More Christmas fun!

I absolutely love this time of year... all the baking, decorating, parties, good food, great treats and Christmas music 24/7!

The girls made gingerbread houses this morning. We had a great time. I love those tender moments where we are just hanging out, laughing, talking, singing and just being together!

Here's Livy's masterpiece.
And here's Hailey's. That's my kind of girl... there's more chocolate than there is house!

Hailey's Christmas List

Hailey grabbed her paper and pencil to make a Christmas list. She was asking me how to spell the things and when she said "crawl baby" I said "Isn't that what Olivia wants?" She said, "No mom, I'm making a list of the presents I want to get you guys. Not what I want." She never even thought to make a list of things she wanted... Just what she wanted to get her family! What a sweetheart! You have to enlarge it to see how stinkin cute it really is! I love when kids are learning to write! The letters that go up and over to fit on the page! I'll translate if you can't read it!

Olivia baby crawl....Mom clothes....Dad work clothes

Visit with Santa

This was so great! For first time in 5 years we have 2 smiling girls sitting on Santa's lap. Up until this morning at breakfast with Santa Olivia hated Santa. She insisted that he was a mean guy. (We watched A Christmas Story... she saw Santa push the boy down the slide and said "See mom, Santa is mean, he pushes.) But I told her that Santa would only bring her the baby she wants if she sits on his lap and tells him herself! Tadah! She did so great this morning we had to take advantage and head to the mall to get our "official" Santa picture!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Happy Birthday Hailey!

I can't believe my Hailey is 5 years old today! She is growing way too fast. Hailey is an absolute joy. She is always happy, helpful and kind. She is so thoughtful. If Livy falls and hurts herself Hailey is the first to run to her rescue. I was sick in bed one time and woke up to a glass of water and a piece of bread on my nightstand. When Kenney was throwing up, she grabbed him a towel and a bottle of water! Her teacher at school says if Hailey sees someone sad she will go give them a hug and make sure they are ok. Hailey is so generous. She never complains about having to share her things with her sister. Hailey is an all-around amazing girl! She is such a girly girl... but not afraid to get down and dirty! Hailey loves date night with her daddy! It's the cutest thing. If her dad asks her to go on a date with him, she will run upstairs change her clothes, put on some jewelry, squirt some perfume, "freshen" up her hair and pack a purse full of lip gloss, tissues, hand sanitizer and her debit card! If you know Hailey.... you love Hailey! Hailey has a great way of making anyone she is with feel like the most important thing in the world! Hailey is sweet, spunky, energetic, sassy, enthusiastic, full of life and fantastic all bundled up into one tiny package!Happy Birthday Hailey! We love you so much!

Face Lift!

Phew... all I know is that it's a good thing we only take family pictures once a year! I'm a little slow when it comes to computer technology and it has taken me 2 days trying to figure out this dang blog! Posting the new pictures... putting a cute background on... blah blah blah! After several phone calls to my sister Heather... I think I figured it out! But it was defiantly all Heather walking my through it step by step! THANK YOU HEATHER! So here it is... and it will stay this way till next year! (Maybe!)

And I have to give a HUGE shout out to my amazing brother and sister-in-law. They took our family pictures. I'll post a slide show of all my favorites sometime... but I'm sure that will take me another 2 days to figure out too, but my laundry has piled up and my children haven't bathed for 2 days (just kidding!)! But Seriously, Justin and Amelia... you guys are awesome! I repeat AWESOME! Thank you so much. They were in town from California for Thanksgiving and we had to take advantage! The girls were absolutely adorable! Olivia cooperated more than I thought she would and you put a camera in front of Hailey's face and she is right at home!

Here are a few of my favorites of the girls...

They were laughing so hard because Hailey leaned over to give Olivia a kiss and Livy tried to stick her tongue down Hailey's throat! Yikes!

Under my "great sites" list on the side is a link to Amelia's blog. Go check out her work... she's amazing!

THANKS AGAIN YOU GUYS!

Construction Zone!

If you come to my blog and it looks different and weird each time... it's because that's just the way I am! We actually just took our family pictures and I'm trying to put them up with cute backgrounds and whatnot. So be patient... cute pictures coming soon!

Thankful

It has been a crazy past few months for us. Things are settling down and life is slowly coming back to "normal." Whatever normal is!! Kenney's health has returned! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. We felt all of them and we appreciate everyone who extended their hands in helping out the Abbott's these past few months!

On Thanksgiving we all think about the things we are grateful for and this year was no exception. My world has been rocked and I have a whole new outlook on everything. I have received a "refreshed" view on what is truly most important. I have always known; but when you come close to loosing someone you love, it definitely makes you reevaluate! I love my family. I love my life. I love my husband and my girls. Together they are my world. I wake up every morning to their sweet faces. I am grateful for that! I am grateful for the hard times we go thru. To draw us closer together and to make us stronger! I am just THANKFUL for all that I have and for the blessings I receive daily!

We had a really great Thanksgiving. My entire family was together! It was so fun to see everyone. I wish we all lived closer together. After Thanksgiving we went to a cabin in Strawberry. It was a perfect trip. We just relaxed and enjoyed each other! We went to the Natural Bridge and hiked. (Last time we were up that way was the weekend we rushed Kenney to the hospital... I'm glad we were able to avoid that this time!) Here are a few pics from our weekend!

The "grandkids!'

Grandma & Papa

Justin (my brother) and Hudson

Me & Heather (my sister)

Me & my girls!

If you know my Livy... you know she doesn't go anywhere without a baby! She loves dolls more than any girl I know!

It was so cold!

Kenney and Hailey

The fam dam

So beautiful!

My brother Travis and sister-in-law Toni. Cheese!The end! Hailey shaking her stuff singing her own version of Fergalicious! Crazy girl.