New Years Eve

2013 is coming to an end. We have done so much this year. It seems to have flown by but we have lots of great memories and look forward to 2014 for many more memories. Earlier today I went shopping with the girls for our traditional finger food dinner. We probably got more then we needed but if it was up to the girls we would have bought it all.

Don't you love the hats, the girls talked me into those. Madison had a few parties to go to but was home for dinner before they started. She was bummed when she missed dinner last year so she made sure she was here for it this year.
Allison and Ashley had a fun time ringing in the New Year together. New Years would not be New Years without sparkling cider.

I am glad that Allison is around for a few more years to celebrate with Ashley. I love watching them together. Happy New Year! I hope 2014 is a great year for everyone.

Cousin time

Uncle Chris and Aunt Nicole were driving through tonight and we volunteered to babysit for them so they could have some alone time. Madison and Kevin were gone so we thought it might be fun to let them have some alone time. Allison was in heaven watching Emry. She loves baby's and loved holding her.

Ashley had fun playing with Devany.

They spent most of the time playing in Ashley's room. Ashley wishes that she could see Devany more she always has so much fun with her. Ashley didn't want to get left out on holding the baby so she did find some time to hold Emry.

The girls had a lot fun and were sad to see them leave. We will have to go visit them this summer.

Team Bonding

Tonight Kevin and Madison went to an Idaho Stampede game with her Frosh team. I love that they do these type of things because I feel as the girls get to know each other more they seem to play better on the court. It is especially great for them to see Madison on a social level since she is so shy. Kevin tagged along to help transport the girls. I am glad that he did because Madison is kind of stubborn about taking pictures for me. Kevin was more then happy to help me out.

Allison is 12

Allison turned 12 today. She had a pretty low key day. She invited her best friend Bri over. They had a lot of fun playing the Wii and PlayStation. Allison was also a great sport and let Ashely hand out with them all day. I love it when we have days like this. It reminds me that they do love each other. Madison had basketball so she was gone all morning and then rested in the afternoon.

Once Kevin got home from work we headed to dinner. Allison went back and forth on where she wanted to go to dinner but finally decided that she wanted to go to Fudrucker's.

Allison opened a few presents while we waited for our food.

She was so happy to get an infinity scarf. She wanted one for Christmas but the scarf that she got was not an infinity one. She got some more cloths.
After dinner we headed home for some birthday cheesecake. My girls are a little like their mom and don't want the traditional cake on their birthdays. I don't mind at all. I have yet to master making a cheesecake and Costco does such a great job at it so we just picked one up there.

Allison had a great birthday. I am happy that we were able to make the day special and let her know how important she is to our family. Happy Birthday Allison!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning has always been interesting at our house. For the longest time Kevin and I had to wake the girls up but when Madison was about 8 or 9 she started waking up early and getting her sisters up. It was quite a change for Kevin and I. We finally set the rule that it had to be 7 before they woke us up. This year Allison and Ashley waited patiently for 7:00 before they woke us up. Madison has officially become a teenager. She had no desire to wake up this morning. When we finally got her out of bed she definitely did not want to cooperate and get a picture.

It took her awhile to get in the mood. I remember those years of when you just want to sleep in and Christmas morning is even hard to get up for. The girls loved opening presents and seeing what everyone got. Ashley's favorite was her American Girl doll. She has been asking for one of these for a few years. Santa finally brought her one. She was one happy girl.

She was also delightfully surprised to get a fun loom. I always love seeing her excitement.

Madison and Allison are both at that age where they get more cloths then toys. They didn't seem to mind and loved what they got.

We had a great day. The girls spent a lot of time playing with their gifts and just enjoying family time. We had a wonderful dinner and then enjoyed a movie. Christmas is a wonderful time of year to remember Our Saviors birth with our family.

Christmas Eve

This Christmas season sure has gone by fast. I can't believe that it is already here. Juggling school and family made it hard to get ready for Christmas but I managed with a lot of help from Kevin. Tonight we had our traditional dinner of meatballs and then we went out to look at Christmas lights. The girls ask if we could switch things up this year and they could open their pajamas before we went to look at lights. This is always a favorite for the girls to see what the pajamas I will get them this year.

I wish that I could still find matching but the girls like it better when I don't match the pajamas. They were happy with my pick and were quite silly for the picture showing off their new pj's.

Once we were done looking at lights it was time for a Christmas movie and some candy.

It was a great evening and I can't wait till tomorrow morning.

Sweet treats with sweet friends

The girls mentioned that they missed doing Gingerbread houses with Miss Dawn. Miss Dawn was touched and she also was finished with school so we set a date that we would pick up this tradition again. Miss Dawn and I found a new twist on gingerbread houses at a craft store and thought it would be fun to try. This year our gingerbread houses were chocolate and white chocolate instead of gingerbread. It was fun to try a new twist on an old tradition. The girls really had fun decorating their houses and enjoying each other.

Once we were done with our houses we thought it might be fun to play a game. Telestrations is a new favorite of Miss Dawn's and mine so we though we would introduce our kids to it. We thought having Ashley play would be a fun twist.

