Reading with Grandpa

The pictures say it all...who doesn't love snuggling up and reading a book with someone you love!?!?

Christmas 2010

We held true to long-time tradition and all bunked in the same room on Christmas Eve as we anxiously anticipated the coming of morning!  The day started off at 7:30 as the kids woke everybody up and we went up stairs to find that Santa had indeed come, eaten his cookies, drank his milk and left stockings stuffed and gifts galore!

We got busy with opening gifts and having a good time watching people open the gifts that we had given.  In our family we always unwrap one gift at a time so that we can enjoy watching others as well.  We always stop at around 9:00 a.m. to make a frencth toast and bacon breakfast (a la Chef Dad, the french toast cooker) and then we resume opening gifts!  This tradition took a little while for Chris to get used to but I think he really enjoys it now and I love it because it makes the magic of Christmas last longer!

I made a lot of the gifts this year, including these two aprons.  Olivia already has another apron that I'd made her a few years ago and whenever we cook together Brady is always saying that he needs an apron too so I stitched up the best boy apron I could think of (cowboy sheriff) and a coordinating apron for Olivia as well made of vintage apple fabric.  I say that they coordinate because I used the same vintage red gingham in both of them.  We can't wait to cook up a storm together!

Brady got his favorite colored sleeping bag from Grammie and Grandpa and loved hanging out in it for the rest of the morning!  It was also perfect because in Idaho Olivia had gotten a pretty pink princess sleeping bag from Grammie and Grandpa Graf!  Now all we need is a bigger tent and we'll be ready for camping this summer!

Uncle Andrew and two crazy kids

My brother, Bryce also made most of his gifts this year and blew us away with his talent!  He made these birch coat/hat hangers for Chris and Brady and also (not pictured) two candle holders for me and my mom!  They are awesome and we love them so much!

Uncle Andrew gave Brady this Patriots blanker (and I had made him this Boston Red Sox blanket and pillow, specifically because he always complains that he needs a pillow when we are on long car rides) so he was so excited to have blankets from his two favorite teams!

Grandpa and Livy, who loved her new books

"Sissy and Drew"

Later that evening Alison came over to share Christmas dinner and to open her gifts with the family.  Mom and dad had found this bench and dad had refurbished it for their new apartment.  Inside it was filled with gifts from mom and dad, also for their apartment and honeymoon!

We ended the night with playing games, eating snacks and all enjoying eachother's company.  I think that this will be the last Christmas when all of us siblings are together on Christmas morning and I'm grateful for the opportunity that we had to share this time together and make special memories!

Christmas Eve, Mexican style

We stayed in for Christmas Eve at my parents and began the night with a gift exchange from Grammie while she read "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  Every time the kids heard Santa say "Ho, ho, ho" or the word Santa they had to swap the gifts they were holding.  It was a cute game for them to play and they ended up getting a movie and some treats to eat while dinner was being prepared.

 SWITCH!!!

In years past our family has either gone out for Chinese, or ordered in and played games and watched movies.  Some of our stomachs can no longer handle Chinese very well so we opted on switching it up a bit and maybe starting a new tradition of a Fiesta-style dinner!  My brother, Bryce and I cooked a feast together and had a great time planning, shopping and cooking together!

The children being silly with daddy while they wait for dinner!

The Feast:

Fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, sweet shredded pork, fish tacos, beans and rice, fresh pineapple and all of the fresh fixings to go along with it.  It was MUY BUENO!!!!

Good Night Santa!!!

No Christmas Eve would be complete without writing Santa a letter and leaving him and his reindeer some milk, cookies and carrots!

And of course, going to bed excited to see what Santa wrote back!



First Haircut.

This is my baby. 

This is her crazy two and a half year old hair. 

I debated for MONTHS (literally) about cutting her hair or not, and finally, when we were in Maine I decided, yes, it was time!

My mom and I made an appointment and took her to the local salon where her baby hairs were cut off and she was transformed into a big girl!

She was really good, and even though she wasn't feeling well and had a cough she sat really still and tried to do everything the stylist asked her to.  She thinks her new haircut is pretty cute!!!



Wedding #1 Ben & Rachel

We were lucky enough to attend my cousin Ben's wedding the weekend that the kids and I flew out to Maine.  He and his wonderful new wife, Rachel are such a  cute, fun couple and I'm so glad that we'll be close enough to them to visit them often as they attend school at BYU-Idaho!

The night before the wedding Rachel's mom, Karen and step-dad, Dave hosted a dinner for all of the family at their house.  Olivia made friends right away with Rachel's little brother, Benson and the two of them hung out at the ice machine for the next hour!  Apparently they both have a thing for chewing ice!  Aren't they too cute??!!??!!

                         

Salt Lake Temple

December 18th, 2010

Dun, dun, dun, dun...Dun, dun, dun, dun......And here is the lovely couple!

My cousin Ben, can you tell he's happy?!?!

(There will be more pictures to come I'm sure when I can get my hands on copies!!!)

The Hubbard Family: 

Uncle Jim, Aunt Donna, Josh, Rachel, Ben and Megan

After the wedding we went and met up with some of our best friends from college, Justin and Michelle who we hadn't seen in 6 years!  It was so good to see them again, catch up and watch out kiddos play!

The Reception

Thanksgiving Point

This was a gorgeous sit-down reception and we had a nice time talking, eating and enjoying the toasts to the bride and groom.  Poor little Olivia came down with a high fever while we were there and after posing for a brief picture she fell fast asleep on her chair!  We had to cancel plans to go out to eat with all of the cousins and went back to our friends house to hang out some more instead!!!

After good-byes, the wedding guests all watched the happy couple escape in their get-away car!!!

We're so glad that we were able to be a part of their special day and that we have such a wonderful new cousin to add to our family!  CONGRATULATIONS Ben and Rachel, we love you!!!!