Hmm Hmm yummy..

Friday the 12th, my good friend Hilary had a bunch of us over for her first annual Cookie/Bar exchange. Oh my goodness, what a great idea! We all had to bring 5 dozen of whatever cookie/bar/muffin that we wanted and in turn, we took home about that many (if you didn't eat any along the way!)
That day, I had Payton help me make snicker doodles and of course I had to take a few pics along the way to show what a good helper she is in the kitchen!

Me and Natalie at Hilary's house.

Natalie is 17 weeks pregnant with her second baby and I'm so incredibly excited! I can't wait to hold this little blessing!!

Stephanie, Kelsie, Nadine, and Molly

Hilary and Charlie (Charlotte)

Charlie was born September 6th and is one of Gracie's good girlfriends! ;)

Round two of Stroller Strides Pregnant Mommas

Teresa (due mid February), Nadine (due early April), Samantha (due early April) and Natalie (due late May)

Here is everyone!

I feel so lucky to have these girls in my life! I truly feel blessed to have such an amazing support group! And my girls have made some wonderful friends as well! Love you girls!!

Playdate at Abbey's

A couple of weeks ago we had a playdate over at my friend, from Stroller Strides, Abbey's house. Abbey and her family are leaving for San Diego for five months on the 26th, so it was great to get together with all of our kids to play. Abbey is such a great friend to me and to my girls and we are truly going to miss her while she is away. Thankfully it's only for five months, and hopefully it will pass quickly!

Levi (5 months), Charlie (3 months), Crew (3 months) and Gracie (turned 6 months that following Saturday)

Of course Kelsie, Hilary, Elesha and I had to get a picture of our little babes together. It's crazy how fast they're growing up and it seems like yesterday that the four of us were having a group photo with our growing bellies.
Gracie and Levi have had this connection since they were born. I'm not sure if it's Gracie wanting to roll over him or hug him, but that day she couldn't keep her hands off of him. Shh.. don't tell Ryan! ;)

It was so wonderful to see all of our friends together and the girls had a wonderful time being able to play with their friends too!

Abbey, have a safe drive on Friday and hurry home! We're going to miss you!!!!

Happy Half Birthday to Gracie!

This past Saturday the 13th was Gracie's half birthday. Our little babe is now 6 months old. She's so active, rolling around everywhere and trying to crawl. She gets cuter everyday and we fall more and more in love with her. We feel so blessed to have her apart of our family.

Gracie loves to suck on these two fingers and occasionally her thumb.
Gracie is a gift and we are so proud to have her in our lives.
Happy Half Birthday Baby Girl!

Brunch with Santa

Every year Mill Creek Country Club has a Christmas brunch with Santa for their members and guests. This past Sunday Ryan, Payton, Gracie and I joined my grandparents and brother Ryan, sister-in-law Rachael, and our two nephews Trent and Kaden for this fun tradition. There was so much food and a lot of fun things for the kids to do.

Of course Santa was there for some great photo opts. Trent and Kaden were so good sitting with Santa and we were hoping once Payton saw her cousins sit with him, she would be more willing.
So we eased her in and started snapping away. Of course I couldn't get picky if there was a smile on her or not.

And then we added Gracie. Gracie was hungry and wanted a taste of Santa's beard. Thankfully Santa was quick and held on tight. The beard was slowly coming unattached.. if you know what I mean. :)

Gracie was not about to let go of the beard and the kids of course thought it was funny. Payton sat there like a good girl though, but didn't want to get too close to the bearded man.

Kaden, Trent, and my brother Ryan

We all sat down and started our feast! There was SO much food and of course it was all you can eat. We arrived very hungry, but after the first plate, we weren't sure if we could even go back for more. AND of course there was a HUGE dessert table too as well as prime rib, ham, waffles, pancakes, fruit, potatoes, sausage, bacon, crepes, muffins, doughnuts, croissants, etc. I can't even list everything that was there. The food was super yummy!

