Will Sleep for Blessings

As we talked about New Year's resolutions, Courtney and I decided we needed to work on our family scripture study. We ussually attempt to do it at night, but it seems like there is always something that comes up, one or all of us is grouchy, or it just gets plain wild! Anyway, we have realized that as much as we hate to do it, we should probably get everyone up in the mornings. After all, we need all the blessings we can get! So we decided that for this year, our focus as a family will be scripture study. Here is a look at our 6:30 am attempts. Do you think we still get blessings if 2/3 of us are partially asleep? We're hoping so. In all actuality, it is a little painful to wake up the girls when they are so peaceful. But we have to admit, scripture reading is MUCH more quiet. . . and we don't have to chase them around the family room anymore! We'll have to see how it goes.

New Years in Island Park

We were so excited to go spend New Years' weekend in Island Park, Idaho with our friends! Jason and Trica Hurd invited us and some other friends from high school to their beautiful cabin. We all had a ball! The girls loved seeing so much snow- it was absolutely beautiful! And to top it off, they had 5 other girls to play with all weekend.
We had a great time playing in the snow. The girls even got to go for rides with Lexi on her little snowmobile- and managed to get stuck in a snowbank a time or two! We also did plenty of eating, and of course, chatting about the good old days. We decided we are getting old, because we actually rang in the new year reliving 1994. Unfortunately, Mom was a slacker picture taker and never really got any great pictures of all the action.
Here we are, all loaded up for the ride home. The girls were so sad to go, they even shed a few tears when it was time to head back for home. I was glad to hear Kate's comment though, when we walked back into our house after arriving home after the weekend. She sighed and exlaimed, "There's no place like home!" She's right. I guess sometimes a little getaway is a good reminder about how nice it feels to come home.

A Perfect End to a Terrific Day!

Christmas afternoon we headed to Grandpa Lloyds for a fun visit, more presents,

and then to Grandma Jones for another great evening with the cousins.

The girls have so much fun with the cousins. As you can see, we aren't the only family with a flare for girls! The boys are quite outnumbered!
Emmy keeping Grandma-Great company.
Who are those kid's parents?

(We finally headed home about midnight! When Emmy crashes all by herself, you know she's had a big day!)

Our favorite Christmas present!

Our favorite Christmas gift definitely had to be Courtney's! He had to show off his new "Baby Patriot" gear. Yip, that's right! He'll have another buddy to watch the Patriots play next season! The girls are so excited, and so are we!

Christmas at Last!

We had a wonderful Christmas! The girls were so much fun and make Christmas so magical! They loved getting presents for eachother from the dollar store and wrapping them. Ryenne was a great secret keeper this year, and hid her presents away very carefully until Christmas morning. Emmy, on the other hand, couldn't wait and gave everyone their gifts almost as soon as she bought them! The girls had also worked hard in craft class to make everyone a little gift or note. Those things are always my favorite gifts!
Emmy was excited to get a doll "with hair" this year.

She can now join her sister-stylists at the doll salon!

Courtney surprised me with black dress boots. (I'd been eyeing up Santa's black boots for the past few months).

Kate LOVES her new black boots too, which, as requested, are complete with heels. As our official "Highway princess" (Harley girl), Kate now looks the part. She can't wait to give them a spin on Grandpa's Harley-Davidson this summer.

Kate couldn't believe what a great job the elves did in making her boots. She commented, "those elves really are amazing". Oh yes, they are.

We couldn't believe how grown-up Ryenne looked! She is thrilled with her new glasses and scarf! She looks quite sassy!

Christmas Eve

('ll apologise beforehand about the underlined text. The girls got to this post before I did, and I'm not sure how to undo all of their help.)

It was another fun Christmas Eve! We went to Grandma Croneys to see all of the Croney cousins. Keeping with tradition, the grandkids acted out the nativity, with Grandpa Croney graciously filling his role as the donkey (as always, the highlight of the night). Emmy was pleased as punch that it was finally her year to be Mary!

Ryenne and Kate feeling quite angelic. (It's never to late to get on the "nice" list.)

I thought this was a great shot of our little people in action!

In case you can't tell, Emmy is showing off her new slippers.

(And a little bit of everything else, too!)

And of course, the evening wouldn't be complete without the white elephant gift exchange between the aunts and uncles. AJ couldn't wait to get home to try out his new Rudolph attire.

Our Three Little Princesses

Christmas wouldn't be complete without matching dresses!

The girls were so thrilled and looked absolutely beautiful. It made us realize how they're growing up! Emmy couldn't stop dancing.

Isn't it nice to feel so pretty that you just have to do a twirl or two?