Christmas 2011

This year we spent Christmas with Tyler's family. It was the first time in 2 years that everyone has been together! Crazy! It was so good to see everyone and spend time with everyone! It was fun to see Addelyn interact with her cousin Kennedy. They played fairly well together, considering Kennedy is 1 1/2 years younger. We played games, ate, laughed, talked, saw a movie, went bowling, and enjoyed each others company. What a great Christmas break! I have a TON of pictures. Oh, we also had an Ugly Sweater Party/White Elephant Gift Exchange with the extended family that was in town and celebrated Grandma B's birthday. It was a blast and so fun to see what everyone came up with for Ugly Sweaters.


The whole gang!






The winners! Mary and Cameron.





















Christmas Eve breakfast at Denny's.




The yummy food!


Pretty table.


Opening Christmas Eve Jammies! Matchy, matchy! :)











Christmas Morning!!!



This is what Addy did while everyone else opened their presents.






I just wanted to put all three of these in here because it was my main surprise present for Tyler. I bought him a new watch! He LOVED it! I'm so glad because he is pretty picky about his watches (he's had the same one for like 10 years!) You can see when he opened it he had no clue what it was...


Oh.... cool!


I like it!!




















Addy playing with her train from Christmas.


"THE H" is me! I got second place... best I've ever bowled!!!

Zoo Lights

Last night we went to Zoo Lights, with the Jacksons. It was amazing! It was our first year doing it and it was so awesome! I'm so glad we found the time to go! Addelyn loved the lights and riding the train. She kept shouting out the colors of the Christmas lights and saying "scary lights"... I don't think she quite knew what word to use. I tried telling her they were pretty, not scary. :)

Horseys and Santa

Last weekend we had a little pre-Christmas fun. Addy got to open one present, her best one. :) It was her kitchen! We didn't want to haul it to Hermiston and back, so she got to open it early. She played with it ALL day! She was using the Styrofoam, from the packaging, for chocolate chip cookies. Then we went to Jantzen Beach to ride the carousel and see Santa, with our friends, the Jacksons. The girls had tons of fun on the carousel, but Santa was no where to be found. We then made the trek to the Lloyd Center and found him! Addelyn told Santa she wanted a "cane candy" for Christmas. Easy to please! :)

Two and a Half Years Old!

Tomorrow Addelyn will be 2 1/2. It amazes that at the small age of 2 1/2 she already knows sooo much! I just love her. I love watching her play and seeing how her little mind works. I really need to take more pictures of her.

~Addelyn loves being able to open the fridge and help herself to whatever she wants.
~She HAS to walk up and down the stairs to our apartment (3 flights) unaided.
~We're down to using her binky at naps and nighttime!
~When she has to go potty and doesn't want to stop playing she does a little dance by sticking her bum out.
~She loves her baby. Since I've been watching Brinn, Addy will tuck her baby into bed, rock her to sleep, feed her, etc.
~She loves pretend playing with her princesses. She makes them talk to each other and play with each other.
~LOVES going to dance class. She asks me at least once a day if we're going to dance class.
~She's a super good eater. This morning for breakfast she had 7 snack size peppers and a yogurt.
~Addy sings songs to herself and talks to herself ALL day long. Yesterday, she was washing her hands in the bathroom and I heard her singing "I Love to See the Temple". So cute!
~Is excited about Christmas. This year the holidays have been so much more fun, now that she understands them better.
~Whenever she sees a group of people standing together she says "OH!!! My friends!!!!" and gets all excited.
~When she gets excited she sticks her pointer finger out!
~Loves to read and color.
~I am beginning to realize how much she really is paying attention to EVERYTHING we do. She will randomly do or say something that surprises me and then I realize that it's something I had done earlier in the day.
~Loves dressing herself, in mismatched clothes.

It was 43 degrees out and this is how she dressed herself. At least it kind of matches!

Four Wonderful Days!

My parents came to visit for a glorious 4 days! It was sunny EVERY day they were here, which, let's be honest, never happens in the winter in Portland. We rode the tram up to the school and had lunch with Tyler, attended Addelyn's dance recital (the real reason they came), went to the coast, ate at Mo's, played games, talked, had a mommy/daughter lunch date, and just enjoyed being with each other. Addelyn absolutely loved the attention she received from her Nana and Papa R. I think she might have been putting on a show for them 80% of the time they were here. :) It was fun to have my parents all to ourselves... I'm not sure that has happened before and it was just nice to sit back and relax.








Awful picture of me, but cute of Addy. She calls the tram a robot. The whole ride up she was sooo excited and kept screaming about the robot!

First Dance Recital

Addelyn has been in a dance class this fall. It has been super fun watching her. Contrary to this video, she does really well! They had their first dance recital Friday. All the girls looked so cute in their little costumes. It was very fun to watch. Only problem... Addy didn't dance one step of the routine. haha Oh well! I think she had fun anyway.