Austins first Christmas and New Years

Austin in his stocking
Our fireplace reading for Santa to come

Austin licking his presents open Christmas morning

Playing in all the paper!

Sarah, Chelsea and Stacey on New Years Eve

Austin ready for the new year!

We had a wonderful first Christmas with Austin here in Louisville. It was nice to be just the three of us but of course I missed the family in Canada. I think Austin's favorite part was licking all the wrapping paper. He screamed when we took it away from him. It was hilarious. For New Years we went over to our friends house to celebrate. We played games and just had a great time. Now it is time to make some New Years resolutions:

1. Make a new recipe every week

2. Get in shape again to run a half marathon

3. Read the Book of Mormon cover to cover

4. Go to a movie (okay this sounds pathetic but it really is a goal)

5. Take Austin to Waterton for his first family rebellion

I find if I dont write things down then I wont get things accomplished. This is just a start....

Christmas Fun

Dayna putting the first ornament on the tree.
The Dicksons (and Austin) posing in front of the tree

Hans thought using caulking would be easier than icing

Our gingerbread house

Our gingerbread house and the the Dicksons

Dayna wanted a taste. Yum!

Baby Claus

Hans and I have a tradition that every year we buy a real Christmas tree from Home Depot (b/c it is cheap) and decorate it while listening to our favorite Christmas CD...The Carpenters! Hans and I both grew up listening to same Christmas CD so we didn't have to compromise on that. This year we invited the Dicksons over to help because it is way more fun with kids around. Dayna noticed that we didn't have a star to put on the top of our tree so we made one and she decided it HAD to be pink. She got the honors of placing it on the top of our tree. After decorating the tree we made our gingerbread houses and Hans decided that he needed to use caulking because the icing just wasn't doing the job. Silly Hans! Anyway I think the houses turned out pretty well. We love Christmas around here and now our house smells like pine. I love it! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas holiday!

Time Out for Women

Chillin in the van
Hiding licorice in the baby wipes container (we are resourceful!)

Eating at Demos for lunch

Posing with our super cute new totes

Getting a photo with Hilary Weeks

This past weekend I had the great opportunity to go to Nashville for "Time Out for Women" which is hosted by Deseret Book. I went with some wonderful friends: Natalie, Janelle, Ashley, Brinn and Ashley. The day started at 4:30am waking up to get ready for the 2.5 hour drive down there. We all piled in Brinn's van and of course she came prepared with bagels, juice ect. It was nice having the chance to spend some quality time with my girlfriends. As you know with 6 girls, we never ran out of things to talk about. The event was really amazing. It was spiritually uplifting which is something I was in need of. Hilary Weeks was the musical guest and she was making us cry the whole time. She has a great voice and sings with conviction. I would recommend the song "Just Cry" off her new CD. I am grateful I had the chance to go and I am planning on going again! It will be in Cincinnati in the Spring for whoever wants to come with me :-)

Thoughts of the day

After becoming a parent I have realized the following things

1. The drive-thru is a great invention. That way you dont have to get unstrapped and strapped back into the car seat. It saves alot of time
2. Whoever invented the pacifier was a genius
3. Who knew the Baby Einstein videos would be so entertaining to a 3 month old
4. Sleep is precious- you dont realize so much until you are unable to control how much sleep you get
5. Showering and shaving your legs is a luxury
6. Whoever invented the baby bjorn was also a genious. This way I can actually get things done and hold my child at the same time. It is like baby trickery. haha
7. I dont know how mothers with several children get anywhere on time!

My best friend's wedding and Austins blessing

The bridesmaids (Lauren, Jessica, Sara, Mel, Melissa, Jodi and I)
Besties gettimg ready for the big day

First moments in the dress...literally

The fams at Austins blessing in Turner Valley

Family pic

Well the big day has come and gone. Melanie has gotten married! Mel and I met when we were 3 years old and she moved next door to me. We have been besties ever since. She was the most beautiful bride and the whole day was perfect! Who knew that it would be 70 degrees in Calgary in November? It was perfect for the pictures. I am so happy for her and Mark and so glad I could be part of their special day. The day after the wedding we blessed little Austin in Turner Valley at my moms ward. It was very spiritual and then Hans bore his testimony and had my whole family in tears. That Hans!

Friends + cousins = Frousins

Chillin at Papa's house with Logan, Austin, Evan, Carter and Michael
Bath buddies with Carter

Chillin at Granny Lanny's

This past week I went to Canada to visit the family and to go to my best friend's wedding. It was a little crazy travelling with a newborn but worth it! Austin got to meet all his Palmer cousins....all boys so far. It is going to be really fun in a year when Austin has some playmates. In our family we call our cousins frousins because we are all so close. What is better than a best friend that you are sealed you?......enough said.

Smiles and laughs

Cute little smile
Favorite toy to look at

laughs

More laughs

Austin is getting to be so much fun. He has started smiling and laughing. It just melts my heart! It erases all the night of no sleep. He now likes to lay on the ground and look at things and laugh and kick his legs. So much fun!!