Birthday party!

In my mind I really wanted to do some great party. But because it's 2 days after Christmas, I wasn't really up for it. I don't even know how to explain it. I'm gonna have to think of a good reason someday when she's old enough to know. For now, making sure I have everything ready for Christmas is hard enough to do.

I wanted to do a Strawberry Shortcake party. But I didn't really want to be 'theme-y'. I don't think I really knew what I wanted to do. So, we had strawberry shortcake for dessert

There weren't really decorations. 3 cute tulle puff balls. Green, pink, and red. Not even a picture of them.

It's ok.

She was totally into opening her presents. She gets a lot of practice in 2 days. She got almost all things 'baby'. We got her an American Girl doll...Maggie, and she doesn't let her out of her sight. First thing every morning she asks "Where's Maggie?" And all day long. The one thing she did ask for [I brainwashed her] was a wiggle racer. She just started riding the boys', and she loves it. As soon as we brought it in the house, she went for it, and didn't get off. Well, there were tears when she got off.

Thank you everyone for all the gifts and for coming to her sad little party.

Happy Birthday Lexie!!

It's your birthday shout Hooray...!

 little miss is 2 today!!

Where did the time go? It's very hard for me to get into planning an event for her party since it's right after Christmas. So this year it's 'berry' simple.  

 We took some pictures. She didn't want to cooperate. She has a mind of her own. I'm learning very quickly...girls are very much different than boys. I'm fine with it. It's a good different. But there's lots of attitude!

Stats:

Weight: 23 lbs. (8%)

Height: 33 inches (38%)

These are some things we love about you right now

You talk very good. And know exactly what you want and how to get it!

You call me mama, and dad daddy. We both love those names.

You love your brothers, and they adore you

You are a total papa's girl

Still have the bink - no sign of giving it up anytime soon.

You have to be held to go to sleep

You love sleeping in mom's bed (and dad loves it)

You love to read books...still

Your favorite songs are 'Temple song', and 'Santa song' (I love to see the Temple, S.C. is coming to town)

You know all the words to both songs.

You love doggies

Still don't love nursery

You know the actions to 'Up on the housetop'

Before Christmas you knew which presents were yours and you would carry them around saying "this one Lexie's"

You love to help clean up

You love pockets. Everyday and night when I get you dressed you want pockets.

You love being outside with all the kids, doing just what they're doing

You're very smart and can figure things out for yourself.

You don't love getting your hair done, and sometimes scream the whole time

You're starting to be a little tattle tale. And every time after you've tattled, you say 'he/she did' so matter of fact-like

You're still as sweet as ever and love to cuddle, give huggies, and kisses

We love you so much Lexie, and are so blessed to have you in our lives

Happy Birthday baby girl!

Christmas

Colby and I [mostly I] had mixed emotions this year. Last year, and every year, we complain(ed) about how we have so many places to be...This year, we didn't have so many places and it was nice. But it was hard. My parents are gone, so my whole family was pretty much eliminated from the day. That gave us a lot of extra time to spend other places, and playing with toys. Which was a good thing...and a sad thing. As we were driving home from the Danjanovich's (my parents live between us and them), after opening presents and spending a few hours over there, Colby said to me You know, it was nice getting to do our own thing, taking all the time we wanted for whatever...but it's hard not going over there. Not seeing them today.' I watched their subdivision as we drove by and started crying. We both did. It was hard not having them here to watch my kids open presents, to have prime rib dinner on Christmas Eve, and to have a super yummy Christmas breakfast. We missed them!

Ok...sorry for the sob story. On to the fun stuff!!
I didn't take one picture on Christmas eve, but we went to Pizza Factory with the Danjanovich's. That's all. Just us, Kent & Sherie, and Melanie's family. Usually there's a ton of people. They did the whole thing different this year, and I didn't really love it. But...it's tradition. And I love going there, just didn't love it this year. After, I took the kids and we went to the house with everyone. Colby had to go back to work [wink wink] so we hung out, made cupcakes for Santa. Something different this year. Christmas cupcakes with halloween wrappers. Pretty sweet. I thought it would be something fun for us to do, but didn't think about the wrappers. Oh well, they worked. Then we watched Ironman and came home.
We opened our Christmas Eve presents...pajamas! Which by the way...this year Christmas pajamas were scarce. Whatever happened to just cute red, white, and green? Lexie refused to wear Christmas jammies, she had to wear princess ones. And because of that fit, I never even thought to take a picture. She slept during the movie, so she was sweet and stayed up until 11:30. We wanted to start getting things ready, but I knew she would want to play with everything and wake the boys up. So we waited. Lucky for us, Colby had to *work late* so there was no assembling to be done.

They were all pretty excited when they came out to see what was left. I have to say...I love the stage that Cutler is at. He really is easy to please. He didn't really ask for anything, besides a trampoline. So he got whatever Santa wanted to leave him. And he was thrilled! The whole morning opening presents he wore the hat. It kinda looks like a russian whatever in this picture, but it's really a coonskin hat.

So after the kids opened everything and we were just about to get in the car to go to grandma's house, I said to them... So what do you guys think? It was pretty good this year right? We all got what we wanted? -waiting to hear something about the trampoline. They didn't even think to go look out the back door. Until I started asking them what they asked for and if anything was missing.

