Christmas Celebrations!

Santa came to our house to visit this year!  Sara slept in until past 9am, so I had to impatiently wait for her to wake up.  I was so excited for Christmas morning....more so than Sara.

The scene is set!

She mad a bee-line for the Ukelele

Belle got toys too!

Yep....she took it everywhere....watching TV

....playing the recorder....

Can I turn it into a drum?

.....checking out her other gifts

Christmas Night with Grammie, Gramps, and the Parker Cousins

We made cookies on Friday...

The Kenny Brothers and Cole

The Kenny Girl Cousins

Happy Easter!

Here's some pictures from Easter Weekend....

We went to visit the Easter Bunny at the Martinez Egg Hunt. Sara wasn't too sure what to think. But, she was very brave and didn't cry!

The Egg Hunt was for kids 2 and up. Sara loved watching the kids and clapped for everyone while the hunt was going on. So cute!
A sweet lady gave Sara this egg. Sara was so proud of it....she wouldn't let it go for nothing!
This picture just melts my heart....I love these two! The grass was really long, so Sara wasn't too sure about walking in it. With Daddy's help, she was off and running to hunt eggs after it quieted down a bit....

Brave girl...walking by herself....still holding her egg....

No Bunny....this egg is mine!

So egg-cited about her basket and still holding her egg....

Coloring eggs....

Sara and grammie

Sara loved the paci for her new baby doll....

Soaking up the sun at the park.....

Playing ball in the backyard while mommy and daddy moved rocks....

Time to go inside....she is such a big girl....

Happy Valentine's Day

I'll admit it.....I've never been a fan of Valentine's Day. I've always been on the opinion that it's a made-up Hallmark holiday. You shouldn't need a special day to tell people that you love them. You should do that every.single.day. Brian and I typically cook dinner at home and watch a movie on the sofa...nothing special. But, then I read this and my opinion changed:

The very essence of childhood--a sense of wonder, imagination, the innocent belief in possibility, creativity--so many of the things that gradually wane with age--You are the author of their storybook,

writing memories and elements of their character every day.

Make it meaningful.

Give them wonder.

And then I read this in the newsletter from Sara's school:

February brings emotions, especially love and respect, to our classrooms
with Valentines Day and Black History month being recognized. Valentines Day goes
far beyond exchanging a card, it opens up teaching moments and opportunities to
initiate conversations on love, kindness, respect, fairness, and inclusion to a
child who is trying to figure out and nurture social connections.

So, yeah....my goal for 2012 was born. Make everyday special....no matter how ordinary.

We Valentined it up.....


I made a heart wreath and a garland for the fireplace. The mason jars are filled with conversation hearts and candles. They smell so good burning!



Brian and I made Sara's valentines for her class. How funny is that....they exchange Valentines! I teased Brian about cutting out Pink Butterflies on a Friday night....yep...we're real exciting around these parts!

Christmas Day 2011

We had a super relaxing Christmas Day. Sara had a few presents to open. Her tricycle was the big hit. She made a b-line for it and wasn't interested in too much else besides her sippy!

Her tricycle was a hit!

Opening a present from Grammie and Grampa Kenny

you mean I can rip this paper?

Testing on the tricycle

My mom and dad came by for brunch. The weather was so nice we took Sara and Belle our for a walk. Grammie push Sara on her tricycle and Sara rode like she'd been doing it forever. She even figured out how to ring the bell.

Christmas Eve 2011

Oh.My.Goodness....Oh what fun... Christmas Eve 2011....

Checking out the tree at Grammie and Gramps:



Picture Time:

Sara loves her bread....

I really would like some of your bread....

I'll be your best friend if you give me some bread....

Post Dinner Cuddles with Gramps:

Time for Presents:

And to all a good night:

Advent Traditions

This year, Brian and I are starting some Christmas holiday traditions with Sara. December is my busiest time at work. It's easy to become so consumed by completing items on my task lists during this busy time, completely forgetting the reason for these activities in the first place. It's important to me that, as a family, we simply slow down and enjoy the Spirit of the season. For without the blessing of the Savior’s birth, there would be no reason to celebrate this time of year. Christmas would be just like any other holiday; we would have a day to spend with family, but the day would hold no special meaning.

Advent is a special time in the Lutheran church and I knew I wanted to share this time of expectant waiting and preparation for Christmas with Sara. We put up an Advent calendar that hangs right below my favorite Christmas verse: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace and good will to men.’” (Luke 2:13-14)

I loaded her advent calendar with notes that contain different activities like Read a Christmas story, Open a present under the tree, to take a wagon ride around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights, play with playdough, and take a bubble bath with a new bath toy. I wanted Advent to be about experiences, instead of trinkets and candy. But, of course, I had to add in a few presents to unwrap and sweets to enjoy! Each night, after dinner, we pull a card and do the activity.
Here's a few of our high-lights:

Reading "The Legend of the Candy Cane" and enjoying her first Candy Cane.

Ready to take our night walk to see Christmas lights in the neighborhood. She loved her mittens! She kept opening and closing her hands!

Playdough Time....she was so proud of the cookie cutters


Bubble Bath...her first one...ever! It was a hit.