Decemember is a wonderful time of year. It is a great reminder of how we should be all year long. Thinking of those before ourselves. Here are some activites we did with our families throughout the month.
First, we made ginger bread houses at Keri and Darren's house.
Kennedy is helping Sharon.
Keri building her house.
Keri (right) and Megan (left)
Sharon is working on her house the correct way. I mean that she
is using frosting on the edges to hold the seems together. Where
as the rest of us used a little bit of cheating. We hot glued the sides
together. Keri had such a great idea. I will be doing that more often.
My finished house. Mine WON!
The ginger bread village.
In November Kennedy turned 18 months. Last year I waited until December to get her pictures done since it is so close for getting Christmas pictures. So I just combine the two. Kennedy is not the most photogenic.
This is what we got.
I love how she is going to link the fake snowball.
Showing the snowball love.
This picture really tells how much
she loves her picture taken.
She must get that from her father.
The favorite mother I am had a second round of pictures the same day with the Stoker cousins.
Jordan, Jet, Katilyn, Brooke, Kennedy
Blake's Grandma Bev likes to get everyone together for breakfast. The whole family is there - aunt, uncle, cousins and their families, mom and dad, and Blake's brothers. In total there is 35 people and counting. It sometimes is a bit much and slightly chaotic. I am used to being with only about 10 people. That is including grandparents, cousins, and aunt and uncle on my mom's side of the family. When we get together with my dad's side of the family the count is pretty much the same. Being of all the years of small families, being with Blake's family is an adjustment. It is getting better, but there are days that I still get a bit dazed and confused with all that is going on. It is getting better.
Kennedy loving getting her picture taken.
Blake's cousins and grandparents.
Scott, Angie, Dave, Greg, Ryan, Blake, Jeff, and Kevin
Grandma Bev and Grandpa Jack.
Moving closer to Chrismtas Eve.
Blake and I with our families have hopefully finally figured out a schedule in order to spend quality time with each of them on the holiday. In reality Salt Lake is not far away, but 40 minutes of driving time makes you miss quite a bit of either party. We have decided that on Christmas Eve we are alternating each year which family we are with and the next year we see the other. It has worked out well the last two years. Christmas day is still a bit tricky. On Christmas day we have been typically been seeing my family in the morning and Blake's in the afternoon. We have not worked out all the kinks, but I think we are well on our way. Blake and I have the understanding that as long as we see one family in the morning and the other in the afternoon/early evening, then we have accomplished our goal.
Kennedy posing
Playing with Great Grandma Connie
Christmas Day
I don't think knew what to think by the time you had her presents, Blake and mine presents in our small living room. Another reason to hopefully one day have a bigger house. That way we are not so confined. However that being said, it is nice being comfy and cozy.
She loves feeding her new baby.
She even was telling the baby to shh..shh...
Kennedy said she was crying. "Baby cryin'."
Kennedy is such a girl. She wanted to
try on everything. For fun we did.
She has a pair of new pj's, sweatshirt, and
a pair of snowboots.
She also got some new panties.
She wanted to try them on.
They were like 5 sizes too big.
We also go her set now to go snowmobiling. She has new new winter coat and matching snow
bibs and her snowmobile/ATV helmet on. Do you know how hard it is to get a full face helmet on
a child? Not easy. But it was accomplished as you can see. The bad part of helmets for child is that
they only start for a child of about the age of 3. But they make this cool next brace thing to strap
underneath the helmet since their necks are not strong enough to hold their heads up.
Visiting my aunt and uncle's house Christmas Morning.
My dad and uncle enjoying quality family time. haha
My mom and her sister gave their granddaughters matching dresses for christmas to go get their pictures taken. My daycare provider takes this time off to spend time with her children without the daycare kids. I then have to find other people to watch Kennedy for me while I still have to work. One of the days my mom took and made an appointment at Target to get Kennedy and Ellie's picture. Remember when I said Kennedy was not photogenic. While the photographer was taking pictures it seemed either Ellie or Kennedy was not happy. Target was running behind which did not help matters. By the time they were done with the session it only took I think my mom said an hour and a half. I am glad I was not there. I did warn my mom that pictures are not a joyous time. See below.
Kennedy and Ellie. Ellie was not happy in this picture.
This may look like Ellie is smiling, but
she is really crying.
After they finally finished they went to Jason's Deli. My mom sent me this picture while I was working with the caption - "This sums up my day".
Family Picture. I am going to try to have one each year. My aunt gave us a really cool photo album. Now I just have to print some pictures off. Being digital I have found I dont print pictures.
Kennedy laying with Payzlee.
We gave Kennedy this little sled. We decided that it would be easier if Payzlee pulled her
around instead. Kennedy loved it. I am not so sure if Payzlee loved it though. She was a
good sport. Kennedy only lasted about 10 minutes. Therefore Payzlee wasn't too tired.
