Happy New Year!

2013

Take a look at this hot guy that just happened to be my new years kiss. I am one lucky gal!

To ring in the new year we had Grandma Jen, Papa Shane, Aunt Sara, and Auntie Sum bum over. We ate Chinese food, made fondue, and watched the ball drop. There were even some board games going on. We all made it to midnight before we crashed, but not before the delirium hit (notice Gary's face)

We made some new goals for this year and stuffed them in our "Abadian time capsule", which we can't open until next year.

Happy, Happy New Year!!!

Jonahs Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Jonah

Our sweet, mischief maker turned 2!

To celebrate, we went sledding with family on a warm sunny day.

We had pizza, capri suns, and a cake made by Grandma Andi.

It was a gorgeous day and Jonah loved going down the hill!

Here are some pictures I captured of his day.

 Violet with cousin Estella.

 These brothers are adorable.

 Dad and Jonah.

 Ryker with cousins Ava and Van.

For Jonah: We love you so much buddy. You bring a lot of fun into our family. You are our teddy bear. Happy 2 years my sweet, strong, special little boy!

Christmas Day and Christmas Morning!

When I look back on this Christmas, years from now, I hope I will remember my sweet children's squeals of delight and smiling faces. I want to remember sitting down with family and sweet packages of  thoughtful gifts. Every year I am always amazed at the generosity of people. It's the great thing about Christmas, it gives you that chance to think of others.

Christmas day with our family was a busy day full of seeing loved ones and wishing them a Merry Christmas.

We are very fortunate to live so close to be able to see 4 grandpas and 3 Grandmas all in one day!

How thankful we are for them and the sweet  memories they make with us.

Visiting with Papa Todd, Papa Rey, and Grandma Fran 

 Poppa Bill and Grandma Andi's house, we love their new dog Maggie!

 Poppa Bill in his Chair and Violet with her new present, a new Ariel dress up.

 Ryker and his new green batman.

 Gary got the coolest red onesie from his Mom

Grandma Jenny's house,

Jonah and his new wooden train set.

Ryker got a cool new zombie hoodie and his favorite: a real bow and arrow!

Jonah got this awesome firetruck that makes sounds and flashes lights!!

Violet got a Brave doll and a gorgeous new dress.

Christmas Morning

It was the early hours of the morning when we woke up to our children's voices in their rooms.

They waited very patiently until we were ready to recieve them into our transformed living room. Wrapping was torn, presents were admired, and we had a very merry Christmas morning complete with French toast,  bacon, and orange juice...yum!

 My sweet littles.

Ryker's favorite: A shiny new pocket knife

Violet's favorite: New animal toys

Jonah's favorite: His bike or "cycle" as he called it

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

We started out with a candlelit dinner. Gary's Mom and Dad sent us this lovely centerpiece made from real flowers. We had a special made pasta dish, rolls, and salad it was so good!

Papa Rey joined us for Christmas this year, it was nice because we never have spent a Christmas with him before.

We had our traditional Jammie opening,

and a Jammie fashion show!

Jonah had snowboard monkeys,

Violet looked lovely in her cupcake jams,

and Ryker looked so handsome in his penguin, snowman, and polar bears

Gary wowed us with his flannels....

Papa Rey offered to take some family photos of us. Just overlook Violet's vacant stare and Jonah's sideways glance. Pictures with toddlers are the best! I know one day this photo might come in handy for a good chuckle. Gosh I love their rosy cheeked jammie combination though!

We grabbed some candy canes for dessert and made the trip over to Layton parks lights, fun as always!

Lastly, we made up our santa plate, an orange, reindeer food, and a sugar cookie!

We read a story about Jesus birth and The Night Before Christmas. I love how excited my kids get, it was so easy to put them to bed. They wanted to go to sleep right away so they could see what Santa had brought in the morning!

Gingerbread House Making & A New Tradition

It has become an Abadian tradition to put together a gingerbread house around Christmastime. The kids get so excited to decorate their home with goodies, treats, and frosting. I actually really love this activity also. Our Ginger men got eaten within the first week and bits and pieces of the house keep magically disappearing as the days go by. It's a delicious way to have fun and be creative!

Aren't these cousins  Ava and Ryker adorable? I especially love Ryker's crossed eyes. They had so much fun dressing up as Santa at Grandma Andi's house. 

We started another new tradition this year with our cousins on Gary's side of the family, where we have the kids act out the nativity. I wish I would have gotten pictures but I  was helping the kids. They all did so amazing and it really brought in the true spirit of Christmas into our hearts and minds, plus the kids loved acting it out. Ryker was a shepherd, Violet was a wise man, and Jonah was our run away shepherd. I am looking forward to this new tradition for Christmases to come!

Recitals and Class Parties

This year it was so fun to see my kids performing in their recitals!

Ryker has just started piano, he is learning a lot of new songs. For his Christmas recital he chose to learn rudolph the red nosed reindeer. He practiced so hard and I was so proud of him for getting up in front of all of those people to play his songs. Great first recital Rykes!

 My little pianist.

 Violet has been dancing since the beginning of the school year. They danced to the jingle bell rock and they all looked so adorable, such a sweet group of girls. Violet loved her jingle bell skirt.

 All of the dancers!

 Vi and her besties Claire and Hannah.

 Christmas Class Parties

Violet's class party included making a hat, treat, and ornament. There were also games and storytelling. These cute kids had a great time!

I also got to go to Ryker's class party this year. It was my birthday so all of his class sang happy birthday to me, it was so sweet! I was the storyteller, we read the shoemaker and the elves, and the twelve days of christmas, it was so much fun!

Santa's Lap.

Platinum blonde santa

This Santa was at the Air National Guard for Gary's work Christmas party. Ryker laughed a little when he saw him, Violet hid under the table, and Jonah was reluctant to get too close.

 I love all the hands here trying to help Jonah transition from afraid of santa to Santa's not so bad.

There's a high five

a  hand holding a candycane

and Gary's hand holding.

 It didn't work as you can see in the blurry photo below.

 Family party Santa

He was a little better, a little rounder, and older. Plus he brought presents!!

Ryker asked for a Bow and Arrow & a pocket knife this year.

 Violet got coaxed to the lap by this Santa
(presents and candy canes help.)

She asked for a toy puppy.

 Jonah actually sat on this Santa's lap too! He latched on to that present like there was no tomorrow.

Second times a charm

Lesson learned: Take the kids to see the creepy santa first.