More Celebrations!

Within the space of two months, my parents were/are celebrating their 40th Anniversary and 60th birthdays. So, with everyone in town, it seemed only natural to  

have more celebrations!

One of the big challenges of having everyone together is making sure that we get a good photo of everyone, so we started by having a photo shoot with Lisa Edney...

here are a few previews of the session...

 

Then, it was party time!

We gathered with extended family and friends to celebrate the Anniversary and Birthdays...we played in the park, ate delicious Mexican food, visited, and enjoyed reconnecting with people we hadn't seen in awhile...There are obviously hundreds of photos from this afternoon together. After sifting through them again and again, including way too many, I finally decided on just the girls: sweet girls who had so much fun playing at the park, being with cousins, feeding ducks, eating chocolate cake, playing with friends, getting and giving hugs...celebrating...

With all the people in town for a party the day before New Year's Eve, it would had been silly to not continue the celebration on into the the New Year. So, we gathered again on New Year's Eve to eat left-over Mexican food, play games, light fireworks, smoke cigars, read stories, and make pyramids, and of course--to say "Happy New Year!"

We started 2013 with more play and more celebrations..

Here are Annie (in her homemade super hero costume) and Siri
in the castle portion of the Sand City they created with cousins. 

Celebrating Grandma's birthday with a trip to the zoo, opening presents, and eating cake 

The next morning, we boarded a plane for home. We had a wonderful trip--loved being with all the family, loved seeing friends, loved all the celebrations and the downtime playing together. We loved getting to be in the sunshine and stay in pajamas unreasonably late.

We've had a relatively calm last few days--unpacking, organizing, sorting through some old toys and books to get ready for new ones.

We're ready for a wonderful 2013! Happy New Year!

Relaxed Time Together...

We spent the last week of December in AZ, playing with friends and cousins and Grandma and Grandpa. It was wonderful to have relaxed days together...

At the Baldridges' hobby farm...

Annie loved feeding the animals

 Painting nails...

Eric took a little side trip to Colorado to help his little brother Greg celebrate his wedding to Maddie

When Eric returned to AZ, the my sister and her family had arrived from South Dakota as well...

Christmas in Arizona!

On the 23rd, we headed to the airport for our flight to Arizona.

While waiting for the plane to leave, the girls enjoyed goofing around...

We arrived at my parents Sunday evening--we were all delighted to see them and my brother and his family who'd arrived about a week before.

The next morning--Christmas Eve--my dad's family all came over to celebrate Christmas. It was wonderful to see everyone, and the kids enjoyed decorating their gingerbread houses.

Annie, true to form, was quite meticulous and creative

Siri kept saying "I need to eat 1 piece of candy to get a new idea." Guess how many "ideas" she had?

After a fun morning of playing, eating, celebrating together, we rested and got ready for Christmas Eve at my parents church.

Ahh...Candlelight service in AZ means getting to take the candles and "Silent Night" outside

Then, we returned to Grandma and Grandpa's for cookies, Advent candles, and story time...

Christmas morning, we all enjoyed opening stockings, giving presents, and playing with our new toys...

Oh...and, of course, because it was beautiful day, why not check out the pool...

Advent and Christmas in Minnesota

December was a wonderful month as well. 

Advent with little kids is pretty amazing and they loved all the rituals--lighting the wreath (which they had helped make at church), reading our Advent book, discovering what ornament was hiding in each day of the Advent Calendar. 

And, oh! the planning--trying to decide what gifts to get each other--the girls learning how to pick presents for someone based on what the receiver would like instead of just what they would like (Siri was convinced she needed to get Eric a dragon costume, unfortunately none was to be found, so she settled on a dragon so he could play with her.) 

The girls loved playing with our nativity scene, loved singing Christmas songs, and decorating and redecorating our tree. We celebrated St. Nick's day -- a bit at home, and Annie found he had visited her school as well. We celebrated St. Lucia day, and the girls talked eagerly about when they're just a bit older and can make the treats and coffee all by themselves. We all had a wonderful time meeting Santa and celebrating Christmas with friends at the Carsons' Holiday Party.

This year, the whole family was involved in the church Christmas Pageant. Siri as a lamb, Annie as a star, Eric as an accompanist, and Jenia as director.

We loved going to see the Holidazzle two times--once at the beginning of the season with the Larsens, and once right before our trip to AZ with the Simons, Kahnerts, and Carsons. 

We celebrated with Eric's family the Saturday before Christmas, 

and then Sunday after church headed to Arizona.

It was a full and crazy month--we loved all the outings and time with friends and family. 

And, we loved the quiet moments on the couch together at the end of each day to do our Advent reading and the calendar. 

The girls ready to wake Daddy up on St. Lucia's Day.

Siri being silly at the Carsons' Party before meeting Santa

The Christmas Pageant! Siri as a lamb, and

Annie as a Star

One week before Christmas, Eric and I got to attend the girls' dance classes for Parent Night. They both seem to love it, and it was a blast to watch. 

Siri, Annie, and Ella heading into the Macy's 8th Floor Display: A Day in the Life of an Elf

And, then, after a tasty dinner--all ready to watch the Holidazzle!

And, then, the Saturday before Christmas, we celebrated "Christmas in Minnesota," opening a few presents at home before heading over to Eric's dad's and then mom's...

...as pirates...

...and a big hug...

reading with Uncle Jeff

And, with Grandma Barb

 Since we were going to be gone for a good chunk of time, we took our Christmas tree down and brought it outside. The girls prepared pinecones with peanut butter and birdseed, a string of cranberries, and some carrots and we decorated the tree in our backyard so the animals would get to have their own Christmas tree. Given the size of the squirrels and the now-empty tree, I'm pleased to report that they seemed to enjoy it!

Ah...this picture goes up towards the top, I'm not sure why it ended up here...Here is Annie at tap class...Doesn't she look old? Yikes.