"Tis the Season

I love Christmas time!  When I pick Addelyn up from preschool or nursery I ask her what she learned about and her answer is "Baby Jesus being born!" every time.  I love that!  It's also fun to start traditions with her this year.  We got an Advent Calendar and she loves it!  She knows what day comes next and she knows that when we get to Day 21 we will be leaving for Nana R's house!  Addy loves the candy inside the doors and has enjoyed the activities.  We have gone to festival of lights, made sugar cookies, watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, went to our Church Christmas Party, made snowflakes, and have more activities coming up soon!  She knows that when Dad gets home for lunch is when she gets to open it and that is now the first thing she does when he walks in the door.  We've also started the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition.  Addelyn named our elf, his name is Fred.  She loves finding him every morning when she wakes up!  She screams, "there he is!" and then usually laughs.  It's hasn't necessarily changed her listening habits, which is what we were hoping for, but he's fun to have around any way.  Sometimes he's a bit mischievous, but not very often.

This is Addelyn and one of her new friends, Max, she loves playing with him!

 Following Santa around before he headed up to the stage. 

 She cut everyone in line and sat on his lap before I was ready to take a picture, so she got to do it twice!

 In her "Christmas sweater".

 Ready for festival of lights.  I was really impressed with it for such a small town! 

Welcome to the World Halle Paige Bendixsen

Tyler's brother Cameron and his wife, Camilla, had their second baby girl! She is so cute! Camilla will be here with both the girls in just a little over a week! Can't wait to meet her! Being an aunt is fun. Halle was born on November 26, 2012 at 10:15 pm. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and was 20.5 inches long. Congrats to Cameron, Camilla, and Kennedy on the new addition.

Thankfulness

This Thanksgiving was a great one.  I took time to really think about all that I have been blessed with and how many things I have to be thankful for.  I feel like, lately, I dwell a lot on the negative in my life, especially not being able to get pregnant.  I often forget to think about the positives and how much good there is in my life.  I have a handsome, caring, hardworking, patient, kind, loving husband and a smart, healthy, beautiful 3 1/2 year old daughter.  My husband has a job, we have a roof over our heads, we are able to spend the holidays with family, we can afford to buy Christmas presents, we have 2 cars, we have good friends, we have food on our table, we have a testimony of Jesus Christ... I could go on.  This Thanksgiving was especially fun because Addelyn totally understands the holidays and what they mean.  Thanksgiving to her means lots of turkey and that Christmas will be here soon! :)  She is so excited to go see my parents for Christmas and everyday asks me if we can go.  We got our tree this weekend and decorated it last night.  It is so much fun to watch the joy and amazement in her eyes as we explain all our Christmas traditions to her.  Bottom line, I just need to be more grateful because I have a LOT to be thankful for! 

 We watched the Thanksgiving Macy's Day Parade.  Addelyn LOVED watching it and seeing all the huge floats.

 I made amazing green bean casserole from scratch, including the shoe string onions on top (Tyler helped me with those).  No canned junk here!

 Saturday we drove out to Clickers in Walla Walla to cut down our Christmas tree with Mom and Dad B and Emery. 

Tyler didn't like our tree at first...

Saturday night we went and saw Forgotten Carols in Tri-Cities. 

 Sunday we decorated for Christmas!  Addelyn loved putting the star on top of the tree, setting up our Nativity, and clumping her "gornaments" together on the tree.  :)

Girls Weekend

Marissa, Megan, and I all happened to be in Portland on the same weekend.  Coincidence?  Probably not.  Katie still lives there and so kindly let us all hang out at her house and have a sleepover.  Great girls!  We shopped, ate out, chatted, shopped some more, and ate out even more.  It was so good to see these girls!  I love them all!  Can't wait for our next get together!

Something to Brighten Your Day

I never thought my child would be "that" child in class, especially Addelyn. She used to be so outgoing and never shy, then something changed. Not sure what. But here she is in all her glory... school pictures.

At least she gave everyone a good laugh! So glad I decided to forgo the individual picture.

Trick or Treat

Addy and I went Trick or Treating on Main with our friends Tamara and Hank. Luckily, we went right when it started and were able to hit all the stores before the massive crowds hit. I should have gotten a picture of Addy and Hank, but didn't. Of course, Addy was being shy and only said trick or treat twice. Stink pot!  Addy ran into a few things over the course of Trick or Treating because she was too busy looking at everyone's costumes! haha

Here she is checking out her Nana B, trying to stay as far away as possible. Nana B was dressed up as a witch with green face paint and all! Addelyn was very unsure about the whole thing.

After Trick or Treat on Main we stopped by Daddy's work to say hi.  Unfortunately, he was just numbing someone up and didn't have time to talk much.  After Tyler got home from work we headed over to our church Trunk or Treat and Carnival.  Addy had fun playing the games and getting more candy.

Two last stops on the way home at Grandma and Grandpa B's house and then to Nana and Papa B's house.  Papa tried on Addy's wig.  When she noticed she took it from him and then sat on it so he couldn't get it again. :)