Closing Out 2011...

After the holidays were over, and we had some time to rest from all the fun and excitement, it was time to restock the kitchen and take care of errands that had been neglected. As an enticement to gain excitement for grocery shopping, Mom told Macie and I that we could dress up and push carts through the store. I chose a super-hero costume (one I put together on my own) with a baby carriage, and Macie chose to wear fairy wings and push a shopping cart.

I was SO excited as we walked through the parking lot!!!

Macie and I made it though the grocery store without incident, and Mom decided she may have to use that trick again in the future!

Mom was glad she took the time to clean up and restock the house since we got some special visitors at the end of the week- Uncle Ryan and Aunt Liz!!!

Macie and I were glad they came back to Arizona to visit and were even more excited at the prospect of it becoming a yearly tradition! It was fun showing them around the house and playing with all of our new Christmas toys! Uncle Ryan was a great sport, and played princesses with Macie and I in our very small princess house (Uncle Ryan is like, 6'5", so I am sure it wasn't too comfortable).



The following day we met the family at the train park for some outdoor fun! While Mom, Macie, and I were waiting for everyone to show up we played on the train tracks. Mom loved watching as Macie and I ran up and down, laughing as we hopped over the wooden planks.

When everyone arrived we jumped on the train and rode around the park!

I was glad that Hollywood and Aunt Hayley spent the day with us!

Uncle Ryan and Aunt Liz LOVED the train ride, and everyone agreed that the tunnel was the best part- we ALL yippe-yow-hooweed the whole way through!!

After riding the carousel and playing in the train museums, we all went our separate ways so that we could rest up for round two in the afternoon! Naps were MUCH needed for everyone that day, and allowed us to re-charge! Uncle Will joined Mom at the house and they both drove us down to the train park to wait in line for the last night of Christmas activities.

We played at the park for a while and Uncle Will and I had fun spinning around and around!

Done at the park, and needing rest from all the activity Macie, Uncle Will, and I got some good laughs taking pictures with all the character cut-outs:

Aunt Hayley, Aunt Liz, and Uncle Ryan all joined the rest of us as we took the special Christmas train ride.

We weren't excited at all...

The train ride was amazing- everywhere you looked there were lights, displays, and at one point it even snowed!!! Macie and I were enthralled by all the sights and sounds!!!

It was great experiencing this with family!

After departing the train, we explored the rest of the park, stopping for photo ops often!


After working up a big appetite, the whole family left the park and went to fill up our bellies with sushi!!!

The next morning Uncle Ryan and Aunt Liz had to head back to San Diego so they could get ready for the New Year. At home we celebrated with Dad (we had missed him that week since he was out of town for work), and closed out 2011 enjoying our time together as a family!

Mom woke up early the next morning ready to get the New Year started on the right foot! Riley and Dad settled into the couch to watch some football while Mom and I went to the grocery store to buy some newspapers filled with coupons! I stayed in my jammies (something I have never worn outside!!!), and was even allowed to carry my sock punky to the store with me!!! Mom said that I was the best little helper ever!!!!


The following weekend our friends invited us to an indoor amusement park! Macie and I had a blast riding rides with Kaya and Jack!


Though there were SO many fun things to do at Jambo (mini golf, amusement rides, climbers, laser tag, etc.), but our favorite thing, by far, was the bowling alley!!! We wished that Dad has been there with us- he would have been so proud!

Macie was quite the bowler,

and got pretty extincted every time she knocked down the pins (which was almost every time- no joke, Mom thinks she may have found her sport).

I didn't do to bad myself,

though the bumpers probably helped my cause:

Since the weather in Arizona has been so pleasant lately the family decided to go "hike up the mountain." Macie had been asking for months, and the time had finally come!

Dad and I walked hand and hand on the trail and spent some quality time together!


It didn't take long before Macie's little legs were tired and she had to be carried- good thing we brought our work horse with us!

After seeing Macie in her comfy carrier, I decided I wanted a turn. Dad thought it would be funny to see if Will could carry us both at the same time...

While Will carried Riley, I bounced back and forth between Dad, Hayley, John, and Mom.

We all made stopped to document our first family hiking trip!!!

