Father Daughter Dance

Friday January 22nd was the annual Girl Scouts Father Daughter dance.  Aubrey and Spencer get so excited for this event each year.  This years theme was Disney couples.  I was quite impressed with my last minute Olaf costume I made for Spencer.  He was too! Aubrey actually helped me with all the cutting of the felt and it all came together very nicely.  They had a great evening dancing the night away and enjoying a spaghetti dinner.  They had assigned seating and were happy to be sitting with Kendall and her dad Joe.  This year they had a huge projector on the wall teaching dance moves that they both thought was very cool.  After a night of dancing they ventured over to Target to get Slurpee's and prize for her and Carter (Dad sure knows how to spoil these kids!)  It was a fun special night for the two of them.

First weekend in January

After we said our good byes to my family in Modesto on New Years day we headed up to Stockton to stay at Spencer's brothers house for the night.  My sister in law Angie had invited all her sisters to come to her grand opening of a Jazzercise in Stockton on Saturday January 2nd. I really wanted to support her in this and we decided since we would be in Modesto on Friday why not just make a weekend of it and go to Stockton.  Friday night was crazy at Brian and Angie's! They had their family of 6 at there house and then Angie's sister Linda and her family of 6 and then our family of 4 all under one roof.  It was pretty wild but a lot of fun.  Spencer made chocolate chip cookies for us all, Angie and Linda were very impressed with my mans baking skills.  After staying up way to late talking and watching movies we all called it a night.  Saturday morning we woke up really early for the grand opening.  It was so much fun.  We did an hour work out at the new studio which was beautiful.  There were 5 different instructors one being Angie.  It was really fun seeing in her element and trying a new work out routine.  I likes it a lot but I think I still like my running a little more.  All Angie's blood sisters came to support her and then for the sister in laws it was just Susan and I.

Lynelle, Susan, me, Angie, Nancy and Linda

After our work out we went to a brunch at Bj's and then did a little shopping.  Then we went back home and got ready for the BYU vs. Stockton basketball game that Brian got us tickets for.

 It was really fun going to a sporting event with a big group.  It was also fun for the kids to see a big time basketball game since they were starting basketball later that week.

After the game we decided that we wanted to go to Ikea really bad and since it was only 40 minutes away why not just go for it.  The kids love the play area at the Sacramento one.  It was nice because it felt like a mini date with my hubby shopping around without the kids.  We really wanted to get a few more organization things so it was a much needed trip.  

After shopping oh and dinner before that at Five Guys the last thing we wanted to do was drive 2 hours home so we did a super spontaneous mini vacation.  We saw a beautiful Hampton Inn and suites across from Ikea and the comfy hotel beds were calling our names.  The kids thought it was the coolest thing! They called it our crazy hotel night.

 Once we got checked in we decided we needed treats so we headed over to Krispy Kreme's and to a huge 7/11 that had every candy and soda you could think of.  We went a bit crazy and had a super fun sugar rush night!

 and then we crashed!!

 It was such a fun wild night! The next day we didn't want the fun to end so on the way home we stopped in Modesto to jump at the Rockin Jump.  The kids love that place.  Spencer wasn't feeling that well so he watched and took pictures.

 They have a rock wall there now which was lots of fun.

 Carter's favorite area was the dodge ball.  He was super good at it.  All the adults were laughing at how good he was and how long he would stay in the game.  He could have stayed in there for hours.  

After jumping we made it home safe and sound and got ready for school and work to start the next day.  What a great treat this weekend was for us.

New Year's Day 2016

We love New Years day because it's Titi's birthday!!!!

We went up to Modesto that day and did a little shopping as a whole family and then enjoyed an awesome birthday dinner at Olive Garden.

 We all went in together and got Titi a cup cake holder and mom put together that cutest backing basket.  Titi also got my great grandmas rolling pin.

 What a special day!! We love you Titi.  It was off to Stockton after that for us for a weekend with Spencer's brother and family.

New Years Eve 2015

We had a very nice relaxing day at home New Years Eve and then we got to go out to dinner with our best friends the Sharps.  I love that we have made this an annual event.  This year we had a very yummy dinner at DiCicco's.

The kids all looked so cute at their end of the table.

After dinner we came home for our little family celebration.  We decided to still do the 9pm New Years.  I wasn't ready for the kids to think that they can actually stay up until midnight yet (maybe next year).  We enjoyed cream puffs, apple cider and watching the ball drop on the iPad.  

We also had fun with some photo props this year.  Of course Carter is topless!

 After the 9pm ball dropped we did a few poppers and then put the kids down.  Spencer and I stayed up watching old Dateline episodes and then counted in the new year and ended our night with a new years kiss.  It was a fun day.

Happy 2016!

The rest of our Christmas break looked a lot like....

this!!!

Pretty much every day was Lego building, riding bikes, movie watching, game playing and fort building.  We were so lucky to have daddy home most of the time.  Christmas was on a Friday so he had Saturday and Sunday off and then took Monday off too.  Honestly we didn't leave the house much.  We ate lots of left overs and decided our favorite snack is ruffles with onion dip and that's all we did.  It was great!! The best staycation you could ask for!

 Tuesday both Spencer and I had to work so Titi came out to baby sit.  She was so awesome to also let Aubrey have a play date with Kendall that day.

