A VERY Merry Christmas 2010!

This year we spent Christmas with the Jones side in Wyoming. As you can see above, everyone was quite spoiled this year... as we are every year. My parents even sent their presents from Minnesota, so Kaylen actually had to take a nap break to get through it all! As always, we were very blessed this Christmas.

Kaylen giving Uncle Ian a smooch

Grandma Cherie got Kaylen some bath toys so that she didn't have to go without bath time fun even away from home.

Kaylen playing with Grandpa Waz

Kaylen got her dance on with Grandma

You may or may not know, but Gregg's Dad, Warren is a full time engineer as well as a pastor at a local church in Star Valley. What you may not know is how very talented he is. Among his many obligations, he also leads the music team at the church organizing the music, playing multiple instruments, singing and writing some incredible songs. His church did a combined Christmas Eve service this year with other local churches, so there was no Christmas Eve service at Morning Star. He later realized what a tradition it is for me to go to Christmas Eve service, so he was extremely thoughtful and brought home these congas and other instruments so that we could have a "jam session" and sing Christmas songs. Kaylen was a big fan of the maracas.

Here is Gregg playing the congas with Kaylen

We always have to get outside and enjoy some of the very chilly Wyoming weather while we're home. Gregg is always dying to ride the snowmobiles. So, Gregg got some riding in and we were able to take Kaylen around on one of the sleds! Gregg actually took Kaylen for a very slow ride on the snowmobile as well!

Kaylen and her Auntie Katie

Our amazing family

Kaylen helping Daddy pull the sled so she can sled down the lane with Katie and Ian

Going for a little ride with Uncle Ian

Our pretty girl

Her Auntie JJ took her around the house... only about 100 times... in the laundry basket! Kaylen even got the dogs to go on a ride or two with her. In the background was my very talented hubby and my very talented father in law getting ready for our jam session!

This was hilarious... Kaylen would brush Katie's hair into her face and Kaylen thought it was HYSTERICAL! It was so fun to watch her laugh and laugh that hard. We love these girls!

Kaylen just chilling with Uncle Ian in his new chair Christmas morning opening presents.

Kaylen playing on her new slide

The choo choo train making its rounds

Our family

Kaylen and Grandpa

Kaylen just hanging out on her new couch she got for Christmas

We really did have such a great Christmas. Kaylen got lots of new big girl toys, her couch, a great folding card table and chairs just her size, a slide she can use since it's not good playground weather, and many, many, many, many other great things. Can you tell she's the first grandchild on both sides of the family? Gregg and I always feel spoiled by our families. Gregg and I will be able to do lots of shopping thanks to a great many dollars given to us on gift cards, which we were both feeling pretty ready to do! My parents got me a keyboard this year because I've been thinking about getting one for quite some time. I took piano lessons briefly when I was younger, but it didn't really stick. But growing up with a Mom who could play like riding a bike ... I've learned now that I would like to be able to play for my daughter and my kids like my Mom was able to play for us. I want it to be a hobby of mine, so slowly but surely, I spend a little time when I can practicing. Hopefully, before too long, I'll get comfortable.

We can't thank both of our families enough for always making Christmas and so many other moments and visits so special. This year was wonderful. We are incredibly grateful for each smile, hug, minute and dollar that we share with all of you.

Pre-Christmas Festivities

Well, the first picture goes to show how well sitting on Santa's lap went this year!! I think it's hard age to be... too young to understand it, too big to not have a clue (last year!). But we tried... this year Mommy got to be in the picture! :-)

We had lots of fun getting ready for Christmas this year. Below is a picture of Kaylen with her friends, Kaitlyn (friend Ryan's daughter) and Henry (friend Judy's son). We took the opportunity to celebrate Judy's birthday and now that we all have kids, we kept it mellow and had a nice evening in together!

Every year, Kaylen's school, i.e. daycare, does a Christmas event with a great slide show with pictures of all the kids and a Christmas program. Each class gets to do a song and dance. Last year she was too small, but THIS year, she did Jingle Bells! And she did GREAT! I was a little worried she was going to try to get off stage, but she sat up there, jingled her bells and got her little groove on! Mommy was so proud! Daddy had to work and had to miss it, but he got to see the pictures!

Even after our rough 1st attempt at Santa, we decided to try one more time. There was going to be a Santa coming right to our Village (apartments)... so I figured, even if it didn't go so swell, a) she didn't HAVE to sit on his lap and b) it could only help to give her a little more exposure to the big guy. We were also fortunate enough to have JJ in town for a visit! She came down to stay with Kaylen so that we could attend Gregg's work Christmas party.
Here is Kaylen and her Auntie JJ off to see Santa

1. Santa looks REALLY creepy in this picture even though he was actually very nice
2. We are CRUEL parents for making her do this twice
3. At least Gregg got to be in this picture, too! :-)
The best part about this 2nd Santa torture... he gave out candy canes!! And Kaylen LOVED it!

Sesame Street Live came to Salt Lake and being that Kaylen is enamored with ELMO, we just had to take her. I remembered loving it when I was a kid when my parents took us, so I knew she couldn't help but enjoy it. It was actually a good show for the kids... and me :-)

Kaylen getting her rock on... in a onesie... in snow boots...

