Welcome! My Beautiful Daughter...

This beautiful child was baptised on January 8, 2011. The day was lovely on all accounts. Ambra is so wonderful and such a strength to our family. We are very lucky to have her choice spirit in our home. I love her so very much. Welcome to the kingdom my angel.

Her very own name engraved scriptures, bag and marking pen.

These were the centerpieces for our dinner after the event. We served sandwiches, salads, chips and dessert. Thanks to everyone who helped with the food.

Her father Adam baptised and confirmed her. What a special day for our family. I will treasure it always.

My mom made her this cute little "baptism towel" with her name and date embroidered on it. She also got one of those cute little bead watches. What a big girl.

Me in all my pregnant glory.

Adam's mother gave her some lotion, a journal and some other really neat things that she made.

She also gave her this jewelry box. Ambra loves it.

Love this beautiful keepsake. Our family was able to record all of our testimonies and pictures in this ABC baptism book. There are places for pictures and thoughts.

...Adam's mother also made these jammies. Again, she matches her cute little doll. Love that girl. Goodnight my angel.

Thanks to everyone who came and supported our family on this special day. I so appreciate your friendship and love. You are so wonderful and I truly value our friendship. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart :)

Finally!

Finally...it's Christmas morning! First thing we dive into is STOCKINGS!! Santa always remembers mom and dad with this fun tradition.




More Littlest Pet Shop - are you kidding me??

Then off to see what Santa brought. Ambra got her American Girl Doll. She is having so much fun with her.

Ariah got her pink tutu, and pink bike.

and Cole got a lump of Coal.... JK - he got a spider man web crawler and a video game. But the web crawler didn't work!!! What a bum deal.

Uncle Ethan spent the day with us.

and so did Adam's Mom.

What a sight.

Dinner with everyone. My mom, Rod and my Uncle Jack and Carolie came for dinner.

On New Years Eve we took the kids to Build a Bear. This was my way of making up for the broken web crawler with Cole.

...and of course Star Wars. We tried to talk him into one of the good guys, but "Dog Vader" it was.

We rang in the new year with the kids around 9 - and then Adam and I were off to our movie-a-thon. Who cares if the neighbors think we're nuts for screaming and pots and pans and fireworks 3 hours early - right?

Welcome 2011! Happy New Year.

Anxiously Awaiting...

Christmas Eve at our house is always a big big day full of fun - breakfast to bedtime.

For breakfast we had breakfast pizza and parfaits. Yum yum.




Then we played the yarn game. Everyone gets their own ball of yarn and unravels it throughout the house - they hide a gift for their chosen person at the end of their strand. The house looks like a huge spider web when we are done. Crazy - but much anticipated.

We opened gifts from my side of the fam. My mom made me this cute blanket.

My brother and I gave my mom this picture. She has wanted it for a long time.

Miss Ariah in her new leapord print.

Josh got a homeade blanket too.

We always wrap a gift with several layers of boxes and duck tape. Whoever gets it open first - gets to keep it. A favorite at our home.

Mom won - $ is always the best gift - right :)

Dinner was pretty casual. Favorite appetizers was the menu.

After dinner is the famous nativity. Uncle Ethan got to be the donkey. Lucky guy.

Cole was Samuel the Lamanite. He enjoyed being "stoned" up there on that wall.

Then he doubled as Joseph with Ambra starring as Mary.

Miss Riah Bug was our Angel.

The sheep abiding in thier fields.

All ready for bed after leaving oatmeal and glitter on the driveway. The glitter sparkles in the moonlight and lights the way for the reindeer, and the oatmeal will keep them busy while Santa is leaving gifts. Cookies for Santa... and off to dream of sugar plums.

Can't wait for the big day.