childhood...

Wondrous. Magical. Beautiful. Fleeting.

Christmas Catch-up Part I: Friends

I hosted the
17th Annual GDI Christmas
party this year. I figured since I had never hosted and this is my last year living here for a while, I'd better step up. It was a great night filled with awesome
food, friends and white elephants.
I love all my girls!

and BTW...

thanks to all our friends and family who sent us Christmas cards this year. I LOVE getting Christmas cards!

Miss Addi has a BIRTHDAY!

She still LOVES her BINKI
She still wears DIAPERS

She still drinks her "chocolate" from a BOTTLE in the am
and yes, she's 3!!!
Being 3 and having 1 year old traits don't go hand-in-hand, yet that is one of the MANY reasons why I love my adorable and quirky little Addi Belle.
I can't believe my BABY is 3! Regardless of her aforementioned traits, she IS growing up and turning into a little girl while leaving the baby behind. Not sure how I feel about that.

Addison LOVES pink, princesses, and anything pretty and/or girlie. She reminds us daily (or hourly) that she is a pretty princess. She is so entertaining and isn't afraid of attention. She loves to sing and dance. She loves books and music (especially "POPULAR" on Mom's iPod). She is very nurturing to her dolls (and brother) and calls them "honey." She is SILLY and TICKLISH and scared of monsters. She is an artist and a story teller. She talks and talks and talks..... but is completely content playing by (and talking to) herself.
Addison is definitely the character of the family. She is hilarious & keeps us laughing. She is such a sweetheart and ALL GIRL and we love her so much!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our LITTLE PRINCESS! XOXOXO

That's right- the Lamb Fam went to DISNEYLAND and had a BLAST! The lines weren't long, the weather was perfect, the accommodations were superb, the kids couldn't have been better and being there during the holidays was awesome! The park is transformed into a MAGICAL CHRISTMAS WINTER WONDERLAND.
The only bummer of the trip (worth noting) is I somehow deleted all the pictures I took on the first day. So here are all the pictures (worth noting) from the rest of the trip.

PRINCESS FANTASY FAIR

I guess I spoke too soon about the lines. We didn't have to wait in any lines except for this one. We did Disney two days and both days I waited in line to meet the princesses for over an hour. TOTALLY WORTH IT! Addi was completely *STAR-STRUCK.* She was speechless and couldn't take her eyes of the princesses- even for pictures. In the 2 days, we were able to "beet" Jasmin and Ariel twice, and Aurora and Belle. This was definitely Addi's favorite part of the whole trip.

TOONTOWN

...and there we got to meet
MINNIE MOUSE!

FUNNY STORY: When we were done meeting Minnie, a 'cast member' came and told Minnie she had some sewing to do so she had to go. Later, Tol was talking about it and said Minnie had to go 'pump.' Sewing/Pumping- it's all the same.

BUGLAND

I LOVE BUGLAND! It is so cute and creative! A few years ago when we were here last, all Tol wanted to do was go on these bumper cars... over and over and over and over... Luckily for us, this time he was burned out and ready for something new after the 5th or 6th time.

WATER DAY!
We took a day off from Disney and went to the Pool and the Beach. The hotel pool was awesome. It had a water slide that Tol couldn't get enough of. And the kiddie pool was perfect for Addi. The lounge chair/iPod/magazine combo was perfect for me.


The beach was FREEZING so we didn't stay too long. However, the kids didn't seem to mind the cool temp at all! They could've stayed all day. Addi LOVED all the "squishy" sand and Tol loved finding all the seashells. Oh to be a kid again!







All this BEACH TIME made for 2 tired kiddos


and more random DISNEYLAND pics:


Well, there you have it: our trip in a nutshell.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, DISNEY!!

Thankful

We had a FABULOUS Thanksgiving this year full of FAMILY, FOOD and FUN! It really made me appreciate my life and all that I'm blessed with. I have so much to be thankful for.

I started the day out with a 5K with my family (minus Chel, Dave and the kids). It is our second year doing this and I love it. It's a great way to start the day.
It made me Thankful for:

the incredible family I grew up with,


enthusiasm and sense of humor,


good (random) people & sunrises,


and my health.


After the race, Dave went to a Turkey Bowl with the Bingham fellas (and of course he didn't want to take the camera). It made me THANKFUL for:
Dave's friends (especially Ben) and their influences on the person Dave has become.

