Daddy's 'lil Huntin Buddy!

This winter, Rylee Jo went duck hunting for her FIRST time! (a day her Daddy has been waiting for quite some time:)

Here they are in their Duck Blind!
Look at my darling baby girl in her Camo Gear:) Rylee loved the quality bonding time she got to spend with her Daddy.

Daddy says, she's the best huntin' buddy he could ever ask for!

Welcoming the New Year!

A great way to ring in the new year!

We had our own little late night party new years eve!
What more could you ask for, right? :)

Rylee was Rockin out the show, Banging on pots & pans!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

SUCH a tender moment!

Ok, I know Christmas is LONG over, but I forgot to post the Sweetest moment of my Christmas Season...
This is how I found my girls playing one afternoon:

They kept asking me to put different pieces of clothing on them, cuz I knew they were pretending to be Mary & Joseph; that was their new favorite kick this year. But when I saw how they had wrapped baby Jesus up, and were just standing over the "manger" playing pretend... Oh, it just melted my heart. Look at that little Mary just looking at her baby ever so sweetly:)

I stood around the corner and had to just listen to Mary & Joseph act out their parts. It was so sweet... then I had to grab my camera fast, cuz I heard this little exchange:

Rylee: "Now Milly, come sit next to me and give me a kiss, because we are married!"
Milly: "No, Ry Ry...",
Rylee: "Milly!? You just come sit right here, and give me a kiss- you are my husband!"

So, Milly obediently walked over & sat next to her and played the part! I had to peek around the corner, & I TRULY caught this candid moment on camera:) Isn't that so funny? A little strange, yes, but CUTE as heck! I loved it.

Christmas Shirts, Dresses & Jammy's... Can't get enough!

Rylee & I made a few Cute Christmas shirts for the cousins!

We love Pretty Christmas Dresses:

These ones were from a wedding & still kinda fit them-


& Some Comfy Matching Jammy's from our Grandmas!

CHRISTMAS... Came, & Went:(

Our Christmas Eve Checklist:
#1- turn over the last day on the advent calendar! CHECK

#2: Beautiful Christmas songs & story of the Nativity by Rylee Jo & Amelia! CHECK

#3: Lay Baby Jesus in the Manger! CHECK

#4: set cookies & milk out for Santa! CHECK

#5: Last item on our list- lay out the stockings! CHECK

*tender moment- I found the girls watching out the window to see if they could see Santa's sleigh, and they were reminding him what they were hoping he would bring them!


And then, a sweet, unexpected... little Cindy Lou Who at the end of the hallway so innocent, with her sippy & blanky... havin a hard time sleeping:)

And at last... Christmas Morning Came! Santa did not forget us!

And Santa brought the girls JUST what they both wished for...

Amelia: Mr. Potato Head & Rylee Jo: Easy Bake Oven & a BARBIE JEEP!


Then it was off to Grandma & Grandpa Ralphs for a brunch & presents!

Fun times with Cousins.


OVER THE RIVER & THROUGH THE WOODS...


Last Stop~ Grandma & Grandpa Smith's
for a wonderful Christmas dinner & gifts!
Grandpa let the kids help pass out the presents.

The cousins got matching polka dot PJ's...
"COUSINS FOREVER"!

We are so incredibly blessed to have so many wonderful family members and friends.
We had such a great Holiday Season.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

Polar Express!!!

We made our own POLAR EXPRESS train ride on trax.

The kids received their special golden tickets earlier that week, and we watched the movie Polar Express to get prepared for the big night...

The Conductor Punched our tickets, just like in the movie!

We had a great time singing carols, reading the story, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate with cream!

You better watch out...

Uh, Oh! You better Not POUT... I'm telling you why,
SANTA CLAUSE IS COMING TO TOWN!!!

What a surprise it was when Santa met us at the end and gave us bells to see if we BELIEVE!

***A MUST READ MOMENT: When Santa handed Rylee her Bell, she turned to me and said: "Mommy, what if I can't hear the Bell Ring?" So, like the little boy in the story, I told her that if she didn't hear the bell ring that meant she didn't believe! Well, I watched little Rylee's face get more concerned as she shook her bell... and looked at me and said: "But Mommy, I BELIEVE... But, I don't HEAR anything!" Oops, her bell did NOT have the little ball inside that makes it ring- ha ha ha. We quickly cleared things up, and she DID believe, FEWF:)

Amelia burst through the crowd and made her way right up to Santa to be SURE he knew she wanted a Mr. Potato Head!

We had SUCH a great time with all these fun families!

Oh the Christmas Parties...

Annual Anderson Family Christmas Party
& the darling Nativity!

Rylee Jo was the Angel & Amelia was the sheep.
Milly was REALLY good at her one line, over & over again: "Baaaaah!"

Of course the ELF never forgets us!
The kids thought it was the greatest thing in the world, when they saw Rudolph's nose up on the roof, then a huge bag was magically dropped on the porch. Milly retold the story about 50 times:)

We all received a special gift from Great Grandpa Anderson-
the famous wooden marble track, a wonderful childhood memory for all the Anderson cousins. Now we EACH have our own. Thanks, Grandpa!

The Ward Christmas Program!
Rylee was able to sing as an angel with the Primary Kids. She was SO excited! (she's the tiny angel up front with the trumpet!)

Grandpa Corey's Christmas


We all had a great evening, with presents, games, and a surprise visit from Santa and his 2 elves!!!

Lastly, we cannot forget Our first, annual:
uGlY Christmas-SWEATER PaRtY!!!

with some GREAT awards, and some BEAUTIFUL sweaters: