Happy New Year!

Better Late than Never!

We had a very fun, laid back New Years this year. Some friends came over and we played games and Rock Band. Of course the girls thought the day seemed to go on forever, they kept asking when it would be time to party with Cooper. They spent a lot of time sitting on the couch waiting, so we took advantage of the time to take some self photos.

Poor Coooper is such a good sport, he always lets the girls dress him up in girly outfits, and he goes right along with it. Here he is dressed up as a very handsome witch.

Another One Bites The Dust

Yeah!! Ali finally lost the other loose tooth. She lost it a couple days after she lost the first one. It fell out while she was eating lunch, and she says that she is so glad that she did not swallow it. Her fresh new teeth are growing in nicely, but I am growing kind of fond of her toothless smile.

Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. The girls loved every moment of it, and they were very sweet to each other. Emily is a big hugger these days. All she wants to do is give people big hugs. Christmas was also Matt's Birthday, so it was a double duty party day.

Nana got to our house in perfect timing. She took the Gustafsons to the airport and made it back just minutes before Ali woke up. Then we had to wake up the bear. She took a minute, but was happy to be awake when she realized what was going on.

When they got downstairs Ali saw her Vanity that she has been dreaming about forever. So far she loves it and the thrill better not ever fizzle out.

Some of Ali's loot.

Emily got a Vanity as well, so that she can have fun doing her hair as well.

Em's Prizes. Nana made her Christmas with the last minute pink kitchen. Ever since we started asking her what she wanted for Christmas she would say the pink kitchen from the Toys R' Us catalog. We kept telling her NO because she already had one, but it went on a really good sale, so me and Nana went out to Toys R' Us at midnight on the 23rd to pick up the prize jewel.
Thanks Nana, you made her year.

The girls also got a Ukele to share. They always want to play with Matt when he plays his guitar, so we figured that this was the perfect size for them. It is so funny to listen to them play it. Our family also got a Keyboard from Nana. I am excited to brush up on my piano skills and Ali is anxious to take piano lessons. Nana may have to teach her, we are just to busy to squeeze in one more activity.

A huge EXCITEMENT for the day was that Ali lost one of her two front teeth while we were getting ready to head up to Jason and Carries house. She was so excited. We have been working on those buggers for months, and they were starting to look really creepy and she was doing some nasty tricks with them to Matt and I. We were so happy to see it go.

Emily partying.

We had such a fun time at the party. We were missing a handful of people, you know who you are. We need to have a make-up Christmas morning party with you guys.

Christmas Morning

We did a little something different this year and put the girls' stockings up by their beds. This gave us some more time to get dressed and wait for Nana to get here. They got these lovely Beauty Sleep masks. Ali is obsessed with these since she found one in the dollar bin at Target. She sleeps with it every night and keeps it on, which totally blows my mind.

Ali waiting anxiously for Emily to come and walk down stairs with her. We of course had to wake our little sleepy head up again this year. Maybe next year she will get the excitement and wake up early like her sister.

Ready to remove the masks!

Surprise!

More coming soon of the rest of Christmas morning. My Blog skills are totally lacking lately.

The Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve was great this year. I actually had the day off work so we could be low key, and start the festivities early. During the day we went to see Tangled, we absolutely loved it. Then we just got to hang out and we did not have to go a bunch of places this year so it was perfect.

The girls got to open their new pj's and go to bed early this year.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus

Riki and Brock had us over to their house to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus themselves. The girls thought that is was so cool that he actually came to their house to see them. Emily was so excited as soon as Mrs. Claus sat down she ran right up to her and gave her a huge hug. Then I think Ali felt the peer pressure to do the same thing. It was an added bonus to see the Mrs.

All of the kids got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted. Emiy asked for an ipod, which she did not get by the way, but I think that she forgives Santa for forgetting that this year. Ali asked for a Moxie doll, and Seth asked for a bike. Brooke was also there and asked for a doll, I was hoping to get a picture of all the kids together, but it didn't happen.
Maybe next year.

Matt and Brock wishing that they were sitting on Santa's lap.

Tiny Tots Christmas Party

Last Saturday we had most of Emily's dance class over to our house. We had a Gingerbread themed party. We red Gingerbread Girl and played a game with that where they would pass the book every time they heard the word girl. We decorated Gingerbread cookies, played pin the nose on the snowman and decorated a foam frame with a cute picture in it. It was a crazy day, but it was lots of fun.

Sylvia, Haylee, Halle, Brinlee, Emi, Emily, Isabel, Abby, Ella and Bella.

We can't wait to see all of these girls dance together for the first time. It is going to be priceless.

Ali also had her friend Lauren over to the party as well. They helped me and Natalie out with pin the nose on the snowman.

After School Fun!

One day when it was freezing cold outside Ali decided that she needed to go in the backyard without permission and start playing in the snow. She went out there in paper thin leggings, and no hat. She stayed out there for 20 minutes until Emily decided to join her. Then of course Emily would not put on snow pants or a hat because Ali did not have them on.

Here is a picture of them pretending to get along for the camera. They are really starting to fight with each other a lot, wich is making me really angry and sad.

My crazy Emily seeing if her tongue was cold. As if she could feel it through those thick gloves.

O Christmas Tree!

How lame am I? These are the only pictures that I got of us decorating for Christmas. Anyway, the girls had a blast for the first hour and then they gave up and decided that coloring and creating masterpices with sparkly things that have fallen off of decorations was more fun.

Maybe next year they will enjoy it more and help me out a little.

Happy Turkey Day!

Em's shirt pretty much sums it up for us. We had a fabulous Thanksgiving with everyone.

The girls loved seeing Owen, Brooklyn and Jacob. We don't get to see them very much, so when we do it is quite a treat.

The whole gang. Owen, Brooklyn, Ali, Emily, Jadon and Miah.

The kids had a blast running around and riding bikes and cars in the gym. Thanks to Peggy for having such an awesome place to have Thanksgiving.

All the Girls. Shan, Sue, Barb, Becky, Peggy and Jaime.

Thanksgiving night Ali got to try out her new pajama shirt. She found it at Old Navy, and had to have it. She really wanted it for a real shirt, but I had to protest.

Sleeping Beauty!

A couple of weeks ago Becky was coming over with Miah and Jadon. Emily was so excited all morning, she fought taking a nap even though she was excited, she would not eat lunch and was just plain cranky. She finally decided to eat a PBJ and about two minutes into eating I look over and find this. Why is it that they will never take a nap when it is convenient, they wait and do it during the worst times ever. Needless to say, she was woken up when they got here and she was in a pretty good mood. For awhile anyway.

Winter Wonderland

Our first snow storm of the season was so exciting for the girls. Matt was even off that day so they were able to make a giant snow man with him. They had a blast out in the cold, and did not even care what the temperature was. I guess there is nothing that a little hot chocolate can't fix.

Matt also pulled them around on the sled in the neighborhood. They loved it of course.

Yeah! Hooray for snow. We can't wait for the next storm to play in and go sledding.

Primary Program

Ali participated in this years Primary Program at church. She did such a great job, and was not nervous a bit. She pracited and practiced to memorize her part. When it came down to the time for her to say her part she did excellent, she only needed to be reminded of one word.

We are so proud of her, she looks forward to next years program.

Ali and Emily all ready to go to church.

Em excited and feelin' fancy.

Of course, one last one of me and Emily taken by Ali. She is our little photographer these days.