So Long 2011

The day after Christmas, we hung out at home and did lots of organizing.  I had gotten can rotating shelves for my pantry from Lee and Aneta for Christmas, so I was very excited to have John help me put them together.  We also picked up another shelving unit for the garage at Costco and organized most of the garage too.  I love how it all looks!  It's amazing how just being a little bit more organized can help your mood and I'm ready to tackle on so much more.

The next day we went back up to Grandma and Grandpa's to spend time with everyone.  We had a little spa/s'mores/sparklers party.  I brought up the sparklers that we had left over from the 4th of July.  A few of the kids were a bit nervous at first, but by the end they were loving it.  Brody was the only one that was ready to jump right in there.

Once the sparklers were done, the kids were begging for s'mores.  The kids found a flaming torch of marshmallows to be hilarious except when it came time to eat it. 

These three are quite the characters.  This age is really fun to watch and to see them hang out together.

Later that week, my parents came back in to town after staying up in Moorpark.  They had been up there visiting old friends since they left my house just before the Christmas weekend.  While I was with my family, John and the boys, Tyler, Steven, and Lee had already planned to go shooting up in Lytle Creek.  This is John's gun that he sent of picture of to me.  It is stored at his parents house because I am still pretty uneasy about the thought of having one in our house, nor do we even have a gun safe for storage anyway.  The guys had a great time though, so I'm sure they'll plan another one here soon.

My parents were really sticking around for my cousin Gant's wedding that was held the day before New Years Eve.  They got married in the Redlands Temple since his new wife was from there.  It made it really easy for all the CA family to be there.  John and Brandon sacrificed their chance to go to watch the kids.  It wasn't too much of a sacrifice with a BYU basketball game on.  Gant and his new bride Casey, who we just barely met, looked very beautiful and so happy.  She seemed to have a lot of spunk and tons of fun.  I think she will fit in just fine here with all of us crazy Yelvington's. 

Some of my favorite cousins, Darby, Casey, Gant, Michelle, and David!

My favorite part of my family's weddings are seeing each other again.  It doesn't happen enough!  All of us CA and CO cousins, Jenny, Lindsey, Darby, and me.

We had some great sister bonding time without kids or husbands.

While we were all gone, I was getting texts and pictures about this poor guy at home. Apparently Daddy decided it was time for that wiggly tooth to come out.  It took a lot of the day, many tears, and some bleeding before it went from this face. . . .

. . .to this face!  Hooray to Brody for his first tooth being out!  He was so excited that he stayed up late until we got home to show Grandpa and Grandma his new smile.

He was even more thrilled when he woke up in the morning and found the Tooth Fairy had come and swapped his tooth out for a dollar!

New Years Eve was another quiet one, with no more company since my parents went to back home that morning.  We continued with our usual tradition of Chinese takeout and a movie once the kids went to bed.  We watched the latest Pirates of the Caribbean.  Both of us feel asleep through some of it since it wasn't that great of a movie.

It was a great year though for our family, but we are looking forward to what 2012 will bring us.   Wishing all of you a wonderful and blessed new year!

Best Part of When Christmas is Over. . .

. . . playing with your new toys!

 

Christmas 2011

Christmas had actually felt over before it even began, for me at least.  It was nice because I got to slow down and enjoy it more.  This year was definitely a "play it by ear" kind of year.  All plans went out the window and we just did whatever the kids and we could handle.  Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Brown's house with the other CA Browns, and Great Grandpa and Grandma Brown. It was low key.  We had our traditional and tasty BBQ dinner.  The kids played with whatever electronic device they could find.  Kids these days are even more technology savvy than ever before.  Piper's always messing with my phone and getting it do things that I have no idea how to change back. Here's is Piper and Lucas bonding over an iPhone.  It is pretty cute, though. 

Brody and Preston playing Grandpa's iPad. 

Now Brody and Lucas on the iPhone.  Time to put these toys away. . . .

. . . .and play with Grandpa!   These kids love their time with Grandpa.

That night we came home kind of late and still had to get preparations ready for Santa's arrival. Most everything was wrapped, but still had a few last minute presents to take care of.   Somehow it still took forever and it ended up being another late night for us, but everything was ready for a morning of memories.

