Our Happy Little Life

Christmas Preparations and Fun!!

There is a lot of catching up and a lot of new posts below. I am sorry for the overload of posts, but we have been busy since halloween. We have recently been busy with preparations for Christmas. This is one of my favorite times of year. The chill in the air (as much as San Antonio allows), the sights, smells, and the feelings of it are just amazing and make me feel overwhelmed with love and joy! Here are a few of the holiday goings on down here in Texas and I am sure there will be more to come in the coming week.

Happy Holidays to everyone from Reid and Avarie

We made Santa hats the other day and they have enjoyed wearing them

Apple cider and cookies after decorating the Christmas tree

Adorable kids

Decorated tree

One of my all time favorite Christmas traditions is making gingerbread (graham cracker) houses. This year we decided to make some like every other year and this was the result.

Reids house assisted by me

Shingles on the roof. It is hard to see but on the frosting snow there are sparkly sprinkles to make the snow shimmer.

Avarie's So fun to do this with her this year she is really getting a hold of the excitement and fun of this season.

Avarie's

Here are a few of the adult projects that have happend around here. These are the kids count downs for Christmas. Derrick cut them out and I painted them and put the nails in to hold the lifesavers

Avarie's

Reid's

Here are the stockings I have sewn and ebroidered for the kids. I am currently working on Derrick's and will hopefully finish before Christmas eve Ha ha

Reid's

Avarie's dancing sugar plum fairy. I thought it was very fitting for our little ballerina

We wish you a very merry christmas and hope your holiday season is full of love and joy and that we all remember what Christmas is really about. Our Savior Jesus Christ!!

Visit to the Fire Station and Sissor Incident

This is just a random picture of Avarie's new haircut. She decided one day last week to cut her own hair off. I walked into my bedroom and there was hair everywhere. Here is the result. She is definitely a cutie with short hair. I would have been more angry, but I love her with shorter hair.

Ok so onto the fire station. We were able to go to the fire station recently so Reid could see the fire trucks. Casey Allred our neighbor and friend works as a paramedic for the fire department and was nice enough to come let us visit while he was at work. It was so fun to see reid so excited he could do anything.

in a fire truck

Avarie in the fire truck

Avarie, Tabitha, and Reid by the brush rigg. Thanks to the Allreds for a fun day.

Happy birthday Avarie!!!

December 2nd Avarie had her fourth birthday. I do not know where the time has gone and cannot believe it has been four years since we first saw her and held her in our arms. We are looking forward to a new a wonderful year of new adventures with our sweet little girls. This year she has learned to ride a bike, She can write her letters up to E and knows what sounds they make. She is so smart and remembers so many things even down to details. We are so blessed to have her in our family. Here are some pictures from her special day and her ballerina party that was on December 3rd.

The crib Derrick and I built equiped with the blanket and pillow her grandma Karla made to go with it.

Doll crib and high chair. High chair has still not been painted, but will be painted black after the holidays. Funny story: Avarie told us that she wanted a doll high chair and crib for her birthday, but was very specific. She told us they had to be painted black and there had to be a pink blanket and pillow. She is a girl who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to tell you.

Crib

Avarie all ready for her ballerina party in her new tutu

Decorations. There were pink silouettes of dances all over the walls of the living room. It was so fun to have everything pink and girly

More silouettes. Balloons were also covering the ceiling

open her presents from her very sweet little friends

Ballerina cupcakes for her party

blowing out the candle

ballerina craft

ballerinas dancing with their ribbon wands

Thanksgiving

This year for thanksgiving we went over to our frinds The Allreds and had it with them and Charly's Parents. It was such a wonderful day with tons of great food and friends!!! My pictures are not the best because they are just with my phone, but you will get the idea.

Pecan pie

Reid was so worn out from having fun with his little friend Tabitha that he fell asleep during dinner

Yes he fell asleep with his finger stuck in his roll

The 30lb turkey that sat in a brine! it was the most amazing tasting turkey I have had! Charly is an amazing cook!

Here is the beautiful and amazing tangerine cake she made

Kids playing

Reid Chillin'

Avarie and her friend Mckayla coloring

Avarie and Mckayla again

Indoor Campout

In November we had an indoor campout and roasted marshmallows here are a few pictures from our adventure.

I just thought this was a cool picture. Avarie and daddy roasting marshmallows.

Derrick very proud of his perfect marshmallow

Reid trying a marshmallow

camping out in the tent in the living room

Trunk or Treat

On the 29th we had our ward trunk or treat. The kids had a great time. They had a chili contest, costume contest, activities for the kids. It was so fun!

Reid coloring

Fishing for a prize

Before the trunk or treat in the cute costumes

PB and Jelly

The whole peanut butter and jelly family

Derrick and I the bread with the PB and Jelly spread on them.

Avarie and Reid the Jars of PB and Jelly

Cutest Peanut butter I have ever seen

Randolph AFB Airshow

Our halloween this year was on the 29th, which was when our ward was having their trunk or treat. That morning we went to the Airshow that they were having at Randolph AFB. It was such a beautiful day and the kids had so much fun getting to see all of the planes and going inside some of them.

Reid chilling on the grass pointing our the parachuters