Baking w/ Daddy

Addalyn stayed home one day with Aaron and they did some Christmas baking.  Yes, I have an awesome hubby :)  Not only does he do some Christmas baking with his little girl, but he knows that his wife would want pictures of the event ... and as you can see by the pics below -- he ALSO teaches Addy the importance of Baking in "Style"! 

What an awesome dad/husband!!!

I don't know why...but I love this pic!  And, I seriously need to find a picture of my sister Angela at this age...because I think Addy and her look a lot alike in this one!

Check out that stylish headband...totally goes with the outfit :)

Hard at work!

Christmas Preparations

Just basically a "picture post"...but some of the festivities that consumed the times that we were home together to start the Christmas celebration :) 

1: Trimming the Tree

(a picture from later in the month...but one that shows the finished tree)

Tree #2 - for Addy & Blake's room.  I had this tree in my dorm room in college ... the perfect addition to their room for the holidays :)

2: Making home-made Christmas gifts

We got into making some crafty gifts for some of our favorite "peeps"!  We made different wind-chimes that fit people's personalities.  I'm super bummed that I didn't really get a good picture of each of them...

Working hard!

Blaker got to participate in decorating for a little while...until he tried to eat the little wooden balls full of wet paint (notice the blue on his mouth)...then he got taken off "paint duty" :)

My cute painter...checking on her bro that got put in the bath after his wet-paint eating attempt :) 

3: Christmas Music Dance Parties

I mean, what good is celebrating Christmas if you don't listen to some good music and have  a little dance party???!!!  What, not everyone throws dance parties to Christmas music? 

Yep...even the boys got in on the fun :)  They have no choice...they are doomed for years to come!

Blake actually is giggling here while we are dancing, even though you can't really tell what he is doing :)

Yeah -- I'm one of 'THOSE' people...that enjoy all aspects of Christmas!

Looks Comfy....huh??!!!



If only we could all sleep so soundly...

"Dance Party" in early December

I'm sooo behind on blogging...I am hoping to get somewhat caught up this week.  I can't even explain to you how busy December was.  We had lots of festivities...a wedding receptions, 3 birthday parties, various Christmas celebrations, traveling, Aaron was out of town for more than 2 of the weeks doing some side jobs and attending courses for a Certification -- which makes the nights just as crazy as the days...ETC.  Needless to say, we are welcoming 2012 and the quieter days that are ahead!

To slowly catch up on blogging:

The first weekend in December we attended a wedding reception for a friend of mine that had gotten married in Mexico.  She's a good friend of my sister Shannon's - but has slowly became the friend of me and my other sis Angela as well.  So, our entire family was at the reception.  All day before the reception I was telling Addy we were going to a dance party...she loves to dance so she was pretty excited.  Between getting to put on a pretty dress and knowing that dancing was ahead...she was ready for her night out :)

I didn't have my camera, so I took pics with my phone.  Usually the pics turn out decent, but these ones are blurry due to lighting and the movement.  But, I sort've think that makes the pictures a little fun and unique.

Addy had so much fun on the dance floor...she wanted one of us to be with her pretty much the entire time we were there (her preference was her daddy, of course!)!!!

After a little while, even my sister Angela got to participate in the dance party with Addy :)  I think the pics of the 2 of them are cute!

Blake hung out with grandma Bonnie the majority of the time we were there...he wasn't so sure what to think about all that loud music and all the people :)  Plus...it was pretty close to his bedtime before we even got there since it was only a reception.  After a while, Aaron brought him back to my parents house and then I followed with my parents and Addy after I finally convinced her to come off the dance floor. 

Sleepy Man :)

The kids stayed at my parents that night while Aaron and I continued celebrating...our good friend Rachel's 30th b-day was that week and so we went to her birthday party after the reception.  We were out WAY past our bedtime :)  I think we made it to Rach's party at about 10/10:30...the typical time we'd be getting ready for bed.  Ha!  It was a very fun night of celebrating the wedding and Rach's birthday.  I didn't even take a picture of Rach and me...bummer.

And....a HUGE thank you to my mom and dad for watching the kiddos...it was a much needed night off for this mommy & daddy :)