Friday, December 30, 2011

Highlights of Christmas

Christmas this year was one of the best yet.  Not only was Mikayla old enough to take part in the festivities, but Uncle Seth was home from his mission and the whole family was together.  We made so many fun memories, but to me the best part was taking in every moment with the ones I love.

There were so many fun moments over the weekend that I had a hard time narrowing them down so I'm including a bunch of pictures, but I'll try to limit the words to make up for it. :)

A pre-Christmas walk-just because I love the picture.
Our little "angel" for the nativity at our family Christmas Eve party.  She probably should have picked a play where she could've been the part of the devil instead.  She was such a GRUMP that day.
The nativity cast that has gotten WAY smaller over the years!
Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to open our family gift exchange gift.  The boys are sitting behind the dominoes tabletop that Dustin made for Seth.  Seth loves dominoes after serving in the Dominican Republic.
A close-up of the pretty tabletop that Dustin made.
Mikayla was the official present rearranger.  The boys made her a fort out the presents and she could've stayed in there all night long sorting boxes.
Seth and Jake had Dustin and Dad and they made them these little kid picnic tables.  We were pretty impressed. :)
Christmas morning Dustin and I woke up at the crack of dawn and waited FOREVER for Mikayla to wake up so we could get everyone else up.  I love her bedhead.
When she saw all the presents she got so excited!  She was mostly excited to continue her rearranging process from the night before. :)
Santa brought Mikayla a play kitchen.  He enlisted her Dad for help in completing the project.  Seriously-take a closer look at her hair in the picture below. :)
Santa's helper with the completed kitchen...
I love it!  He did such a good job!
Dustin surprised me with a trip to Nauvoo for our 5th anniversary.  I have been dying to go back since I lived there for a semester.  I couldn't believe it!
We could've just given Mikayla tissue paper and she would've been the happiest girl ever.  This is one of the few pictures I got of Nanny Jill...sad day. :(  She'll be grateful, though.  We talked her into staying in her jammies which is totally not her thing. :)
For Dustin's present I enlarged pictures from when Dustin and his parents went on safari and put them on canvases to hang in our room.
Grandad got manly man flashlights with their own carrying case and everything.
Auntie Maren got fancy new boots from Uncle Jake and Uncle Jake was sporting his usual dark socks and shorts attire for quite the lovely combination.
My hubby loving every minute of Christmas.
Mikayla spent all morning trying to talk anyone and everyone into sitting by her on the presents.
Dustin got a big Christmas/early birthday present-a lathe (spelling?) and some tools from a stellar yard sale.  Seth got a bow for his violin and was so stoked he couldn't part with his violin-see him standing on the driveway?
The big girls and the little gal all got matching boots from Grandad and Nanny Jill.  They're brown with pink tops.  SO cute!
As usual, Dustin sported his own style...(This one's for you Deja, DawnSheree, and DeeDee!)
Off to church-Jake and Seth with their matching red pants that Seth had made in the DR.
This is the best picture I got of Mikayla, but she got this adorable purse from the Susa family and loves it.
After church Dustin put together Mikayla's tool bench from Grandad and Nanny Jill.  For some reason, Mikayla thought the drill was the most hilarious thing in the world and would bust up laughing every time she turned it on.  We're talking slapping her legs and falling into Dustin because she was laughing so hard.  It made us laugh pretty hard-hence the 2 pictures and a video to go along with them. :)
Phew...I think that just about sums up our day.  Christmas evening extended family and friends came over to chat and watch a movie.  It was a good day.

We have so much to be grateful for, especially the tradition of a righteous family.  We have many examples of stalwart ancestors that we can honor by carrying on their legacy.  I am grateful for Christmas and the chance that it gave me to reflect on what is important and to realize that through Christ we have the opportunity to be with family forever.  What greater blessing can there be?

What a happy happy day!



Sunday, December 25, 2011

All I want for Christmas is...

A little bro or sis!
Check!
Coming June 2012

Merry Christmas!!!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Things of importance...

...like burps, secrets, cake batter, and being cute.

I fully recognize that not everyone enjoys 100 pictures or videos of other people's kids, but I also happen to know that Mikayla's grandparents think she's as cute as I do so I can justify posting a million videos of her for them, right?  She just does so many cute things right now that I wanted to remember some of them...

Her new favorite word-BURP!
Telling a secret...if you can't hear what she's saying that's because it's a SECRET!!!
The "beek" at the end is her version of "peek-a-boo".
We love licking the beater!  Don't judge me for the chocolate chips (her favorite treat) and giving her the beater.  It's Christmas.   I love when she says "yeah".  It's such a better alternative than NO to everything! 
Clean up!  And the best little "cute" poser ever!
Thank goodness for a booster seat to keep her still for the videos! ;)
Not her best rendition, but every time you say "crazy" or "silly" or "weird"...anything that means something along those lines Mikayla says "willy willy" for "silly willy".  

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Nesting

Definition: The art of gathering as much junk as one can and piling it around you in a nest-like arrangement and then proceeding to move the junk from one side of you to the other over and over again all day long.  It's all about SORTING.  If your mom moves to a different room, the junk must then be gathered and moved to the new location and the process starts again.  Mikayla's favorite past time.
There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of rhyme or reason to what she deems a "treasure" for her pile, just as long as there are mass QUANTITIES.  More=better.
She loves to pat the ground next to her with her hand while saying "yeah, yeah!", indicating that you should come sit by her and relish in the joy of her junk pile with her.  She gets so excited for company. :)
The process of moving rooms is hard work...
This purse has been a favorite tool in changing junk pile locations lately and is quite helpful in the event of needing to go outside with the nesting pile.
The pantry.  Mikayla's favorite hangout.  She'll say "bye-bye" take some treasures in with her and sit in the pantry for over an hour while she talks to herself and sorts canned food and anything else she can find.  

And, just for cuteness sake, here's our professional nester doing what she does best (other than sorting, of course)...looking adorable. :)



Thursday, December 8, 2011

Before it's too late...

Our Thanksgiving. :)
Thanksgiving morning started with the Hancock's tradition of dutch oven biscuits and gravy.  Yummy!
The cousins enjoying their breakfast outside-only in AZ, right?
Our cute girl. :)
Thanksgiving had to be the most relaxed Thanksgiving I have ever had.  I don't know how Mom Hancock did it, but she made everything fall into place with what seemed like no effort because of preparations made the day before.  It was a whole new concept!  Notice another tradition on the table-green Kool-Aid mixed with lemonade like Grandma Hancock used to make.  Steven made his family's infamous deep pit turkey for dinner and it was to die for!
The kiddos at their table enjoying jumbo olives!
We did Christmas with the Hancocks on Thanksgiving while everyone was home because it is the "off" year for them this year.  David had our name and drew this amazing picture of the "Big Five"-the famous African animals-for our room.  It is incredible.  I wish the picture of the drawing did it better justice.
The rest of the weekend we just hung out with each other and it was great.  Check out Mikayla's face in this picture.  Seriously?  She is such a GIRL!!!
Mikayla and her hero, DeeDee.
Staying as far away from the quad as she could with Dad. :)
Finally a picture with all the cousins!  Story time with Mammy...
Mikayla in her new Christmas dress from Mammy and Pappy-SO cute!
Thanks, Mammy and Pappy for an awesome Thanksgiving!