The Holidays All Wrapped Up

\

 ^^1.  For the past three years we have said we were going to make it to the "lights" in SLC and have always chickened out because of the low temps.  Shockingly, we made it this year.^^

 ^^Typical Utah family picture.^^

 ^^2.  We had a little kid friendly Christmas bash.  I of course forgot to bring a gift (sometimes I wonder about myself).  Love catching up with old friends.^^

 ^^3.  We splurged and got and Elf on the Shelf.  Those things are a racket!  It was worth every kiss she gave Twinkles though.^^

 ^^4. Lots of cousin time since we were staying with his sister and her 8 kids!!^^

 ^^5.  Examining/adoring all of the chocolates my mom made.  I think we ate about five of those plates in one day alone.^^

^^6. Christmas Eve was a total bummer, we were in bed by 7:30.  Henley had a high fever for about three days and laid/slept on me for basically the entire three days.^^

 

^^7. Christmas Day she tried to power through and was a good sport.  Morning at the Bell's.  Afternoon with my family.  We were definitely spoiled.^^ 

^^8.  Such a proud mom moment right here.  I need a puzzle buddy.^^

^^9.  Day after Christmas.  The girls got vintage princess PJ's from Aunt Niccole who was interning at Walt Disney World during the holidays.  We sure did miss her.^^

^^10.  These two.  Just working their electronics in their scibbies.^^

 ^^11. My dad is fantastic and got a silver mullet for Christmas and wore it the whole day.^^

 ^^12.  Looks like a little electrocution occurred from the Christmas lights.^^

^^13.  To wrap it up on a random note...she loves playing in the sink.  Loves it so much that is all she wants to do.^^

Christmas Photos & Superstition

I've come to terms with the fact that I will never be caught up on this blog.  I'm eternally behind.  I have an explanation for it though.  Henley has never been a good sleeper.  Especially for naps.  When she does take a nap I am walking on egg shells the whole time cause she is consistently unpredictable.  The past handful of times I have attempted to put together a post during her nap time, she will wake up within five minutes of me starting.  No joke.  So I know this is silly, but I haven't dared blog during the precious sleep time.  Whelp, tried it again today and...she woke up three min into uploading pictures.  The superstition lives on.

Anyway, quick post about some Christmas card pictures we had taken.  I wanted to go get them professionally taken for some unknown reason.  However when you try to schedule it on Dec 5 you quickly realize that everyone is full for the season and you have your sister-in-law take them on her couch.  We did them quickly after church one Sunday and there was truly no outfit planning, pose planning, background planning, etc.  We just winged it!  (Is that the proper way to use that phrase).  We definitely had some struggling moments.  Good thing the world has gone digital because we were able to take about 200 pics and find a couple of good ones.  

^^I'll say it...our bottom halves look gigantic in this photo.  Also, Rich's face...he would kill me for posting this.^^

 

^^She already has the duck face down. Selfies here we come.^^ 

 ^^And here was the winner.  Most natural one we could find.^^

Grateful for Surprises

I LOVE surprises.  Always have and always will.  Gifts, events, food - if it is a surprise it makes it about 10 times better.  I am a little picky so it isn't really fair when it comes to gift giving but I can't help it.  Richard was supposed to be home from his rotation in Indianapolis really late on Thanksgiving.  The plan was to meet him at his parent's house around 11:00 pm.  We hadn't seen each other since Sept and only two times total since May.  Basically I was dying for him to get home.  On the eve of Thanksgiving Sharice, Steve and I went to Tandoori Oven, which happens to be in gas station to get some delicious Indian food.  He called me a couple of times because he was supposedly driving to Des Moines.  We got home from dinner and were just hanging out as a fam and in walked Rich!  I was speechless and so happy.  He had told lie upon lie in order to make it a complete surprise, which I approve of.  It was the best gift anyone could have ever given me.  This Thanksgiving will go down in my best memories book.  

 

^^I'm not the only one who missed him.  She wouldn't stop kissing him and insisted on being held by "Dada" for the next 3+ days.  Below is one of my favorite pics ever.  You can see the love for him in her little face.^^

 ^^The Larsen's and Aunt Marla (my grandpa's sister who used to play pro softball.  She has looked the same since I was an infant.  I swear.)^^

 ^^My Grandma & Grandpa Bankhead.  They couldn't be cuter.^^

 ^^The goy-rls^^

 ^^Mastering the fish face for dad.^^

 ^^I finally invested in a carrier cause of a great black Friday deal.  Pretty sure I missed the boat to carry Henley in one.  She looks like a 1st grader in it and my back was breaking.^^

 

^^Hitting up the Aggie basketball game with Grandma and Grandpa.^^

 

Also, on Thanksgiving day we moved down to American Fork to live with his parents for a few months since Rich is working in Salt Lake.  Henley celebrated the move by waking up the first night at 3:00 am and not going back to bed until 7:30 am.  It was a bit of a rude awakening for Rich.  Is it terrible to say that I'm glad I didn't have to suffer alone?  So glad he is home.  We loved 2013 Thanksgiving!

I'm a Little Behind

Before the year ended I wanted to quickly post some old Halloween pics more for my sake than yours.  We had a fun friend Halloween bash and hope it becomes a yearly tradition.  I feel really lucky to have such a good group of friends from high school that still keep in touch. 

 ^^All of the kiddos.  Amber's little Lottie was all over Henley.  Hilarious.^^

You can't do Halloween without pumpkin carving.  Last year Henley slept through the entire thing.  This year was a little different.  Her favorite part was actually pushing and chasing a little pumpkin around on the ground. 

Every year the Hanks side of the family has a Halloween party and everyone including the adults dress up.  I have missed it for the past four years and was ecstatic to be able to attend this year.  As always, it didn't disappoint.  We played fruit basket, Halloween trivia, and some other lame games that somehow turn out gust busting and inappropriate.  

 ^^Flo-mingo^^

 ^^My dad always goes all out on his costumes.  The best so far has been "The Flasher".  Frightening, but well done.  This year he dressed up as a tornado.  As yes, those are panties attached to him.^^

 ^^Making soup/eating a pound of cheese on Hallo's Eve^^

 ^^Costume #2 - the Spider (Thanks Aunt Melinda for having two costumes that fit her).  Everyone thought she was a boy.  We went trick or treating at the mall along with every other person in Cache Valley. I think we left there with two pieces of candy.  Crappy candy.  Probably won't do that again.^^

 ^^Pumpkin walk first timer.  She loved it, except getting this Yoda picture taken.^^

 ^^She insisted on wearing this witch hat around for about two days.^^

 ^^It isn't a complete post without an adorable kid in a velour suit.  Not typically a fan of velour, but what's not to love about this!  Cheese!^^

When It Was Warm

A couple months back my dad had a summer work party we attended.  Free food and free entertainment...why wouldn't we go?  It was held at the Bear Bottoms place by Wellsville (I obviously don't know much about it).  However, I do know that they had two amazing man made water slides.  They were as dangerous as they come.  No restrictions, whatsoever.  It was fabulous.  I didn't get any pictures of the big one, but naturally I took Henley down the small one.  We don't want to raise a chicken.  She had no idea what was going on and seemed to enjoy it even though she looks frightened in these pictures.

My dad then took her on the same one which resulted in a lot more splashing and water in her face.  Surprisingly she didn't mind it. 

All in all, this was one of the more fun activities we participated in this summer.  I would recommend it.  Now we will have to somehow find the joy in winter.  I'm obviously in denial...