We had our traditional New Year’s Eve gathering and added a few little extra buddies this year!

We danced the night away!

 

This is the reason we bought this ottoman…

There’s nothing else I’d rather see in my living room!

 

Okay, so Landon is the cutest little boy you can think up!  His kisses are so amazing (slow and intentional), and his cuddles so sweet!  The PondFam5 are in love, literally all 5 of us are crazy about him… it’s hilarious!

Anna Kate cuddled Landon (or tried too) all night!

 

Ty and Tate were cracking up!

 

Rose took 15 consecutive steps tonight.  Pretty soon she is going to be walking more than crawling.  I can’t believe my 10 month old baby is walking!

Landon and Rose made friends tonight!  They were so cute together!

 

Anna Kate rides Rose all the time, and she always get in trouble, but tonight I took her picture because I want to show it to her when Rose is junking up her room some day… it’s just pay back!

Rose and Landon played together for a while.  It was so cute seeing them really interact.  He followed her all the way to our room and then they played on the floor in there some more. 

 

 

This girl has some serious moves, and she knows how to feel the music!

 

And this one too!

 

Noelle was showing everyone our New Year’s party from last year that popped up on the screen saver.  That was a fun coincidence!

Cheers!

Mike’s New Year’s Eve kiss!

Thanks for taking this picture Jon!  I wish I had your camera (jealous)!

 

Jon hanging out with Noelle on New Year’s Eve 2006.

 

Jon and Anna Kate, New Year’s Eve 2009, and Jon with Rose, New Year’s Eve 2011.

So this closes a chapter in our kids’ lives to be mortified, I mean introduced, to Jon on their first New Year’s Eves.  He’s a cuddly teddy bear really, but he’s a big guy, and during Noelle’s first New Year’s Eve, he traumatized her by literally just saying  “hello!” and bending down to play, so we just kind of kept the tradition going.  Now the big kids want to jump all over him… poor Jon (I know, you’re thinking poor babies, but really, this hurt Jon more than it hurt the girls, I promise)!

 

The girls were so excited about Cerly’s birthday party on Saturday… we couldn’t wait to go celebrate our newest little buddy!

 

Here’s the party star enjoying every last bite of her cake, until her parents were like, whoa girlfriend, you’ve had enough!!!

 

They had an awesome photo booth that was SO much fun for everyone, and we posed outside of it for a couple of extra pics!

  

The photo booth came with a table of props, and Noelle really got into it!

  

I don’t know how many costume changes she had!

 

This side picture of Noelle with her black wig and blonde hair cracks me up!

Tanna’s sister taught Noelle how to hold up her gun!

 

Tanna and I even got to take a pic together (for once)!

Anna Kate barely stepped out of the bouncy house!

 

Anna Kate and Brylee had time for a game of patty cake and some pics in the photo booth before heading back to the bounce house!

 

Rose is finally at the age where I feel comfortable letting the big kids pick her up and full out play with her.  All three of them are loving it!!!

 

See what I mean!?!

Sweet. girl.

 

Bounce baby!

I love watching Rose discover new things.  She’s so cool!

 

Noelle got Rose so tickled!

Cerly and Rose were all partied out in this picture, but I’m so glad I got a picture of them together on Cerly’s special day!

And then we walked home on a gorgeous winter day!

And then we walked home again because everyone had to take a turn on Daddy’s shoulders! 

Noelle got to get her ears pierced last week with the coupon Santa left with her Christmas presents… she was one happy little girl!

This was right before we went in to the doctor’s office!  The excitement is building!

  

Dr. Fikkert has been Noelle’s pediatrician from the day she was born, so Noelle felt very comfortable letting her pierce her ears. 

I don’t think I’ve ever taken a picture of the mural in their waiting room.  There is art throughout the practice… it’s a fun place to be for little kids!

 

And of course, she picked this prize for her reward… so Noelle!  Great job, silly girl.  You are getting so big and growing up way too fast!  We love you!

We lived it up last week!  Even though Mike had to work, we still had a lot of fun!  One night we used a Groupon for dinner in Ft. Worth and walked around and admired the lights afterward!

Anna Kate was so excited every time we walked by a purple tree that she would scream, “Purple is my favorite color!” and run up and hug it!  Strangers were even smiling and laughing… her joy was contagious!

We didn’t bring the camera, but Mike’s phone did a good job.  These trees are gorgeous to see in person, and the pictures don’t do them justice!

Happy New Year!!!

Poppa and Rara came to town with a sleigh full of food and toys!

For our appetizer, the girls helped Rara make a snowman cheese ball!  They had a blast making it and actually liked eating it too!

We sang “Happy Birthday to Jesus” and blew out the snowman’s candles… random that it was on a snowman cheese ball that we blew out his candles, and perfect too because it was so Rara!

And then we made Poppa’s pizza… everyone gets to put toppings on their own section, and we enjoy this tradition a lot! 

Rose is almost too big for her drawer and that makes me very very sad! 

 

Baby Rose got to open the first present because this was her first Christmas!

