Gingerbread house

These girls have an admirer in Jim, who sent us this gingerbread house. When the package came there was dancing and singing, and when it was opened there was squealing.

 I told the girls to smile, and Kat kept the smile while taking the picture, but Ali couldn't help herself.

Jack just couldn't figure out how to take the candy off the house.

 I have some beautiful children, and I just had to show off a few more of their photos.

Ali could be a model, except that I don't want her in that world.

My little firecracker!

 Jack was petrified of the sand. Good thing we didn't have the photo shoot where they had too much sand. Oh wait...

Yale, oh and other stuff.

Nick matched at Yale, in New Haven Connecticut for gastroenterology.  Starting in the beginning of July we will be back on the East Coast for at least 3 years. While we are sad to be leaving such great friends, and weather, we are very excited.

 

This is for those who don't know where New Haven is located.

  In my Thanksgiving post I forgot a few essential pictures. Jack's first turkey, he is a fan.

  Evidence of how far out into no where that my parents live. We are a few steps from their back door in this picture.

 My little DJ.

Meet Santa. I managed to get a picture fast enough before the tears came. Jack was not a fan, but at least Kat was willing to get closer to him than she ever has before. She couldn't bring herself to talk directly to him, but she did manage to yell toward him her Christmas wish as she was leaving.

 We did family pictures on the beach this year. Four years here, and we finally made it to the beach for pictures. My amazing photographer friend Kellie took our pictures.

  I am truly blessed to have such awesome kids in my life. Aren't they just the cutest!?!

A trip

 Before I get to the fun pictures I want to first say how grateful I am for my husband and three beautiful children. I am so blessed. I am especially grateful for my  husband, who works so hard and it still an amazing father and husband. I am also thankful for my extended family (brothers, sisters, mom, dad, and in-laws) While we may have our differences of opinion and often times we fight, my family is very important to me, and I am grateful, extremely grateful, that I am important to my family.

 Last week we went on a trip to visit my parents in Colorado. It was Kat's first memory of flying. (She traveled a lot when she was a baby) Since she was scared, Ali held her hand and read to her. It was very very sweet.

 I was nervous about flying alone with 3 kids, but I forgot how awesome my kids are. (At least for a 2 hour flight) Jack slept almost the whole way and the girls quietly read books.

 Once we got there (where is there you ask? It is nowhere...literally!) we did some shooting,

 some make-up artistry,

 a little movie watching (my parents have a theatre room!),

some more shooting,

 and, of course, since it was Thanksgiving we ate. My girls HATE mashed food, so Thanksgiving is pretty awful for them. Ali's face is priceless.

 By the week's end, Jack was ready to go home. (His favorite cousins and aunts left before us)

 Once we got home we decked some halls

 and banisters!

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of my most favorite traditions. Growing up my parents always let us kids do the decorating. I am sure that once we went to bed they did their share of "fixing" our decorations, but I loved that it was our job to make our tree magical. That is one tradition that I have kept for our kids. We keep also every ornament that we are given and buy ornaments when we visit cool places, so our tree is always eclectic and colorful. What are some of your traditions?