Then it was NAP TIME, and anyone who knows me knows I am thankful for
naps... the kids' and mine!

We went to Park City to Eric and Mindy's for Thanksgiving dinner. It made me thankful for:

traditions & KISSES,


creativity & thoughtfulness
(Mindy had crayons and thanksgiving pictures at all the kids' seats. So cute and thoughtful!),


good food,


cousins and the rest of my extended family,



the BEST grammys in the world (mine & my kids'),


music,


helpers,


and my little family.


On the drive home from PC we were talking about things we were THANKFUL for. Addi said she was thankful for Heavenly Father and Jesus. Then Tol piped in and told her that they are the same person (Tol's very good at 'correcting' his sister lately). Dave and I then explained that they are, in fact, NOT the same person... blah blah blah... and that Jesus is our brother. Tol got so excited and said, "WOO HOO! WOO HOO! I have a brother!!"

That made me thankful for:
Sweetness and LAUGHTER!

This list is just a fraction of my blessings- I have so much to be thankful for. Right now I'm thankful for THANKSGIVING and this time of year so I can reflect on all I have to be thankful for.
*and I'm thankful for the word THANKFUL.

The Little Gym

Addison is LOVING her time at TLG every week. She is learning a lot and her sweet skills are getting even sweeter. At first, she wasn't quite sure about her teacher, Miss Heather- Addi would call her "the MEAN bell lady," but now, Addi can't get enough of Miss Heather. She absolutely LOVES her and she's also made some cute little friends. We all love THE LITTLE GYM!
I'd say Addi's favorite thing is to sing and run around on the red mat, but she also loves doing somersaults and doing the spider walk on the bars.

TOL & AIDEN

Tol is so patient. Since Addi's class is a 'mommy & me' class, Tol has to sit, wait and watch. Luckily, he has made a friend, Aiden, who has to do the same thing. Funny thing- Tol and Aiden were in the same Little Gym class together when they were 1 year old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!!



I could go on and on and on and on about how much I love and adore my dearest mother, but it's technically not her birthday anymore (I'm a week late here), so instead I'll just say that we celebrated in style with some of her elite friends @
The Cheesecake Factory.
oh, and I do LOVE AND ADORE YOU MOM!!!


Here we all are.

NELSON

We don't do this near enough (sorry Gram), but we got together with the whole Nelson clan (minus Chel, Jane, Nick and the NY Nelsons). It was great, as always, to all be together. Growing up, we spent so much time together making fun and hilarious memories and building relationships. I love all these guys so much and am grateful to be a NELSON!

My daughter is brilliant

Addi:
(pointing to something in a book) Mom look- A DaRex!


Me:
What is it?

Addi:
A DaRex!


*I walk over to the book & see she's pointing to a T-Rex*

Me:
Good job, little smarty, that is a T-Rex!

Addi:
(as proud as can be) Ya- I know my dragons.

Lots of fun on HALLOWEEN

The cutest (& scariest) PIRATES around.

Captain Jack Sparrow & our little Princess Pirate


The night before Halloween we carved pumpkins and made
sugar cookies.


The Zada crew decked in our wigs.

Halloween night we went TRICK-OR-TREATING around DAYBREAK. With SO MANY houses, the kids got quite the load of candy. Addi got tired of walking around so I took her back early, but Tol and Dave were out forever and Tol's bucket was overflowing with TREATS when they finally got back.

"TRICK-or-TREAT"

``````````````````
Halloween wouldn't be complete without the Nelson Halloween PARTY. This was the 26th year going strong. It is always complete with Homemade SOUPS (& other YUMMY food), neighbors and FRIENDS and FUN!


Here was my contribution (with help from Kristen): SUGAR COOKIES...
and here is the recipe. I promise you won't be disappointed!

1/2 c. sour cream
1 egg
1 cube of butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/4 c. sugar
3 1/4 c. flour

Roll out dough to be about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. Cut cookies out. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350* for 8 minutes (Don't let them get brown). Let cool before icing.
**This recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies.

ICING

1/2 pkg. of powdered sugar
1/8- 1/4 c. milk
1/2 stick of butter
1 tsp. vanilla

In small saucepan, boil milk and butter. Add other ingredients and mix. I like my icing a little runny because it's easier to frost with and it sets up smooth on the cookie. Add more powdered sugar to thicken or more milk to thin the icing out.

Hope everyone had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!