Noon Year's Eve Party & New Year's Eve

12.31.2012

This year The Shops at Riverwoods put on a Noon Years Eve Party for all the kids who wanted to come. We heard about it kind of last minute, but decided we would go and check it out.  It was hosted by Radio Disney as well, so we figured there could be a lot of fun things going on.  When we got there we had a hard time finding it, but once we did, we didn't stay long.  Even though it was pretty warm outside, all of the events were inside in a fairly small reception hall, and it was packed.  We just got Hallie her Disney mask, and went back out.  We weren't going to wait 45 minutes to play each game, or get her face painted, and Hallie was fine with that.  She wanted to go outside and play anyway.  We also, went into Blickenstaff's and looked around, and into Provo Beach Resort and watched people on the Flow Rider.  Both of which Hallie was thrilled with, other than she wasn't big enough, and we hadn't brought her swimsuit for her to "surf."  I have a feeling we have a little adventurer on our hands.  She told us when she was big enough her and daddy were going surfing.  Which was news to us, and especially because daddy doesn't particularly care for the ocean.  But maybe they could try the Flow Rider out someday.

 Hallie thought her mask was so funny.

 And even moreso when she could see herself in the store mirror.

 After going to Riverwoods for awhile, we headed back up to Grandma and Grandpa's where Eric washed our filthy car.  It really was beautiful outside that day.

 Lauren and Hallie played the Fancy Nancy game.

 Provo City did fireworks at 9 pm and at midnight, so we headed up to the base of the Y around 9 to watch the fireworks.  Though they were pretty far away it was fun to see them up above the city.

Hallie also got her first taste Martinelli's, she wasn't so sure about it.

 It is one of Eric's favorite things ever though. Especially in his new San Diego Chargers glasses.

 After the fireworks we drove back down through Riverwoods to look at their Christmas lights.  They had a ton, and it was very pretty.

 We had a very tired little girl though who was ready to find her bed.

Happy New Year! 2012!

Bath Time

12.27.2011

Christmas!!!

12.25.2011

The day finally came! Christmas!  Hallie could hardly contain her excitement, and it made for a very fun Christmas morning.

Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Shawna sent Hallie this beautiful doll that was Eric's Grandma Water's.  She absolutely loves it, and still wants to just hold it for a minute.   But it lives up on a shelf for now.

 Santa came!  Guess which stocking is Hallie's. :) 

 I saw this idea on Pinterest, and thought it was brilliant.  They used crepe paper to block of the doorway to the living room to keep the little ones out until everyone was ready, but all I had was wrapping paper and it worked great.  Though Hallie was quite confused about it.

 We told her she could go through it now and see what Santa brought, but she didn't quite get that she was supposed to tear through it, so she tried crawling under it...

...until Daddy helped her a bit.  But it was a great way to start off the morning with a good laugh.

 And Santa delivered just what this little princess wanted...a beautiful, very sparkly, Belle dress.  (We were cleaning up sparkles for about a month!

 Hallie was concerned that Santa didn't eat all of the cookies, and he left a crumbly mess!

 Another quick favorite! A toy phone!

 And that was just the beginning...we still had gifts under the tree.

 Fancy Nancy!  Hallie loved that the cover was sparkly

 Belle Barbie

 New church shoes!

 Grandpa Bob made Hallie this awesome dress-up hanger/closet.  It has been awesome! 

 Our attempt at a family picture.

 Reading Fancy Nancy

 Hallie didn't waste much time at all getting her dress-ups all put away.  I just love her cute face in this picture! 

Then it was time to go to church, so we all got dressed, and off we went.  Hallie got to wear her Christmas dress again.

 After church we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house, where we were spoiled even more!

Hallie opening her gift from Grandma and Grandpa...a wagon!

 Which the boys wasted no time getting put together.  It has been great to have, and as the weather has warmed up it was been a lot of fun!

 Then we just hung out, and relaxed.  And Hallie played with her cousins, and played dress ups, because that's her favorite. :)

It was a great, relaxing day.  So Merry Christmas in April.



Christmas Eve 2011

12.24.2011

This year was a really fun year for traditions and holidays with Hallie.  She really got it, and was excited about everything.  So it made the Christmas season a lot more fun for us.

For Christmas Eve we started a bit earlier this year at Grandma & Grandpa's. We started out with our annual DVD game.  It has been fun to watch it progress over the years.  The first year everyone pretty much took what they got, and didn't swap with other people much.  But as the years have gone on it has gotten more competitive and fun to watch. :)

Here are the girls awaiting instructions.

Hallie unwrapping her DVD.  Little Einsteins!  Her new favorite. 

 Everyone playing.

 After the excitement was over everyone got ready to go to the Ward Christmas Program.  I wasn't feeling especially great, so Eric and I stayed home, but Hallie still wanted to go. So she got dressed in her Christmas dress, and off she went with Grandma & Grandpa and her cousins.

 The two red heads

 When did this little girl get so big?!

 After the program, everyone came home and we ate dinner, then settled in the living room for our new Christmas book.  Hallie insisted on wearing one of Grandma's princess dresses.

 Photo courtesy of Hallie Mae

 This year the story was called A Christmas Prayer, and it was a great story, about service and putting others needs ahead of our own wants. 

And while the holidays were a lot of fun with Hallie this year, it was also difficult.  She hit the "I'm going to have a meltdown at any moment, for no reason" stage right about then too.  She wanted to sit with Grandma, and wasn't exactly nice about it.

 Then of course new Christmas jammies!

 Zack!

 The grandkids!

 While we were packing things up to go Hallie decided she needed a second round of pumpkin roll.

 When we got home we got our milk and cookies out for Santa.

 And headed to bed.

As always, Christmas time is crazy as ever, but it is always nice when it arrives and we can slow down and enjoy it.

Christmas Cookies

12.21-12.23.2011

After much debate, I decided we better make Christmas cookies this year.  I know how much time they take to make, and it quickly became a three day project...hence the debate.  But Hallie thought it was a lot of fun.

Day 1: Making the dough

 Day 2: Rolling the dough out, cutting them out, aand baking.

Day 3: Decorating

All this cookie-ness wore our Little Miss right out!

Oops! Hallie didn't quite understand that we just wanted a few sprinkles on top.  So while I was not paying as close of attention as I should have been we had a cookie with half of a bottle of colored sugar on it.

Our decorated cookies.  Hallie was very sweet and decorated cookies especially for certain people.  Including Grandma & Grandma, Grandma Great (Peterson), Karen, and Grandpa Great (Adams).

 Neither Eric or I are big fans of frosting, so I did a few with orange glaze instead, and they were delicious!  I would much rather that on a cookie than frosting!

And after all of this we wrapped the cookies up, and delivered them.  (Because heaven knows we don't need 4 dozen sugar cookies to ourselves!)