December 2009

I love Christmas! I love the magic of everything, Christmas lights, decorations, crafts, delightful little treats that are left on your doorstep, surprises of gifts to be given, and the sheer delight in seeing my little girlies opening presents and squealing when they see that Santa actually gave them exactly what they wanted... and sometimes things they never even knew they wanted! So here is a wrap up our 'most wonderful time of the year. (Yes, I know I am behind, but you know what they say... start now and then catch up. Don't worry that is a goal for 2010. Yeah for resolutions, but wait that is for another post!)

27 November: The festivities started the day after Thanksgiving with shopping! We (Ryan and I) LOVE black Friday and get seriously excited. We had my sister Katie spend the night and off we went to find some amazing deals. The best deal though was a camera I bought because I got it online and never even had to wait in a line! At Kmart, I took this shot of the line that wrapped around the building and then a lady at the front of the line loudly exclaimed "hey that lady in the truck just took a picture of us." Yup that was me!

Ryan in Walmart chaos..

28 November: An excellent way to ring in the Christmas season. We took the girls to the Ballet Etudes show of the Nutcracker. It was so fun to get all dressed up and the girls LOVED the ballet. During the show this was Haylee and my conversation. Haylee- "Mom, I want to be Clara." Julie- "Okay Haylee, you have to practice really hard and maybe you can be when you are a little older." The show continued and the snow queen came onto the stage. Haylee- "Mom, how old do you have to be to be her?" Julie- "You have to be a little younger then Aunt Katie and you have to practice lots and lots." Haylee- "I want to be her someday, cause she gets to dance with the guy. Maybe Daddy and I can practice those lifts when we get home." Julie- "that sounds great Haylee." The show continued, and then the Sugar Plum Fairy comes onto the stage. (she is the most sparkly and advanced of the whole show) Haylee gasps. Haylee- "Mom, I don't want to be Clara, I want to be That one!" Needless to say the whole night was perfect and the girls were wonderful. This was Addilyn's first time and near the end she began dancing in front of our chairs and on Daddy's lap, but overall she was pretty well behaved. Thanks Ryan for a wonderful date night out!


my niece Maddie was a little doll. Here are the cousins.
30 November: Our Bishop delivered a 18 foot, fresh cut real Christmas tree for our front yard. (he cuts one every year and thought we needed one too!). Here is Ryan, Bishop, neighbor Fred and Bishop's son Mark setting it up just right!


all decorated thanks to Grandma Treat's huge ornaments and some cool lights that Ryan bought.

2 December: Joyschool at my house. Practice nativity and make cards for the grandmas and grandpas at the rest home. Try and take a photo of 7 wiggly three and four year olds, got one good shot out of 30 not too bad!

4 December: (A very cold night!) Ward Christmas Party- Outdoor nativity (no camera= no pictures!) The girls were angels. Haylee got to play the bells for one of the songs and did great singing and playing! Addilyn stood right by her and watched her sister proudly, singing loudly when she knew the words. Caroling and Hayride (again no camera = no pictures!) Santa and hot cocoa! (thanks to my friend Tanya) we snapped a shot with Santa to wrap up the night of fun.

5 December: Lawlor family Christmas party (Ryan's side). Dinner, Nativity (the girls were wise men with Little Red Riding Hood/Pink Ballerina capes and all), talent show, and dancing (bunny hop). Lots of fun with all the cousins and family

11 December: We went to the Christmas lights at the temple. It was a really cold night, so we bundled up the girls in lots of layers and all the gear and went to see the lights. They loved following the star to the manger and finding baby Jesus. We walked all around and enjoyed the lovely lights and having to bundle up. The girls wanted to go into the visitors center, but it was too crowded and it was getting late. So I promised we would come back and the very next week we went during the day. Walked all around, and then went inside and had the whole theatre and nativity room to our self. We watched a couple of movies and just enjoyed being on the temple grounds. We also got to see some brides come out too and they LOVE to watch them in their pretty dresses. On the way home from the lights, we stopped and got some Bosa donut holes. Elyse was sad in her chair so Addilyn held her hand... apparently it worked and she was fast asleep. So sweet!


12 December: Ballet Recital for Haylee and Addilyn with Miss Erica. They were both so excited for their new costumes and to perform on the big stage. They both did excellent and loved being on the stage and having all the moms and dads watch them.



12 December: Addilyn's cousin Arys came over to ride the pony. After some pony rides, we got a sitter for all the girlies and went to a movie. It turned out to be a super fun night!

13 December: Addilyn had a Joy School Christmas party where the children got to perform their nativity and their Christmas songs for the moms and dads. Addilyn was so excited all day. She kept saying, "It is for me Haylee. I get to be on the stage." Then she would ask us "Where are we going?" Then instead of us answering (as she asked it about every 5 minutes) We would say "I don't know Addilyn where are we going?" She would get so excited and say "to my Joy School party, and Haylee gets to watch." She was so cute and knew all the songs even when she got a little behind. She was an angel and did a great job. Haylee ended up being invited to be part of the show as an inn keeper!

