Joey Turns 6!

So our Joseph turned 6 this weekend!  Woohooo!  I can't believe it has been 6 years since we came home from the birth center with this little guy in our arms.  He is such a sweetheart! 

But he can sure be a silly kiddo too!  He loves to make people laugh and he LOVES to tell stories! (Just like his dad!)  Joey is very creative and imaginative.  He can create things with legos and have a full story to go along with it, including background details!  We love him with all our heart and are so grateful that Heavenly Father has sent him to our family! 

To start out Joey's birthday weekend, we brought donuts to his kindergarten class and they celebrated there with him!  

His teacher Mrs. Williams is super nice and made him feel very special!

Then the next day was his actual birthday!  We had a movie/pizza family night and he ripped open some very fun presents!  Thanks everyone!

The operation...opening the boxes! :)

Dave and I made him some arrows with a little holders for them to go with his bow and arrow set.  We were so grateful it turned out! :)

Then that Sunday, the day after Joey's big day, we had a family party for him at our house. Dad made a delicious dinner of mashed potatoes and hamburger gravy---Mmmm!  And I can't believe we made it as far as after dinner for Joey to open his presents, but somehow he did.  I sadly didn't get many pictures.  But everyone spoiled him and he loved his presents!  Thank you again!

Then it was Cupcake time!  He requested Chocolate cupcakes with min frosting.  And then he chose the colors of the frosting and the style I used to decorate them.   He had a wonderful birthday filled with lots of love!  

We love our Joey!

Christmas Bells are Ringing

Christmas morning!  Gotta be the best morning of the year right? Ellie was super excited, it being her first one ever!  She thought the presents tasted delicious! :)

And that popcorn decoration was SOOO tempting!  

Abby digging in!

Dave got some fun gifts too...from his awesome wifey! :)

Ding!  Isn't she adorable?!

But when it comes to opening presents...it's serious business!  

Abby loves to help me in the garden.  So she got some fun seeds packets and gardening tools!

The Joe-ster!

Dave got me an awesome game that has been on my wishlist for years!  Super excited!

GOT IT!!  She had her some breakfast! 

Yu--ums!!

Abby got her scooter this year!!  

My brother Sam stayed the night with us Christmas Eve.  So we got to have him with us Christmas morning! It was such a treat!

I was trying to get a good shot of Ellie for her Christmas ornament...that's why I have a million shots of her.  Helps that she's simply adorable eh?

Here's the doll I got for Christmas! ;)

Ta-da!  The End! 

Christmas Eve and Talent Show Galore

Christmas Eve is a favorite holiday celebration for me.  I love the excitement of Christmas Day coming and the talent show tradition.  And... The Feast! Man my dad can cook!  Yu-uhm!

Then right on to the Talent show fun!  Abby whistled a song for us. :)

Jen & Heather did a cup game demo.  Super fun!

Joey showed his sword fight skills with Dave.

Dave played the trombone for us  (he just recently picked up.)  Then Abby tried to play.  :)

I juggled like an amateur.  Then Nik juggled like a complete PRO!!  :)

Then the aunts gave Abby and Joey presents!  They were tickled happy to get to open something early!  :)  Thanks you guys!  

Christmas Baking Day

We did a fun baking day this year.  It was so fun!  We all brought ingredients to make 1 or 2 Christmas treats to our house.  Then we each got to take some of everything home.  It was BRILLIANT!  Our house smelled AmaZinG!!

We made chocolate Christmas suckers and bites too.  And painted some even to be all detailed!  

Here's Abby & Joey diving into one of the suckers they made! MMmmmm!

Thankful for Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day at our house is one of my favorite days!  I love everything about it.  I love the smells, the tastes, the fun, the games, the feeling.  But mostly, the people. This is the last Thanksgiving that we had Grandma Larsen with us.  She looks so bright and alive and beautiful here.  And that is exactly how I hope we can all remember her!  

Jen playing with the kiddos of course!  Having a ball!

"Hmm, I could eat me some finger, I mean turkey right about now!" 

Sam was wiped out...and this is before we ate I think too!  Holiday=sleep day for some.

Grandma helping prep the napkins. It was so neat to have her with us!

Daddy-o carving the beast!!

Dave's plate.  Just kidding!

Jen is ready!!

At the table and ready to feast!

I am so thankful for my family!  We have so much fun together. I love just having a day where we can lounge and hang out together.  

Love them.

Joey, Des and Nik hanging out.

"Where's the PIE??!!??"

Always end with pie....or start with it.  haha!  Had to make sure it wasn't disgusting!  I have no faith in my homemade pumpkin pie. Yet, every year I keep trying. Someday i'll be good at it.  For now, I am still so grateful for pie!!!