She did a great job and we loved her twist on words that she wasn't quite sure about. She had hangnail once and she wasn't sure what that was so she drew a hangman figure hanging a nail from it. I love her imagination. It was sure fun to play and the whole evening was great. WE sure have missed spending time with Miss Dawn and Capri.

Basketball, Pep Band and Little Warriors

Tonight was another busy night. Madison had her games to play in and then she played in the pep band during the varsity game. I do not know how she keeps up with her schedule.

Ashley also got to play with the little warriors during half time. She sure had fun with this. I am glad that she was able to do this and especially do this with Madison.

Christmas Program

Ashley's school Christmas Program was today. I loved listening to the second grade sing Christmas songs. Ashley had a lot of fun learning these songs and was so excited because she got picked to play an instrument during one of the songs.

It is always fun to watch Ashley and how expressive she is when she preforms. She is definitely not shy.

Ashley has loved the 2nd grade. She loves that her best friend is in her class. So far it has been a great year.

Caroling

Tonight Allison got to go to her first Youth Activity with her best friend Bri. Today was Bri's birthday so she could officially go to the activity but they invited Allison to come since it was so close to her birthday and they didn't want her to miss out on the annual caroling activity. Allison loved that she could do this with Bri. They have been able to do so many firsts together over the years.

It was cold out but I don't think it bothered them to much because they were just too excited to finally be able to go to a youth activity.

Madison also had a fun time with her friends.

This activity is always a fun activity. I am glad Allison got to be apart of it this year even though she wasn't quite 12.

Busy night

We had a busy night tonight. It all started with Madison playing with her Freshman/Sophomore team. She was supposed to play in the JV game too but had to leave for a band concert. The game went great. Madison did an amazing job. She scored 18 points and was on fire with her rebounds.

It was a great win for the Freshman/Sophomore team. I was kind of sad that we had to leave so Madison could go to her band concert. After the game she just played I am sure that the JV team could have used her. Once the Frosh game was over we quickly ran to Madison's band concert.

The high school band teacher sets the band up different from how the middle school teacher did so it was hard to see Madison on the other side of the stage closer to the center behind the first row. Madison liked it because it was the first time that she has been seated by her best friend Lydia. They both play the saxophone but have never been seated by each other before. It was fun to hear what Madison has been learning in high school. I didn't get to stay for the whole concert because I had to get Ashley back to the Varsity game because she was playing during half time with the Little Warriors.

The JV game ended up running long so we actually could have stayed longer at the concert because when we got back to the high school the varsity game was just starting. The Frosh players and JV players took the girls back to practice in another gym during the first half. When the concert was over Madison came back to the high school with Kevin and was able to participate with the little warriors during half time. There was probably one high schooler per elementary kid it was quite fun to watch.

Ashley has never had any fear so she ran right out on the court and knew exactly what to do. It was fun to watch.

Madison was one of the Refs.

It was a little mass chaos but it was fun to watch.

Madison had a long busy night but she survived and was able to do everything that was on her schedule. She sure has a busy life.

Happy Birthday Madison

Today Madison celebrated her fifteenth birthday. Our first snow of the season came today. Madison loves snow so this was the perfect thing for her to wake up to.

There was no break from basketball she started her day out doing a little warriors camp for elementary kids at the high school. She was not alone Ashley was so exited to participate in this camp with her big sister.

Ashley was all grins and loved the special attention that she got because she was Madison's little sister. Madison had fun with it too.

After the camp was over Madison hung out with her best friend Lydia for the day until it was time for her basketball game.

Madison even got a special present at her basketball game. A few games ago the JV coach ask her to start sitting with his team and learning their plays. She was excited to be noticed and couldn't wait till she could play with the JV team. Well today was the day. She finished playing with the Freshman/Sophomore team and the coach told her that she had two quarters that he could play her in the JV team. She was grinning ear to ear.

I was so nervous for her but she did a great job. She was a little nervous when she first went out on the court but relaxed and did a great job. I don't know what this means for her in basketball but I am so proud of how far she has come and how much she has grown this season.

Once the JV game was over we headed to a late birthday dinner at Cafe Ole. I guess last year was too much of a change for her and she had to head back to her normal place.

We had a great dinner and love celebrating Madison. Our family would not be the same without her. She is a great big sister to Madison and Allison. She sets a great example for them too.

After dinner we headed home for some pie. Madison liked the banana cream pie that Nana had at Thanksgiving so much that she requested we had that instead of a cake for her birthday. I didn't mind since I am not a fan of cake anyways.

We didn't have a 5 candle but Allison and Ashley thought it would be fun to use just the 1 candle. I guess the pie was too small to put 15 individual candles in. Madison had a great birthday. I can't believe that she is 15 years old. Time sure had flown by.

The Season Starts

Tonight we put our Christmas tree up. It was a day late from our normal because we finally decided to get a new tree so we wouldn't have to mess with the lights again. I headed out this morning and picked up the new tree and had it all set up before the girls got home from school. They were delightfully surprised.

I love this time of year and the spirit that surrounds it. I love putting up the tree as a family and the traditions that we have that surround the season. We always have fun putting the tree up. It is always fun to pull out all the ornaments and talk about the memories behind them.

All the girls still get so excited to decorate the tree. I love seeing Christmas through their eyes. This is going to be a great month.