Have a Merry Christmas?

We did!

We had a Happy Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year...

and now it is 2012!

I can't believe the new year is already here. The older these kids get the faster time goes by.

Explaining to Jackson why we celebrate New Years inspired me to actually make a resolution this year (I never do). SO, here it is...

This year I am going to make BIG changes.

I'm not talking about keeping on top of the dishes or exercising more, I mean BIG!

Nothing in particular (although I have a few in mind), but possibly life changing big.

Wish me luck.

COUSINS!!!

We love 'em!

It's the only reason we live here!!

I will save you the counting...18!

I am still amazed that we got someone to take pictures of all 18 of them together and it turned out good!!!

2

That's it. She's 2. We are officially in for it. Not that we haven't been for the last 7-8 months but I have a feeling this little Christmas package is only going to get cuter, goofier, sweeter and attitudier. Which means that we will get even more wrapped around her finger, even more laughs from her and even more headaches from her:) I am always amazed at the amount of attitude that this girl has. She has been so strong willed and independent from day one. I don't see it but people say she looks like Jackson, I guess that may be but they could not be more opposite in their personalities. She is totally my sour patch kid, sour one minute then instantly sweet the next. She knows all she has to do to get her way with Daddy is cuddle with him (seriously, he can't resist it). She knows just how to push Carson's buttons (her current favorite is to take his hat off and throw it on the ground). She knows that Mama is pretty much a sucker for anything, i.e. bat the eyes, stick out the bottom lip, say "peease" or ask for a hug. She knows that her Aunties are even bigger suckers than her mom:) I am pretty sure that above all this she knows how much she is loved and adored by everyone around her...and if you don't feel that way then take a hike!

This morning she got herself dressed in her Minnie Mouse jammies, that are too small, and her new fancy red skirt from Ga. Nice. I had to bargain with her to get her to change...we traded the Minnie Mouse top for the red Santa one and the bottoms for some jeggings but only if she could wear her pink twinkle toes. It was a little better.

Yesterday was her actual birthday and we had some great birthday plans; lunch w/Jay and Brandi and the kids, birthday cupcakes from the sweet tooth fairy then Staheli farms with everyone for the nativity, reindeer and hot chocolate...instead we got a call from Jack's school at 11:30 that he was sick in the office. So we stayed home and watched Christmas movies instead. She wore her 'Birthday Girl' shirt and her crown (upside down) all day and I let her have way too many pieces of bubblegum and other treats and that made her a pretty happy girl. I guess it was OK since the birthday celebrating and spoiling started 2 weeks ago and didn't let up til today:)

Party Time!

Princess Sophia Marie's 2nd Birthday Gumball Party!!!

Codee put up with my unorganized, last minute, plans for a birthday party again, and helped me (well, a lot of people helped actually) throw together a little backdrop for a cute photo op. It turned out so fun! I am so glad we did it! I didn't get any traditional party pictures because the camera was set up in Sophs room the whole time but I was ok with that cause I thought this would be worth the sacrifice...and I was right! I love all these pictures so much! It captures Sophia's goofy, crazy, fun, loving family and neighbors perfectly! It also helped cause Crystal (my awesome-amazing neighbor) ran home and grabbed her camera for some cake, present and game shots of the party! Seriously, I would prob not get anything done if it weren't for all the help I receive from everyone who loves me:) and it certainly wouldn't be as fun with out all of them!

Soph totally is a gum thief right now so we set up a gumball bar for the kids to have their way with (your welcome parents) and had a bubble blowing contest; 1st place: Ryanne, 2nd place: Carter (or was it Cooper:), 3rd place: Owen! Soph got spoiled rotten with a ton of gifts that she loves already!!! and a very pretty princess cake with a crown on top and everything...cause she is kind of a princess. It was kind of a simple, relaxed party but that is how we do it and I wouldn't have changed anything, we had a blast and the clean up took FOREVER!!!!

*Just last night at J&B's Soph was talking to herself "princess, I'm a princess". We might be giving her a complex or setting ourselves up for a whole lot of trouble.