The Crazy Weekend

Sienna, Andi and I started off 2014 by taking a short trip to California.  We left Thursday afternoon, drove half way and stayed the night in Winnemucca.  It was Sienna's first time in a hotel and she was so excited, because Andi told her that you can jump on hotel beds without getting in trouble. 

After we woke up and ate our free breakfast we got back on the road to finish the drive.  We got into Rocklin around lunch time and Sienna and I got to spend a few hours with some of our favorite friends!  Sienna had been telling me that she missed Vance for weeks so it was a very sweet reunion.

Afterwards we head to the Bacchus' house to spend the night and play with the boys.  Uncle Chad even made an awesome fort!

 Saturday was a very busy day!  Sienna spent all day with her Grandma Hudson and Great Grandma Swanson playing and generally being spoiled!  She LOVED having a Grandma day.

After I dropped off the silly girl I went over to help finish setting up for Aunt Sam's baby shower!  We can't wait to meet baby Wade in a few months.  Sam was very specific about what she wanted so we had soup in bread bowls and no games.  We did have a craft (an alphabet book) for the guest to help put together though.  It turned out adorable.  We had a great turnout and a lot of fun celebrating.

We cleaned up the party, thanked Sam's mother in law profusely for letting us use her house and being all around great and then headed to Rocklin for Aunt Katie's bridal appointment!  The trip was a success and we went to Chevy's afterward to celebrate Aunt Katie saying yes to her dress.

Sienna and I spent the night at Katie's house were she proudly showed off her new princess dress for Uncle Josh.

We left the next morning thanks to Andi's level head and Uncle Jake and Josh who were able to diagnose my newly turned on check engine light and then proceeded to fix it for me.  I am so grateful for the handy men in my life and their willingness to help me out! We got a late start but were still able to get home in time for Andi to put her boys to bed.  We had a very busy trip and are looking forward to a longer stay in a couple months.  We miss everyone already!

Christmas

Christmas was really low key for us this year.  It was just the three of us all day and we loved it.  We started the morning with opening presents and homemade waffles for breakfast.  I love watching Sienna open gifts because she is still at the age where everything is excited and appreciated.  Her favorite gifts were Hello Kitty chap-stick, a new my little pony, skittles and a silly pink crown that she got from Andi.  It's the little things with that girl!  We were all sufficiently spoiled!

After we cleaned up a little we went for a drive, came home, relaxed and then made dinner.  We watched our new Christmas movies and just enjoyed being with each other.  It was a perfect day and a good way to wind down our crazy year.

Christmas Eve

We had a fun Christmas Eve this year!  We spent the day getting ready for Christmas and celebrating that Daddy unexpectedly got the day off of work.  Sienna and I went over to the Esslinger's in the morning, made some penguins with the boys, and painted our Christmas nails with Andi.  Sienna choose gold so you can't see it very well, but I promise they were up to her sparkly standards.

As soon as we got home Daddy took us to the movies to see this silly gem:

 Later that night we had to make sure that we had some delicious cookies for Santa...

...and we may have snacked on a bunch of delicious candy and sweets, that we helped our friend Amanda make a few days before, as we waited for the cookies to be done.

All of the prep work was done, so there was nothing left to do but snuggle into our pajamas and wait for Christmas to come!

Snow Day!

Our first snow day was in the beginning of December, and Sienna loved it!  I wish that I recorded her reaction to waking up to her world being covered in snow.  She was so excited that she didn't even question me when I told her she had to put on her snow pants, which she doesn't super love because they aren't fancy or pink. :)  She sure looks cute in them though.

Nick making the first snow angel of the season

Our little snow bunny!

Our sad attempt at a snowman.  

We did our best, but fresh powdery snow doesn't pack well.  Sienna loved it though and I guess that's what matters anyway.

Admiring our work

It was so fun experiencing something new with our silly girl.  I'm sure that the snow will get old as the winter rolls on, but on this day we loved it!

Giving Thanks...

We had a great Thanksgiving this year!  The Esslinger's were great hosts with lots of fun for the kids and LOTS of delicious food for everyone.  

While the grown ups finished up all the cooking the kids got to decorate snowflake decorations that we sent to Grandma and Grandpa in Florida. 

 

Nick started going gluten free a couple months ago so we had the extra challenge to make a great meal that he could eat too.  I made gluten free stuffing, rolls, gravy and even a pie from scratch!  I was really proud and Nick was very appreciative that he was able to have a "normal" Thanksgiving.  Brian deep fried the turkey and Andi and Mama Alice out did themselves with all of the sides and desserts.  It was delicious.

 After dinner we skyped family and made a gingerbread village!

It was such a fun day and we were so happy that we were able to spend time with our family and see the ones we are far away from.

Boise Holiday Parade

The day after Sienna's party was the Boise Holiday Parade and if you know Nick at all you know this is a must go to event!  We found a spot early right in front of the Capitol building and Sienna even got a bell to jingle from some parade volunteers before it started. 

Hanging with mommy and dad before the parade!

It was a chilly morning, but it was fun to see the horses, floats and cool cars.  Nick was disappointed though because they only had one marching band.  Nick's motto regarding parades is that if there isn't a band it's not a parade so this parade barely squeaked by. :)  

Sienna loved the candy and I loved all the little kids disgusted squeals when a horse peed right in front of us.  I think that we may try it again next year and hope for more marching bands for Daddy.

Birthday Girl

Sienna had a birthday!

On her actual birthday I put balloons all over her room to wake up to, she got to open up her presents from Mama Hudson, one present from us and we went to McDonald's for dinner.  Unfortunately, Nick had to work on her birthday so we saved the big celebration for a couple of days later.  She loves her new toys from Mama Hudson especially Princess Luna from My Little Pony.

 

 Birthday shirt from mom and dad!

On the day of her party we went over to the Esslinger's house for pizza, cake and presents!  We love having the Esslingers close to us and we were also excited that Dave, Janie, Mama Alice and Papa Terry could be there to celebrate with us too!

  

Miss Sienna was significantly spoiled with lots of new games to play, a Cinderella barbie, and a special jewelry box filled with treasures.  She was so happy and mom is so happy that we have fun new things to play together.

 

She requested a pink cake with pink sprinkles...what may baby wants my baby gets. :)

Sienna had a great birthday and we are so grateful for everyone that came to celebrate with us and thought of my silly baby on her special day.