It is so nice to have evenings and weekends again, and it conveniently gave him Christmas and New Year's off!

We're triple proud of you this month, dad!

YWE 2012

Our Young Women in Excellence program was a few weeks ago, and frankly, it kinda took us by surprise. (I work with a very fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kinda presidency, and it drives this list-making micro-manager absolutely crazy!) So, anyway we went with a Christmas tree and "gifts" theme.  It was much more basic than some of the other big activities we have put on, but I was totally in love with the tree and cake we had, so I wanted to document them.

All the value colors, plus the ornaments are gifts with value experiences the girls have completed, and the presents underneath have some of their 10-hour projects.

Presents cake!

Christmas Performing

Amelie's dance crew was back in action for Christmas, and though she is older and experienced, she still doesn't always do all of the singing and dancing, but is always cute!

She also had her first school program, in preschool at Challenger. It was super cute! She, again, did not always do all of the performing (she gets easily distracted on stage) but still sings the songs and poems daily.