Winter Favorites

 It seems like at all different times of year I go through different phases where I have different phases.  Well, I currently have several really good 'winter' favorites.  Please allow me to share :)

My sister was bugging me for a long time to read the series of books Vampire Academy, but I just didn't for some reason.  But I got the box set for Christmas and was instantly hooked- they are right up my alley!  A good mix between Twilight and Mortal Instruments.  I just finished the sixth and last book and highly recommend them :)

It's back... finally!!  Steve and I love ABC show Shark Tank.  Just based on the description you think it may seem a bit dull, but honestly, it's anything but!  It premiered last Friday night and you better believe we watched it right away!

 Last week on a quick trip to Walmart I made the huge mistake of picking up a couple of boxes of Toaster Strudels.  Not a good idea!  I forgot how delicious, addicting, plus fattening they are!  And it doesn't help that both Steve and Hadley feel the same way...

Hadley's kitchen (that she got for Christmas) and her baby, which was actually mine when I was little, have provided HOURS and HOURS of entertainment.  She's constantly asking to play kitchen or baby and she just is so cute while she plays.  She rarely allows me to play with her so I'll just sit and watch or sit and read.  I can already see what a good little mommy she will be someday :)  Plus I'm loving that she is so in love with her baby right now since she is getting almost all baby things for her birthday!

What are some of your winter favorites?

The Update

 Nothing to exciting to report around here so I thought I would do a quick update of what we are up to!

Steve:

Busy, busy, busy!  Between full time work and full time school I sometimes feel like we only see him on weekends.  That is actually the case, Steve doesn't get home lots of nights until like 8 or 8:30.  But he's doing really well and really enjoying this new set of classes (finally getting into the core of the information systems training).  But he's the best dad ever- Hadley is always asking where dad is and when he gets home they instantly go to their wrestling and crazy wild games!

Me:

Since we have so many nights just me and Hads we are always on the look out for ways to spend our evenings.  We are always up for visitors and playdates ;)  I finished my portfolio for my level 2 license last week and I also just two my second praxis test.  So as long as I passed I'm good to go for my Level 2!  Besides all this school stuff and planning, Hadley is certainly still keeping me on my toes and I love every minute I get with her!

Hadley:

When did my baby get so big!!  She just grows and grows more each day!  She hasn't hit anything 'terrible' at all is seriously so fun to be around all the time- she has such a funny personality.  Her interests are all Pooh and I've never seen a 2 year old more obsessed with anything!  She is talking up a storm these days, including some full sentences and funny comments :)  We are excited to celebrate her birthday here in a few weeks!

And no post is complete without a few pictures of Hadley of course... I mean who really wants to see pictures of Steve and I?

Snip Snip!

 Hadley had her first real hair cut this week!!  I probably shouldn't have waited 2 years to get it done but since it's pretty curly you couldn't really tell how uneven it was :)  I took her to a girl in our ward who sometimes does my hair and Hadley actually did really well.  Of course she had to sit on my lap the entire time so I didn't get very many good pictures.  But between candy, being fascinated watching Whitney's two little boys, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse she was a trooper!!  Whitney really only took like 1/2 an inch but just evened the whole thing out!!

I've been straightening her hair a couple times a week and it's been look pretty scraggly... so here's a before picture.

 During...

And after...

When did my baby become such a little person?  I need to take some better pictures of it but we seriously think she looks so cute and Steve keeps commenting on how old she looks!!

Christmas 2011

 We had a great Christmas with our little family.  We ate lots of food and played with cousins all night on Christmas eve...

We tried to get a good picture of all the kids in their new jammies...

 Hadley got very spoiled by Santa (and of course by mom!)...

 She came downstairs and of course ran immediately to her new Pooh books and pillow!  We then played with our new Santa toys...

 Took a bath with our new bubbles that came in our stocking...

 This year we opened presents at our house and it was a bit crazy.  Hadley had a massive meltdown and spent a great deal of the morning in 'quiet time.'  I guess you could say that it wasn't exactly the Christmas morning that we had planned...

We spent the day together watching lots of basketball, eating more delicious food, and playing lots and lots with cousins...

Loved the day (aside from the crying and screaming) and we couldn't feel more blessed!!

Twas the Season...

 To spend time with family and friends!!

We had a really great December and were able to do lots of fun things!  But of course I forgot my camera for several of them (temple square, Festival of Lights, playdates).  We did get to go the zoo with Becca, Jesse, Kevin, Hillary and the kids.  Afterwards we kinda wished we stayed home... It was freezing, it was $3 Thursday which resulted in about a million people up there, and they blocked off most of the animals.  But the kids enjoyed what little we did see and sipping on hot cocoa!



 We also went to dinner and bowling with our friends that live in Tennesee, Nate, Cami, and Jane!  The girls played around the fountain for a little while and this was the most they ever interacted :)  They both just kinda had their own things going that night- I guess that's the life of a 2 year old!!

 Hadley loved bowling but most loved running around the bowling alley!  I love this time of year and am always sad to see it end... here's til next year!