Stuff from December

Of course I'll share pictures from our adventure on the North Pole Express (aka Polar Express), Christmas, and Halle's third birthday, but first, here are all the other random things we did in December.

I went to our ward baptisms and Owen got hungry while I was gone.  Halle loves to help!

and these two play so great together.. most of the time. :)

We had a family dinner at my mom's house.  Our family is about too big to fit in the kitchen for dinner! Luckily we have a fun cousins' table.

From the very first grandchild, my mom has done something that's become a tradition.  The kids always want to take home a treat, and grandma always has something to share.  Everyone gets a treat in a bag for the car ride home.

Here's grandma with all the kids with the bags of treats.  Notice how Isaac was so excited he threw it in the air. 

Just playing.

And getting cuter every day.

Derrick's birthday was this month.  Hayden absolutely insisted on getting him a remote control helicopter.  I tried to get him to think of something else, because Derrick already has one and they are expensive.  One day Hayden was looking at grocery store ads, and he found one at Macey's!  He was so excited.  It was a good price, so we picked one up.  I love how he put thought and love into his gift for his dad.  It made it all the more special for both of them.  Halle got him a magnetic dart board, and we made him his favorite chocolate pie for dessert.  A few days later he had a surprise party, where all his buddies came over and we had dinner and a game night.  He was quite surprised, and it was so fun! No pictures though.

Owen got an early Christmas present (so I could do dishes in peace) :)  I got rid of our big bulky high chair when we moved, and got this much nicer, smaller, one.

And he fell asleep in it while I mopped.   I swear if this kid gets any cuter our heads will just explode.  We all  can't stop kissing his cheeks and loving on him and talking to him in high voices.

The kids had a Christmas party at preschool, and at the end they got to carol for their parents.  They are separated into different classes, so I was really glad that Derrick took off work so he could come, and they both at least had one parent in with them.  Only one camera though, so only one picture.

This is why I think my kids have the best dad!  They really are lucky.

Here's Owen during story time, happy as can be.  I love when they start playing with their legs and feet.

Halle got a new bed!  This is actually the bed I had when I was a little girl.  It's only about 15 years old (at least), and I'd say in pretty good condition!   As soon as I saw this bedding at Target, I knew it was Halle's and would be what she picked no matter what she saw.  I think she likes it a bit.

After this picture, I took the kids to get hair cuts.

For this month's date, I took Halle to see the Nutcracker ballet.  It was so fun!  I can't say how much I love taking the kids one on one.  They just thrive with that kind of attention too.  The theater was packed, so Halle sat on my lap.  She did really well, though she was wiggly as could be expected for a three year old.  She loved the dancing girls.  Afterward, we got ice cream, because our kids don't think it's a real date unless we get ice cream.

And that was December!