Mommy Daughter Cookie Tradition

This year was our second annual mommy daughter cookie making adventure. You were so excited to get started. This year I decided I better make my cookie dough from scratch versus the store bought cookies (HA). You loved every minute of our morning from rolling the cookie dough all by yourself to putting the largest cookie cutter in the middle so we would have to roll the dough out again to your favorite part...SPRINKLES! If it were up to you each cookie would have an entire bottle of sprinkles on it, the more the merrier is your attitude when it comes to sprinkles.

I love starting our own traditions and this is going to be one of my favorites . . . just me and you! I love you....

Pictures to come....

Crack Crack is Back

Well it is that time of year again . . . Crack Crack the elf is back! We knew Kallie would be so excited to see him. This year he brought her a pair of Santa jammies on his first visit.

On top of the elf excitement we also decided to take a trip on the trolley with Cooper to visit Santa. Kallie and Coop were so excited they could not stop jumping up and down. A great time was had by all. Kallie even decided to write Santa and Crack Crack a letter when we got home. Let the holidays begin....

Oh Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree

On Sunday the Bates, Boatman(s) & Kelsey families set out on our third annual Christmas tree hunt. It is such a fun way to kick off the holiday season with family. The kids have so much fun running from tree to tree with excitement. Eventually we all found our trees and we ended our adventure with hot cocoa by the fire and of course a few trips on the train.

Kallie was so excited when we got home to get out the Christmas boxes so we could decorate the house. I decided to bring all of the Christmas boxes upstairs and let her explore. It was so fun to watch her take out the decorations one by one with a huge smile on her face. With holiday music in the background we had a great time decorating our tree. Kalie wanted to look at each and every ornament and ask “Is this one mine?”. . . And anytime she would see one she really like she would say “look how magical this ornament is”.

The holidays are off to a great start and watching Kallie's eyes light up is truly magical.

Thanksgiving 2013

This year we hosted our 2nd annual Thanksgiving dinner. We had a big group this year . . . 20 people. It was an extra special Thanksgiving because Ric and Thalene were here. It was a great night with lots of great food (thanks to eveyone) and wonderful family.

There are so many things I am thankful for it is hard to just share a few so I will sum it up by saying I feel very thankful to have an amazing husband and partner by my side, an amazing - smart- spicy - funny - healthy baby girl, our first baby Coho Monkey Bubbs Bates, supportive families and the best friends anyone could ask for . . . Wow I am one lucky girl!

Here are a few pictures from Thanksgiving and our time with Mimi and Papa - Kallie can't wait to see them again!!!