They had so much fun playing with all their new toys.

 Wednesday I got to hang out with Titi and the kids we went out to lunch and did some shopping.

 Later that day we rode our bikes to the park to play basketball.

Next up New Years eve!

Christmas 2015

 Our Christmas day was beyond wonderful.  It is such a special day and so magical through the eyes of our little ones.  Aubrey first woke up at 3am saying "I think Santa came!" we told her to go back to bed for a little more time and we would all wake up soon.  We ended up all sleeping until about 7am.  When we came down the stairs we were sure Santa made a visit to our house.

We love the snow prints he leaves every year and how he wraps each kids gift in different wrapping paper.  Aubrey had Frozen wrapping paper this year and Carter had star wars.

We then went and saw that Santa ate all the cookies, drank our milk and left a note.

It was then stocking time.  As you can see Deuce is excited too.

 The kids were so appreciative of everything.  They loved all their gifts and they got just as excited about giving gifts this year.  How sweet it is to see their giving spirit.

 What a sweet moment!! I love these too more then anything.

 The final gifts were from us.  We knew they would guess them if they saw them wrapped under the tree so we put 2 gift bags with string tied on them.  Inside the bag was a card that said follow the string.

 The string lead them up to the theater room.  Under the upstairs tree was there big gifts that they wanted so bad! The Lego Friend Hotel and the Star Wars Millennium Falcon Lego set.

 Their expressions were price list.  I'm glad we got it on video.  Carter (fake) fainted he was so excited. 

 We were so happy to be able to get them these sets they have been eyeing them for a very long time.

 Well here is the aftermath of the morning!

 What a great time we had.  We were hosting my family sides Christmas party that day so it was nice to be able to take our time and really enjoy since we didn't have to go anywhere.  We made our annual Christmas breakfast of cinnamon rolls, eggs and sausage.

 After some food it was straight to opening boxes and building.  Carter just amazes us with his ability to do these 7+ Lego sets on his own.  He is such a smart 5 year old!!!

 Aubrey is also a great builder and follower of directions.  She put her new Barbie camper together.

 There's always some time for a friendly light saber match. 

 The kids looked so cute Christmas day! Everyone was in good moods and happy the entire day it was very special.

 I had fun setting the table for our Christmas dinner.

 At around 1:30 Nana, Papa, Titi, Gaga and Great Grandpa made their way over to Merced and after bringing in all their gifts it looked like Santa came again.

 I was so happy to have may family over and I was excited I got this picture. I need to take more group shots from the stair case it looks so cool.

After some snacks and visiting we went into gift opening.  Spencer was a great Santa's helper passing out all the gifts.

So much fun opening gifts, laughing, visiting and just being together.

 The whole family went in together for Spencer and I's gift.  We got a certificate for a hotel, dinner and baby sitting how awesome is that a night for just the 2 of us!

 I was so happy that we had Great Grandpa with us this year.

 The kids were spoiled beyond belief!

 It was then time for the last 2 kids gifts from Nana and Papa.  Aubrey had asked Santa for a singing machine and I think she thought she wasn't going to get it since she didn't open one that morning.  When she opened her gift she was shocked, surprised, and excited all in one.  She is in love with it!!! We have had karaoke night pretty much every night since Christmas.  It also is the first thing she shows a friend when she has a play date.  It is loads of fun. 

 Then it was Carter's turn.......

 You can tell how excited he was!!! We are big bike riders and his 12 inch bike was making him fall very behind us now with his 18 inch bike he is the leader of the pack.  He has plenty of room to grow and is in love with the colors and with how fast it goes.

 After we played with some of our goodies we got ready for dinner.  Spencer is the main chef he made an outstanding prime rib for dinner.  It was amazing.  He also made his honey cashew green beans and I did my party potatoes and crescent rolls.  Titi and Nana made a green salad and their yummy ambrosia salad.  Oh what an amazing meal! 

 After dinner we braved the cold and watched Carter break in his new bike.

 He looks so great on it!!

 Then it was dessert time.  Titi made a Yule Log Cake for dessert.  The kids and us have been getting into some fun baking competitions on Food Network and so they requested this from Titi this year.  She did such a great job! Look at those adorable mushrooms.  What a fun yummy treat!

 Then we took some family pictures.

 I adore this family!!!

 Mom had brought me these beautiful flowers and I got to enjoy them for 2 weeks after Christmas.

 After our good byes we got in our jammies and enjoyed playing the really cute mustache game from Titi as a family.  so Fun!!!

 Carter finished one of his Lego ships he got from Santa that night while the rest of us watched a Christmas movie.  I was determined to still watch Christmas movies and listen to Christmas music the next week.  I didn't want the season to be over.  Isn't Carter just amazing?!?

 We also played with daddy's new virtual reality toy he got from Santa this year.

What an amazing, wonderful, special, magical, perfect day!!! We are so blessed.  Thank you to our family for everything and for this wonderful Christmas, 2015. 

 I wanted to note that this whole season Carter has reminded us of the reason for the season.  He would say every day that it was almost Jesus Birthday.  We did not forget it for a moment.  We are so glad that we have faith and love for our Heavenly Father and for Jesus Christ.  We hope it was a Merry Christmas for all.