Happy Birthday Callista

I can't believe my baby is actually 4 years old.  And what a grown-up she is.  She is by far, our most independent child constantly claiming "I can do it by myself!"

For her special birthday playdate she invited Ryan Bitton to "kidding around".  It's a fun place for toddlers and pre-schoolers.  Kind of like a Pump-It-Up, just for small ones.  Then we went out to lunch at McDonald's for even more playtime.  As you can tell...she had a GREAT time!

After we went to dinner at any place of her choosing (she chose Taco Bell) we came home to open presents.  She has been asking Chloe for a Zhu Zhu pet ever since Chloe got one for her birthday in August.  She was a happy girl and Chloe is definitely her favorite sister!

From Paul and I she got the American Girl Bitty Twins.  She hasn't let them go all night and as I write they are tucked in bed next to her.  She has named the girl Alex, and the boy Ian, and like every good Mother....she is in LOVE with those babies!

Ryan gave her a much desired Dora lunchbox.  She also got some books, PJ's, a new dress, an art set, and a baby pramm.  She had a great birthday.

She said to me last night "Mom...I was wondering since Santa gave me these new Dora toys in my stocking, if I could PLEASE have them on my birthday cake?"

Ummmm.....how do I say "NO" to that?

Of course....and here it is....

Happy Birthday "most beautiful"

(that's what the name Callista means)!

We wish you another happy, and healthy year, and hope that this is the year you are tall enough to go on Splash Mountain, as you desire!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was magical.  Santa had come and brought everyone's wishes.

Plus...Mario Kart with 4 Steering Wheels.

Chloe got the American Girl, Lanie.

Ryan got a 42 inch stuffed Shamu.

(Yes....that IS what he asked Santa for.)

Callista got a Princess bike with a baby seat on the back.

Paul and I already had everything we wanted...a happy and healthy family!

Christmas Eve

We had the pleasure of having the next best thing to family over for dinner....our dear friends...

The Bitton's and The Evan's.

The oldest 6 kids enjoyed their own table.

The grown-ups and littlest ones enjoyed our own table.

After dinner the kids put on a Nativity.  Julia was the beautiful Mary.

 Ryan, Dallin, and Elliot made great Shepherds, while Callista was an adorable cow, and Nolan was a handsome horse.

Of course, the visit from the wisemen was the best part, as was their rendition of "We Three Kings".

The entire cast.

Then......the Christmas Elf came and left presents for everyone at the front door!

The Dad's got Chocolate Fish "that were this big".

They also got some new sunglasses.  They look great, don't they?

The Elf knows we are much too dignified for such non-sense.  We got a "sink-snake" to clean out our drains.  Who is this elf anyways?

After the sad departure of our friends, and Paul being called into work, it was time for our Christmas Eve present.  They were for Chloe and Halle, Callista and Allie, and Ryan.

When I was in Vegas for Thanksgiving, my Mom helped me sew matching pajama pants for all of us.  Paul's Mom sewed PJ's for the dolls.

Callista and Allie

Chloe and Halle

Ryan and Goofy....oh wait..they are same person.

It was very fun Christmas Eve, and the kiddos were still nestled in their beds by 8:15pm.



Frightful Weather

When the weather outside is frightful...

What do you do?  You make Gingerbread cookies and decorate them!

Callista said "it's cool to use the Mommy froster".

Her finished product.  She does not like sprinkles, M and M's, or any other decoration on her cookies.....just frosting.

Ryan was very deep in thought as he concentrated on what decorations he would use.

His finished product....good thing there isn't a shortage of M and M's.

Okay...these are amazing.  She definitely doesn't get her artistic abilities from me. 

It took her 2 hours to create these masterpieces.

I look forward to more frightful weather!

Christmas Outfits

One of my greatest joys of this season is finding the perfect Christmas Church clothes for the kids.  Paul just doesn't understand why I get a new dress, the girls get a new dress, Ryan gets a new outfit.....and he just gets a tie.  I don't get it either!!!!  Maybe next year I'll get it right.

A day with Grandpa!

We had the pleasure of having Grandpa visit with us for about 24 hours.  Callista had anticipated all morning before he arrived that he would love to play "Hungry Hippos" with her.

She was right!



Then he and Chloe made his famous Peanut Butter Fudge, and I finally wrote down the recipe.

The kids just had a great time being with him and could have played balloon voleyball all day if they could have.

Thanks for a fun visit Grandpa...we look forward to more!



Happy Birthday Ryan

Ryan had a DINO-mite Birthday this year.  Since it is the "off" year for parties, I told him he could have a friend over for a special playdate.  The problem is though...you can't separate "Curly, Mo, and Larry", and so he had Dallin and Elliot over for his playdate!

First they watched the movie "DINOSAUR".

Then they got their "goody" bags which had a dinosaur, some dinosaur fruit snacks, and a wooden dinosaur to color.  They wanted to play with their dinosaurs and color for a few fminutes.

Then he opened his presents.  A lego set from Dallin, and a Nerf Gun and Guess Who from Elliot.

 Then they were hungry for his Dino Cake!

 He truly did have a "Dino-Mite" playdate.

BUT....his birthday wasn't over yet.  Because Paul gets home so late we went on his Bowling Outing the next day....and what a BALL.

 Look at him....you don't get that great of a smile out of him very often....he was HAPPY!!!

 

More and more and more smiles!

The final scores....

Ryan, we are so proud of the young man you are becoming.  You have overcome a lot these past few months, and have developed courage and bravery like never before. 

We Love You!!!