Christmas Galore...

Finally catching up on my blog...... Way over due!

Guess better late than never:)

December: one word CRAZY!

Every year, I say I'm going to be really for Christmas by Thanksgiving so we can just have fun in December and yet it NEVER happens!  This year was no different.

We started a new tradition in our home this year. We jumped aboard the "Elf on the Shelf" train!  Can I just say how much my kids LOVED this tradition.  They would get up in the morning and try to be the first to find "Corky."  

Ward Christmas Party with Santa.....unfortunately I only got a picture of Blakley on his lap.  She sure is SUPER cute though!  She LOVES him!

To make December even crazier let's throw in quick knee surgery...

Estimated recovery time: 3-4 days off my knee

Actual recovery time: 2 weeks off knee

It was worse than they thought when they got in there. 

Go big or go home, right? lol

Before:

After:

My kids got invited to their first Polar Express party!

My cute niece, Lela threw a fun party for all her cousins. 

Pajamas, golden tickets, hot chocolate, cookies.... the whole shebang!

Thanks Le! They had a BLAST!

Annual Lavin Christmas Party

We LIVE for this one every year!

Tradition I hope we never lose....

Christmas Eve Jammies


Can't forget cookies and milk for Santa!
Think we got enough????

Right before Santa's visit......

After....

Christmas has come and gone in our home.
And once again we were all spoiled.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Santa's Comin to town.....

For the last several years, we have gone to see Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the city hall.  Kind of a kick off to the holiday season! The kids are always so excited to watch Santa and Mrs. Claus's arrive on the firetruck. This year was no different.  We all bundled up for a fun night with our family and friends!

I love my man.....

 

I love this picture!!

Look at Carter and Brooks hugging each other. Best Buddies!

Blakley was so excited when Santa came that she started to scream and clap! It was fun to watch her get that excited:)  I secretly think my dad wanted to scream and clap too!  Two peas in a pod.

Em and Adam

 Brooks, Benson and Ally

 Bentley and Kenli

 Sad we didn't move Tanner for this picture.

 Hayley and Max

Jackson, Dylan and Alex

Pure Love

Oh how I LOVE this little girl!

She is the BEST little mommy to her many baby dolls!

Don't let that adorable face trick you....she still can be a little stink bug occasionally!  But she is MY little stink bug!  Love you Blakley

xoxo

Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving morning, Grandma Terra invited the kids over to make their own pumpkin pies. They get to roll out the dough, fill the dishes with the pumpkin filling and then use cookies cutters to make shapes in the leftover pie crust to top the pie off.  Fun for all the kids, including Blakley!  This year, Tanner asked Carson to come along.  

This is a tradition that my kids look forward to every year.

Thanks Grandma Terra!

And then came the BIG dinner at my parents house!!!

I think my mom lives for this holiday! HAHA

Two things my mom hates: Cooking and Turkey

So you can just imagine how much she loves Thanksgiving, but she still does dinner for us!

Only wish I would have taken my camera. 

Good thing Wends and Em did!

Cute lil' Bentley all bundled up riding the scooter.

Another thing my mom LOVES her picture being taken:)
We almost got her to look in this one!

Old Enough Really????

 First of all, November 23rd and no signs of snow or winter for that matter.  REALLY???  Crazy Weather! The trees are just barely losing their leaves.  In fact, we had to shake them to get the last of the leaves off tonight. lol  Tanner pulled the lawn mower out so we could mow one last time for the year.  (I think he just didn't want to help rake the leaves up by hand. Funny boy!)  Troy really wanted to learn how to mow the lawn like Tanner, so tonight his daddy taught him.  What a good daddy!  Troy was so proud of his work!  We have another pro mower in the family!!  Now what can we teach Carter to do??? lol
 

Grandma Terra's B-day!!!

It's my sweet mother-in-law's birthday!

She turned the BIG 60 but doesn't look a day over 40.

LUCKY!!!

She is such a GORGEOUS person inside and out!

We are going to celebrate her birthday this weekend with the whole family but still wanted her day to be special.  We showed up at her door tonight with balloons and a bag filled with her favorite treats! SURPRISE!  She was super happy to see the kids.

Terra is such an AMAZING mom/grandma!  There isn't anything that she wouldn't do for her kids/grandkids.  We are pretty LUCKY to have her in our lives.  We love her to death!

Happy Birthday Grandma Terra!