Hayden turns 4 Years Old!

On Hayden's actual birthday we did our celebrating at home because mom and Hayden had come down with a cold but we did our best with pancakes in the morning and a Happy Meal for dinner with birthday jell-O jigglers for dessert.  He got his gift from mom and dad that night (which now that it was dark and snowy out, we didn't get to take for a spin.) 

 We had his construction birthday party on Saturday with friends and family.  It was a lot of fun and he loved the decorations.  I have to say that there are amazing things out there for party planning.  Not to mention blogs and blogs of ideas.  I have fun planning them even though I am soooooooo tired for a couple days after.  I'm getting better and better at it.  Hayden had so much fun and the noise of laughing children filled our house for 3 hours.  It was a success as no belly was left empty and no marinara or green frosting found its way to my couch (those were my riskiest moves.)  And I am amazed by how versatile my 1000 ft. roll of construction tape was....water bottle wraps, banner holder, table cloth decorator, centerpieces, streamers!  Best party favor ever! 

cupcakes with tool toothpicks

Tool jell-O jigglers

A sugar cookie cake complete with construction scene

 

A building zone with lincoln logs, legos and blocks

Little construction trucks and fruit by the foot (a more tasty version of a tape measure) plus the construction hats as a favor for our littler guests

The green frosting went well with the green shirt!

Would have been better if she'd kept her green cardigan on...but I think she likes frosting.

A Snowy last day to 2012

 We had a snowy New Year's Eve and got to break out the snow gear that Santa brought us.  The sleds were a hit though Daddy was the engine behind him as you'll see in the pictures.  It was the best snow man snow I've ever seen in my life.  It was a gentle wet snow that kept falling for quite awhile after we had our fun outside.  It was so good that Daddy got a little over zealous and made a mommy and a daddy snow man as the kids called it.  He probably would have completed the family if it hadn't been lunch time.

He poses like a future snowboarder

Faster Daddy, faster!

Home sweet home

Cheese!

Working diligently on Snowman #1

Trying to master the snow angel

Tasting snow!

Ready for lunch mom!

The workers and their finished product

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve before the service...yes even Sadie is in our picture posed.

 On Christmas morning sleepyhead Clare kept us waiting but when she finally awoke everyone rolled downstairs and with pumpkin muffins baking in the oven, we established that Santa had in fact been there.  Clare wasn't so sure about whether she should come down until she realized that he wasn't still here.  She's not so sure about that man, but doesn't mind the presents he leaves behind.   It was a fun and peaceful morning and we so enjoyed seeing our kiddos faces light up. 

She's saying "He came!"

Checking out the goodies from Santa

Seeing the leftover cookie crumbs and carrot bits

Ready to sled...snow to come a week later

Now she has a cart to push around her Christmas goodies

Daddy's turn finally

Christmas at the Grandparents

 We first celebrated Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa K's house with Great-Grandparents and cousins and the kids' Aunt and Uncle. We first got to play then, open gifts and the feast followed.  It was so fun to get to celebrate with four generations.

On Christmas night we went to Grandma B's.  We got to have Aunt Rachael and Aunt Michelle in town to celebrate with us.  The kids so enjoyed the attention they got from the three ladies and the goodies were a hit too. 

Daddy's Birthday and other celebrations

The Birthday boy with his birthday potpie and cake

 So our first point of the blog entry is that we celebrated Daddy's 32nd birthday!  He just keeps getting more amazing each year.  I don't get to spoil him much.  I had much grander plans than I got to execute but weather, holiday celebrations, and health seems to always get in the way.  I always hope he knows that ever passing year with him is such a blessing to me.  I hope that chicken pot pie and cake tasted like love to him this year.

The family before our horse drawn wagon ride through the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights

One more request before we left...and you know what...he brought it.

Notice that neither of my kids would sit in Santa's lap.  Daddy had to escort Clare up there and take the picture with her and she wouldn't take her eyes of Santa for a minute.  Hayden was not so shy but was all business.  Before we did that we rode on a horse drawn wagon through the neighborhood signing carols with our neighbors and taking in everyone's Christmas lights.  It would have been a little more fun if we hadn't discovered that Hayden is allergic to horses.  We sat a little too close the front and were huffing too much horse dander and the little guy couldn't hardly breathe.  Well, I guess I can cross off rodeo as a potential career for him.  Probably even veterinarian now that we've established our allergies to both small and large animals.  Either way, Santa visit and a couple cookies later we had two tired and happy kids.