december

Before heading home to Hilmar for Christmas this year we had some fun, just the five of us;) 

I love this picture Gwinna captured of our crazy-eyed Santa nutcracker and table full of decorations!

We did it! 

Decorated this cute tree, undecorated, redecorated...back and forth everyday after we got it:)

We picked it out of the cutest Christmas tree lot right down the road from us.  I wish I'd gotten pictures :( The girls had too much fun running around, hiding and trying to find the perfect tree.  

We also came home with marion berry preserves and syrup. Yum. 

Palm Springs weekend.  

We took our little tag along with us:) Gwinna and Noelle stayed with Mama Isabel.  We ate some really great food, stayed up later than usual, really enjoyed the rain-like shower head, and tried to keep Sia from ruining the record player in our Ace hotel room ;)

Slumber party in the living room.  Sleeping under the tree is magic.  

Our Gwinna started dance this year.  She is in love & so are we.  I now understand why my mom loved watching me dance... I could watch Gwinna and do nothing else all day.  

I love it!!! 

She loves being on stage this one.  Michael Joe laughed and cried and laughed and loved every moment. 

 So sweet.

  Noelle was glued the whole time (partly too because the Grinch was part of the whole recital)

 So magical and perfect.  We are now forever singing "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas."  

by Noelle for Tia Stephanie 

Oh and then Gwinna stuck a hard heart sticker 

up her nose...so here she is in the ER...looking soooo concerned about it all....:)