Lexie wanted to jump too, but it was so cold, so she went back inside. Fun times.

We headed over to Danjanovich's to open a ton more and eat a super yummy breakfast.

After a couple of hours of letting the boys play and Lexie have a nap it was time for the Labrum party.

Every year people kind of make fun of our traditions with them, and they are different, but they're English traditions that Janet grew up with and has kept in her family. And they're corky, but fun.

First we eat an English dinner...roast, peas, carrots, potatoes, yorkshire pudding, and Trifle. Then we all pop our bonbons, find our prize, put on our hats, and take turns telling the jokes.

This year we kind of did a little talent show. I'm not a huge fan of those, but they like to perform, so...they did. Our kids sang 'Up on the Housetop' and did the actions. I'll have to try and put the video on here. And Colby did Chopsticks with his mom. Notice Lexie watching. She was totally intrigued.

Then on to the Nativity

Lexie was Mary, Cutler was Joseph, and Noah was a wiseman. I just noticed that Cutler was the one riding the donkey, not Mary. Funny. (ok, notice Lexie playing with her fingers? She does this whenever she's nervous, shy, embarrassed...it's funny. And she will not look at anyone.)

We ended the night with presents and more food. What a Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is coming!!!

We did a little photo shoot the other day for Lexie's 2 yr

Just for fun we threw in the trees

I love them!

ENGLAND

December 15
Noah...a second grader...had to do an ORAL REPORT. I wasn't overly excited about this. These kids are only 7 & 8 years old! Which means, the parents get to help...a lot. They had to do their report on a country, and when we went in for SEP's we chose which one. I chose England because Colby's mom was born there, and I knew we could get a lot of information from her. Which would be different than the internet, or the library.
We sat down one night and wrote down questions to ask her, then called her on the phone and 'interviewed' her. It was fun to watch Noah's face after he would ask her a question, hearing her answer. He couldn't believe some of the things she told him.
They had to have a visual aid, and we were able to use grandma Janet. [So glad we didn't have to make a poster]

Noah read his report to the class then Janet got to show and tell some things. The kids were really good, and acted like they were listening really well.

[I only got one picture...as soon as I took this, the whole class looked at me]

As part of the report, they had to tell how that country celebrates Christmas. We always have an English dinner and play English games on Christmas night at the Labrum's so we thought it would be fun for the kids to do the same.

We got some bon bons, and had them get into a circle and pull.

I think they had a good time learning about England.

They loved the prizes they got in their bon bons.

2nd grade Christmas

A couple weeks ago, the 2nd graders did a little Christmas concert for their parents. They had gone earlier that day on a field trip to a care center, and a bank to sing Christmas Carols.
I don't have the video up, and my pictures are horrible quality, but I'm still posting.
I love all the things that go on this time of year.
Kinda makes me crazy, but it helps get us and keep us in the spirit!

They split up the kids into certain groups for different songs. One of the songs was very cute!

It was like a round.

The boys part:

'My suit is red!

I drive a funny sled!

Yo!!'

So much fun!

Million Dollar Man!

At the Jimmy John's Convention, every other year, they give an award to each store that sells a million dollars for that year. This year there isn't a convention, and dang it...

Colby's store did A MILLION DOLLARS!!!

That's huge for a sandwich store.

So since there's no convention for the owner's to win a Rolex watch...

the owners rewarded Colby.

With this...

Brand New Polaris Razor

I'm not gonna lie...

It's pretty sweet.

Now the whole family can ride together...

aaahhh.

Good Job Colb!! We're proud of you!!!



Carter Party

December 18

This year the party was a little different. Not in a bad way, just different.

Normally we have it at the elementary school. This year it was at the church.
Normally Santa comes at the very end. This year he came at the very first.
Normally there's a lot of people. This year we were missing a lot.

Nevertheless, it was a fun party. Food, games, and chatting.

After Santa, we ate. Isn't it funny how at every gathering there's food? It is the best part...I know. Cutler got a hold of my camera and took some pictures of the scrumptious stuff.

We were asked to bring our wiggle cars so they could do races. We did, but ours are pretty 'used' and they totally scratched the floor up. We didn't notice until about 20 or 30 minutes later, so there was a little damage. The kids weren't happy when we told them they had to be done.

And this game was funny. I don't know what it's called but, the blindfolded person had to touch another person with the wooden spoons and try to figure out who it was. Sounds weird, but it was so funny to watch. They played the trick on grandpa first, then the kids all wanted to try.

Then it was time to head home. We just go up and back so all the kids change into jammies and we hope they sleep on the way home. I don't remember if that happened or not. But all the little girls said goodbye and we were on our way.



One Sunday morning...

I'm not gonna lie...
we played hookie from church.
And did this instead...

It was a nice break
We were dressed for church
Does that count?
I can't complain about the actual photo session.
About 45 minutes, and over a hundred to choose from
And not much complaining from the kids
or the husband.
Thank you Sherie!!

Classic Santa picture

It never fails...

It seems there is always one screaming child.

I think it makes the picture cuter.

The boys asked for a trampoline.

Together.

They figure if they both ask for it, and nothing else, their chances are pretty good.

They seem a little too young to be figuring that out.

Lexie wants a kitchen.