To share and never forget: January 2013

Christmas Eve

I have not forgotten about Christmas Eve.. it is just that most of my photos from that night are on my computer and not on my laptop. So I will work on those soon.. I did however find a few on my phone that I am going to go ahead and post. OH, and I got to meet baby Charlotte for the first time!!

eww iphone photos! Not the greatest quality at all!! Better photos coming soon, I promise

Merry Christmas

For some odd reason, we didn't take christmas photos this year. I am not sure why I didn't think of it. We usually take some before Christmas, then some at my mom's house (since she is the amazing photographer that takes all our photos) and then some Christmas Day. When we got home Christmas night, I realized we had not taken any. So, I posted up the camera.. told the husband and chica to stand in front of the tree and self timed a few photos last min. Maybe after some Donna editing they will be great but for now this is what we have :)

Her skirt was not that short, I guess this is just what happens after 2 days of festivities. Plus, she was asleep in the car right before we took these.

Christmas Day 2012

Our Christmas mornings are followed by Christmas Day with the in-laws. It is nice that we are with my family Christmas Eve and Zak's family on Christmas day. We don't have to rush here and there, we just get to spend time and enjoy each side of the family.

We each bring a a dish and then vote afterwards who had the best dish. This year Bev won (without a doubt) with her amazing clam chowder. I don't like chowder but I'll tell you what!! It was amazizng! I got 2nd place with my strawberry shortcake kbobs. I wish I had a picture but I don't. Simply take strawberries, angle food cake, whoop cream, and chocolate syrup. Put the strawberries and angle food cake on a skewer and top with the whoop cream and chocolate. I cut my strawberries in half and cut the cake in pieces and alternate them on the stick.

We also do Secret Santa since there are a minimum of 15 people. We draw names at Thanksgiving and then post out list to a santa account. It is one of my favorite parts. I enjoy focusing on one person instead of 15 people and it makes it easier to make sure a person gets what they want. Mady is not included in secret santa (yet) she just gets lots of awesome gifts. Some of her favorite this year were hello kitty stuff, magazines, barbies, princess stuff, a bed for her dolls, purses, and tons of other stuff.

A surprise we did was have Mady draw Gumps and Gumps draw Mady and we put them on tshirts

It is always wonderful spending time with Zak's side of the family. I love each and every one of them so much and am very thankful to have them as a part of my life.

(I have many more but then are on my camera, these are my cell phone. I will also update these photos to different sizes and quality on my computer because blogger wont allow me to)

Christmas 2012

I know it is a little over due but now is better than never.

Christmas Eve chica decided to put out Almond milk, a letter for santa, teddy grahms, and marshmellows. Yea, I bet Santa was happy to have that snack!

Dear Santa, Merry Christmas. Tell Jesus Happy Birthday. I love you. Love Madyson

This made me super happy. Santa, Presents, Food, Family.. it all seems like such a big deal at Christmas time. But the meaning of Christmas, Jesus's Birthday.. is not forgotten by the innocents of my 5 year old. She makes my heart happy.

Christmas morning was spent with chica, husband, and myself. This is how it has been for years and I think it is important to have a little while with just us. If you know M, she isn't big on attention. Well, I take that back.. she loves attention.. but for some reason when it comes to birthdays and holidays, she becomes hesitant. I don't really know how to explain it so just watch the video below when she walks into the room. Know that Santa didn't wrap his presents so when she walks into the living room they are visible. Most kids would run to the tree but not M. She doesn't even look at them. Well, she glances at them and attempts not to look and then gives me kisses because she isn't sure what else to do. She is adorable! I love her.