December and Yearly Recap

Geez, I forgot to post the rest of December.  Here it is.

On Christmas Eve Eve, we did our annual cookie baking/decorating.  Thank goodness for Grandma Pam being in town; I did not have to worry about the baking.  Last year, the husbands/boyfriends did the baking while the ladies sat around and chatted.  Anyhoo, I lucked out again this year. :)

Adding sprinkles

Eating reindeer food :)

Such concentration

Finished!

Finished!

Afterwards, we headed out to the Texas Motor Speedway for some Christmas lights action.  This time around the line was much, much longer (for obvious reasons) but we had fun in the car while we waited.  Gracie greeted nearby cars and barked at a few too : /  We tried our hardest to get Uncle AJ to sing with us, but our attempts were unsuccessful.  We also got out of the car to do a lot of goofy things for entertainment...well in our minds we did.  

Getting ready to go to the lights.

The lightgoers 

One of many displays

Griffin is also making more attempts to crawl, and we got his first bit of movement on video.  He was so funny to watch as he realized he could do something new and exciting.

Christmas Eve consisted of playing and going to visit Pam's cousin, Shelley and her family.  We had fun talking with the boys, Shelley and her husband.  They made us dinner, and we had a little bit of time for a game.  It's so nice knowing other people in this new place.  It helps it feel like home.

Shelley, Pam and Gracie

After getting home from Shelley's, we got to Skype with my family who was celebrating Christmas at my mom's.  The kids got to open all their presents from my mom, my sisters and my brother.  Gracie was so excited to open all the gifts, but then upset she couldn't open everything else under the tree. LOL  The hardships of a 3 year old's life.

Christmas Eve tradition continues...Home Alone with cookies and milk

Christmas morning is always so exciting.  I love seeing Gracie's reaction, and it seriously gets better with age.  She was so excited that "Chocolate" the elf had told Santa how great of girl she was in 2012.  She endured long flights, potty training, a new baby brother, another long move, hotel stays and the list goes on.  She is such a blessing and a joy to have in our lives.  We are seriously blessed with an awesome, flexible and fun-loving little lady.  And I can't forget Griffin!  He is much different than I remember Gracie being at his age.  But he too was an amazing baby in 2012.  Being born is enough to put you at the top of Santa's "Good" list. :)  Our two babies are amazing in so many ways.

Christmas morning

Santa came!

Gracie with her stocking.  She is so excited to open presents!

Ready to open!

Santa even ate his special cookie and drank his milk.

The anticipation was killing her!

Just what she wanted!

He can't believe his eyes!

A toolbox!

First Christmas

Another item on her Santa list.

Christmas 2012- Nothing better than seeing these two lovin' each other.

Checking out the rest of the presents.

Gracie hit the jackpot this year! Woohoo!

Santa brought me my favorite soda...Fanta (in Spanish and everything!)

Griffin with part of his stack of presents.

I love Griffin's face here

Everyone is smiling :)

I love our little family!

We were actually granted a white Christmas this year!!  I think it was God's way of thanking us for having Christmas in Hawaii without it really feeling like Christmas.  We were so excited to see it falling.  And it actually stuck around for a couple days.  What a blessing!

Starting to snow!

Had to go out and enjoy it!  We thought it would be gone in a few hours but it stuck around.

Playing with their toys.

Gracie in her Lalaloopsy "Pickles BLT" dress

At the end of the last post, I asked "Does this mustache make me look fat?"  Well take a look for yourself.  We've been working on them for a while now.

Griffin looks like an old bald man.  Griffin Button?

Justin's looks pretty legit.

Mine came in grey.

Ah Gracie!  What happened to you?!

We laughed hysterically for about 30 minutes over this.  

She was supposed to be sleeping, of course.

hahahahaha this matched her hair perfectly!

After Christmas, we had gymnastics, more playing, a trip to the Stockyards in Fort Worth and some rock climbing.

Gymnastics...

Playing...

Griffin is crawling more and more!  Sometimes with a crazy step.

Night time; bathed and in their jammies 

They love each other so so much!

Had to get his frog butt 

I used to rock her in that chair!  Look how big she is getting!

Bedtime fun with Mom and Dad

Chocolate chip chin

 Stockyards fun...

Gracie and her uncle AJ

Griffin in his high chair...getting so big!

Gracie with the barrels of taffy

She was trying to say "Howdy partner!"

Trying to get her to pet the horse.  Too scared.  Don't blame her, I have a picture of me with my grandpa, screaming my head off while on the horse with him.  She gets it from her mama.

The horse and cowboy

Yeehaw!

At the Fort Worth Stockyards- Pam and AJ

Train came rolling in.

 More playing...

Father-daughter lego building

So sweet

Rock climbing at The Summit.  Justin and I had gone the day before for a little day date.  We had so much fun that we had to bring the fam.  Gracie was excited but didn't like it once she got off the ground.  Pam and AJ had fun testing it out, too.

I don't know where she gets this from.  lol But she's ready to climb!

Getting a lesson in belaying.

Ready to go

She was done.

AJ!

Pam!  She did get a little higher than this. :)

To top this post off, we will end it with New Year's Eve.  We stayed home and played some games with Pam and AJ.  Gracie stayed up until 11:59 p.m.  She almost made it!  We woke her up to blow a horn, and then sent her tired butt to bed.

Ready to pass out.

Here's what 2012 brought our little family.
January- a new year with new hopes and dreams, Justin's birthday at the beach and Grandpa Mike and Great Grandma Judy's visit to Oahu
February- a two week trip home to Omaha and a surprise baby shower for Griffin
March- AJ and his friend, Jared, visited, my birthday with new friends and dessert on the beach
April- our first Hawaiian Easter, another surprise baby shower thrown by our amazing friends/ Ohana
May- GRIFFIN'S ARRIVAL!!  and Grandma Linda, Aunt Tina and Great Aunt Rosie visiting. 5th Wedding anniversary
June- GRACIE'S 3rd Birthday!! Grandma Pam's 2nd visit
July- Joined Mom's Club, Justin's CrossFit competition, another visit back to Omaha to introduce and baptize Griffin
August- 1 year anniversary in Hawaii, said goodbye to friends, Sea Life Park and more playing
September- Husker football, picnicking, taking some things off our bucket list, family pictures at the beach
October- Our staycation at Aulani (Disney Resort on the island), big waves at North Shore, our first hike, Halloween fun
November- Announced our departure of the island :(  more bucket list items checked off like the Byodo-In Temple, pineapple ice cream, saying our sad "see you later"s to our Hawaiian Ohana and one more beach trip.  We also made a trip home before heading to Dallas on the 25th.
December- Found our next home, explored the Fort Worth zoo, moved into our new home, prepared for Christmas, had Pam and AJ visit, Christmas festivities.

Wow!  Looking back at the past year has been amazing.  I look at our Hawaii pictures and feel extremely blessed, lucky, fortunate, happy, sad, amazed......  My list could go on.  I thank God we had that opportunity and took advantage of it.  What an amazing place and what amazing memories we will hold forever in our hearts.  2012 you've been amazing in so many ways.  Please continue to shine your blessings on us.  We are forever grateful for the memories, our health, our babies and most importantly each other. Here's to a great 2013!