DECEMBER

Here are the highlights of December:

Anderson Family Christmas Party (along with the traditional pinata!)

Sitting on Santa's lap!

Neighborhood ugly sweater party

Sledding

Christmas Eve Jammies

We were lucky to have Great Grandma Doreen eat Christmas Eve dinner with us

Wade was on call in the ER starting at 5.  We ate at 4:30, opened pajamas, and did our Christmas Eve traditions early so that he could be with us.  

It's a good thing we did too.  He was gone almost the whole night.  Christmas Eve didn't quite feel the same without Wade there with us, but it was still a good night.

CHRISTMAS MORNING!

We invited our neighbors to come eat with us that morning.  The food was delicious and we loved having them with us!  I'm pretty sure we have the best neighbors ever!

By the afternoon we were ready to lay around and take a nap!  It was a good day.

October and November

 October is always one of my favorite months.  It's still nice enough that you can play outside...

And who doesn't like Halloween?

Jill and Todd joined us this year for our bike ride on the Big Rock Candy Mountain Trail.

The colors were beautiful.  It was a fun day...with only a couple of upset, crying children!

Johnny Boy only liked the bike trailer for a short time before he was ready to get out.

 I love memories like these ones.

Wade spent the last two weekends in October at Woodbadge,

But we still managed to fit in the annual Halloween Hardy Party

Our Preschool Halloween Party

And Trick or Treating.

Luckily, the weather was nice and I was able to take the girls out while this guy was gone at Woodbadge once again.

NOVEMBER

We never take enough pictures in November...but here are a couple.

Wade took Janie and went chucker hunting with his brother Derek and 2 of his uncles.  

Thought you might appreciate this picture Curtis and Marsha!  :)

With no parents in sight, two of the Anderson children opted to have Thanksgiving together at Chuck A Rama.  I had no idea we would be standing in line for an hour and a half.  SHEESH!

Kate and I had both had it by the time we finally got in the restaurant.

Luckily, the scones were amazing.

And here are a couple more progress shots of the basement.

The Magical World of DISNEY!

So...the whole reason the Disneyland trip was booked was because Wade's brother Greg is an avid Utah State fan.  He got tickets to the USU vs. USC game.  We told the girls we were going to go on a trip to St. George.  When we arrived in St. George Greg and Megan were there.  We got out of the car and acted so surprised to see them.   Here is how the dialogue went down:

 Matayia and Kaitlyn:  "What are you doing here?"

My girls:  "Hey, what are YOU doing here?"

Matayia and Kaitlyn: "We're on our way to Disneyland!"

My Girls: "Oh..."

Matayia and Kaitlyn:  "And you are coming with us!!!"  :)

SCREAMS (and looks of disbelief and confusion) 

Admittedly, Ellia was a little put out that we weren't staying in St. George and swimming at the hotel.

Since this was Ellia's first trip to Disney, Wade made us promise that we wouldn't head over to the park until he and Greg got home from the game. 

(Here's a picture of the boys outside the stadium.)

So after a whole day of waiting, and waiting, and waiting...we finally headed over.

The park was decorated for Halloween already...so that was pretty cool.

Greg and Megan invited their friends Candace and Willie and their cute kids.  We had a great group!

Ellia's very favorite ride.  Small World.

 The next day we went to the beach.

Wade served his mission in California and Baja Fresh was a favorite of his. . . so we couldn't go to the beach until we got some Baja Fresh first!

It was delicious.

My darling cousin Janie drove 2 and a half hours to come and see me.  I love her SO much.

I don't get to see her enough.

I had to take a picture of the two Janies together.

Nothing is quite so nice as a hot tub after the beach.  And we know how to fill one up.

Pretty tired...We had a Pirates of the Caribbean room.

The next day was California Adventures!

Cars Land was so so awesome.  It looked just like the movie!

My girls' favorite ride was California Screamin!  Janie knew just when her picture was being taken and went crazy every time...here's one example of many

What other place would 3 men be excused in wearing matching shirts?

The next day:  Disneyland

The last day:  The best of both worlds.  

I couldn't resist posting this...Once again, matching shirts.  These boys...

We had a wonderful time!  I don't suppose we'll make it back until Kate is 5.   I can't wait!