A weekend away!

This year I really went back and forth on wether or not to give Jackson a big party. Then I decided why not, you only turn 2 once so I booked the park and started planning.  Steve came home and said I booked the campground we are going away to Disney for Jackson's birthday! Party plans stopped and Disney planning started!!! To be honest I really just didn't feel like he "needed" the big party this year so I was kind of relieved! Matt, Emily and Ben were coming with us. It was Ben's first time at Disney and Emily hasn't been in years!!!! We also brought Ashley along to help with the kids (really to help the parents) She was a huge help! It is always nice to have an extra hand! Also we were able to sneak away to a nice dinner on Saturday evening. It was such a great trip, a day of Disney for the kids, a day of relaxing and enjoying the camp ground, an adult evening out, and a peaceful ride home!!! Everyone was happy! 

I know that most people think Disney is high stress, or "to much work" but as a family we love it! Our kids love it! We make our Disney days about the kids and enjoy every moment when we are there and when they start melting down as all kids do we gracefully call it a day!!! 

The early risers exploring the camp ground! 

Look at the excitement on those faces! It was our first ride of the day!!!! 

Stitch is one silly guy! 

Ashley and Makayla wait to ride Dumbo

Donald still the only character Jackson with go near!!! 

Makayla loves her some Minnie 

Love when this happens 

Makayla loved having Ashely with her! 

I love this picture of Makayla and Ben in front of the castle 

Best photo bomb 

The kids really did have a great day but this picture from the end of the day is classic!  I think this might go down as my all time favorite photo from Disney

Makayla and "her horse" Binge  she has had her picture with him for the past few years! She really thinks this is HER horse! 

Playing on the playground!

Our dinner date out at California grill! The last few years Steve and I have enjoyed out anniversary dinner here but last year in was closed for a remodel. They have made some beautiful changes. We enjoyed a rooftop fireworks display and an awesome dinner the company wasn't bad either!!! 

enjoying the fireworks and a view of the castle

Matt and Emily

Lifelong friends

Steve and I

The last day my boy will be 1

Sunday morning the last time I can say my boy is 1! This is the last day I will have a one year old, he will always be my baby but he is growing up so fast! He wakes up tomorrow as a 2 year old!!!! This mom is having a rough time with it this year!

Christmas eve

My mom held her annual Christmas eve open house again this year! I am so thankful for this evening. Most of our closets friends and family join us at my moms for way to much food, some good drinks, and a ton of family fun and togetherness. The kids exchange gifts and "party". We always have a good time and the kids love it. My mom gives them all matching Christmas pjs, and they cannot wait to change into them! As crazy and hectic as this last month has been, the joy and excitement brought on by all these kids will never get old.  I can honestly say I am glad the season it's self is coming to and end, but I hope 2014 is as good to us as 2013 has been! 

Makayla, Jake, Hannah, Jackson
They like to sister swap

Makayla, Hannah, Shea

My beautiful Girl! 

Best Friends

Daddy and Jackson

Getting all 6 of these kiddos to look was no easy task, but I think  I did ok! 

Cookies, cupcakes, & milk for Santa. Carrots for the reindeer of course 

Makayla's gifts all set up from Santa 

Jackson gift from Santa 

 We were so blessed this year to be surrounded by so many friends and family throughout the year. I am so thankful for my family. Life is not always rainbows and sunshine, times get tough and life sucks sometimes, but I know I have my family, and dear friends and that makes it all ok….more then OK it makes life worth living! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas Eve Eve

Good friends of ours recently open a new restaurant. They invited us to join them and many others for a Christmas Eve Eve party! What a great idea!!! We celebrated the season with great long time friends and the opening of their new venture! Here are few photos from the night! We had a great time! Steve and I always enjoy a night out!!! 

What a great night! Everyone had a great time celebrating. Hope they make this evening a new tradition!!!

Welcome Callee Rae

After a surprise blessing and a very long 9 months my best friend welcomed her first baby girl into the world today! At 4:37 Callee Rae joined the world weighting in at 8lbs 4oz and 20" long. She is beautiful and healthy. Her 3 brothers Cooper, Cason, and Colton are over the moon about her! She is perfect and precious and I am so happy to be a part of her life. We are going to cover her pink and glitter and love her until she can't stand us anymore! 

Welcome Callee Rae!!! 

look at that sweet face! 

This is the day after she was born. I could not wait to get my hands on that sweet girl! 

Her first selfie! Don't worry there will be many more to come! 

Proud big brother Cooper! He didn't want to let her go!!!! 

Tis the season

This month and the holiday season has been incredibly busy for us this year. I'm not sure if it's because of having two kids, having only 3 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas or just because we've gone crazy but any way we have been non-stop, so when our friends Kim and Mike invited us over for a Christmas parade and BBQ we thought why not add it to the list. You can never get enough friend time this time of year! The evening was actually very relaxing and it was kind of nice to step away from all the hecticness of the holidays and just hang out!
We took the kids on a short walk from there house to Main street in Dunedin, the girls loved the parade and all the candy and beads and floats, once our bag was full we headed home for a BBQ with lots of other friends and good drinks!

Ally and Makayla waving for candy

love these girls

watching the band

Ally was so excited about her new hat, and Makayla was thrilled about all the beads she collected 

handing me handfulls of candy canes. These two collected WAY to much candy it's to bad we "forgot" it all at the parade.  Ha mean moms!!!