The Magic of Christmas

Stockings are hung by the chimney with care.

The next morning, Santa came!

The cookies and milk were all eaten with a few little crumbs left.

Brody brought little gifts as school this year at his holiday boutique for Daddy and Piper.  Thanks Brody!

Piper was excited that she got all the Tangled figures.

Brody loves his Mario Bros shirt!

It's perfect to go along with his new Super Mario Bros. game.

And all so he can play his new DS!  Wow Brody, Santa is being generous.  Not sure your behavior was that great this year.

What could it be Piper?!?

Yay for more princess books!

Ohhh, Piper got dress ups!  Looks like Jessie and Tinkerbell for this girl!

Now on to Mommy and Daddy. . . .  It seemed like forever that I had to wait for my new dress and shoes!  Thanks John!

And a cupcake holder! Oh, I'm in love!

Midnight in Paris for John, a new favorite of ours.

Batman game.  Not sure if Brody is more excited or John.

Playtime!  Piper loves her new princess dolls.

By noon, we made it back up to the grandparents house and once everyone arrived it was present time again.  We knew the kids couldn't wait until after dinner, so we started with this first.  Let's see what Piper got. . . .

A magnetic dress up doll!!  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Alright, Brody got Savage Oppress!  Thanks G&G!

A princess tent for Piper??!!

What an awesome Transformer car.

Here is what some of the rest of the group looked like. . . . mad chaos of kids, toys, and wrappings.

Looks like Lucas loved his construction truck.

Brody loves helping out when it comes to presents.

This kid could never have enough coloring books.

Look who is the newest obsessed member of the Pinkalicious series!

I'd say she likes her new dress up doll.

We love baby Kate!!  She was celebrating her 1st Christmas.

The boys were pretty intrigued by Piper's new princess game.

Brody got is very own art set!!  Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

A doll house for me??

Preston and Adam got Kings jerseys for Christmas.  You look awesome Preston!

A stomp rocket just like Grandpa's!!  This has brought lots of fun to our neighborhood as many of the kids young and old have wanted turns.

Gotta have little dolls for your doll house.

Something Piper always loves, new clothes!

Perfect for a kid who loves pirates.

A friend of Aneta's makes these adorable super hero dress ups.  Watch out people, here comes Pinkalicous Piper to save the day!  She was too shy to pose for me this time.

Grandpa Brown likes to get the kids a few things on his own.  Brody was pretty excited about this potato clock this year.

It took so long for the kids to open their gifts that, once they were done, it was time for dinner.  We had a delicious Prime Rib dinner and then finished up the adults gifts while the kids played.  We got Aneta a new game for her DS.  I think she was pretty excited about that.

John and I

We gave Lee golf balls and a golfing trip with his son.

Kristi made Aneta a beautiful birthday sign, so she can keep track of all the important dates.

After presents, a few of us went over to Great Grandma and Grandpa's house to see visit with them.  Grandma was not feeling well Christmas Eve, so we didn't get to spend much time with her.  It was good to be see her doing better this day.  John's uncle Doug and aunt Sharon were also over, so it was nice to be able to spend some Christmas with them too.

After we got back, we had some dessert and then decided to finish the night with the kids performing the Nativity.  We usually do this on Christmas Eve, but time did not allow that night.  Piper was Mary, of course, holding the baby Jesus.  I love how sweet she looks here.

We had 3 shepherds and 4 boys.  As you can imagine someone felt left out and refused to be Joseph.  That would be the only child not present in this picture as he was sulking/crying in the other room.

He finally came back as Lucas was kind enough to give him his staff.  Thank you Lucas for saving the day (or the program)!

The kids did a wonderful job and I'm sure it will be even better and more perfected next year.  John and I were lucky enough to enjoy the program sitting next to this guy and his well-groomed stash.  If only it were as cool as my brother's fu manchu. :)

Christmas was wonderful, but to be honest, I was kind of glad when it was all over and for this entry to finally be done.  Ready for a new year and fun times ahead!  I feel so very grateful for our entire family and everyone we got to see this holiday season.  Thank you for all the thoughtful presents and service you all have given us.  Hoping that this next year will be just as good as the last for everyone. :)