Play Time & Visitors

Over the last couple of days we've been busy playing with Natalie's new toys...

Nathan says she is being Frannie here, driving & talking on the phone...

she's such a talented girl!

She has become a jumping pro the last couple days...

Onto our visitors, Emily & Ethan (our family friends from Minnesota) are in town for the week so they came over for supper last night, 1st time meeting Natalie!

And Ethan doesn't like holding babies...he looks like a pro here!

Wish Emily lived closer, she'd be a great babysitter!

Can't believe it's the end of yet another busy week!

We are onto Nathan's parents' house for the weekend for our finally Christmas

so "Happy New Year", a little early.

This past year was a great year for us with some many changes,

can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for our family!

Christmas @ Mom's

Sunday morning which was Christmas morning we headed to

Gary & Mom's house for a very fun Christmas get together. 

It was a day full of eating, laughing, gift opening and much more!

Here's Carson and Frannie trying out the new "kids' table" that Frannie got...

Frannie helping Natalie open her present, what could it be?

It's a jumper, thanks for putting it together so quickly Daddy...

Onto Carson's turn, what did you get?

Natalie helping Daddy open his gifts...

Smile girls!

Who would have thought....Carson "HOT" at Gpa Gary's & Frannie's house?

Carl gets a new Bengals shirt, no way?

Onto another gift for Carson...

And look at this happy couple...

Us girls and our new baby equipment...

Kasey loves her pickles...

Chris looking through his "goodies" basket....

Onto our "stockings" which aren't in stockings anymore,

we have upgraded to totes now...

After opening gifts we had brunch together, even G & G Larson joined us...

Natalie trying out the new kids' table & chairs, she thinks she is "BIG" stuff...

After Natalie's LONG nap she got to open the rest of her presents,

Aunt Angie is helping her open up her new toy!

We are still trying to find places for all her new toys,

this is just some of the fun things she got on Sunday....

Natalie enjoying some cuddle time with her new fleece blanket from Aunt Angie...

I feel like I live at Toys R Us now!

WOW! 

What a great extra long weekend we had which included lots of fun family time!  We have one last Christmas get together left which will be this upcoming weekend at Nathan's parents' house. 

Thanks to all our family & friends for making Natalie's 1st Christmas so special,

it will be a Christmas we will never forget!

Love you all!

Our Lil' Family Christmas!

Saturday Morning we got up and had "our lil' family christmas" 

which started out with stockings...

And then onto gifts...

Natalie and her new inchworm...

Smile Daddy & Natalie...

Our 1st Christmas as a family of 3...

We had a great day together, which includes some cleaning, naps and then an evening at Aplington Baptist Church as we attended their Christmas Eve service!

The Famous Christmas Bread

Yesterday Nathan and I made Grandma Sally's famous Christmas Bread and I think it turned out pretty good, can't wait to enjoy some later this morning as we celebrate Christmas at Mom & Gary's house.

 

It's such a fun treat for me to make this bread as it reminds me of all the times Grandma Sally would make us Christmas bread year after year, it's was such a special treat.  She would always get up bright & early on Christmas morning and make it and then deliver it to us after we opened out Christmas presents.  

Just a few years ago Grandma taught me how to make this famous bread, still learning all the "secrets" but I think I'm doing pretty good!

This is how it starts out.... 

Mixing up the good stuff...

Nathan was my special helper, he got the job of rolling out the bread!

Next step, pinching the dough together after I've added the gooey stuff...

Here's the bread ready to go into the oven...

Just about done...

And here's the finished product, with some extra sprinkles!

Well we are off to another Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas at Dad's

Yesterday late afternoon we traveled out to my Dad's house for our Christmas. 

Here is Natalie getting a little nap in before all the fun begins...

Carson found Chris' nap rather quickly...especially since he was sitting close to the snakcs - chips including chip dip!

 

Natalie and Grandpa hung out during supper...

We snacked, ate supper and then headed into the living room to play....

Time to jump on Uncle Chris...

Carson and Carl playing with Natalie...

Onto opening presents, here is Carson opening Natalie's Christmas present,

what a "BIG" helper he was...

Nathan and Carl opening a gift...

Mommy and Natalie hanging out...

Carson and his blocks, which were a "BIG" hit...

Carson playing with his new puzzle...

Natalie's turn to open a present...

 

Time to play with Uncle Chris...

Snuggle time with Aunt Angie...

Sometimes I think Carson would be just as happy with a box, who needs toys?

And our candy bar story, Ang & I wrote a fun candy story for Grandpa Mike...

Christmas isn't complete without a tractor....

Want to make your tower higher, find a box & Uncle Nathan...

 

Finally crashed out, this is what happens after a night of fun...



Onto more Christmas fun tonight and tomorrow!