christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Back to work for us today. We had a nice LONG break! 5.5 days! It was so nice but so hard to go back to work and leave our cute baby!

We had a great holiday weekend. Here is what we did!

On the way down to SLC, we stopped at Willard Bay to drive through their light display. It didn't take us as long to get there as we thought so it was still kind of light outside when we went through. HA! It was still fun. We actually went through twice because there was no one there.

While we were in SLC we visited Harry Potter land at South Town Mall, Shane and I got pedicures, and we saw the new Star Wars movie...that was all in one day!

But first...Doree had put on her princess Santa hat to get things started!

Christmas Eve I woke up in the middle of the night while a sad tummy! I came down with a mild case of the stomach flu. It was NOT fun! I had to send my little family off to church without me. I was so sad to miss church. I love the church the Sunday before Christmas. Doree looked so cute in her Christmas dress! I laid in bed most of the day on Christmas Eve. 

My parents and Daren took Doree over to see my grandpa and aunt. I was so happy they did...and got a picture! 

Christmas morning I was feeling better...still a little weak and didn't have much energy but enough to open presents! Doree wasn't a super big fan of opening presents. I think she got frustrated that it wasn't opened insistently. She did enjoy the bows and wrapping paper though! And the toys...once they were out of the box.  

We had a great time being with my family. It's always hard to leave but we wanted to go celebrate with Daren's family too. We unload and reloaded our car and went out to James and Susi's. We got there in time for dinner and presents. It was chaos. It usually is. The ENTIRE family was there. It was fun...and loud. HA!

After the festivities, we went home to open our gifts from Santa. Doree was in much better spirits at home. I think she is going to a homebody like her parents. We are just happy when we are home with each other. 

Doree was pretty spoiled! I feel like I need a bigger house now to fit all her toys. We have been loving playing with them. I am grateful for my little family and the time we have been able to spend together! The last few days we have been able to spend more time with Daren's family. It's been fun to be together. Looking forward to New Year's. We are partying at our house this year.

more updates!

Halloween time! It was so fun with Doree! We went to the pumpkin walk, carved pumpkins, and went trick or treating with our friend Beckett! Doree was a bumble bee and seriously the cutest thing you have ever seen! She loved the pumpkin guts when we carved them...which I was surprised at. She definitely loves all things texture!

The Pumpkin Walk

Carving Pumpkins!

Halloween Day!

The middle of November, Daren had to have ANOTHER surgery! This time he had to have his appendix out. They were getting ready to burst! We were in SLC spending the weekend celebrating my dad's and Shane's birthday. There was so much pressure in his stomach and it wasn't getting any better so we took him to the Instacare and they promptly sent us over to the ER. About 2 hours later he was headed up for surgery. Poor guy! He just can't catch a break! Our goal next year is to not have any surgeries! HAHA! Thankfully, he has recovered 100%!

Just 2 weeks after his surgery, we hosted Thanksgiving at our house! We actually had most of both sides of the family. We had about 30 people over. It was a BEAUTIFUL day! We actually set everything up outside. By the time we got around to eating it was a little chilly but not terrible! It was so nice to keep the mess outside. And how often can you eat Thanksgiving dinner outside?! It's always a little stressful to host but it always turns out so great! We love it! And of course, Doree and I had went to Novemberfest with the girls! Super fun to have Ang and Makayla with us again!! Doree met Santa there for the first time!

Soon after Thanksgiving...okay pretty much 2 days after...we started our Christmas celebrations! We have attended many parties and dinners and fun events!

Cheri and Adam had their Annual Christmas party and it was super fun, as always! This year we gathered supplies to make 50 hygiene kits for Operation Underground Railroad, which helps rescue children was sex slavery. Amazing organization!

We went to the Hyde Park Christmas lighting. It's a fun family tradition. Daren and I are both grateful for these traditions that Doree will grow up with. She also met Santa again!

We had our neighborhood Christmas party! More Santa. This time with her best friend Nona! Totally a classic picture!

The Hancey family Christmas party! More fun! More Santa! More service! We were able to make 100 hygiene kits for a refugee center in SLC. So amazing!

So far Christmas has been pretty magical...I know Doree doesn't really understand what is going on but I like to pretend she does! I do know...she loves candy canes! HA!

That's all for now! More festivities to come!