Meeting Santa

This was Bree's first year meeting Santa and boy was she excited about it!

 And here is Emmy and Sadie waiting to sit on Santa's lap. This Santa came to visit at the ward Christmas party.

 I overheard Sadie telling Santa she wanted a cash register and I am sure Emmy said something about the Backyardigans.

 This is the best picture I got of all of them together. I wish I could have scooted back further, but Santa was on the edge of the stage and I had my 35mm lens on. Oops.

 So next best thing I took a side shot. Sadie really has become really cooperative about smiling when I have my camera out even when I am just trying to get a candid shot ;)

 

Back in November the Stewarts took the girls to the Festival of Trees. I just could not bring myself to fight the crowds so I was so grateful they took the girls because they just loved it! They got to see Santa, and Brian, Bree and I went on a date to Stockman's.

Is there such thing....

...as a 4-peat? Well Brian's team did it tonight! They won the Skyline Alumni Tournament for the fourth year in a row. I don't usually post things this fast, and I am about two months behind on this blog, but here you go. I am just so proud of Brian that he is getting a special post. The last game was close and of course Emmy had to go to the bathroom with about 40 seconds left (kills me the timing of that girl) but they pulled it off and got another cool t-shirt and bragging rights!

Sadie and Emmy discovered one of Brian's teammates daughters, Olivia, and just thought she was the bees knees! I kept telling them her name was Olivia but they would only refer to her as "my friend". Luckily there was this "gingerbread house" that kept the girls busy, busy, busy!

Breakfast at the Stewarts

We are pretty boring for breakfast. Usually the girls have yogurt with granola or eggs, I like to have oatmeal every morning (and I've kinda hooked Emmy on it too), and then there is Brian. Brian came up with the most delicious breakfast in the world that we like to call, "Daddy bars". It is a delicious granola bar that is tweaked just to Brian's liking. 

Brian's homework is to add the recipe here....

Onto conference weekend where we all decided to try something new. I made these nasty no rise cinnamon rolls and let the girls decorate them Halloween style and then Brian took the extreme opposite route and took a recipe Auntie Barb gave us and added a lot more healthy ingredients to an already extremely healthy pancake and here are the pictures to show his creation. Everyone at least enjoyed straying from the usual breakfast rut.

Renaissance Festival/ We Heart Utah

My Dad started a Utah County Renaissance Festival and this was the kickoff year, so we were really excited to go down to Utah and support my Dad and see the fruits of his labor!

 There were so many great activities for the kids and my girls were memorized by all of the people dressed up in such elaborate costumes.

 

 

 I've always been amazed with my Dad's work ethic and how after working so hard at his job that he finds time to go after so many of his hobbies and passions.

 We were introduced to glitter tattoos at the festival and have been obsessed with them ever since. I found a really cute kit on Halloween clearance and Brian just found an "As Seen On TV" kit with even more designs that the girls are getting for Christmas (I am just as excited to use them!)

My gorgeous sister, Auntie Lees in her Arwen costume. She was such a lifesaver helping me with my three girls!

 I rented a fish eye lens and City Creek was just around the corner so I took my three girls and we did some window shopping/took pictures/did a lot of playing!

 

I pretty much fell in the love with the fish eye lens and how much I could capture with it. It just takes ordinary everyday moments and gives it a little edge. 

 

The way little Emmy is skipping reminds me of The Grinch or something. Maybe since Christmas is only a few days away!

 

State Fair

We really weren't planning on going to the fair in September because we had just gotten back from Oregon and went to Oaks Park so there wasn't really a need to go on more "barf rides" as we like to call them. But it has become tradition to go and we always have fun so we once again went to the fair. It was the same day as Sadie's first day of preschool. 

Emmy rode this same ride last year and cried the entire time. Boy how things have changed. Emmy thought it was heaven on earth.

Papa and Grandma came with us and were so nice to take the girls on the miniature horse ride.

 Brian discovered Bree's first tooth peaking through!

Emmy - Our 2 year old

Emmy... a lot of times we don't know what to do with you. You have the sweetest most caring personality and then a lot of times your two-year-old ness comes out I literally want to kick the wall or pull my hair out. Waking up at 5am for the last year has been driving everyone insane and usually by 8am you tell me you are tired, but of course won't take a nap so we all get to deal with crabbiness the rest of the day. Not all day mind you, because the sweet Emmy will reappear throughout the day making us laugh and just fall in love with your unique and sweet spirit all over again. I loved editing these pictures because it just reminds me that you are so full of energy and are just so curious about the world around you. We love you Emmy! This family would definitely not be the same without you!