Rara did a little inner wrapping on all of the presents… it’s in the little things! 

  

Poppa and Rara gave Noelle her very own sewing box and filled it with thread, a pin cushion, buttons, lace, measuring tape, and all sorts of treasures.  I wish I had taken a picture of the inside… Noelle is so very proud of her sewing kit and can’t wait to start sewing!

 

It was raining on Christmas day, so we let Anna Kate ride around our house (all day)!  It had the perfect turning radius, and we all joined in the fun.  Even baby Rose rode in the car… she looked so big!  I didn’t take as many pictures as I should have… we were having too much fun!!!

 

Hope you had as much fun as we did this Christmas!

We put the baby gate upstairs and told the girls to yell out, “It’s Christmas!” when they were ready to come downstairs on Christmas morning to see if Santa left any toys.  While I was dreaming, I heard, “It’s Christmas!”  I jumped out of bed and yelled at Mike, “It’s Christmas!”  It was hilarious!  We were all so excited!!!

 

The telephone was Anna Kate’s favorite present, and she didn’t even wish for it… who knew!?!

 

Rose took 3 steps all by herself on Christmas morning!  We are so proud of her!

 

These pictures crack me up!

I got a new wallet this summer, and it came with a check book that I don’t need, so I gave it to Noelle and she loves it so much!!!

 

Rose and Noelle took turns playing the harmonica that was in Anna Kate’s stocking while Anna Kate had a little tea party!

Noelle was dancing a jig for us and all of the girls were happily playing with their new toys… it was so cool!  Mike and I were just sitting there watching and playing them for hours.  There’s nothing I’d rather be do on Christmas morning!

 

Mike gave me a pair of Hanes socks (my favorite!) and an orange!  These are both inside jokes, but I really do get them every year… Anna Kate went to the potty, so that was a cool Christmas present, but it would be really cool if it was the gift that keeps on giving if ya know what I mean! 

Mike and I had this cool idea to make a cinnamon roll Christmas tree, and we let the girls decorate them with sprinkles… easy, quick, fun and festive!  I think we’ll make this a tradition.  It was lots of fun and so delicious!

Rose was getting sleepy and ready for her nap (she’s not used to waking up so early in the morning), so we put her down for her nap, but the big girls were anxiously awaiting for Poppa and Rara to arrive!

Noelle’s prizes

Anna Kate’s loot

Rose’s toys

Noelle’s favorite thing! 

Some other favorite presents: pens for the school bus with a pencil zipper pouch to keep them in, and a make-up box just like her Mommy’s.

 

On the left is Noelle’s “penny can!”  You take the lid off and throw pennies at the can, and when you get one in, you throw your hands up and yell, “Penny can!” in a high pitched voice… some of you may know where I got that idea, lol!  Anna Kate’s favorite toys were the telephone, light up scepter, Angelina Ballerina, Littlest Pet shop water bottle, sparkly purple (her favorite color) coin purse, and tea cup set!

The girls big presents were a plasmacar (Noelle), power wheels car (Anna Kate), and luggage (Rose).  I have to be honest so that you know my heart in all of this.  Those of you that know me personally know that I am excessively frugal.  I buy very little that’s not on sale or even at all.  I spent less than $100 on each girl, big presents included.  It’s like playing the lottery for me to keep my eyes out for deals… I get a rush, and I feel like I’ve won something when I get a good deal.  Example… I bought Anna Kate’s power wheels car on clearance at the end of summer for $25 and then right before Christmas, I saw a used one at Kid to Kid for $50 that was all junked up… I was so giddy about it even months after I bought it!  I’m saving money and having fun!  And the joy on their faces when they see their toys makes it all worth it!!!  They’re really good girls and work really hard all year long learning how to be the best little people they can be, so they truly deserve some excitement on Christmas morning!

So, Santa’s cookies were waiting… (I have a story about these cookies coming up soon!)

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St Nicholas would soon be HERE!

                

The girls were so excited to begin the Christmas festivities!

It’s SO hard to get a family picture these days… livin’ the good life right here!

Rose found a card Noelle made for great grandma and was so excited to get her hands on it!  I love this picture of discovery!

Then we made our traditional cookies for Santa… the girls love this part!

 

They were concentrating very hard!

Mike’s Dad taught him the best way to cut a turkey.

Like I said, photos of all the girls is a huge challenge these days, but we keep trying!

Kay Kay and Grandpapa gave the girls pillow pet sleeping bags.  They were ready to crash!  Not!

As you can tell, Noelle REALLY wanted the Build-A-Bear Smurfette! 

 

Elated and giving thanks!

 

Kay Kay and Gradpapa got Anna Kate this adorable outfit and a Dora tag book and baby Rosie and tea set!  Next, we iced and sprinkled cookies!

And then it was time for the reading of the Christmas story and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, both Christmas Eve traditions for us.

 

To end the night, the girls went out in the yard to sprinkle reindeer food for Santa’s reindeer (oatmeal and glitter).  They didn’t miss a spot around the parameter of the yard… it was hysterical!