Valentine's Day

 We were excited for Valentine's Day this year because we were having visitors! Michaels brother & family came to visit, which meant COUSINS!!!

 The girls took pixy sticks for their Valentine...we make them every year.

 My little Hallie was so adorable! I love dressing this little girl up!

Our totally awesome sister missionaries, Sister Berger and Sister Vander Does dropped by to do some service! They came and did dishes and vacuumed! They are so cute, and we love them!

Hallie and her Suckers

 Hallie has a thing for sweetness on a stick! She has to have one in every hand!

 This particular night she was being a goof ball!

 I think she opened 5 suckers and was taking turns licking all of them!

 And then she seemed to lose a few...wonder where they are??

So cute!

Christmas Morning

 Christmas Morning was a little different since my mom, Logan, and I threw up all night. We started feeling sick Christmas Eve while eating dinner. So, the kids waited until 9:30 to come out. My poor brother Kyle had to hold them off for hours!

 But it was well worth the wait! We had so much fun watching their expressions as they came out and tried to act surprised! Mallory is going to the Taylor Swift concert (in August) and is so excited!

 Jillian looks pretty stoked too! She got a little DVD player all to herself. This has already proved itself in worth. Why she didn't get this earlier??? I don't know.

 Santa had a rough night with the cricut and the vinyl! Oh well...it's cute!

 Logan loves his dinosaur's!

 And for little Hallie...she was so cute. I think she loved her stocking full of fruit snacks the most!

 I love these random pictures of everyone with everything all over! Christmas morning is the best!

 Logan was a little put off by this big bike, but her came around to liking it! It is awesome!

 Hallie loves her little chair!

 Taylor Swift Poster...She loves!

 And for Jillian...she got to open a big present early!

 We got her her own bow and arrow set! She secretly thinks she is Katniss!

 Uncle Kyle even made her a quiver. She looks so cute!

 and tough, right?

 Getting her first lesson...not to shoot Logan!

 Kyle giving it a try.

 and Mallory

 But Jillian is a natural, she shot right in the bulls eye!

We had a blast Christmas morning, even though we were not feeling great. My Dad came over for a bit in the afternoon, then my mom felt ok to come at night. So we waited to open present until nighttime.

MCC Shines

 Mallory had a little ballet recital early December. It was a lot of fun. They had Santa there to visit with, and lots of cookies and juice for the kids. I was surprised that my kids actually sat by Santa.

 Even Hallie wanted to see Santa...no screaming! I wished I had dressed her in something cuter. I thought she would just cry.

 Mallory with her BFF Lydia. They are in the same class at school, in student council together, and take ballet together.

 Cute ballet girl!

 They did such a good job on their dance. I was impressed with how well Mallory did! She complains about her legs hurting a lot and I always tell her to just go to sleep. But now I know why they hurt! She has made some great strength improvements!

It was a fun night! I am excited for their recital in the spring!!

St. Nicholas Day!

 The kids are always excited for St. Nicholas day to come around. It is sorta the beginning of all the Christmas festivities at our house. I do love that it is one morning that I don't have to drag the kids, kicking and screaming, out of bed! Instead, we wake up to eating chocolate and then more chocolate, which made for a fun morning for Hallie! Logan got a cute Hallmark ornament with Buzz and the little green monster.

 Jillian got the Merida ornament from the movie Brave.

 Mallory got a silly tropical fish, since it was her Hawaii vacation year!

 And for lack of better stores here, Hallie got a pacifier ornament. She thought it was a real one and kept trying to suck on it.

 She loved loved LOVED waking up to chocolate in her shoes! And she loved even more that her sisters left all of their candy down on the ground while they were at school. Hallie's new favorite day!

We have celebrated this holiday tradition since I was a little kid. It is my favorite tradition that we have carried on, even if the scrooge of a husband doesn't like it...I LOVE IT!