A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas morning began with Christmas Breakfast, which this year was Monkey Bread and milk. This was my first time ever making it, so please ignore the one burnt piece and focus on the rest. It was delicious! I'm not sure it was worth the inch long 2nd degree burn mark i got on the top of my hand trying to get the darn thing out though.


Here's our Christmas tree at 8:00 am. Presents were only under the tree for about 10 hours out of the entire month. Up until Christmas Eve after Courtney had gone to bed, they were all sitting on the kitchen table before so she couldn't tear into them.

Here's our stockings. The first thing Courtney did when she came downstairs was shout, "BABY!" and run for her stocking, and pulled out her baby and brought it to me. Too cute ; ) Oh...i got a new mirror in mine because just days before Courtney shattered my old one.

Courtney and Daddy putting together her new puzzle.

Courtney and Momma with her new doll.

Everything meant for her babies is (in her eyes) meant for her, too!

After presents at our house, we headed out to Menan.

Here's Melina, Jazzy, Miriam, Shay, and Courtney...trying to pry Shay's new baby out of it's box.

Doug and Mallena back from Philadelphia, and it's about time, too! And nope, you didn't find Waldo, that's Troy.

Here's me...just to prove I was there.

And here's Oma.

Shay was laying on the floor, so Courtney decided she wanted to, too.

Melina made these matching pajamas for all the grandkids. Aren't they so adorable?

Courtney thinks so!

After Menan we went and visited Jeremy's dad, Rob. After Rob's house we went to his mom's house and had Christmas dinner then opened presents. Chad and Spenser got her this baby high chair. She loves it!

She also loved rocking babies in this little rocking cradle. This kept her occupied for the longest time. Jeremy will have to make her her own sometime.

This is the day after Christmas. Courtney wanted to look at pictures on the camera (she's obsessed with pictures of herself) and take pictures.

Oma got this baby stroller for Courtney. This is what it is suppose to be used for.

This is what it's been used for lately. She's discovered that the cradle part comes out and transforms into a ride for her. And you better go fast enough and long enough or she screams bloody murder. She cries when you stop and laughs when you go. We do laps around the living room/kitchen/hallway. I suppose it's a good way to burn off the holiday pounds ; )

And here's my new piano! Well, it's new to me. My mom got my dad a grand piano for Christmas and asked me if i wanted their old one. It looks silly where it's at now, but that's where it's staying for now until we finish the wood floors underneath. (why move heavy furniture twice?)

I hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas!

Nativity

Courtney colored her nativity scene all by herself! well, i helped with the stars, but i was very proud of her.

Here is the majority of our primary. It's very small, but they sure were cute all dressed up as the nativity scene. Courtney's not in the picture, but her baby doll found it's way in ; )

Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are shining tonight, these are a few pictures shot just down my street. Very Cool ; )

Silly Courtney

As I recall, it was either Devin or Troy who, when we were younger, would stick red christmas lights up his nose and we'd all call him Rudolph. I guess it must run in the Ricks genes, because here's Courtney sticking an ornament up her nose...as well as poptarts, goldfish crackers, and of course her finger.

Here she is helping Daddy paint. It was so adorable, she sat on his lap for probably 1/2 hour just dipping the paint brush in the water, then running it over the paper towel. She was completely fascinated. Looks like she may be getting water colors for Christmas ; )

The Best Part of Wal Mart

It's Begining To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Today is the first day that it has actually felt like Christmas time. We have SNOW!!! i'm very excited because it just doesn't seem like Christmas when you can do your Christmas shopping wearing only a light jacket and flip flops.

View out our front window.

Courtney enjoyed watching Daddy shovel snow this afternoon.

Present Preview

For some odd reason, Courtney has a fetish with wrapping things around her neck. She came down the stairs the other morning with Jeremy's sock wrapped around her neck, she's constantly pulling clothes out of her hamper, wrapping them around her neck, then discarding them wherever she so chooses, anything will do, she even wraps her coat around her neck, then prances around like it's a fancy feather boa. So for Christmas I got her two dress up boas...and of course she got her hands on them...and wrapped them around her neck, before I could wrap them. At least I know she'll like them (notice the thumbs up in the first picture) ; )

Christmas Cookies

Brigham, Courtney, and Jaz helped me make sugar cookies today. Brigham's favorite was the candy cane, Jaz's favorite was the "princess" (angel), and Courtney just wanted to eat the dough.

"Priiy"

Courtney's newest word is pretty. Only it comes out minus the t's, so it's more like priiy. But it's still adorable! Every morning we go downstairs and plug in the tree and she says "Priiy!" Also, doesn't she look so priiy in her new dress? (thanks jaz!) I'm sure you've noticed that the bottom half of the tree isn't decorated. For all those out there who have or have had little ones, you know exactly why ; )

Thanksgiving

Melina got Courtney this "Little Turkey" onesie for her birthday. It's stinkin cute!

She also hosted Thanksgiving this year, and went totally all out. She even made prime rib and ham to go with the turkey and her sweet potato surprise is the best thing i've ever tasted. aaaah yummmm..... The table was beautifully decorated and everything on it was delicious...except for the jello salad i was assigned...it turned out to be more of a jello fudge than a salad...who knew you were suppose to "whip" the whip cream? well, now I know for next year. (assuming they dare assign me anything next year).

Courtney went to town with her thanksgiving plate. I've never seen her eat so much corn and rolls! Apparently Melina cooks better than I do, because Courtney loved it!

The guys (and Katy) went downstairs and watched Wall E while Melina, Mom, and I did a Christmas puzzle upstairs.

Courtney was fascinated with everything on Melina's fridge. Or maybe she's trying to get into it for leftovers.

After eating at Melina's, we went to Jeremy's mom's house to...yep, eat again! It's amazing how much Jeremy can eat without getting full, jeez! I made Dawn pose for a picture so I would have one of her for the blog and scrapbook. haha ; )

Here's Jeremy's aunt, uncle, and cousin.. diane, wesley, and i'm drawing a blank on her husband's name..which is going to drive me crazy until i remember it...

Mmmm...pie... no matter how stuffed you are, there's always room for pie.

After eating at Dawn's house, we went back out to Melina's to watch the new Indiana Jones movie.

We hung out in the living room while waiting for Devin and Katy to come back.

Here they are... I wonder if that's what Jeremy and I look like..him so tall and me so short! Of course, Katy's legs are bent and she's leaning downward, so they don't normally look quite that funny! Oma and Jaz

Once everyone had come back, we played Thanksgiving Bingo... here's Melina explaining the rules. The winner gets a gift certificate to Applebees! And here's Jeremy being not-so-subtle with his finger. Apparently he'd been doing that all day in all the pictures.

Courtney helped me play...by eating the crayons. mmm.....

Jeremy marking off his bingo card

I won! Looks like we're going to Applebees for dinner soon!

Brigham loves Courtney... or, atleast he loves to chase her around and give her squeezes.

Here's Baby Jakey. He's such a cutie.

I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving!