12.28 - Bike Ridin

Hadley got a bike for her birthday and pretty much hadn't ridden on it since June! When she first got it, we would take her out and she would inevitably end up in tears, so we just didn't push her on it.  However, we picked her out a helmet over Thanksgiving, so she has been itching to try it again. The stars aligned with nicer weather and having dad home, so we took her over to the church to take it for a spin. She was a completely different girl on it this time! She wasn't afraid to go on slight declines (which would have for sure had her bawling previously). I dare say she even had fun and wants to go back! 

(poor kid is still getting pushed around on his sister's PINK car!! He doesn't seem to mind one bit though!)

12.27 - Happy

12.25 - Christmas!

No one ever told me this secret...Christmas is exhausting! We learned a lot celebrating our first "real" Christmas. We may do a few things differently in coming years, but I must say it was a success! Santa definitely came through (as did the grandparents!) so the children were all sufficiently spoiled (us included) !! Our Christmas morning, lasted until the early afternoon.  We had to take lots of breaks to avoid melt downs! Lincoln was definitely in toy overload! He would have been equally happy (maybe even happier) with probably half of the things! Definitely noted for years to come!! We didn't have too long to relish in our wrapping paper, box, toy mess because we had another group of people coming over for dinner (and I had yet to finish the dishes from the night before)!! Our initial plan was to go over to the Peterson's house, but they had just returned from being away at a training in Alabama for 2 months a few days before, so I offered to do it here. We had them and a family from their ward over and again ate a wonderful dinner! Joe and Kelly brought a delicious prime rib, 'yummy potatoes', and green beans and I made rolls, salad, and fruit salad.  It was all so good!

12.24 - Christmas Eve

Since we wouldn't be spending Christmas with our families (for the very first time!) We spent the holidays with the next best thing, great friends! The Peterson and Dixon families came over and we partied the Eve away! We had fondue (a cheese and a chocolate) and all sorts of other delicious appetizery fun foods! It was all delicious! (We even had to have the chocolate fondue again on the 26th when we had the missionaries over for dinner!) 

We played bingo, some fun games that Alissa brought and read Luke 2 while the kids acted out the parts. It was such a fun evening. I am grateful for our St. Louis fill-in family. Well actually, we did discover that we are related to the Petersons! Kyle and Joe have the same Great Great Great Grandpa! Close enough for me! 

12.22 - Gingerbread House

Since we wouldn't be going home for Christmas this year, I tried to find fun Christmas things we could do and maybe start establishing some fun family traditions.  Neither Kyle nor I had really made real gingerbread houses growing up, so I saw this kit on sale and picked it up.  Kyle and the kids had a really fun time making our creation (while I did the dishes :) )

12.22 - Christmas Sunday