{Washington Christmas: Dec. 2013}

We went up to Washington to visit for Christmas this year, to spend time with my side of the family.  Baby H practicing her walking skills.

Some of Mark's Famous Amazing, Scrumptious {Apple} Pies.  We ate a Delicious Christmas Dinner together.

Our little Family sang "Silent Night" for the Family Talent Show.  We had a lot of fun! :) {I also sang a Duet "Mary's Lullaby" with my Mom.} :)  We enjoyed spending time with family for Christmas.  It was a lovely visit.

The kids LOVED spending time with their cousins.  They also enjoyed having Christmas up in Washington.

Underneath the stairs at my parents house, is a Secret Playhouse that the kids and their cousins love playing in.  I used to love playing in there when I was a child, and making up games, and make believe worlds; with my siblings.  It was the most exciting place in the house.  It's fun seeing Baby H playing with her siblings and cousins in the Playhouse.  We had a wonderful time talking with my youngest brother Joe, (who is on his mission).  My 2nd to youngest brother Tom, recently came home from his mission.  So we were all there together to speak with Joe.  It was fun speaking with him.

Baby H played the piano softly, and created beautiful music through her tender strokes of the keys.  It's wonderful watching her play on the piano that I learned on.  There is something angelic about watching a baby play the piano.  I love that she already has a passion for music.

Our Nephew (& Cousin) C celebrated his 4th Birthday.  All of the cousins enjoyed being there with him for his Special Birthday.  His favorite color is green, so that was the color of his cupcakes.

 It was fun watching our Family open presents that we had made for them.  Baby H. was very interested in her newborn cousin S.  They are going to be good buddies.

The kids really enjoyed spending time with their Cousins.  My brother in law {Celestia's husband}, Fatih's sister Feyza came all the way from Turkey to visit, and she spent Christmas with us.  It was so much fun to meet her and she is an amazing artist!  Auntie Angela holding Newborn Baby S, (My brother Dan and Jolie's baby).  We had a Fabulous Christmas Vacation! :) 

{Christmas Festivities and Traditions: Dec. 2013}

We loved decorating our Christmas tree together.  We took our tree out of storage, but we left all of our ornaments, stockings, and other decorations in storage.  So we bought some decor, ornaments and stockings at the Dollar Store.

Our family sang {"Silent Night"} together in church yesterday. It went very well. We were so proud of our kiddos! Merry Christmas!!!
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  Our family sang "Silent Night" together in Sacrament Meeting at church during the Christmas season.  It went very well.  We were so proud of our kiddos, who sang out with all their hearts.  That same day, I sang in Relief Society (Women's meeting) at Church a duet, "As Sisters In Zion", with a friend, Whitney.  It was fun.

The kids have enjoyed playing in the snow this Winter Season.  They like building things and having fun with the snow, together.

We enjoyed building and decorating a Ginger Bread House together (tradition). 

  The kids loved finding creative places to put the candy on the Ginger Bread House.

 We went to our Kid's Elementary School Winter Music Concert.  They did an Amazing job on their songs {with their classes}.

We Loved watching them perform with their 3rd and 2nd grades!

 

   Our Baby Loved Being Cozy in Her Stroller, while the other kiddos played in the snow together.

When Mark was on a Scout Campout, the Kids had a Movie Party Night with Mama.  We had a Blast together.  I helped the Kids make an Advent Calendar at Library Story Hour, and we had fun counting down the days with that.  We acted out the Nativity Play together (tradition) and we loved doing that together.

The kids enjoyed playing all of the parts, and we enjoyed singing together, reading out of the Bible, and Remembering the True Meaning of Christmas together.

{Family Adventures: Nov. 2013}

In November, we had fun spending time together.  I love it when the leaves change colors.  So beautiful.

 Our girls Love to dance!  Here they are dancing on the stage at the park.

Spiderman catching a nap and Mama reading "Turkey Trouble" to the kiddos.  We have a Holiday collection of books; that we love to read at all of the different holidays.

Carving our Pumpkins.  Even though we didn't do this fun tradition before Halloween, our kids still wanted to do it.  We had a blast!

 Daddy snuggling with our sweet Baby.

Baby's first taste of a lolly pop.  She didn't want to let it go!  Then she helped with Laundry.

Zucchini processing time.  They work great as a fashion statement too.  Little monkeys helping with washing the dishes.

 Fun at the park, and snuggling and feeding Baby.

{May 2013: E's Baseball and R's 1st Grade Opera}

Little Man E had a blast playing on his Baseball team this year.  He loved playing with his teammates and going to his practices and games.

He had many hits, home runs, great throws and really enjoyed playing the game.  He did an awesome job.

 We were so proud of Our Little Man E, and enjoyed watching him play Baseball!

Little Miss R did an amazing job singing in her "Three Piggie Opera" for 1st grade.  We loved going to watch her performance.  The Opera told the classic story of the Three Little Pigs.

