9 Month Christmas Pictures

The girls turned nine months old right around Christmas.
So, it was fitting to do some Christmas themed pictures to capture their sweet faces at nine months.
Christmas pjs and Christmas dresses it was.




Bree was all about getting her picture taken this time.
She was playing and laughing with the photographer the whole time.
All smiles.







As far as Clara being happy about getting pictures taken, well, let's just let the pictures speak for themselves...


She hated the hat on her head, so we compromised on setting it beside her. Eh, close enough.



Bree=Happy. Clara=Sad







After much sweat and tears(from both myself and Clara), we got a decent shot in each outfit of them together.
Clara didn't smile in either, but she still looks pretty darn cute.
Also, she gets points for keeping her Santa hat on for more than one second without ripping it off...enough time for us to snap the picture.
And Bree, oh Bree, your little face is too sweet for words.

December Festivities

The Christmas festivities were in full swing this year.
Here are a few of the fun activities that has filled our December:



Our annual 'Dayton Family Christmas Get-Together' was a blast.
Unfortunately, Clara got sick on our way so we turned the car around and took her home.
Rick stayed home with sick little Clara, and Bree and I met up a little late with my family for dinner at Nauvoo Cafe and Temple Square lights.
It is great spending time with family during the holidays. As always, we had a great time.
Nothing seems more like Christmas to me than the lights at Temple Square.

Rick and I made sure to get out again later in the month with our little family to see some lights
because Rick and Clara missed Temple Square.
We headed down to Provo's Riverwoods where they have some beautiful lights on display.
We walked around, had some dinner, and got a little shopping in after.
It was a fun(and bitter cold) night with our family of four.

The week of Christmas, my sweet mom treated me to a night out with just her and I to see
David Archuleta's Christmas concert.
I know everyone out there thinks they have the best mom ever, but it isn't true. I do. :)
She would literally do anything for our family and is the most giving person I know.
I'm so incredibly grateful to have her.
The concert was great.
The best part of the night was right before his encore performance when he announced for the first time to the sold out crowd that he would be serving a mission for the LDS church!
He then sang my favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night". So powerful and spiritual.
Great night with my momma!

Christmas Card 2011

Photography and card design by Dana Sorensen

Well, Hello There Santa

We originally had planned to go meet Santa for the first time last weekend at my dad's work.

No crowds, endless time, and free.

As we were leaving town to head up, Clara started throwing up in the car.
That plan didn't work out too well.
So, we decided to bite the bullet today and go to the mall, where it very boldly states, "no personal photography" and you spend the big $$ to get a shiny picture with Santa.
I was betting that Bree would cry. She has been a little on the sensitive side lately, but she pulled out the big guns and gave us a smile.
No tears on either side....success!

Bree and Clara, meet Santa.
Santa, meet Bree and Clara.

Babies' First Christmas Tree

Happy First Christmas Bree and Clara.

My Heart Explodes

I couldn't adore this girl more.
I love you Bree.

Thanksgiving Day 2011

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year in California with the The Hansens.
Thanksgiving Day was relaxing, well, as relaxing as it can be with 3 babies and 2 young kids but it was pretty darn peaceful given that.
The food was yummy, the fire rumbled all day and it was
great spending time with one another.

Our 5 year old nephew Anthony made the adorable place settings.

Clara and Bree with their new cousin Taylor who is 6 weeks old.

Eating their Thanksgiving dinner....graham crackers. Yum Yum.



Instead of the old going around the dinner table saying what we were thankful for, we said the best and worst parts of our day. It was entertaining. A few: Rick's worst part of the day was wrestling with Ethan while he had a dirty diaper(yuck..haha), Cari's best part of her day was simply sitting on the couch and talking with her husband while holding her baby, Michael's worst part of the day was slipping in the shower, and my personal favorite...little Anthony predicted his best part of the day would be when we would play Scattergories later that night with the whole family. Tricky way to get everyone to participate! Fun memories.

I think this year more than any we have felt overwhelming gratitude and thankfulness.
We are so happy to have become parents this year and grateful to our Heavenly Father for bringing us this blessing.

Family Pictures

A few weeks ago we went and got family pictures taken from our friend Dana.
She also took these pictures back when I was pregnant and we were excited she could take some of our whole family this time.
We are so happy with them.
People keep asking how in the world we got both girls to smile at the same time.
Our secret weapon? Kids.
We asked my 8 year old niece Abby and 10 year old nephew Kaden to come along and stand behind the photographer and get the girls to giggle.
The girls LOVE Kaden and Abby so I knew it would work!
Here are a few of our favorites.

Please take a minute and admire this double chin and chubby cheeks....yes, we are proud! Pretty impressive.