{Winter Party}

InvitationsSign-in (with 15 girls, I needed cell phone numbers on hand).For the party I baked 115 mini cupcakes (many, not pictured, went to neighbors). On Friday I decorated them with my AWESOME 'BIG' Wilton decorating tip (go get one- it makes life SO easy). I also placed pearls on each cupcake with my Tweezeman tweezers (tedious, and your not surprised, right? You already know I'm crazy)!!!
I made BIG, DELICIOUS, homemade snowflake marshmallows to go in the treat bags (with cocoa) and blue and white chocolate snowflakes (always easy but cute and fun), and matching chocolate dipped pretzels.(The snowflake cookie cutter looks a lot like a star- it was all I had to use after looking at 5 stores)The 15 girls sang karaoke, danced to "Just Dance" on the Wii, and made snowflakes out of pasta which I spray painted white. It was so Winter-like!

(These photos were all recovered with Pandora Recovery. A great resource for mishaps! It was even free, unlike most out there!!!)

{Winter Break}

We had lots of fun over Winter break. We hated when it ended and look forward to summer vacation! Maisey skating with her friend Taylor. Some times it's so nice to take a friend along. Last time I skated all I could think about was breaking something if I fell.

{Sky High}

We LOVE Sky High Sports. I blogged about it before, but if you haven't gone, GO! It is great exercise and SO much fun!!! And we loved having friends go with us, the Satter's.

{New Years Slumber Party}

On New Years Maisey went to her friend Taylor's house for a slumber party. Maisey, Taylor, and Zoe Emily, Zoe, Maisey, and Taylor pampering in their masks. Thank you Cindy for letting the girls do these! I am glad everyone was rash-free afterwards!

Our friends invited us over to play games with other couples that night and after watching the ball drop at 9, we put Ry to bed and Chad and I stayed up till 2 am watching Titanic. Yes, I'd only seen it once and I had to see it again since April is the 100th anniversary. Apparently, a remake is also coming out this year.

{Christmas Part 2 & 3

Another wonderful Christmas has come and gone. We wanted it very low key, with the focus on our Savior and the real reason for the season! It was SO, SO hard not to buy the kids lots of presents (Chad and I had HUGE Christmas' growing up), but we did a great job (sticking with scrap booking, paints and canvas', Imaginex and Playmobile, the basics). Nevertheless, the kids had a wonderful holiday!Maisey LOVED her karaoke machine from Santa and the house has been quite noisy since!Excited about scrap booking supplies, paints and canvas'. This age can be really hard (once they're past toys).

I did a HORRIBLE job taking pics since we were up @ 6 for church after retiring at nearly 2:30 AM. Chad and I look a bit sleepy, but we were as giddy as the kids. I told Chad the up side to having early church on Christmas was that we would actually look "good" for pictures, I guess I was wrong since we didn't hardly get any... Usually, I am in a robe and trying to dodge the video camera!

After church we headed to my brother and sister in-laws in Wilsonville. Tradition is to head to Hood River; however, everyone wanted to try something new this year. We had a great time with great hosts!The ladies of the family (Ali, Jill, Carey, and Oma)

The grand kids (Ruby, Colby, Maisey, Peyton, and Ryley)

Chad with his favorite gift (a Chip Kelly autographed "Support the Troops" duck Jersey). I know very little about football, but apparently they wear these on the first game each season. A true duck fan. Me, I love my new knives!

{Christmas Projects}

I didn't accomplish nearly as many holiday projects this season, and I am totally bummed about that, but it just wasn't "my" season to do so!

I did manage to make these letters for my Grandma

And these canvas' for my parents and grandparentsand this silhouette necklace for my mother in-law with the 5 grandchildren. At least I got a little something done, and I plan to work on some more Christmas projects throughout the year!

{Christmas Part 1: Eugene}

We were all so excited to go to Eugene for Christmas!Ryley packed enough pj's to last beyond our 5 day trip!

He was so excited to see everyone and play with his second cousin ColdenWe also enjoyed the annual cookie decorating!It was sunny and 40 degrees out and the kids couldn't have been happier! They love playing at their Grandpa's old elementary school!Chad and I were able to go on a date to look at Christmas lights, shop, and get dessert.Lemon poppy-seed cake with lemon curd... This is on my future baking list!The kids on Christmas Eve with my sister and brotherThere was little sleeping...and a whole lot of this

but we're home now and getting caught up on things!

We arrived home after midnight on Christmas Eve- or morning rather, and mustered up the energy for the rest of the holiday festivities!