Mom and Dad were proud of their little troopers!!!

So far, 2012 was off to a great start!

Mom and Dad took me to tour some preschools, and found one we really liked! I start next week, and can't wait for all the great experiences I will have!!!

holiday fun

We were glad to be back home in Arizona after all the travel. Jackson and Eddie missed us a bunch, so we made sure to give them some extra attention!

Grandma Judy had joined us in Arizona, and I loved waking up in bed with her! We would sit and read for hours!!!


With Christmas right around the corner there were all sorts of activities going on around town, and we had to go to ALL of them!!!

At Lifetime Fitness we got to eat breakfast with Santa! Here I am on the way in all dolled up in one of Mom's creations...

Mom had a hard time getting Macie to stop and pose for a picture- she was too excited to stand still.

At the door Macie stopped just long enough to give Grandma Judy a hug.

Once we were inside Mom tried again to take some pictures of us...

I made sure to pose for the camera,

but after MANY attempts, and lots of frustration on both Mom's and my part, Macie refused to sit and smile nicely.

Inside there was TONS of fun things to do- I played with my friends and did lots of neat crafts.

When Santa came, both Macie and I made sure we were the first kids in line! Mom had us both pose for a picture and then let us take turns with Santa all on our own!!!




When we were done with pictures, Mom ensured us it was alright to pig out and the breakfast table. Macie and I made sure to fill up our plates, and dug right in!

Our table manners were forgotten, and Mom was mortified when I began using my sleeve for a napkin...



When our bellies were full both Macie and I made our way back to the craft area where we worked on different projects.

Before we left, we made sure to pose for some pictures with Dad!!!

We had a great morning at Lifetime, and after naps went to the train park to see what Holiday Fun they had in store.

It was AMAZING- everywhere we looked there we characters, holiday decorations, food, etc.

After we made our rounds, and took pictures with ALL the characters, Grandma Judy and Dad took us over to the park where we met up with some friends and had a blast!!!

The days leading up to Christmas were filled with lots of fun and family. We did all of our usual holiday traditions; after going to church and eating a big family dinner, we watched the Grinch in new Christmas pajamas and ate cookies while writing letters to Santa (Mom can't seem to find all of our Christmas Eve pictures, so here are a few).

Cookie Making with Aunt Hayley:

Church:


Will and Eddie:

Macie mesmerized by Christmas Music(she RARELY sits in front of the TV for more than 1 minute):



Macie and I woke up Christmas morning ready to get the day started- Here we are opening our presents:

I had asked Santa for a guitar, and was SO excited when I opened one!!!

Macie said she only wanted CANDY, so her stocking was stocked full of all her favorites (which we all new Mom would be eating when no one was looking).

Macie also got a guitar from Santa, but the candy was by far the gift that made her the happiest!

Opening our Disney dolls was another highlight of the morning!

Mom and Dad were the last to open their morning Christmas gifts. Macie and I couldn't wait for Dad to open ours...



We bought Dad a guitar t shirt that he could actually play music on. The most amazing part was that it actually sounded REALLY GOOD!!!

We all sat together on the couch and enjoyed our time together as a family- unfortunately Mom caught me acting very un-lady like...

Dad showed Mom her present, and she was really excited about it...

Unfortunately Dad decided to show a clip from a TV show that WAS NOT "child" friendly, so Mom had to think fast and jump in front of the screen to keep me from seeing the violence...


Uncle Will joined us later in the morning for a big Christmas brunch and afterwards we exchanged gifts.



Macie and I were thrilled when we opened princess sticker books (so was Mom, since she knew they would provide HOURS of entertainment!!!)


We opened the rest of our gifts before naptime, and I LOVED the electric guitar I got from Miss Jaime's Family!!!

That night we ate a BIG dinner and spent time with friends and family.

When all the excitement was done and it was time for bed, Macie and I were excited to jump into bed in our new jammies and princess dolls!

Before falling asleep, I made sure to hug Dad and thank him for a special holiday!

This Christmas was a lot of fun for our family, and Mom's favorite one yet (since Macie could finally participate in everything, and "get it"). We are all thankful for the family and friends that made our holiday season special this year!!!