Christmas Highlights 2009

We had such a fun Christmas time it was sad to see it end. Here are a few of the highlights:

Mike made Cassidy a beanie and she LOVES it. Anytime she sees it she wants to put it on. When we are getting ready to go bye-bye she gets very excited to put her hat on.
Hooray for awesome dad's who know how to make cute beanies for their sweet little girls.




Mike in the spirit of Christmas wore one of his moms festive sweaters to work. Too bad they weren't having a contest, he would have won for sure!



This present was partly a joke. Everytime a commercial comes on advertising one of these we always laugh. The commercials are so cheesy! And then we see them in the store and laugh. I was teasing Mike he should get me one for Christmas as a joke. When I opened it, I laughed. And yet I was secretly excited. Our living room gets so cold. I can never keep a blanket on and do what I need to. But not now! Now with my Snuggie I can hold my little girl or have a bowl of cereal or even write this blog all under the warmth of my micro-fleece Snuggie! I love it!



We spent Christmas Eve day with Mike's family. The day consisted of Racquetball, Brunch, Mall Shopping, Visiting My Parents, Fondue Dinner, and Opening Presents. It was very fun!



This was Cassidy's first racquetball experiance. She is all geared up ready to go.

Cassidy and Griffin loved "playing" racquetball. They were sad when they had to leave the court so we could play.

Man this blanket sure it snuggly!....... Hooray for the Snuggie!

In honor of Dr Jon Bylund, the Christmas pajamas this year were scrubs. Roxanne even bought some for the little ones. But Cassidy's weren't so little....

Being the jokesters that they are, Mike and Grant took it to a whole new level.

Going without a nap, Cassidy was soooo Tired.

Grant did a great job wrapping the present he got for Cassidy.

Wonder Red!
Wonderific! You're Terrific!

Sisters!
Surprising we are only related through marriage.

Christmas Day we went over to my parents house for brunch. This year Ashley and I helped my mom make her traditional 12 layer jello. It was very delicious.I helped my mom redecorate her tree this year. DISNEY!! It was so fun. Cassidy loved it!
She also loved turning on all my mom's music decorations and twirling to them. So cute!

Such a fun Christmas. We are so blessed to have such great family to spend it with.

Festival of Trees 2009

This year I had the opportunity of volunteering at the Festival of Trees. I was there from 10-1 on Friday December 4th. The festival is a fundraiser to benefit Primary Children's Hospital. People decorate trees and donate them which are then sold to other people wanting to help out. All the money from the purchase of the trees to the tickets sold go to the hospital. It is a very awesome thing.

My Aunt Bonnie volunteered with me. We were in charge of a specific row of trees. Our job was to make sure no one touched the trees and then answer any questions people had.

If any of you have been to the festival before you know what a big event it is. They had just over 800 trees donated this year. Along with Christmas wreaths, Gingerbread houses, quilts, etc. Many people who donate do so in honor of someone. Some of the stories are very touching. My mother volunteered two nights before me and she was in charge of guarding a tree that two women decorated in honor of their two still born baby girls. It was beautiful. I felt honored to be part of an event that has such a great Christmas spirit.

Below are some of the trees I got to stand by.


This tree was decorated in honor of a fireman who died in a road rage accident. He left behind a wife and young son. Such a tragedy to be taken so early and from such an unnecessary accident.

This tree was decorated in honor of a loving grandfather who passed away this year. He had bought a tree from the festival every year since 1982. The tree was decorated with all his favorite things. Also sitting on the chair were two children's books he had written. I had the chance to read them and they are very good. They are on my list of books I want to get.


This tree was dedicated to two sisters who lost their lives traveling home from snow college for the weekend. One of them was supposed to get engaged that Valentines weekend. So sad. It made me feel very blessed to have never been in an accident every time we have traveled that canyon. I pray for my families safety.


My mom was there with Cassidy as I did my volunteer shift. She liked seeing all the "pretties" but got a little overwhelmed (understandably) and tired.



This was my absolute FAVORITE tree!!

WINNIE THE POOH! Hooray! I have always loved Winnie the Pooh and friends and my daughter is following in my footsteps. When Cassidy first saw this tree my mom had a hard time keeping her away. It was such a cute tree! I have never wanted a tree so much in my life!
If only I had lots of money...........

So cute!

Volunteering made me feel very blessed for the wonderful people I have in my life. I love my husband and daughter so much. I'm thankful I get to be with them.

It was so great to see so much charity at this event.
After all, giving is what Christmas is all about!

Christmas Stories

I went up to get ready for the day and when I came down to check on Cassidy she was happily sitting by the tree reading her favorite Christmas books from the basket. I was excited to get the Christmas stories out this year and am very glad Cassidy was excited too.
It has been fun to have the tree up. I decorated the top 2/3 very nice and the bottom 1/3 only sparsely with non-important ornaments. I have been very happy that Cassidy hasn't pulled as many ornaments off as I had expected. We will see how it goes at Grandma Higbee's with her new Disney tree. Cassidy is her mother's daughter and has a thing for Winnie the Pooh.

Halloween 2009

I know its late but I wanted to share the pictures of our fun Halloween.

Cassidy, Grandma Gimp, Shlee and I spent the morning making sugar cookies and decorating them. Cassidy loved playing in the flour and getting dirty. And of course eating the cookies when we where done.


Mike's work decided to have a mustache growing contest for the month of October ending on Halloween. So Mike had to choose a costume with a mustache. He chose to be a redneck. He pulls it off a little too well.....

For the final touch he shaved his head! I helped him do it. (Mike teased me that his hair wouldn't grow back.) At the time it was quite funny but after he completed the costume with bad teeth I could barely look at him.

It paid off though. He won best costume at work. $25 gift card to Wal-Mart was worth a bald husband for a weekend. But I hope he doesn't sport this look ever again.


We went trick-or-treating at his work. I came as his frumpy house wife, mumu and all.



Cassidy was our sweet little pumpkin. Even with pumpkin matching crocs care of Grandma Gimp and her favorite store Kid-to-Kid.
Cassidy was a little more into the trick-or-treating this year because she could actually eat the candy. She got really good at dropping the goods into her bucket. Although the suckers never made it, they went straight up to mommy with a plea "Open Please." How could I resist that sweet face?



Grandpa James and Grandma Rox had to come give their little pumpkin a squeeze.



Then it was time to go Trick-or-Treating at G & G Higbee's.

Cassidy tried to say pumpkin when she saw them. I think I was the only one who understood what she was trying to say.


It was pretty cold so we didn't hit too many houses but Cassidy got the hang of it. By the third house she was saying "Treat" when we would get to a door. Then she would take a whole handfull of candy. She had been taking them one at a time earlier but Grandpa showed her how to fill her bucket at his house with his bowl full of candy. Cassidy sure loves her Grandpa Steve. When he is around no one else exists.


But in the end she always wants her mama. I love my sweet little girl.


Then Sunday came and Hooray! Mike shaved his head and mustache. I was glad to have my husband back.

We were joking that he needed to call his mom and say he was ready for the yearly family pictures.

Good thing his hair grows fast.