Christmas 2011

Our Christmas was just as good as our Christmas Eve. Both kids woke up around 7. We looked at what Santa brought us then ate some breakfast. After breakfast we opened presents. Karlee was so excited about every little thing that she got.

Ready to see what Santa brought

Can you tell that Karlee loves anything princess? Not sure how we got such a girlie girl.

Karlee's Santa loot

Colton loved just watching the action and sucking on his gifts

Karlee thought it was pretty fun to open both her and Colton's presents

I guess Colton didn't like what he got. No milk :(

Then we headed off to Church.

Love this pic. She wasn't really sad she just likes to pull faces when I take pictures.

After Church we had brunch with our dear friends the Armstrongs. 

Playing Yahtzee free for all.

Christmas Eve

This year we spent Christmas in Williamsburg. This was our first Christmas away from family. We were excited to start our own traditions and enjoy Matt's long break without the stress of traveling. It's been so nice! For Christmas Eve we got together with some couples in our ward. We decided to get together early and play games and eat all day long. It was a lot of fun.

The men enjoying their game.

Even Colton joined in :)

Karlee and Esme

The ladies and poor little Leah was sick :(

After playing games we headed over to Colonial Williamsburg for the lighting of the Christmas tree. I'm so glad we decided to go. They had a little program which consisted of Christmas carols and a speech from the Mayor of Williamsburg, lighting of candles, and the lighting of the Christmas tree. Karlee loved the candles. I was worried she was going to set Colton's blanket on fire, or her clothes or the diaper bag. She didn't but I'm not sure how. She loved blowing the candle out and then relighting it with my candle.

 

When we got home we read the Christmas Story. My mom gave us a book last year that is a picture book of the Christmas story. Karlee loved looking at the pictures and listened very well.

Then the kids got to open their Christmas jammies.

Santa

We have visited a few Santa's so far. We went to the mall in Newport News and Karlee wanted to see Santa so bad. I was a little hesitant because he looked really scary. But I let her. In years past she has been afraid of Santa but not this year. He held his arms out to put her on his lap and I was really hoping she wouldn't go to him. But of course she did.  He was a ghetto Santa and his elves were worse. I really wish I would have been able to take a picture just to show you Santa. My friend leaned over to me and said, "we're definitely not in Utah anymore".
Yankee Candle has a flagship store here in Williamsburg. We love going there and Santa is actually there year round, which is why I think Karlee isn't afraid of him anymore because she sees him so often. I definitely prefer him over the mall Santa. Karlee told him she wanted an Ariel Barbie and a Snow White movie....I hope he can deliver.

Thanksgiving Festivities!

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! We drove to Columbus, Ohio to my sister Erin's house and we had a blast! We are glad that we decided to go. Karlee LOVED playing with her cousins all day long. The day we left she came up to me as we were packing up and said "Mommy, I so sad today" I asked her why and she said "I don't want to leave". The kids all got along so well and it was so nice to hang out with my sisters.

Our trip consisted of playing out side

Preparing food

Playing with cousins

Eating lots!

Being with family 

Playing minute to win it games

Karlee getting a hair cut

Rollerskating

Erin is 8 months pregnant. She got to watch the babies.

Karlee wouldn't put on the roller skates until the very end.

Yay! We finally talked her into skating with us!

We also went shopping, to the movies, played games, had a dance party. It was a blast!

Big K and Little C

It's so fun to watch Colton and Karlee together. Colton loves to just watch Karlee. Karlee loves to make him smile. If he's sad she tries to make him happy. The other day I was making dinner and Colton was crying in the other room. Karlee had been helping and then left. She had been gone for a couple minutes and I peeked around the corner to see what she was doing. I found her reading a book to Colton, to make him happy. Very sweet.

Love Colton's double chin/no neck :)

Reading stories together

Halloween!!

On Halloween Karlee told me that she didn't want to be Dorothy. So I told her she could choose one of her dress ups to wear. Of course she wanted to be a princess and she was much happier and more herself (see post below). She was excited to be Belle and thought it was awesome!

My friend/neighbor Heather and I took Karlee and her daughter Esme trick-or-treating by our houses. These girls were so cute and funny. They thought it was great that everyone was giving them candy. They kept asking to go to another house to get another trick-or-treat. They weren't shy at all. Which surprised me because Karlee is always a little shy around people she doesn't know but she would walk right up and say trick-or-treat and then raise her hand and say "I am Belle". It was really cute.

Then we made our way over to one of Matt's friends from school to have some hot chocolate. Cora and Canyon er...Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder were there too. I think Karlee enjoyed Halloween a lot more than the Trunk-or-Treat.