Costa Rica

We just got back from a week in Costa Rica sans kids. (Thanks to my mom for keeping them for me). The trip included time in the RAIN (really rainy) forest where we white water rafted, saw lots of wild life (including many wild encounters with them), and enjoyed the hot springs of the Arenal Volcanoe.  Some of us did a crazy 65 story zip line through the top of the jungley rain forest (I did not). We traveled through the entire country by bus (many hours) with over 200 other people in our group. We ended on the Pacific side of the country where we finally caught some HOT sun and lounged by the pool. Defiantly a memory. Here are the highlights in pictures…..

Wish I could have had a camera or a phone on the white water rafting (those were some funny memories).

Yo Ho Ho Ho...

Time for our annual trip to see Santa Claus. This toddler age has always been a tricky one. Usually screaming and crying happens around the ages of 1-3 for my girls when they meet St. Nick. Or he has to hide behind the big chair at Nordstroms so that they don't even know that he's in the photo. I prepped Molly all morning about how we were going to see Santa and that he was going to hold her. She just said her token, "yeah." I thought...."we'll see." I doubted that she would agree when it was actually go time. She was a tad stand offish but when she saw he had a candy cane she got right down to business and got on his lap.

What does Santa say? "Yo Ho Yo Ho." Same as a pirate. :)

I ordered a professional picture too. That's who they are looking at "the real photographer." 

Isn't this the cutest thing you have EVER seen? 

It is.

 The girls gave Santa their letters. Explained to him what they were wishing for....

 Heidi:

 "Dear Santa, I want a Holiday Barbie. My elf is Buddy. Love, Heidi"

Kyla:

"On the very Christmas day....Please tell me if you have Rudolph for reals."

"Dear Santa, I want something fairyish, rollerskates, and a snowglobe, and a necklace that looks like Sofia."

Santa asked Kyla and Heidi to speak for their little sister and ask what she might like for Christmas. They were spouting off ideas and she just shouts out "Mickey Mouse!" So cute. 

Glad to be home and back into the Christmas season. More on Costa Rica soon. :)

Right Now

This is what's up around here right now....

Buddy has made his reappearance and it is a HIT. This is our fourth year with our Elf on the Shelf. The girls have always been in to it but Heidi just LOVES him this year. She is all about him. She writes to him, talks to him, talks about him, analyzes why other people can't see their elves and just loves him in general.

Buddy hasn't been too feisty around here over the years. Maybe this year he'll do more things like this....

via lilblueboo

 Taylor's Swift's album RED. I love it. I've listened to it approximatly one hundred times already. It's on right now. Kyla got it from Heidi for her birthday. (I've gotten the most use out of it). #s 9,11,13,14, & 16 are my favorites.

via imgfav

Costa Rica. I hope it really looks like this. I will see soon. :)

via 4photosnet

& Cheerleading.

We're all (Me, K, & H) are becoming first time cheerleaders tonight. That's right, the girls are starting cheerleading with a program at our church and I'm the coach of 10 Kindergarten-2nd Grade cheerleaders. Wish me luck.

DEFENSE!!!!

Heidi Hand-Me-Downs

Heidi 19 months

Molly 21 1/2 months

Tree Hunt 2012

So glad we waited and didn’t go (like tradition) yesterday in the pouring rain. We went today instead, to a U-Cut tree farm to pick out our Christmas Tree. Taryn searched out “an experience” for us. It was a super cute place with cider, a bon-fire, and a train for the kids. (Lots of Instagramming going on).  Molly wasn’t really into it this year. She did like the cider though. No “Choo Choo” for her. Too scary…not a good sign for any future Disney plans.

It’s officially the start of the merriest time of year….

P.S. Heidi calls them “never green trees.”

Happy Thanksgiving

A nice quiet Thanksgiving with those I am so thankful for....

(the cute turkey next door)

{Seven}

Kyla you are 7!

Seven seems old. 

I can remember being seven.

You are so sweet. The sweetest. 

You care about others.

You are very funny and make us laugh every day.

The stories you make up are adorable.

You are concerned and curious.

You love Jesus.

Your missing tooth is the cutest.

The other one will come out soon. 

You are our girl.

We love you.

Happy Birthday! 

We love you SOOOOO much!