May 2013 {1st Bike Rides, Music, Family Fun}

R riding her bike.  K playing the guitar.

Sweet Baby H.  We Love Her.

We had some friends over for dinner {the Rudolphs} and enjoy their visit very much.  The top picture of us, it from that dinner party.  Bottom picture is of Little Miss K snuggling Baby H.

We love to take our children on runs/walks in our new jogging stroller.  It's a blast to go around the huge loop around our beautiful neighborhood with nice sidewalks.  Usually we have our bigger kiddos ride their bikes along with us, as I push the jogging stroller.  Such fun times.

Trying to figure things out! Jan. 2013

It's always a little bit of a struggle at first, to add another baby into the mix.  Trying to figure out where they fit and how to juggle everything; all of your responsibilities.  There was a cheer leading camp, done for little girls; by the university here.  The girls get to go learn cheers, dance routines, and gymnastics, from the cheer squad and dance teams.  It's always a lot of fun for them.  So we didn't want our girls {Little Miss R and Little Miss K} to miss it, even though Baby H was really really new.  So Mark {being the amazing Daddy that he is} took our girls, and our niece G to the Cheer camp.  He stayed the whole time and even took pictures for me to see.  Later in the evening, he took them to their performance {at half-time of the University Basketball Game}.  And he, with help of Little Man E, took pictures and video of the Girl's performance.  We feel very strongly, that we should keep our newborn babies, home for the first month of their lives.  But especially with it being cold and flu season, we were planning on keeping her home for the first 2 months of her life {Plus I was still recovering as well}.

 We love having the kids dress-up {and us a lot too} and reading and performing the Nativity Scene together, during Christmas time.  I love this picture of my children, all dressed up like the Nativity.  Love.  Mark playing in the snow with the kiddos.  Me opening one of my Christmas presents  {we didn't get to do that {Mark and I} on Christmas day.  The kids modeling their fruit loop necklaces; that they made.  My friend Nette, taking me out to lunch.  Love her.

  My parents came to visit with my little brother Joe.  We really enjoyed having them come to visit; especially since we don't get to see them all the time.  Joseph got to hold her, before he left on his mission.  So proud of him.  Also, Mark's mom {Grandma} holding Baby H.

My kiddos love spending time with Grandma, Grandpa {my parents} and Uncle Joe.

 Our family, enjoying our New Baby H.  We Love Her!

The girls and I, giving Baby H her very first bath {She Loved it!}.  Little Miss R holding Baby H.  Little Miss R, Little Miss K and Little Man E, playing with their new Barbie Doll House.

Little Man E's first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.  He loved racing his batmobile car {that he made with his Daddy}, with the other boys.  They all got awesome car wooden trophies, that his Uncle Glen made {he's the Den Leader}.  Little Miss K playing on a game on smart phone.  Mark, reading with Little Miss R.

What a busy month! Dec. 2012

Little Miss R and Little Man E sang in their Elementary school's Christmas Production.  It was lovely to watch and they did a fabulous job. 

Christmas at home with our children was awesome.  We enjoy so much watching their little eyes light-up with delight with each new treasure.  Mark built the girls a Barbie dollhouse this year {I decorated the interior and painted it}.  It has two different sides with rooms.  The kids all love playing with it. 

 We were enjoying watching the kids open their presents so much; and helping them put everything together, that Mark and I didn't even open any of our gifts on Christmas day.  It was a busy day.

{We actually didn't open any of our gifts, at home until after I got home from the hospital with our new baby.}

We celebrated Christmas with Mark's side of the family on Christmas day also.  All of his siblings, their families and his parents were there with us.  We opened presents, ate Christmas dinner and played fun games together.  It was a lot of fun.  I was feeling during the day that our baby probably wouldn't make it until her actual due date {New Years Eve}.

My intuition was right, because our new little Baby H was born in the middle of the night at 2:13 am, {in my usual quick deliveries}.  She is such a beautiful baby and we love her very much.  To view her birth story and her newborn pictures, click here.  To view her birth announcement click here. 

 We loved having many visitors come and visit us at the hospital to see our new baby H.  The kids especially loved holding their new baby sister.  We also enjoyed Grandma and Grandpa {Mark's parents} coming to the hospital.

We stayed in the hospital for a few days, and then we came home.

 We love decorating gingerbread houses and cookies with our children at Christmas time.  It is always a lot of fun.  We enjoy making memories and traditions with them.

We enjoyed having my sister Angela, her husband Grant and their 6 daughters come and visit us, shortly after Baby H was born.  Angela helped me at my house {she was Awesome!}, with the baby, and other things and Mark, Grant and all of the kids stayed with Mark's parents and visited periodically {so I wouldn't feel overwhelmed}.

Our kiddos love playing in the snow.  We enjoy playing with them too.  Building snowmen, forts and such together as a family.