Partners In Crime . . . Well Almost

Livi has begun to scoot everywhere, the girl is fast.  This new mobility has caused Emme to realize her sister is a new play thing.  Emme will do what every she can to get Livi to laugh.  Sometimes it results in tears and not laughter as she wanted, but they are quickly become little friends.  Livi follows her sister around the room. She gives the biggest grin just for Emme.  Of course wants to help with sissy where she can and gets upset if she doesn't know where she is.  I can fore see them giving me lot of gray hair as my sister and me gave our mother.  They are getting closer to being partners in crime, but first Livi needs to walk. 

Anything for a laugh

Got Fish?  This is her favorite thing to chew on

Family Flip Book

The pictures on the ring

The are double side and organized into the families

Emme loves it! She points at everyone and tries to repeat their names.  Though  Auntie Sarah is Auntie Shoes

We live in Utah.  We live close to Matt's family.  However my family lives in Alaska, Washington and Oregon.  So the girls don't really know their first cousins, Aunts and Uncles.  I decided I want to make something that the girls could use to see their family. So they could put names with faces.  So I made this flip book.  It was pretty easy.  Especially with this program I downloaded off the net.  It is called Picassa.  It is not as great as photo shop but it works pretty good and it is free.  First thing I did was try to find pictures of pictures of grandparents, and the uncles/aunts with their spouses so the girls understand who is married to who. Then each on of their ten cousins by them selves.  With the program I cropped, fixed lighting and was even able to write every one's names at the bottom of the picture.  Matt's Aunt has a laminating machine so that the girls couldn't ruin the cards. Then I hole punched them and put them on a metal ring since they love being able to flip through things on their own.

Things needed:

Pictures
A program to edit pictures
contact paper or a laminate machine
a metal ring (you find these in a craft store usually by the leather section)
single hole punch

Christmas

Christmas is a day full of family. Last year we spent it with my family in Washington and this year we spent it with Matt's side. The day started off with Church and lots of silent prayers Matt would get off at 10 instead of two. Emme had more fun in sacrament. She loves music and every time the choir finished singing she clapped and said good girl. She also put the little plastic cup up to her mouth and suck on it then took it off and laugh. Thankfully Matt got home right after we did and then we were off to Matt's cousin for brunch. Olivia slept through the whole thing. Emme had lots of fun playing with the cousins. She adores them. I think she would follow Aspen anywhere. We had lots of yummy food and had fun just being around each other. Marnie's new grandson made a appearance. He makes Olivia look like a giant. We then went over to Matt's parents to open presents and relax before dinner at Matt's Aunt Linda's home. Emme loved opening presents and running around. Dinner was yummy though we were all still full from brunch. We then opened more presents and sat around chatting. Olivia got a sweater, booties, and hat knitted by Linda. And Emme got a new outfit. Both girls had so much fun and exhausted still today.

Before Church

Emme with their play kitchen

Family Brunch

Opening Presents

Olivia is seven months now

Family Dinner
Next year I think we should get matching PJ's for Aspen and the girls

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve my family usually has a gourmet junk food party and Christmas movies.  We decided to carry this tradition over to our little family.  This year we spent Christmas in Utah, so we skype with my family in Washington.  The girls got to see their Great Grandma Knightall, Auntie Sarah and Grandparents Olsen.  We had chicken wings, crab artichoke dip and jalapeno popper roll ups for our little junk food party.  Sorry mom nothing was wrapped in bacon.  We opened stocking because Matt had to work in the morning.  Once the girls were in bed we watch Scrooged and put together the pink play kitchen they got. 

Olivia playing on the floor.  I think she was confused by the hat Emme kept putting on her



  

Emme with her "Junk" food

Olivia so close to crawling

Emme with her stocking

Emme and Mommy

  

Happy Belated Birthday to Aspen!

