Fourth of July

We stuck around home for the fourth and ended up having a wonderful time! I am posting a lot of pictures that may all look the same to you, but I just couldn't decide what not to include! In the morning we headed off to a pancake breakfast with my in-laws that their ward was having.

I love in this picture below you can see they are holding hands. They just started doing that every once in a while and I LOVE IT.

 Ummm, this pose was ALL them! 

 The breakfast was at a park, so needless to say the kids had a blast!

 They both carried flags around almost the entire time. We tried all day to get Stetson to pronounce "flag" however we went to sleep that night with the "l" still missing, and hoping we didn't offend too many people!

 We then left and put blankets out at this park by the Mission Viejo Lake that would have a great view for the fireworks that night, and I was still hungry, soooo we went to Bravo Burgers for a quick bite. We then went home and rested for a bit ( kids who don't nap but parents who still need to themselves!!!!) and then headed to the Mission Viejo street faire. The kids had a blast! We then BBQ'd with Steve and Lynda and took this cute family pic!

 Then headed back over to our warm blankets that were holding our spot. The kids were SO excited for fireworks!

 Looking at another firework show down the road....

 I love this picture that Troy took. Love the glow necklace and how it stands out!

 Fireworks about to start...Lucy practicing her poses....

 AND, from the second that the show started, Stetson FREAKED and laid on me until he fell asleep! He didn't wake up until we put him in the car. I had to walk with him in the big crowd and everyone was laughing at such a big boy who slept through it all. Maybe next year????

 Oh! And the next day I chopped 4 inches off my hair! I intend to do it ( blow dry and straighten ) more now....we will see how long that lasts!! A messy wet bun has gone on for TOO LONG!

Christmas with my dad

A few days after Christmas and Lucy's birthday we went to my dads to celebrate both! Here is Lucy with my brother.

Stetson got this awesome ride on toy ( I was the one to tell my dad we wanted it for him and now I can't remember what it is called!) I read awesome reviews on it and he is having a ton of fun using it! ( So is Lucy! ) Our friend Robin has a ton of them for all her grandchildren.

Lucy got another doll ( this one is Halley ) and a chair to do her makeup and hair on . She is in love and so are all Lucy's friends that come over to play!

It was a lot of fun! Thanks Dad and Nancy!

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was fantastic!!! We learned that anything with wheels or balls made Stetson happy!!

After Christmas at our own house, we took naps and then went over to Lynda and Steve's. Here was our feast, a la Wood Ranch! It was amazing!

Lucy brought her new doll over to join in on the fun.

We attempted family pictures as soon as we got there. This one is the best we got :)

Stetson got his beloved grocery cart. Troy hates the fact that he got one, but he LOVES it!

Lucy got "heel shoes"...her favorite thing these days!

You can't really tell, but we are sporting matching locket necklaces that Lynda got us :)

We even got a chance to Skype with Crystal, Kyle, Trey and Kajsa! Technology is awesome!

Here the kids are huddled around the laptop to see their cousins.

Christmas Eve 2011

We had my grandparents and brother and mom over again for Christmas Eve. I made my chili again, and this year, just brownie sundaes were dessert. It was low key, less people than normal, and it was a lot of fun! We even decorated with Lucy's preschool projects. Here she is next to her beloved gingerbread man!

I have really let go lately and let her tape her projects where she wants ( usually just in her room or next to our desk in my room ).This time I taped her projects to the kitchen cabinets. Those who know me well, know that this was hard for me to do, but totally worth it! She loved it!

Here we are a eatin away!

Lucy was very excited to get her "American Girl doll". It actually is a knock off one from Target, but she calls it her American Girl doll. Some of her friends have real ones, and she just figured hers was too. We don't need to spoil it by telling her otherwise!

We had a secret santa that came by that night and dropped off A TON of presents for our family. It was an amazing surprise!

Playing with his remote control car.

Uncle Mike really helped Lucy a lot dressing and undressing her doll.

Right before she went to bed, we put reindeer dust out on the lawn....

Right before Troy and I went to bed....

Santa's piles for the kids.