We went to the Zoo with Kaylen this year to check out Zoo Lights and it was wonderful! It was a warm night and the lights were great! Kaylen actually had a really great time! She loved the lights, got to ride the carousel... this time with Mommy, got to see ice sculpture-ists and did NOT want to go home when the time came! Might have had a little something to do with the popcorn we bought, but even though we assured her the popcorn was coming with us, she still didn't want to go!

Kaylen and Daddy getting a little cuddle time in

Daddy can't help himself. But it's adorable because they have SUCH a good time together!

Well, as always, there are more pictures ready to be put on here. We have lots of great pictures from Christmas in Wyoming... I'm getting there!

So Grateful- Thanksgiving 2010

A day late and a dollar short: my always-playing-catch-up-motto I can't seem to avoid! Well, this blog is our Thanksgiving blog.... a week before Christmas! Sigh! Life is busy, what can I say! What I do know is just how grateful we are this year. This Thanksgiving, Kaylen and I headed to Minnesota as Gregg worked over the Thanksgiving holiday. So, we made good use of my home-sickness and spent it with my family there. We definitely missed Gregg and called him every day, but we got lots of good fun and great memories out of our trip! The above picture reflects numerous rides in the laundry basket that Uncle Jeff took Kaylen on. She's using her sign language and asking for more and this was only Day 1!

Jeff is really great with Kaylen and he did all he could to entertain her every time they were around each other. It was a lot of fun to watch and Kaylen absolutely adored him!

Kaylen found Grandpa in the living room signing karaoke... so she thought she'd just sit down and listen! It was very cute. Grandpa was serenading her.

We spent Thanksgiving at my Godparents house with their kids who now have families of their own! And I always think they do it so well serving such a large number of people! And each year, it seems to grow! Unfortunately, as you can see... I wasn't good about taking pictures. I have a couple, but none very worthy of making on here. Lesson learned... it's better to bug people and take pictures than to not have any!

The day after Thanksgiving, my cousin, Ryan and his family came over for dinner. They have two great kids, but Emma, below, is just the right age for Kaylen to have a blast with! Kaylen loves kids a little bit older than her to run around and play with and Emma was so good to her.
They were dancing machines!!

Grandpa reading to Kaylen

Not sure who it was, either Jeff or Grandma that had the great idea to take Kaylen to Nickelodeon Universe (formally known as Camp Snoopy) at the Mall of America. They have lots of rides in the middle of the mall and had actually about 5 or 6 that Kaylen could ride. She'd been on a few rides before, but none quite as fast as these! She would get a little scared here and there, but was always a trooper and got on the next one!

Mommy and Kaylen about to get on her first ride of the day!

The roller coaster was pretty fast, but she made it!

She got to ride the carousel with Grandpa... again, one of the fastest ones she's been on and she had her death grip on Grandpa most of the ride!

Grandma and Kaylen rode Diego's bus! She gave us one great smile before this one started!

Kaylen with Grandpa and Grandma before her ride with them in the hot air balloons. She also got to ride this one with Mommy and Uncle Jeff

Getting to walk/ swing with Uncle Jeff and Grandpa

She had an ABSOLUTE blast outside sledding around my parents yard. Uncle Jeff went around the yard at least 20 times! It's so fun to see how much patience he has with her! She absolutely loved it! And the weather was pretty great while we were there, so it wasn't too cold.

Sledding with Uncle Jeff

Grandma had a feeling Kaylen would love the Holidazzle parade... a winter tradition of ours, and she was RIGHT! It was great weather for it, not too cold. We found a great spot right on the curb and could sit down with Kaylen so she didn't get too restless. She LOVED the lights and all the characters! What a great idea it was!

Uncle Jeff fed Kaylen lunch one day and she gave him one of her best smiles

Kaylen loved her time playing the piano!

But she rocked out the best with Grandma Ruby who managed to remember some of the fun songs we played when we were kids with her! Jeff and I both had to jump in after a while and get our turn, too! :-) Kaylen loved playing the piano with Grandma.

Grandpa tried to get snotty Kissa to be nice to Kaylen. Kaylen did get one pet in before the hiss came. I don't think our girl is going to be a cat person! But that's alright because she's a dog person and that's great by us!

Before Grandma could let us leave, she had to make Kaylen lots of chocolate chip cookies to take home to Utah! And they were very yummy!

We had such a good time in Minnesota with my family. They really did everything they could think of to give Kaylen a fun time there. We took advantage of the Minnesota snow and played outside, we got to see lots of friends and family, went shopping and was spoiled by Uncle Jeff and Grandma, went on rides, played the piano, did laundry basket rides, had a dance party at LEAST twice a day, sang and chatted up a storm... I think we fit it all in!

We did miss Gregg a lot and made sure we got to keep up on his days as well, but he managed to stay pretty busy! He did have to work a few of the days, but he got to hang out with a few friends, go to a concert, play AND watch football, so we're pretty sure he did alright filling up his time. We did bring home some of Grandma's cookies to him and Grandma Ruby bought him cheese popcorn from the best candy store in Minnesota.

We are so thankful for each other, our family and friends, and all that we've been blessed with. We're looking forward to yet another amazing year.