Hailey's Christmas Programs- 2011

 Hailey dressed up for her program!

Hailey had two programs this year.  One for her Preschool and one for her Sunday School class.  She was so excited for both and enjoyed both nights very much.  She loves to sing and does a pretty good job with all the words. I can't begin to list the number of Christmas songs she knows....it's too many.  I fear we will be singing Christmas songs well into the spring.

We were lucky enough to have Brooke at the program that night....she has just gotten out of the hospital that morning. She was a trooper and did a great job on stage.  We love you Brooke.

 Hailey and some of her school buddies watching the bigger kids preform.

 Getting ready to sing "Happy Birthday Jesus."

 Putting on her hat for "Jingle Bells."

 I love this one.  She does this motion when signing the word "salvation" in the song "Straight Down From Heaven."  She was really getting into the song.

The next week she had her program at the church with her Sunday School group.  She was a angel and a beautiful one at that.  The program was about 30 minutes long and told about the birth of Jesus.  Hailey and her class sang a song at the beginning and several other throughout the show.

 She looks so little up there with all those kiddos.

Hailey...you are an angel and we love you very much!  XOXOX

Parade of Lights- December 2011

So sad, but Kevin was gone this year for the Parade of Lights.  We were lucky enough to have Nana Nancy and Katie with us to enjoy our stroll downtown. 

We started the afternoon with Santa and Mrs. Clause.  I was a little worried about Hailey seeing Santa....a few days prior she freaked out at the mall when she saw him.   Luckily she visited with Mrs. Clause first and she talked with Hailey so patiently.  The whole time Hailey had her eye on Santa...checking him out.  When it was time to sit on his lap, she did great, went right up, and sat with him.  Sydney wasn't so thrilled.  She was pretty squirmy, but we didn't have to take her back.  She sat the whole time Hailey did.

 Visiting with Mrs. Clause....she was so great with the girls.

 Our girls visiting with Santa.

I would like a food mixer...please.

While there, I had chance to take a few pictures of the girls with the decorations.  Love white lights.....

I love this....Sydney has started doing this motion constantly.  Not sure what it means yet!

After visiting Santa we took off for Bernice's Bakery.  They had free sugar cookie decorating for the kids.  Who doesn't love a sugar cookie from Bernice's...we couldn't pass it up.  Hailey loaded on the toppings...marshmallows and all.

Yellow...of course.

 Pretty yummy!

Check this beast out.....loaded to the max.

Next stop....Salvage for a little ornament making.  They had patterns and felt to make baby dolls.  Hailey chose Bobcat colors (GO Cats!).  She did a great job gluing and adding a face.

While walking to the Big Dipper for Candy Cane ice-cream, we stopped to look into some storefront windows.  Lots of pretty things to see!

We ended the afternoon at The Big Dipper, eating ice cream out in the freezing cold.  We had a great afternoon!  It was very festive and got us all in the holiday spirit.  

Christmas Prep...and Tree Hunting

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year.  I always look forward to getting the decorations up and trimming the tree.  Hailey was super excited this year too!  Just like last year, she wanted to start with the candy canes first. 

Hailey did a much better job of hanging ornaments this year....at least they weren't all in one small area.

 Sydney taking part with a little help from Daddy.

 Finally...candy cane time!

 Sydney sucking on a candy cane....she was not happy when we took it away.

Both our beautiful girls enjoying their candy canes.

Hailey's favorite part...putting the angel on top.

This year we put up two trees.  The big fake one upstairs and a small real one downstairs.  We went for a short drive outside of Missoula (Nine Mile Road) on the search for the "perfect" tree.  Hailey was having fun looking for one to cut down.  She found all the small scraggly ones and thought they would be perfect.

 Lots of fun faces from Hailey!

 Sweet smiles from Sydney!

 Everybody getting a free ride!

 Hailey on the hunt for the perfect tree.

 Look at me...being silly.

 Helping Daddy cut down the tree.

 Time to load it up!

Our family with our tree.

Thanksgiving 2011

This year we stayed home for Thanksgiving and had my parents and Katie in town for the festivities.  The weekend was spent lounging around, making some delicious food, shopping, and of course...eating.

Hailey and I had been reading Thanksgiving books prior to the holiday and she insisted on making a pumpkin pie...just like they did in the book.  I would have bought the HUGE $6 one at Costco, but she was so excited to do it, so Hailey and my Mom made pies on Wednesday.  Hailey was a big helper and they were super yummy.

 Hailey getting a lesson on how to roll out the crust.

 Now it's Hailey's turn.

Rolling the crust back getting ready to pour in the pumpkin

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 Turkey is time...close to eating time!

 Sydney and Katie...hanging out before dinner.

 Time to eat.  Happy Thanksgiving....lots to be thankful for.

 Hailey getting ready to eat her dinner.  Of course, the first thing she does is put her olives on her fingers....didn't you?  That is probably the only thing she ate.  She didn't like the potatoes, the stuffing was yuck, she didn't like the dried onions in the green been casserole, the turkey was okay.  Who doesn't like Thanksgiving dinner?

 Sydney munching down on her food.  She did pretty well and eats just about anything.

 Time for pie.  Sydney enjoyed licking off the beater.  

All that work with the pumpkin pie and Hailey didn't like it.  She thought the pie was gross, but loved the whipped cream!  Silly girl.