Sunday, January 25, 2015

friends, balloons and lots and lots of confetti

A bunch of blurry photos document our fun New Year's Eve.  We spent it at our good friend's house with yummy food and great conversation.  The amount of confetti in the house was completely ridiculous and totally awesome, the kids loved it!


I love that the sparks of the popper were captured!  I was told that this is a face I make :)





New Year's music videos were streaming on the tv...no idea what this one was.


Great picture, ha!  The only one with most of us.





It was a great way to celebrate 2014 and ring in 2015!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Christmas Day

Christmas day is spent with my side of the family, my first step dad's side, and my second step dad's side :)  I have a lot of family and so thankful for all of them!


Santa knows we're not home so he comes to Grandma Sue's house.





Grandma Sue with Boo the "not so friendly" kitty in the background.


Adeline was super pumped with all the Frozen stuff she got.


Hakan got a Kindle Fire, he wasn't very excited ;)



Great Grandma Proxie, an amazing lady, 98 and still going strong!




My sisters, Sammy and Alyssa.  Love them!







Uncle Dean is super funny and had Ames giggling like crazy for a long time!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Christmas Eve

We usually spend Christmas Eve with Derek's side of the family, his mom, dad, brother and sister.  There's a candle light service at the church Derek grew up in and where we got married, very special to us.



It's this little guys first Christmas eve.


Oh the family photo...always fun :)
On a side-note, I completely biffed it coming out of church and slid across the sand filled parking lot, covering myself with wet muddy sand, scraping my hands and knee and ruining my cute, non-documented Christmas outfit.  I survived, changed and all was well.


These three, So much love and joy, The best presents ever.


Grandpa Ken and Grandma Wendy


Love this!


Uncle Tyler


Aunt Erica


Adeline and Hakan were very generously helping Ames open his presents.






I can't get over my face in this picture and have no idea what was being said...but apparently I'm a little dramatic.


I absolutely love matching pjs!  I really want to include Derek and I but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to talk him into that...ever.


They both got these leap band activity bracelets and they're pretty awesome, watch the video below of Hakan and just try not to laugh.



Grandma really scored with all the Bison gear she got for the kids!  Number 11 for Derek's cousin Carson (quarterback for the 4th straight year national champs and two time NCAA Elite 89 Award)...we're a little proud :)  Anytime we watch football, no matter what team, the kids yell, there's Carson, ha!

It was a really special night celebrating the birth of Jesus with family.  I just love Christmas!

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Christmas Season

We had a really great relaxing and stress-free Christmas season this year!  All the presents were bought and wrapped by the first week in December, we made and decorated sugar cookies.  A little decorating tip, go out and buy the little bottles from Michael's, they're amazing and make decorating with kids effortless...well, as effortless as anything with kids can be.  We got our craft on, painting ornaments, putting those annoying mardi gras beads to use inside clear ball ornaments, foot and hand print hangings, decorated gingerbread men from last year...  Hakan and Adeline got really into all of it, which made it that much more fun!



Sugar overload!





I had a ton of fun making these stockings for Derek's aunt and would love to make some for us next year.


This is our Elfie Ralphie.  We don't follow the "he reports back to Santa" story line, but just fun for the kids to find him in the mornings.  This was the most elaborate one I did...the rest of the time, he was quickly grabbed and shoved somewhere before bed...if I didn't forget :)  I was inspired by our uber talented cousins who play for the Bison.



This was pretty easy and fun, you can find the recipe I used here.


  

Growing up, we were always given Hallmark ornaments for each Christmas.  My stepdad Roger, came into our lives with no Hallmark ornaments of his own, so I decided since he loved and built cars, to start his own collection on our tree with this series.  I was only able to give him this one.  This will be our 16th Christmas without his handsome, space-toothed smiling grin.  He was my dad in all respects and I miss him tons.  Memories always flood back when I unwrap this little car.


Our tree is a huge melting pot of ornaments from when both Derek and I were little and then our kids.  My favorite part is the skirt that my mom made over 30 years ago, love it!  The kids LOVE opening their ornaments and hanging them, they squeal every time!

   

The kids get this tree in their room with mostly non-breakable ornaments and most of our Christmas books next to it that we read all December.


Adeline's and Hakan's


This Santa was hilarious!  He was on the floor making car noises, making up songs, playing patty cake, and dancing, the kids loved him (I thought he was a little strange...a good strange, and I think Ames agreed).

 

Look at Ames' sweet little foot!


We had a great time at Derek's Christmas Party!  Our first night away from Ames, and he slept awesome for my sister, yay!


We always go back to ND for a week during Christmas and before we go, we have our own little celebration with the kids.




We got the kids a guitar (for a really awesome deal) just ignore the fact that it's an Adam Levine one.  Now we just have to figure out how to play...or first tune it...should be fun :)  Anyone want to give us lessons?

I wish this magical season could last a bit longer, but I guess maybe it wouldn't be as special as it is.