Halloween 2009...a little late!

As everyone knows I have been a little busy lately and am a little behind on my

blogging so we are playing catch up!

Halloween 2009 was exceptionally fun! Both the girls were old enough to understand what was going on and had a great time. Hali insisted on being Bat Girl because she thought her

cousin Braeden was going to be Batman (he decided to be a power ranger last minute).

Lexi wore Hali's old Jo Jo costume that I had saved. They both looked adorable, as always!

The Friday night before Halloween we went to Hali's school carnival with

my sister and her family.

My sister and her children joined us for that and then came to our house after to do a little pumpkin carving. The kids had a blast and amazingly didn't make a huge mess.

My niece, Kylee, working hard at her masterpiece!

On Halloween we headed to my sister's house as we do every year and went trick or treating at the mall.

Before we headed "outside" trick or treating we ate a festive Halloween meal at Stephanie's house.

We enjoy trick or treating in her neighborhood, because she knows all of her neighbors well. The girls also love being able to spend time with their cousins and grandma.It was a great Halloween and the girls had a wonderful time and got way to much candy as always!

Lexi got tired of her hat at the end of the night and she said, "Mommy you wear it!"

What a long but fun day we had!

Hali's 6th Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our sweet little Hali who is the joy of our life!

Hali as always gets very excited for her birthday. One "advantage" of a December birthday is there is an advent calendar hung to help you count down for your birthday. Every morning Hali moved the little santa over to the next day and informed me how many more days until her birthday!

Dec 15th finally came and Hali could not wait to take treats to school to share with her classmates. (I still think this is backwards, shouldn't they give her a treat?) After school I took her to the mall and she picked out a green dress to wear. She had to have the green dress because it "matched" her eyes!! She defiantly looked like a birthday princess in it! I can't believe she is six already. It was just six short years ago that I got the best "early" Christmas present ever!

I love you Hali Annette Salerno I am so thankful you were born!

Doesn't she look beautiful in her "green" dress? Check out the yellow sticky leaves on the fireplace behind her. Hali made a trail from the front door to her "spot" with these so her guests could find her!

Hali decided about a day before her birthday that she wanted a Nintendo DSi (her big sister has one). So, after a little consideration on whether she was old enough for one or not I headed to the store with the girl in tow. I did a really good job buying it without her noticing by whispering a few things to the cashier. I then went over and gave the receipt to the lady behind the counter who also was kind and placed it in my sac without the girls noticing. Well, I guess I am not very observant because I wrapped it without noticing it wasn't the DSi it was the DS. Hali opened and said, "Yea, a Nintendo DS." I said, "No it's the DSi" Hali replied. Yes, my six year old is smarter than me! So thanks to Grandma we were able to take it back that night and trade it for the right one. Remember how I said I wasn't sure if she was old enough to figure out how to play it..... She hasn't stopped playing with it since.

Hali decided a little while ago that she wanted an American Girl doll. My niece Kylee has had one of these for a couple of years so of course Hali decided she wanted one. Hali loves to look through the magazines at all the dolls. This year Rebecca is a new addition to the American Girl collection and once Hali saw her she had to have her....She said, "Rebecca has green (hazel) eyes, and brown hair just like me." Grandma was very excited to get this present for Hali, and as you can tell Hali was very excited to receive it!

Rebecca is another thing Hali hasn't let go of since her birthday!

I seriously have more fun watching my girls

open their presents more than I ever did opening my own!

My niece, Kylee, went to the store and used her own money

to buy Hali a present. She got her some earrings, candy and 4 quarters. She also made her a card. How stinkin' cute is that! Aren't cousins great?

I have to add this picture of our little trouble maker, Lexi, in. She thinks she needs

to constantly torture our poor little dog, Sadie. I think Lexi believes she is her own personal toy. The only way we can get her to leave her alone is to tell her we will give Sadie away if

she doesn't leave her alone!

Another year another princess cake!

I wonder how long she will keep giving me these sweet kisses?

Hali with all her "loot"!

Kylee reading Hali's American Girl book to her. Isn't this sweet?

Thanksgiving 2009!

Thanksgiving 2009 in Utah! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I enjoyed having 5 days off of school (although I spent the whole weekend writing a paper and studying)! On Thanksgiving morning my wonderful husband and stepson drove to Logan to pick up my grandparents and bring them down for dinner at my mom's house. He volunteered to do this on his own by the way! We then met them for dinner at my mom's and had a wonderful time eating to much food!

The kids had an amazing time as you can see in the pictures. Hali actually asked the other day, "Can we spend the whole day at Grandma's on Christmas like we did on Thanksgiving?" Defiantly one of the cutest things ever said. It made be thankful for the memories my children are able to make with their grandparents as I did with mine.

I am truly thankful for everything in my life. I appreciate my children and husband more as I am not able to spend as much time with them as I would like. I am so thankful that they are happy and healthy. I am so very thankful for the opportunity I have to be in CRNA school and am so thankful to everyone who has helped me out with my girls. I couldn't be doing any of this without all of you! I can't wait until thanksgiving two years from now when I will be a month away from graduation!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

My brother Brent with my almost 87 year old grandpa George!

Me and Lexi waiting to eat!

My family... all except Tori (she was in Arizona with her mom)!

The main course!

My hubby Mike and his son Gage.

My sister's little girl Madison.

My mom with her parents.

Kylee playing horse with Alexis.

Hali and Alexis attacking Kylee.

Playing the Wii with Uncle Brent.

Braeden attacking our cousin Taylor!

Me Steph and our little ones!

Travis' addition to the thanksgiving table.

This one's for you Steph!