Back of Payton's head, my grandpa Gail, my Grandma Claire, and Kaden

The club had crafts for the kids to do too. They made foam gingerbread houses, bracelets and Penguin thermometers. I was trying to have Payton hold off a little bit so we could go and get a picture of her and Gracie together with Santa, but no such luck.

There was also face painting. The lady did an amazing job! If you can't tell what it is, it's a reindeer.

Here's Trent's thermometer and bracelet.

Trent got a reindeer too!

My wonderful Grandparents! I'm so lucky to have them in my life!!!!!

Bapa and Great Grandma
On our way out, Santa asked if we wanted a family picture, so of course we took him up on the offer. We also attempted to get a picture of the girls with him too. I'm sure Santa felt safer with Gracie being in her car seat!

Here's the family!

Standing: Bapa, Grandma, Ryan holding Payton, and my brother Ryan

Seated: Kaden, Rachael, Trent, Gracie, Santa and me (trying to hide a sippy cup)

Payton and Gracie with Santa

Payton thought Santa was so funny! He kept talking to Gracie and Payton would laugh so hard!

My beautiful little girls

We had a lot of fun at brunch. It's a fun tradition and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year.

Our sweet dogs

Lola and Luke cuddling on a pillow
So sweet..

Happy Birthday to Ryan!

Ryan's 31st birthday was on Friday December 5th. We started the festivities off on Thursday night at Ryan's mom's house for his annual birthday dinner. Every year for each of our birthdays she has us over and makes us our favorites. It's always so much fun and very filling!!!! We can never eat all that we want to! This year it was only the five of us there (Joanne, Ryan, me and the girls). It made for a quiet evening, but it was a great time being able to relax and visit.

Grammie and Gracie (Gracie was on day two of a nasty cold so she wasn't feeling the greatest)

On Friday, Ryan's actual birthday, we had an appointment for Gracie at Children's hospital so we officially didn't start out Ryan's celebration until later that day. For his birthday, Ryan pooled all of his birthday monies and put it towards a Play Station 3 with Guitar Hero World Tour and some extra accessories and games to go with it. After Children's we headed home to meet the UPS guy to receive Ryan's purchases.
Here's Payton playing with the extra guitar that Ryan bought. At one point we had Guitar Hero set up and Payton and I both had a guitar and Ryan was playing the drums. Looks like we have a future Partridge Family in the making.

That night a bunch of Ryan's friends came over for some Guitar Hero playing and some drinks. Here's Ryan singing, Pete playing the guitar as well as Steve and Brian (back of his head) playing the drums.

It was nice to be able to hang out and chat before heading to a local bar for some karaoke.

Here's Shelley and Tiffany

Ryan's little brother Nathan and the birthday boy

Later, Joanne came over to sit with Payton and Gracie (who were in bed well before most of our guests arrived) while the rest of us headed to the bar.

Nicki and Tiff

Shelley and Ryan

Taunia (my sister-in-law, Nathan's fiance), Tiffany, Shelley and I dancing around Ryan while he was singing.

Tiffany and I

Ryan singing

Nathan and Ryan singing a duet

Friday night was so much fun! It was great to be able to go out with some of our friends and celebrate Ryan's birthday. I took a ton of pictures, but didn't get any of Ryan and I together. :( I also didn't get a picture of everyone who was there.

Happy 31st Birthday Ryan!!

Look out cereal, here comes Gracie.

Last night Gracie had her first taste of rice cereal and she LOVED it! She was sucking every bit of it off of the spoon. She would lean in for more as I was taking the spoon away to get more for her.

Gracie did so well eating cereal. I can't believe how fast our littlest baby is growing up.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..

..at least at our house it is! Last Saturday Ryan put up the Christmas lights and he did such a great job!! I had to take a picture! Usually I try and help him out, whether I stand on the ladder at the highest peak or hand him lights, but this year he did it all himself, no help from anyone. And I have to say, this is the best job he's ever done in all 6 Christmas's we've lived in our house.

The house is decorated on the inside. The tree is up, but not decorated yet. Hopefully by the end of the week, I'll have everything completed.