14 December: Addilyn's Joy School group went to a rest home and performed their Nativity and songs. She was one of the Mary's (there were 2 total) and then sang so beautifully. She did great with saying hello to the "Grandmas and Grandpas" even though it is not something that she is super comfortable with. She would let them touch her hair and she would hold their hand. The people we visited were in the more severe care. There was one sweet little woman who asked the same question 20 times and obviously had some other health issues. She kept wanting to give Elyse something. Finally she pulled off a little homemade bracelet from her wrist. She couldn't remember much else, but she was happy when she finally had something to give. Elyse loved it and gave the woman a huge smile. The woman clapped her hands and then laughed. As I looked into her eyes I saw pure joy! The woman was giving all she had and she was happy. It reminded me of what the season is truly about.

14 December: Haylee had a singing performance with Jenee Prince's "That's Entertainment" group that she does out of her home. Haylee loves to sing and dance and with Jenee she can really get into the songs. Haylee often will come home from singing with an extra vibratto... we love it! She was wonderful and looked so cute shakin' her litte hips!


14 December: Palmer Family Christmas Party (my dad's extended family). Dinner (Mexican Food), Nativity (Haylee was a shepherd and Addilyn was her sheep), Santa visited and gave out presents. He also asked what they wanted for Christmas. Responses were as follows Haylee- "I want a bike that has a bell, kick stand, basket, and an umbrella that has a button for making it cold and hot and shoots out water." Addilyn- looked at Santa and froze, then Haylee whispered in her ear and she repeated "a bell for my bike." Elyse- looked at Santa and screamed. Addilyn came home with a little stuffed riding horse, Haylee a plastic purse with all things girl inside and Elyse a stuffed bear... the night- a total sucess. My Mom and Dad did a great job putting on a fabulous party and Katie my sister made a great Santa's Elf.


17 December: Addilyn and Haylee's dance classes went to the rest home and perform at separate times. They both did excellent and looked so cute. They were so happy to wear their costumes again. As we were leaving the rest home walking through the halls, the girls (Haylee and her friends in her class) kept finding "Grandmas and Grandpas" that were sitting in various sitting rooms that would watch their dances. As we walked down the halls they would dance and twirl. The rest home guests loved it and the girls did too!

18 December: Kindergarten Winter Sing at Haylee's school. She got to wear her Sunday best to school and then we came and watched in the cafeteria as crazy parents had been waiting to get the front row seats for over an hour. We were fine in the back and Haylee of course loved every minute of performing. After the performance she was done and the holiday began. School was out till 2010! She kept reminding me that now she would be able to ride her bike all the time because she had no more homework during the holiday.

18 December: Hayride in the desert with the ward's mutual kids. We got a sitter so I could tag along while Ryan drove the trailer for our ward's annual hayride. They go out to the desert, ride out on the hay on the trailers till they get to the campfire, eat yummy chilie and hot cocoa, play campfire games, and then ride back to the cars. Fun date and beautiful stars!

19 December: Elyse discovers she can wear Daddy's shoes!

19 December: Ryan and I went to a wedding for a gal in our ward. It was fancy and an all night event... so we got really dressed up, watched the ceremony, ate dinner, and went dancing. Thanks to my sister Katie I had a fabulous dress and shoes to wear. Ryan looked handsome as ever in his suit and overall it was a wonderful night.


20 December: Cox Family Fireside (my mom's side party). Nativity- Haylee was a shepherd and Addilyn was her sheep, Talent show- the girls sang 'LOVE' and were so cute, treats and visiting. After the party, we went to Ryans parent's house for a niece's birthday. More playing with cousins and visiting for the adults. On the way home we stopped on Main street and took a picture of Ryan with the paper boy statue. Ryan and his two older brothers were the last "paper boys" to deliver papers in the downtown Mesa area.

21 December: Elyse turns one. (her 12 month photo shoot to come) My mom brought her balloons and donuts (per her tradition) in the morning. Made dinner and ate at Ryan's Grandparent's house. The girls sang and danced for them. After visiting, we came home and celebrated Elyse's first birthday at our house with Grandma Treats and Grandpa and aunt Katie, and Grandma Muriel and Grandad. It was small and just perfect. Elyse delicately ate her cake (though her sisters tried to make it messier) and then got tired of it and wanted her new toys. The grandmas both brought her a new doll and I got her a throwback toy of a dog on a string. She LOVES animals and all the new toys brought her joy and her older sisters loved them as well.

How old is Elyse? (she sometimes does one finger in the air... of course not for the camera though!)

the grandmas and her new dolls

the 'destroyed' cake!


23 December: Last minute shopping and gift prep for Christmas. I recieved a phone call from our Home teacher's wife saying that he wanted to come over for a minute. So we answered the door and this is who we found. The girls was so amazed that Santa was at OUR house. So they told him what they wanted again and after he left, Haylee said "Mom, that wasn't really Santa, because he is at the North Pole. He is just one of his helpers!"