Hallie's 3rd birthday

Hallie turned 3!! 

 I had so much fun planning a pink princess party that I knew would be a hit with her.  I couldn't pick just one princess, so we went with ALL of them.   

When the girls showed up they got a crown (homemade and not as cute as the pinterest version) and then a wand.

The table was spread with food and goodies and the girls were excited about it.  

We danced to princess songs using our wands.

We played 'Follow the princess' from a DVD of princess games

They guest colored a bit

We played kiss the frog although most of our guest opted for the lipstick and REAL kiss version rather than the lips I printed.

The girls mixed together glittery princess putty.

Opening presents was a highlight.  Hallie is so easy to please... anything girly, pink or princess she LOVES.

 Mariah crawled around the mess of girls and had a great time in the chaos too!

The kids made food "Wands" with ham, cheese, grape tomatos and chunks of bread.  We also had grahamn crackers with cream cheese and strawberries, pink punch (with sparkly rimmed cups), watermelon and strawberries.

Cake time!!

Each kid picked a princess cupcake topper they were excited about.  I love the cone cupcakes since there are no wrappers all over the place.  SO much easier for the kids and the cleaner :)

We are so glad Hallie has so many friends so close by! We love having play groups and park days and so much fun with everyone!  Thanks for coming!

P.S. I got most of my ideas from my pinterest board here

12 on the 12th (January)

1. My new resolutions of getting up by 6 and exercising 5 X a week.
2. Packing lunches for my hubby and my son... all while making breakfast for 5.   Mornings are always a crazy busy time.
3.  Seeing Mariah in the morning is the highlight.
4.  Love my roses from Dave.  He is sweet and sensitive and gives so much to our marriage.  So lucky to have him.
5.  Mariah following me around the house whining.  Although she is usually a calm, contented baby, she has been fussy and needy for the last week  with a cold,  So sad to hear her whine.
6.  Hallie nap time.  She actually slept today!  I love her bedding and I love the time to read with her.
7.  Mariah got 2 shots.  so sad, but she stopped crying pretty quickly.  I am not afraid of vaccines like many in our society today are.  I think the protection from horrendous diseases is worth a small and short prick.
8.  Hallie also had her 3-year-old check up.  She is healthy and perfect!
9.  I am always packing (or unpacking) for something and this weekend we get to go to Hawaii for 5 days!!  I am so excited, but have alot of work to do.
10.  My notecards of chores to complete today.  Being sick and doing Hallie's party last week has me WAY behind, so I spent playgroup cleaning like a crazy lady.  I love the cards to keep me focused.  I love to put them away and see my progress throughout the day.
11.  After school homework help.  We come up with creative ways to do spelling so Jackson will be willing to do it.  It is getting more and more difficult to get him to do homework.   Today, he made the argument that he doesn't need to do it because he already knows it all.  This is true... and yet, I still think it is important to do it.
12.  Chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles.  I doubled it and made dinner for my cousin who was sick today. The kids ate it well, which doesn't happen often so I am happy!

Christmas

Christmas Eve started with the first present of PJs.  Princess, super hero and soft fuzzy feet-ies for M.  The kids were thrilled with their stomper slippers as well.  We enjoyed the Nativity re-enactment as well as family time talking about Jesus and the importance of his birth to us. 

That night the stockings were filled and Santa came to our house.

M loved a new walker and can even take many steps with it!

Hallie was thrilled with TWO cinderella dolls and lots of girly accessories. (as well as the nightgown she asked for)

Jackson got a leappad which occupied every travel second since.  He also loved a giant lego set, a knight costume (so he can save the princess). Both kids also got bikes, which they enjoy in the beautiful weather here.

I got a new phone which actually takes good photos and has some awesome features.  Dave got luggage, work clothes, a home-made Hawaii calendar and shoes. 

We had a wonderful Christmas!  So happy and blessed this year.  

Christmas activities

We did many Christmas tradtitions and thoroughly enjoyed the holidays.  We went to a boat parade of lights one night with friends.  It was a bit nerve-racking when the thrown candy was floating in a lake and the kids were trying to get it, but luckily, no one fell in.  We visited some houses to watch the lights play to the music. The kids loved dancing in the 'snow'(foam bubbles)

  

Santa stopped in for a quick visit!

Hallie had a Christmas party with her playgroup friends.  We made a few crafts, played some games and had a little gift exchange.  I love that she has friends she enjoys and looks forward to.

We went to the Bass Pro shop to see Santa and enjoy their displays.

Mariah even enjoyed the carosel

No one was crying at Santa (although Hallie was close, but we promised her a Candy Cane)

Hallie and I went on a date to see Frozen with some girl friends.  It was such a good show and nice to have time one-on-one with my girl. 

My best friend came to Mesa for the holidays and I got to spend some time with her.  We went to the train museum and rode the carousel 

This time Mariah knew how to hold on.

Jackson loved looking at the train village with a bunch of friends.

Mariah lost a shoe out of the train ride (and I may have lost a kid for a while as well, but both are safe and found). 

Christmas Eve dinner with just our family.  We loved having family time and anticipating Christmas.  

Christmas day in another post.  We had Christmas morning and left the house at 9:30 to catch a flight to Utah.  We spent most of our time with the Harpers since Gma and Gpa will be on a mission next year and the WHOLE family was in town for the first time in years.   So much fun with Cousins and aunts and uncles.  

I realized how much I love arizona and dislike the cold, but I did brave it for one morning to go sledding (in which EVERYONE got hurt).  Mariah was stoic and interested in looking around.  She is such a good sport to do anything. 

Sledding did end well (although I had a hurt ankle for days).  So I'm thankful the kids at least got to see the enjoyable parts of snow.