Our Baby is Five!

Baby R is no longer a baby.  I may have to come up with a new code name for her.  She doesn't even stand to be called little anymore.  She is a big girl!!  We had a great party with some of her little preschool friends, a family party and a dinner at a restaurant, all to celebrate her happy day.  We love you Baby R.  (any suggestions for a new code name are welcome.)

Baptisms for the Dead

Our oldest son was in a youth meeting where Elder Eyring's talk on family history was discussed.  He came home so excited to research our ancestors and find someone who may need their temple work done.  He spent over an hour, painstakingly looking through every person on the Vance and Baughman sides.  Miraculously he found a sibling of an ancestor on Mom's side who had not had his temple work done.  He printed out the page and on his first temple trip was able to vicariously be baptized for this man.  Dad and I were both there and it was such a special moment for all of us.

Our New Years Party

We went up to the snow to get some sledding in this year for New Years.  I had no intention of staying up and doing a party 'till midnight like I have in the past because Christmas break wiped me out!!!  So, we went sledding in the day instead and had a blast!!  I love my kids and how much fun we all have together.  

Christmas Fun

The nativity reenactment.  I loved how "Baby Jesus" laid still on the floor the entire time.  She was in character the whole time.

After Caroling on Christmas Eve we reenacted the nativity. Christmas morning started at 5:30 and we had so much fun opening presents from each other.  My favorite part is watching what the kids bought for one another.  We went to church and then came home and started the turkey dinner, Dad's big cooking day.  I love how he makes everything just right.  The rest of the day was watching the  "Sunday Movies" that we got for them and a fire made by Little L and Dad.  It was a wonderful, relaxing day!

We got a grabber from Dad's grandparents and it became the wrapping paper picker upper.   Hahaha.  It was so much fun.

Off to church in our new Sunday dresses from Grandpa and Nana.

Dad doing his thing in the kitchen.

It was an awesome dinner!!

Our first fire in the upstairs fireplace was lit by Little L.

Cuddling on the floor by the fire on the comfy pillows from Dad and Mom.

Christmas Break

Playing basketball in the front yard.

This year Christmas Break was very different for us!!  Our Dad was working, and even when he was home he had to study for the CPA exam which he will start taking in Jan.  We tried to keep up the fun, but it wasn't the same.  We missed you Dad!!    

Making treats for our friends.

Coloring pictures (we did a lot of this.)

Roller skating with a bunch of our friends.

Here is Dad in his makeshift office.  We missed you Dad!!

Caroling to our neighbors with the Elders.

The Wise Man Built His House...With a Math Problem??

Dad had a party for his five math students and some friends.  It was a gingerbread house making party with a twist.  If you want your candy, you have to do the five math problems.  Even the parents were being challenged with these crazy word problems, but in the end all of the problems got solved and everyone got to build their little candy house.  It was a great party Dad!!

Happy Birthday Little L

This year was a family party day for Little L.  She had everything planned out and even talked me into letting one of her friends join us for the festivities.  She had a school Christmas party that day which I was in charge of and the class sang Happy Birthday, she planned for us go to the library, planned a dinner of lasagna and blueberry muffin cake for dessert, and then watched the Smurf movie.  It was a perfect birthday for her, very unique!!  Happy Birthday cute girl!!