Christmas 2009

Christmas was a lot of fun this year mostly because it was so fun to watch Katie enjoy it. Christmas Eve John asked Katie if we should leave some cookies out for Santa if he was hungry when he stopped by, she thought that was a great idea. He went to put her to sleep and just when he thought she was drifting off she would say "Daddy?" John would say "What?" She would ask "Santa?" then he would have to explain that Santa hadn't come yet and she needed to go to sleep. I'm not sure how many times they had this conversation before she finally fell asleep. In the morning I got up early (and so did Abi) to start food preparation for Christmas dinner and heard John and Katie get up, she was so excited. We opened presents and off to Johns parents we went. Katie ran all over with her baby and new stroller. We enjoyed family and good food. I'm excited for Christmas next year when both the girls are older.

Katie and her new stroller. Santa set it up with her baby already in it.

I got to help Abi with her presents.

So excited for the goldfish crackers and candy bar in her stocking.

Abi just wanted to eat the ribbon she found.

Sister love! In their cute Christmas PJ's.

Abi was being strong and trying sit up she nearly fell sideways good thing for lots of pillows.

Candid family photo.

Katie is holding her new favorite Movie "The Wizard of OZ". we had tried to find it for Christmas but didn't lucky for us Uncle Tommy gave it to us with four other great Disney movies. Katie jumped and danced when we told her it was the witch movie. She loves the witch.

Such a cute Santa Baby.

Katie was the official present hander outer until she got distracted that is.

"Here Aunt Aileen this is yours"

So happy to play with Daddy.

Katie and Harley I'm glad she didn't run the dogs over with her stroller although she tried.

Abi with Grandma. So glad Tommy got this picture.

Uncle Bobby is so nice to let Katie play his guitar.

Our cheesy photo.

John with his family.

Temple Square Lights and Santa Babies

Last Friday we headed down town with Thousands of others to see the Christmas lights. Traffic and parking were ridiculous but we enjoyed ourselves anyway. It wasn't to terribly cold so we we all were able to enjoy walking around and seeing the lights for a bit.

This is our Coddle Top we recently got it to keep Abi covered from the cold while we go in and out of places we love it! A cute young mom in our ward makes them.

Abi is so cute in her Christmas dress, I think the hat is the best.

Our two beautiful girls in red.

Katie wouldn't sit up for me so this is the picture she gets posted.

Four Years and counting.

John and I have been married for 4 years now. It has been a wonderful adventure to join our lives and then add two more little lives to ours. We are very much in love more today than ever before. John is a wonderful husband and knows how to make me happy. I'm so grateful that he has taken the responsibility to provide for our family and allows me to stay home with our girls. It hasn't been easy to live on one income but all sacrifices we make have been worth it. I look forward to the rest of eternity with him.

Here are some of our wedding photos. I included the one I mentioned is under our Christmas tree.

Nolan Christmas Party

This last Saturday we had a family Christmas party with my family. This was the first time all of my siblings and family's have been together in over a year, sadly I didn't pull out my camera. It was wonderful to all be together, there are 22 of us now and we filled my parents upstairs. Santa came for all the kids to talk to, my nieces and nephews were thrilled but Katie was scared and wouldn't sit on his lap. Mrs. Claus was kind enough to get a picture of all of us and hopefully I will be able to post it later. The party left me wanting to spend more time with my siblings hopefully we can get together more often in the coming year.

Yay for the Holidays!

We spent Thanksgiving dinner with my family at my parents, we enjoyed being with family and eating good food. Katie loved having her cousins to play with and to chase after. Although we did miss my brother Chris and his little family, as they spent the day with his wife's family. The day before I helped my mom brine a turkey for the first time, it turned out awesome. My only problem with roasting a whole turkey is the dark meat, I am a white meat fan and there is never enough. Later in the afternoon we went to John's parents and were happy to be able to see all of his siblings and his parents. Some of the things I am thankful for are my family, my friends, a home to live in, the health all four of us are blessed with, a wonderful husband of nearly four years, for the beauty of earth and the desire and ability to enjoy it first hand.


John hasn't been able to watch as much college football as her would have liked this fall so we made sure to tune in to the BYU vs. UofU game. John's dad came and watched the game with us and ended up holding Katie is silly positions for part of her afternoon nap. Katie loves her Grandpas, next to daddy they are her favorite people.

John's mom found these very cute matching dresses for the girls. They look great on our beautiful girls.

I was getting pictures of Abi for her monthly picture and Katie had to join in. Katie has learned to get undressed except for those darn snaps on the bottom of the onesie, thank goodness to otherwise we would have a naked two year old most the time.

Abi is three months old. At her checkup everything looked great, she is in the 98% for weight coming in at 13 lbs 15 oz (her big sis is in the 10% on the other hand at 24lbs). Abi finally is starting to enjoy tummy time, as long as it is the right time of day. She gives lots of big smiles and I just can't seem to get a picture of one.

The Saturday, Sunday, and Monday after Thanksgiving were spent decorating for Christmas. I have many cute decoration mostly thanks to my Grandma Arlene and Grandpa Jay who gave me a new decoration every year. I got all of my houses, my nativity, and other items not pictured from them. Under our tree you'll see one of our wedding pictures, I took down some of the pictures and items from our wedding to make room for Christmas decorations. I thought how sad to take it all down the month of our Anniversary. The picture here we are on the mezzanine level at the JSMB and (not that you can tell, but...)the top of the Christmas tree in the lobby is visible as well as other decorations so I thought this would be a fun picture to display under our tree. We put our tree up on a side table to keep Katie away but of course being the little monkey she is climbs right up.

This last Sunday we decided to put together a gingerbread house. Katie loved putting candy on and licking frosting off of her fingers. John did all construction and I did the decorative icing that isn't so decorative. When we decided we were done with it Katie was already picking off her favorite candy to eat. It was a lot of fun I think we will definitely make it a tradition.

TWO!

Last week Katie turned two years old. On her birthday the poor girl had her 2 year old check up and got 2 vaccinations which caused a fever for one day what a birthday. Has she hit her terrible twos? you ask, well yes, a while ago I would say. She can throw a tantrum with the best of them and she refuses to eat for at least two meals a day. Katie is also very sweet much of the time, she loves to give Abi kisses and hugs to her daddy, mommy gets them to sometimes but she is a daddy's girl. Her favorite gifts seem to be the vetrinary and doctor toys she got, and also the step stool for the bathroom (she will wash her hands or brush her teeth for a very long time just so she can stand on it). We had a party on Saturday night and enjoyed pizza, cake, and a pinata with family and friends.

Cake courtesy of Kristin. Thanks is so cute!

She was ready for gifts right away.

Playing with friends

Her pinata, yes it's a tank, she picked it out. Silly girl!

Yay for presants.

TuTu!

Katie with grandma Hughes

Sitting on the aforementioned stool.

Daddy and Katie built a tower instead of getting in pj's.