Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas

Our Christmas


We had a wonderful Christmas this year! I totally spaced it and forgot to get the camera out and takes pictures!


On Christmas Eve, we had a family get together with my siblings, Ryan and Sariah, Grandma and Larry, my Aunt Sheila, and my Mom and Ron.  We had dinner, chatted, did a white elephant gift exchange and opened presents from my Mom, and everyone else.  It was a lot of fun and of course, the kids were spoiled!!  


On Christmas morning, we watched Luke 2 in our bedroom before heading out to the living where Santa had left our presents!  We then opened gifts as a family!  Talmage was sooo excited!  I loved that!  He was even excited about a candy cane in his stocking.  Emma needed a little help opening her gifts and in the end, she was actually more interested in brother's toys.  


Later in the afternoon on Christmas, we headed over to Scottsdale to have Christmas dinner with my Dad and Linda, Aunt Sheila, Grandma and Larry, and Linda's two boys, Jason and Devin.  The appetizers were amazing and the dinner was even more spectacular.  We love dinners at my Dad's because Linda is an awesome cook and my Dad is amazing at the grille!  Yum!!  After dinner, we opened gifts and were again spoiled!!  


I can't believe how truly blessed we are with so much family.  We received so many nice gifts this year and were overwhelmed with all the love from those who gave them.  This holiday season has been so memorable and we're so grateful for the reason for the season.  As I get older, I realize more and more how truly amazing the birth of Christ was.  And as a mother, I now have a different perspective on what it must have been like for Mary.  I'm so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who cared so much about us that he would send a Savior, His only Begotten Son, as an example for us and to save us from our sins.  It is truly amazing!  Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Our Christmas Card


Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!

Friday, December 23, 2011

Emma's Birthday Celebration

Emma's Birthday
12.12.2011

Just opened her Care Bear
Opening her Gifts
We started off celebrating her birthday by opening presents right when she woke up.  We have a family tradition of hiding the birthday presents first but since Emma is only 1, we scattered the presents around the room where she could see them but still have to crawl to them. It was so fun watching her open her presents and play with her toys.  Two of her presents were clothes, which she wasn't exactly thrilled about.

Emma Maren & Grandma Maren
Emma asleep with her
Cabbage Patch Doll
After presents and playing around for a bit, we headed off to IHOP.  I know she's only 1 but it was a reason to go out to breakfast!  She and her brother both received complimentary ice cream sundaes there as well.  Once we finished up our meal, we took Emma to see her grandma and grandpa.  Emma Maren is named after her grandma Maren.  She was also born on her grandma's half birthday so it's extra special!

Emma at McDonald's
Emma at McDonald's
Later on that day, after Talmage had come home from Preschool, we took them to McDonald's.  Awhile ago, I found a really cool McDonald's play place that was geared towards toddlers and older babies.  Emma's only been there once before and she loved it so naturally, we just had to go there on her birthday.  She had a blast playing, crawling and standing on all the soft objects.


Emma & PaPa opening gifts
That evening, my dad and Linda came over to join in our celebration.  They brought a balloon, gifts, cards and cupcakes!  I had already made Ladybug cupcakes for her cake so we had double the cupcakes.

Lady Bug Cupcakes
I can hardly believe that Emma is 1!  It seems like she is only about 8 months.

Some fun things that she's doing now are:
-standing up to the couch

-taking a few steps along the couch
-waving
Attempting to blowout
her 1st Birthday Candle
-babbling and talking
Eating her Cupcake like a Lady
-words: daddy, hi, aye, hey, mama, uh-oh
-mimics sounds
-mimics actions
-dances...ALL the time
-points and talks
-sings

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Emma: Birth to 1 year

Here's a little re-cap of Emma's First Year



Newborn: 1 week

1 month
2 months
3 months
4 months
5 months
6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

1 year


Thursday, December 15, 2011

Happy Birthday Emma Maren!

Happy 1 year!
12.12.11

12.12.10
10:33 pm
7 lbs 7 oz