New Years

2015 was quite a year.  We had such a good time and traveled to beautiful beaches and snowy mountain tops.  We visited Disney and Islands of Adventure.  We spent lots of quality time with family.  We laughed a lot!  Grady got glasses and learned to surf and Cole learned to ice skate.  Cole started Pre-K and is learning to read and write, Grady is rocking 3rd grade and playing on a select baseball team.  I learned to smoke meat and continue to work on mastering teaching 2 dual language first grade classes- ha!  Richard wrapped up his second job of president of our city baseball league.  Like any year, it had its ups and downs.  We encountered great sadness after multiple miscarriages and then losing a baby boy halfway through my pregnancy.  If anything good came from that loss it was knowing that as a family we can make it through anything, together.  Every year is beautiful in its own way.  2016 will be amazing!  

We spent New Years Eve morning flying back home from Utah.  The only thing that made it ok was knowing we had two nights in a row of parties with friends!  

We ate dinner at Kyoto with our sweet baseball friends.  It's a yummy Japanese steakhouse.  The boys (and grown ups) had a great time!

We stopped at Braums on the way home for a scoop or two of ice cream and some craziness. 

When we got home we made a pallet on the floor and watched a movie to ring in the New Year!  

My people

January 1st the Vaughn Family hosted their annual New Years party.  I have no pictures except for a girls pic or two!  The kids had a super time and the food was yummy!  

2015 was pretty great but 2016 is going to ROCK!  

It's Christmas Time!

On Wednesday (Christmas Eve, Eve) I took the boys to see the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie and they loved it!  

Richard and I finally celebrated 12 years at our favorite place, Mi Dia.  

Thursday morning Cole and Grady were wrestling on top of a pillow "fort" and Cole fell and caught himself with his teeth- ouch!  Daddy straightened out his teeth (eek) and we called Uncle Craig and the dentist.  Basically his teeth might or might not survive.  Boo!  He was in so much pain and it ended up swelling up so huge!  

We decided to decorate some Christmas cookies to try to take his mind off it.  

We loaded him full of pain meds and headed to Christmas Eve service in Garland at Grammy Elaine's church.   

When we got home we put out cookies, carrots and milk for Santa and his reindeer.  

Christmas morning the kids were so excited!  Santa came and left the kids all kinds of goodies.

Poor Cole's face had swollen up huge and he was so uncomfortable... and on Christmas.  Boo!   Thank goodness for lots of new toys and Grammy, Aunt Lana and Uncle Curt to help keep him busy.  

I feel so bad I have so few pictures of our day- between being worried about Cole, cooking and just enjoying the day with family it just didn't happen.  

Grady was thrilled with his PS4 and Cole loved his Hulk!  

The fart blaster, poo dough and fart piano all were favorites as well... I know you're shocked.  

I love my little grossies! 

The next morning we were scheduled to fly to Utah for Christmas with my mom, dad and brother at 5:50am.  At about midnight Cole woke up with fever and we  decided to drop by the ER on our way to the airport- ha!  After an IV, exam and CT scans it was determined that Cole had an infected mouth due to the blunt trauma to his mouth and teeth.  Thank goodness we weren't dealing with needing surgery or anything worse.  After pain meds and antibiotics we drove straight to the airport to catch our flight.  

We have never been so excited to reach our vacation destination so we could sleep and then have a little fun!    

Utah has received so much snow in the last few weeks!  The kids loved shoveling the snow- ha!  

The kids opened presents, 

Grady took a ski lesson and we went to visit.

We saw a bunch of elk.

Cole went hunting inside and outside!

Papa played with his drone.

We put together some puzzles.

Doesn't the house look beautiful?!?  

Cole danced...

We went skiing- it was cold!

Grady and Uncle Craig have a lot of fun together!  They also happen to ski the hard stuff together.  

We ice skated.  It was Cole's first time and Grady did awesome and finally got the hang of it.  

We lit sparklers and decorated gingerbread houses.  

What a wonderful trip, yet again!  We can't wait to go back again for Spring break!!!