Happy Birthday Grandma!

Today, is my Grandma Bev's birthday!  She would have been 84 years old.  She passed away almost 3 years ago.  I miss her oh so much!  We wanted her to know that we were thinking about her today and remembered that it was her special day.  So we picked up some pink balloons (her FAVORITE color) and sent them up to her in Heaven!  My kids are sure that she got them!

Blakley was giggling  when she let the balloons go.

"Happy Birfday Grandma Beb!"

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Who's that?

Jacob Marley is that you?

Nah, it's just Grandpa Tom.

He just finished sanding our walls downstairs.

We are finally finishing our basement!!

A room at a time.

Maybe by 2020 we will be done:)

Ringin' in the New Year

We spent our New Year's Eve with some (but not all) of our favorite people.

Family

Food

Karaoke Singing

and tons of laughing:)

What else would we do on this big night???

Shane and Em went out so we were lucky enough to have Benson and Brooks to help us celebrate!  Silly Boys!

Jessica, Tanner and his bestie Carson

Take off all Christmas ornaments.  Throw on some balloons, masks, bead necklaces, and noisemakers and VOILA! Our New Years Celebration tree!    

 I *HEART* these girls!

I *HEART* these boys!

And it wouldn't be a party without FUNNY faces! right?

 Look at those muscles!

Bring on 2012!

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