New Years Eve

Easton is obsessed with Michael Jackson and has been ever since Halloween when he saw the thriller dance. He was so excited when he got a Michael Jackson Wii game and CD for Christmas. We got him the cool hat like the one Michael Jackson wears in smooth criminal for our New Years Eve party. Easton had to change into his sweet new nikes and a sleeveless shirt for some reason so basically Easton thinks he is super cool in this outfit.

We played the new Wii games that we got for Christmas all night. The Michael Jackson experience is seriously the coolest game ever. My family looooooves his music. Then we played wipe out which is a hilarious game. Well the kids were "wiped out" Brighten made it until 10:30pm and Easton made it until 11:30pm
So Travis and I had some crazy fun of our own.

We woke the kids up to bang pots and pans, toot their horns and throw confetti but they were so over it. Next year we will do what my friend did and make them celebrate at midnight in NY! Most brilliant idea ever Camille!!
Travis had the sparkling apple juice all for himself!!
We are excited to see what 2012 brings for our little family! Travis started his new job on the 2nd and he looooooooves it so much! We feel so blessed!!

Christmas Eve

I can't help but laugh when my kids do this every year. I love that Brighten has a pillow stuffed in her shirt to look pregnant and that she is riding a stuffed horse! I love my parents in the background. I love that Cooper thinks he is holding a light saber. I love that Easton is wearing my dad's shirt that is at least 15 years old. LOL!I couldn't get their red eyes to edit out but I had to post this anyways. I love how Brighten and Easton are both looking up to the sky and that Cooper is sitting on the horse. So funny!
Now Cooper is stealing baby Jesus from Mary.Easton makes me laugh in this picture. He really gets into character whatever he does. Why not have another baby Jesus.I love these pictures. My kids make me so happy.Dad got these nasty icicles for the tree this year. It brought back so many memories. He always put them on the tree when we were little and mom always hated them. She let him put them on again on Christmas eve. It was quite hilarious seeing him toss them like a little fairy with a big smile on his face. Now that's a side of Lee Halley you don't get to see very often.I made my first batch of homemade rolls for our Christmas party. They were so yummy!Such a cute picture of Aunt Michele with Cord and Zoey.Zoey got spoiled by Grandma.Cord got diapers and formula! He loved them sooooooo much!!!Cooper got this Lightning McQueen computer. He played with Easton's super hero one all of the time so he was excited to have his own.Don't let this cranky face fool you!!!Easton is obsessed with Lego's right now so he was thrilled to get this from Grandma and Grandpa.
Brighten loved her doll too!Brighten loves her Grandma Joye soooooooooo much!!Brighten had fun helping Uncle Cody wrap all of the Christmas presents he got for Michele.

I love spending time with my Brother. He really is the best big brother ever. We sure did miss Josie though.
I love this shot of my dad's hand tickling Cord.I wonder where Cooper gets it from?????
The traditional shot in front of Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas tree. Wow, I still can't believe I have 4 kids!!!!Mom and Dad went to Visit Josie's family in Mesquite on Christmas morning and had to get a shot in front of the tree with McKinley and Max too. Ahhhh we sure missed those guys!
Then we came home and let the kids make their cookies for Santa all by themselves. Brighten always wants to help me in the kitchen and I'm not very good at slowing down and letting her help all of the time. I promised her she could do it all by herself from start to finish and she was soooooooooo excited!!



I love that Easton is scratching his nose in the picture above and Brighten is singing in the one below. I love my kids!So I'm horrible and all of these pictures are from my mom's camera on Christmas eve!!! We went to the Wengreen's on Christmas morning but I hate taking my huge camera so I don't have any pictures from their party. I did get a new smaller camera for Christmas so I will have to do better with that. I didn't take any pictures on Christmas morning at are house either. I get so caught up in the moment and hate making the kids stop for pictures!!!My mom and dad stopped to see what my kids got for Christmas on their way home from Mesquite and I got this great picture and video of my boys and Grandpa playing with their new light sabers. So cute! I love the look on my dad's face. PURE JOY:) What a fun grandpa!

Christmas visits

Every Christmas we like to do something for another family. Travis had his last day of work at Progrexion on Nov. 1st so we knew we might not be able to do that this year. We realized that we have these two lovely ladies in our lives that need our love more than anyone else. So we decided to surprise them and go spend some time with them. These visits reminded me that even if you can't do all you want to do for someone financially, you can always give your love.

. . . Grandma Beth . . .

Grandma Beth is my moms mom. She is 85. She started living at a wonderful rest home in Alpine called River Meadows a few months ago. Her last stroke made it too hard for her to live on her own. She really has enjoyed it there and is the best bingo player they've got:) We took her a beautiful necklace and matching earrings. She had me put them right on her. She has always loved the bling!! It was a very pleasant visit. We got there right at her favorite time of the day, when the sun shines on her through her big window and she can pretend she is sun tanning! LOL! Her room is all decked out in her style with pinks of every shade and looked just like home. You better believe that her lips were her signature color of pink as well! She sent us home with a beautiful potted flower that she had gotten for all of the grand kids for Christmas. She has always been very thoughtful. We love you Grandma Beth.

. . . Grandma Beverly . . .

Grandma Bev is Travis' dads mother. She is 80. She fell and broke her neck in September. It was pretty scary. She fell down her porch. We really could have lost her and we are so grateful she is okay. She still has a ways to go to full recovery but she has been doing very well. She really does do great for her age and we hope that this injury doesn't stop her. She was so excited to see us. She loves seeing the kids so much! Of course she had to hold the baby even though I'm sure it wasn't very comfortable for her. We really don't visit her enough and this year we plan on doing better with our visits. The kids enjoyed seeing all of the cool hummingbird figures that she collects. We got her a beautiful, warm, cozy blanket to help keep her comfortable when she is resting. She sent us home with 6 ornaments that she had crocheted for our tree. She is very talented and crocheted all of our kids a blanket when they were born. We love you Grandma Bev and hope you keep getting stronger every day.

It's Christmas time!

I was so excited for Christmas this year!!! I just absolutely love this time of our lives right now. The 30's are the greatest! The ages of our kids are so much fun. I'm so grateful that we can record these precious moments in life. I remember listening to the chipmunks every year growing up and always being so happy with my life! I hope the kids will look back and have the same feelings of love and security that I always had.
My sister was in town over thanksgiving and she was going to come and take some pictures in a field by our house. When we finally got ready to go it was a total wind storm. So we ended up taking our Christmas pictures on the stairs!!! Oh well I just decided to LET IT GO:)
I took some pictures of the kids for our cards too. They all turned out good except for Cooper's.
The stubborn kid refused to smile. I fought with him for 10 minutes and realized it was hopeless!!! Little stinker!! ha ha
He would give his baby kisses though. That's the best we got!