My new years resolution this year is to blog about last year before Mari's first birthday... I'm cutting it a little close. And I've uploaded 60+ pictures for this post! It's going to be a long one!
Christmas was awesome! Our kids are at the best ages right now for this kind of stuff. They are so humble and everything excites them.
We made our yearly bird seed ornaments and decorated one of the trees outside. This tradition just isn't as much fun here in Idaho. You freeze your buns off trying to decorate the darn thing and then you never see any birds. The dogs enjoyed eating them though.
The kids made gingerbread houses for the first time ever. They were pretty excited about it.
Mari learned how to reach stuff and make big messes....
Ryker's binky mysteriously got a crack in it. You'll have to ask his dad how that really happened, but here is what he thinks happened:
He was a little sad the first night without it, but he's done way better then I thought he would have with it gone.
The kids got to open up one present on Christmas Eve... homemade Christmas jammies!
Mari was so cute, she was holding up her jammies like she was trying to show them off.
Cookies and milk for Santa
Christmas!
I mostly just used the video camera, so I don't have a lot of pictures Christmas morning, but here is Mari playing with her favorite toy she got from her Aunt Alissa
The day after Christmas we packed up our belongings for our trip to California. Ryker was ready to go decked out in all his new attire: BYU beanie, 49ers shirts, and Mario backpack filled with Christmas toys. The Mario backpack used to be a large shirt that my sister gave the kids a couple years ago to some day grow into. I decided to take the shirt and turn it into a backpack. Ryker has always felt a little sad that Brodie had a backpack for school and he didn't have one, so now he has his own backpack and he is a happy kid!
Ryker helping Nana feed the birds. His exact quote was, "MOM! Nana is letting me hold mice! This is Awesome!" Only in my family.
We had a second little Christmas at my parents house. The boys of course were thrilled again.
The next day we drove down to Oakland to visit Grandpa Parmelee. Stretching on the way there.
Grandpa LOVED meeting Mari for the first time. She really seemed to enjoy his company too.
The boys loved the view from Grandpa's window and hanging out with Uncle Steve.
One of the main activities was hot tubbing. The boys loved it and annoyingly asked to go in it all the time.
We took the kids up to the lake and to the nature center. Northern California is going through a drought right now, so the lake was really low. The weather was beautiful though!
Bo and his Grandpa took the boys to Gray Lodge to look at all the ducks.
We had a campfire one night and roasted hot dogs and sausage for dinner.
Here is Brodie at the top of Sycamore Hill. My old stomping grounds.
Brodie is such a great little hiker!
Mari got the cutest little outfit from her namesake.
Daddy trying to take a nap, but Mari wouldn't have it.
My sister also had her bridal shower while we were there. It was a tea party theme and it was really beautiful.
Mari offered to drive some of the way back to Idaho. How thoughtful!
A little hide n go seek in the hotel anyone?
We found our home in good shape when we got home... other then a mouse infestation! I would have never known, except they decided to try to build a nest in my potted plant next to my sink! Gross!
And this girl is almost 1! I can't believe it. Her whole first year I wished over and over again that time would just slow down, but of course it doesn't.
I can't get enough of her! She is too precious!
And my New Year Resolution is done - Yay!