 So I told Aspen that if she used this picture I took at her birthday party I would write a blog about her.  Aspen is my Hubby's cousin Marnie's daughter Aspen.  She turned twelve a couple weeks but they were out of town at her brother Christen's game.  So she had a belated family party.  We were running late and were the last to arrive.  (Olivia had another growth spurt and couldn't find anything for her to wear)  The food was yummy as usual.  Poor Emme was having a moment of serious clingy.  She won't let anyone hold her but me.  Which is weird cause the minute we hit the house she is off with Aspen.  This only lasted though till Aspen got out her dog and Emme was off.  

Grandpa rocking Olivia she is teething four teeth and is miserable

Emme had to sit right next to Aspen while she opened her presents

Marnie, Emme, Aspen, and Troy getting ready to blow out the candles.  The Cake was super yummy

Hanging out with Stockton .  She just adores him and his hat

We had a pouting challenge 

Who do you think wins?  Aspen or Stockton?

  

Emme and the Temple Lights

  Wednesday we went to the Temple Square Lights up in Salt Lake.  We dropped Olivia off at Grandma's and just took Emme.  Mainly because it was very cold and she just had her six month shots that morning.  We layered Emme till she kinda of resembled the kid from Christmas Story.  We got there at the perfect time.  It was just starting to get dark and there were not a whole bunch of people.  So we didn't feel nervous about letting Emme walk around on her own.  She loved the lights.  After a while she got so cold that she decided to warm her face by putting her face on my jeans.  She loved it though she waved, smile and said Hi to complete strangers.  A cold but nice night as a family.  It will be more fun next year with both girls running around.  

Daddy and Emme getting ready to go see the lights

Emme loved the lights she wanted to touch them all

We were a little concerned she would  go up and pet the sheep.
 But she just blew them kisses and waved at them

My cutie hubby was freezing

Happy but Cold

With one of the large Nativity scenes

With the Christ Statue while we warmed up

She loved running around  Jesus.  She pointed out every picture  and statue of Jesus

Let the sesaon begin

 I love this season.  I love the lights, music, baking and all the magic Christmas can bring.  We have begun new traditions of our own and stayed with traditions we had for years.  Every year we try to go to the Festive of Trees, Lights on Temple Square, and visit Santa.  On Christmas Eve we have the traditional Olsen family junk food party complete with Christmas movies.  Christmas Day we go to Matt's cousin Marnie's home for brunch followed by dinner and games at his Aunt Linda's.  We have some traditions planned to start later such as the Elf on the Shelf.  Neither one of our families have done this and we thought it would be cute to do.  Reading of Christmas stories like one of my favorites "May thine alms be in secret"  and the story of Christ's birth.  I remember fondly believing in Santa and know that Christ's birth and love was the reason we celebrated. 
   So far we have check two of our pre Christmas traditions off our list Festive of Trees and Santa. Wednesday we are taking Emme to the Lights at Temple Square.  

We had issues with getting her to not run up to all the trees .
She wanted to touch everything. 

   

She saw the Mickey tree and kept saying Mouse.  

She was not happy being pick up for a picture.
 There was too much to see and try to grab

Best Tree we saw!! The Christmas Story !!!
It even had the pink bunny pjs.  This is my mom's favorite movie.
 I think  most of my siblings have this memorized.

Olivia had fun people watching

The minute the "princess" were done dancing she wanted down

She was getting tired so she let me carry her.
 Right after this we  decided it was time to go when she grabbed a Curious George Stuffy and won't let go.  We had to pry it out of her hands.  

At the SLC Sheriff's party for Kids.  They had a giant cardboard house for the kids to play in.
 She had more fun playing  in it. 

Waiting in line to see Santa with Daddy.  She loved the stickers they were giving out

She kept poking it to see if it was real

Olivia hanging with Daddy waiting to meet Santa

Emme didn't just cry she tried to escape from Santa.  Olivia  didn't care one way or another. 

They had two reindeer for the kids to see.  Emme kept trying to pet them but they would walk away

Raiding their advent calender.  Can you see the chocolate around Emme's mouth