Happy New Year 2011!!

Blowing in the new year.

Looking pretty and ready to celebrate.

All made up with 2011 on the cheeks.

Having a great time with the silly string.

Enjoying silly string.
Lauren and Ella ready for bed and ready for 2011!!

Lauren and I celebrated the new year with our good friends, Kim and Ella. We had a fun evening with hats and blowers. The girls decided to put on some very pretty eye shadow. The fun part of the evening was the silly string. This was Ella's first time ever using silly string. I think she loves it as much as Lauren does.

It was a great way to celebrate the end of 2010 and the start of 2011. For the past few years we have been celebrating new years using the east coast time. When the ball drops in New York we scream and yell and celebrate the new year. We then get ready for bed and we are in bed well before the Arizona new year. It worked again this year but I know I am pushing my luck to have it continue much longer.

Kim and Ella's Visit

Lauren
Ella

















Kim and Ella and her family came to Arizona to enjoy the warmer weather. (As usually, Phoenix had a cold front come through while they were here. On Friday is was actually warmer in Chicago then in Phoenix!! That usually does not happen in December!)

We have had a great time with them. We have visited the zoo, the children's museum, and just enjoyed the time together. The girls were even able to swim one day. However, Kim had a very bad ear infection that bothered her all week. Lauren and I were just coming off strep throat so we were not the most healthy bunch. We were so happy they were able to come and visit.

Christmas Evening

My silly girl ready to go to Brian's home.

Lauren, Sammie and Jake.
Ella with her new princess outfit.

Lauren and I headed for Brian's home for Christmas evening. We were joined by our good friends Kim and Ella and Kim's parents. They are in town for a few days. It was a nice evening with good food and of course more presents.

Christmas Morning.

Playing with her new laptop as Sammie and Jacob look on.

Sammie with her new I Pod
Lauren opening her new laptop.

Lauren getting her stocking.

Christmas morning Lauren woke up so excited for the day to beginning. As we waited for Brian and Diane and the kids to join us for Santa gifts and breakfast, Lauren opened her stocking. She was so happy to get a DS game and some walkie talkies.

When Brian and Diane and the kids came we were able to open the rest of the gifts. Lauren was thrilled to get her laptop and Sammie was so happy to get an Ipod Touch.

We had a great breakfast and then relaxed before heading back to Brian's home for the rest of the gifts and dinner.

Bedtime and Cookies for Santa

Lauren and Sammie ready for bed.

Lauren sampling one of Santa's cookies.

Ready for bed.

Lauren got ready for bed and we put out some cookies and milk for Santa. Lauren told me she had to sample one to make sure they were ok for Santa. Then she was off to bed.

Lauren woke me up at 4:00am to let me know that Santa had been there. She then went on to tell me how many gifts there were and that Jacob got a big green chair and that there was one gift she was not sure who it belonged to and etc. She must have been in there looking around for a while before joining me in bed. I am so happy that she is still excited for Christmas and Santa.

Christmas Eve

Lauren and I spent Christmas Eve with Brian, Diane, Sammie and little Jake. After I got off work I went to Brian and Diane's home and we all went to an early church service. It was a wonderful time of singing and just enjoying the true meaning of Christmas.

We then came back to Brian and Diane's home and had a great dinner and opened a few presents. It was wonderful evening with family.