We had such a lovely Christmas. We started off the festivities on Christmas Eve at the Carters with the sibling gift exchange. Rob's sister Melanie and her husband, Jeff and baby Henry got to come to Utah for Christmas. It is so much fun to have them around and grace loves having a little playmate!
Trying to be patient...
Rob got his first taste of un-packaging and putting toys together this year.
Too slow!!! She wanted her toy that
second. Henry has this same little doggy and she loved it, so Grandma got her the little girl version, Violet. She was a happy camper!
Here's Violet and an excited mama.
Gotta love the joy that comes with tearing paper off of packages!
This picture is funny - I never get a full eyes closed picture, they're always the not-so-beautiful half-open-half-shut ones. Pretty amazing eyelashes, eh?
Grace had to check out (and break in...) all the cool stuff Henry got. He was very sweet and patient with his overly zealous and faster moving cousin.
First present of the morning...looking a little sleepy still!
This is Grace's (and my!) favorite present that she got. A little broom and dustpan set so she can help clean up all of her (and our) messes. She
loves to sweep, so now we can sweep together!
At first, Grace was really concerned about the excess wrapping paper that she was unwrapping. She wouldn't continue to tear off wrapping paper until she had given the little piece that she had just torn off to someone to put away. Looks like she has her daddy's clean genes! By the end of the unwrapping fun, she had forgotten all about that and left the little bits everywhere.
Grace trying on Mama's new hat and pearls
Gracie and her babies at Grandma's. She has become quite the little mama. She loves to wrap babies up and carry them around and take good care of them. It is so sweet to see her little feminine, nurturing nature taking shape.
We had such a great time spending the day with family (near and far!). We are grateful at this time of year to celebrate the greatest gift of all, the birth, death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas!
Doesn't my cowgirl look pretty darn cute in those boots?
It was pretty hard to figure out how to walk in them, but as soon as she does, you'd better believe we're going to start working on the country dancing skills :)
Trying to be patient...
Rob got his first taste of un-packaging and putting toys together this year.
Too slow!!! She wanted her toy that second. Henry has this same little doggy and she loved it, so Grandma got her the little girl version, Violet. She was a happy camper!
Here's Violet and an excited mama.
Gotta love the joy that comes with tearing paper off of packages!
This picture is funny - I never get a full eyes closed picture, they're always the not-so-beautiful half-open-half-shut ones. Pretty amazing eyelashes, eh?
Grace had to check out (and break in...) all the cool stuff Henry got. He was very sweet and patient with his overly zealous and faster moving cousin.
First present of the morning...looking a little sleepy still!
This is Grace's (and my!) favorite present that she got. A little broom and dustpan set so she can help clean up all of her (and our) messes. She loves to sweep, so now we can sweep together!
At first, Grace was really concerned about the excess wrapping paper that she was unwrapping. She wouldn't continue to tear off wrapping paper until she had given the little piece that she had just torn off to someone to put away. Looks like she has her daddy's clean genes! By the end of the unwrapping fun, she had forgotten all about that and left the little bits everywhere.
Grace trying on Mama's new hat and pearls
Gracie and her babies at Grandma's. She has become quite the little mama. She loves to wrap babies up and carry them around and take good care of them. It is so sweet to see her little feminine, nurturing nature taking shape.
...these jeans (and I assume the baby inside...) should be kept away from fire.
Rob working hard.
Grace working hard.
This one!!
Cole and Trevor read to and played with Grace
Brooke and Kennedy took such good care of Grace all night. As you can imagine Grace loved all the attention that her sweet cousins gave her. I wish we lived closer so they could play all the time!
My little family and my (beautiful!) fab-o sis, Emily
We went to California this year for Thanksgiving because my Auntie Doris married her college sweetheart the Saturday before. Doris and Clarke were best friends in college then went their separate ways for most of their adult life - Clarke married and had 2 kids (his wife died last year) and Doris remained single doting on her (very lucky!) family and friends. Now in their 60's they are back together and so very in love. Their wedding was beautiful and reception was so much fun!
Sweet moves, Baby Girl!
Our sweet little ladybug.
From the back.
Getting her dollar at the costume parade. She really wasn't sure what to do with it.
We knocked on doors throughout the house to get lots of yummy treats.
Mmmmmm.....Reeses! These will probably be payment to Dad for helping out since they're his favorites! (Actually, all of it will go to Mom and Dad for their hard work for costume prep and Halloween support)
I love this picture of my two favorites. As hard as Dad tried, his excitement never wore off on Grace.
The whole crew in costume.
Here's the tired baby after a night of partying, but adorable as usual!
