Heaven...Wrapped up with a Pretty Bow

November 30th and December 1st, we got together for a 2-day Christmas baking extravaganza. As you all know, I love to bake, my daughter, Sofia, loves to bake, and, well, our great friends the Espinos, share the same love. We made white chocolate peppermint bark, chocolate fudge, frosted snowmen, Christmas tree, and snowflake cookies, plus gingerbread man cookies. We had a blast and we're so impressed with how they all turned out. We made them for friends and our visiting teaching and home teaching families. The girls did a wonderful job helping to cut out the cookies and frost them (as you will see in the pictures!)--they especially loved pounding the peppermint bark into pieces.

Here, Amy makes a valiant attempt to explain the order of events to the girls while Isabel tries to open a bottle of sprinkles with her teeth--keep in mind she's lost several teeth over the last few months!

Geared up and ready to decorate!

The Gingerbread Men

Not to worry, we were quite careful in giving only those, which did not get contaminated by all the finger licking good frosting that was going on! We, of course, had no problems eating those that didn't make the cut!

Isabel and her Mom, Amy--frosting fun!

Natalie proudly places her masterpiece with the others.

Sophia is so DANG cute!!!

Sydnei enjoyed playing while we baked, especially in her johnny jump up.

Some of the finished product...

...and more.

Putting the gift boxes together...

...and a peak inside.

There's just nothin' like some homemade Christmas love!

Christmas with MaMa

MaMa and Sofia with a brand new Belle doll and horse.

MaMa sure helped Santa this year--Sofia had been eyeing this doll for months!

December 15, 2008, we celebrated Christmas with my Mom. We enjoyed a yummy dinner, gift opening, music, and some yummy homemade Christmas cookies. I love exchanging gifts. It was so fun to see my Mom's reaction when she opened the present from us...

She was ecstatic! We gave her an 8.4" digital photo frame. We decided just after Christmas last year that this is what we were going to give our parents this Christmas. It's an excellent way to display thousands of photos. We had preloaded it with pictures so my Mom immediately pulled it out and turned it on.

Sofia also received matching Princess gown and slippers--she wasted no time in putting those bad boys on!

And Sydnei....well,

Wait for it....

Wait for it...

Bam! Perfectly poised, Sydnei is so happy with her new walker to wagon toy from MaMa (AND Uncle Kris & Cousin Jordan). They too gifted Sydnei this awesome toy--man--our family members know each of us SO WELL!!!

Every year since I was born, my Mom gives me and now us all socks for the year. I've never had to buy socks in my entire life! Mom spoiled us this year with Chipotle and Starbucks gift cards, slippers, and a brand new set of classy dinner glasses. Thanks, Mom/MaMa, WE LOVE YOU!!!

Our Sweet Little Christmas Tree

Staley Christmas Tree 2008

Even though we were spending the majority of the Christmas holiday with the Staleys in Evanston, Wyoming--we had to put up our own tree and decorations. Each family has a different style and traditions when it comes to decorating. Well, our family loves the "hodge podge" Christmas tree. We love to have a large variety of mismatched ornaments that represent different years of Christmas--from our own childhood to the present. Each year when we decorate, we reminisce about the meaning and story of different ornaments while introducing new ones.

Ryan and I started a tradition when Sofia was born to give our children their very own 1st Christmas ornament. Here are some pictures of Sydnei's first ornament.

Every year without fail, Ryan tries to make the Yellow Submarine Beatles ornament the tree topper. It lasts up there right until were about done with the tree--then it's replaced with a real topper! Mr. Submarine always remains toward the top of the tree, though.

Here is my new ornament this year. I don't always get a new ornament but when I saw this one I fell in love. It's from the snowman/smores line of ornaments and goes right along with my other smores ornament that says "I burn 4 U," which I gifted to Ry five or six years ago. So cute! (Unfortunately, I don't have a pic of that one)

When I pulled out the Christmas Tree boxes to set up for our decorating extravaganza, Sofia immediately went to get her new ornament this year, Cinderella, no surpise there. She must have stared at the Princess ornaments in the Disney store for a good 10 minutes trying to pick one of the many. She finally decided on Cinderella--and so did Nana! She received two of these this year--I guess that means her Nana knows her really well! Sofia was very happy to have two Cinderella's. One at home and one at Nana's.

In all her Princess glory....


Fun Times....

Christmas Fun Galore!!!

We had an awesome Christmas this year! We spent great time with family making memories that will last forever. There were so many different fun and crazy parts to the holiday that I've decided to break them up into various posts with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

In Search of the North Pole

December 3rd, we drove to Hood River, Oregon, about 78 miles east of our home to board the Polar Express train at the Mt. Hood Railroad. With great anticipation Sofia kept saying all day long, "Mom, we're going to the North Pole today and I'm going to meet Santa Claus!" Off we went for a 2-hour train ride to the North Pole and yes, we met Santa Claus!

While we waited for the train to depart we took funny pictures:

Then the Train Conductor announced the departure to the North Pole:


and off we went, drinking hot cocoa and indulging in sugar cookies (the kiddos in their jammies):

Soon after, a Narrator began to tell the story of the Polar Express:


Before we knew it, we had arrived at the North Pole!


Santa Claus quickly boarded the train and put Sofia on his lap to ask her about all of the things she wants for Christmas:


he gave her the famous bell just like in the story:


and a giant hug good-bye.


Santa quickly grabbed Sydnei to hold her and talk to her...she of course had to stare him down and figure out what he was all about:


It must have all been a lot for her, she pooped out sitting on my lap as we rode back to the station:


and so it was, the story of the Polar Express was really special, the North Pole was spectacular and Santa is definitely making a trip to Nana and Grandpa's house where we will be this year!

Merry Christmas, Wilson and Family + Darci

We'll be spending Christmas this year with the Staleys in Evanston, Wyoming. So, since we were all together for Thanksgiving here in Portland, we wanted to give Wilson and his family along with my sister their Christmas gifts since we're not sure if we'll see each other before we leave. It was fun to do presents and watch them open their gifts. Sofia even got to open an early Christmas Present from MaMa. She was in hog heaven as she started to ride her new talking stick horse. Yay!


p.s. We missed you, Josh! (He was at his girlfriend's house for Thanksgiving).