Birthdays, Christmas, snow and fun

So, finally here is an update. I got a new camera and then lost the software to get the pictures to my computer and then I got busy, but here is an update at last.

We have had a fun couple of months. The end of November brought Rowan's first birthday. It was so much fun to see him open presents and remember how just a year before I had been dying to just not be pregnant anymore. He has grown and changed so much. I am always amazed that so much personality can fit into these little bodies our kids come in. Rowan is such a mix of Kiara and Aidan. He talks and talks and talks like Kiara, but he is into everything and more like Aidan. He likes to climb onto the couch and look out the window at whatever is out there. He especially likes the train and lucky for him it comes at least twice a day. He refuses to really walk still, but he knows how to do it. He likes to stand in the middle of the room and clap for himself until we all join in. His second year will be full of even more adventures, I'm sure.

After Rowan's birthday, Shane had his birthday. We were excited to go see a movie together and I surprised him with a Star Wars book that covered all the Star Wars movies and had really neat inside info on the movies.



After that was Christmas, or as I like to call it a whirlwind of craziness. We got to go to Great-grandma Hansen's party in Phoenix 1 weekend. There the kids got to play with some cousins and explore Great grandma and Great grandpa's tree in the backyard while mom and dad got to chat with family. The next weekend we went to Uncle Steve's in El Frida and had a party with Shane's mom, sister, and aunt. Then it was Christmas here in Pima with the Bryces. It was the first time we had all been together since Aaron left on his mission, so it was very exciting. We also got to meet baby Dallen, Ren's baby for the first time. They got to my mom's house just in time for Dallen to play baby Jesus in the Christmas Eve play. Shane, Andrew and Ren were wise men, or as Shane put it "wise guys". I think wise guys is probably a bit more accurate. Aaron took up his old role of donkey and Kiara and Aidan were Mary and Joseph. Avery was an angel with Elizabeth and our angel was "great with child" as well. (Elizabeth is due in March with baby Turley #2). I got to be the shepherd and even Rowan had a part as the sheep.





Santa found our house and the kids were overjoyed. Santa and Mrs. Claus were exhausted in the morning, but it was worth it for the happy faces and hugs and kisses.

Santa even remembered to bring something for Moly!

Just when we thought the fun of Christmas break was over, Uncle Aaron and Aunt Stephanie went up to Mt. Graham and brought a present back for Aidan and Kiara: a whole truckload of snow. They had fun jumping in the snow and having a snowball fight until the snow was all melted.

School started back up last week and Kiara was student of the week. She had lots of fun being the line leader and getting to be her teacher's special helper. She also got to bring in pictures of her and her family and got to bring a special snack for Friday.

That is about it, I believe. Hopefully, I will be able to keep this a little bit better updated now that I found my camera software and got it all set up :) Thanks for reading!