Christmas 2011....in SERIOUSLY RANDOM order

 You are thinking, "Gee-Whiz Gina another old post?  Christmas was 4 months ago."  I say, "Yup, I am only 4 months behind - fantastic."  After looking through this post you might say, "Wow, Gina this was super random and out of order."  I will say, "Too bad....it is better than nothing" :)

 My little family at the annual Christmas Light parade in Longview.  I should have taken a picture in the beginning before they were freezing (NOTE: bring big, warm blankets next year).  I know they looked totally ticked off, but we did have a lot of fun.  The parade was super long and they had a cool tree lighting ceremony at the end.

 reindeer semi

 SANTA!!

 We didn't go with our friends, but we ran in to a bunch of them!!!

 Corey, John, Travis and cold kids

 I get to go on some of Corey's business trips with him and my AMAZING mother-in-law watches my  kiddos.  This trip was to the Alderbrook Resort & Spa on the Hood Canal in WA

Here is the website...It is definitely worth the trip!! 

 http://www.alderbrookresort.com

   It was so beautiful and fancy.  It was especially cool because it was all decked out for Christmas.  Above is the view from my room and below...love it when there are fluffy robes to hang out in.

 They had SPECTACULAR Christmas trees all over...here is one

 Oh so pretty...this resort borders Bill Gates compound, supposedly

 this pic does not do the fireplace justice - it was huge and gorgeous

 the view on my walk while Corey was stuck in meetings

 this gingerbread house was CRAZY

 The grinch and his demon girlfriend

Carlie's gingerbread house

Carlie REALLY wanted to put the star on our tree

 the quilt I made my mother-in-law for Christmas - yes I know I am the best daughter-in-law :)

 We went out to eat at this cute little country restaurant in Castle Rock and then went to this SUPERB light show at the house below.  You tune in your radio to the music and watch a 15 minute light show....so cool - especially for a little, tiny town.

 I made a MILLION of these for my santa hat party mix.  It was the best thing I made this season.  SOOOOOOO yummy. If you want to make some go here for the directions.

 Corey eating some Mexican OCTOPUS dish..........nasty!

 I made a TON of treats for the neighbors and Corey's employees....I am crazy.  Here above is the spread for the bus drivers

 Yummy Christmas Eve dinner

 Look at these rad plate my sister in law Kim made for my kiddos!!!!

 Playing the pillow booty animal game...so FUN!!!

MAN, my sister-in-law is HOT!!  Love playing Mexican Trains with my favorite Mexicans.

The left-right game is a Christmas Eve tradition in my family that I started in my husband's family....we have now been doing it for years.

If you want to play go HERE to find out how to play.  We play all together in a BIG circle, kids and adults with cheap presents that only cost 1-3 dollars a piece.

Carlie's Christmas program at school.  She is standing next to the two tallest boys in 1st grade....he...he

Every year (or so we were told by our neighbors) a fire truck goes around the neighborhood blaring his horn followed by a float with Santa throwing candy....how cool.

Carlie Keepsakes

 I LOVE Carlie's artwork.  Here is a great one from Christmas 2011.

 Here is an assignment from school that Carlie completed the morning before her dad was scheduled to sell the Friday treats at her school.  She was sooooo excited about it.  Corey said it was really fun to see Carlie so happy and to meet all her friends.

 A few months ago Carlie decided that we needed some family fun.  She set up a bunch of fun for us upstairs (tv, crafts, games, coloring, etc).  Each room was labeled with abbreviations for what kind of fun you could have in that room.

She is the sweetest girl ever!

Batman Buddies

Berkeley and his buddy Jake.  They have become great buddies.  This is them today showing off their tough Batman moves....how cute!!  Today Jake and his mom walked to our house across a field to pick up Berkeley.  When Jake and Berk saw each other they started running towards each other shouting each others names.  It was the most adorable thing...they LOVE each other.

Carlie's Teeth = $$

 2011 was an expensive and painful year for Carlie and her teeth.  She had 7 dentist visits in 7 months.  9 pulled teeth, a crown, and way too many cavities....she has little termites on her teeth.....aaaargh!

 Here is a picture from March 2011 showing Carlie's shark teeth (2 rows of teeth).  Her baby teeth did not want to come out!!!

 Here is a pic of her mouth after a few teeth had been pulled.

 During the summer her top teeth started having two rows.  The adult teeth in the back pushed her two front baby teeth out....she looked like a hillbilly (some day she will be mad at me for saying that)...it looked awful - You can kinda tell in the pictures above and below.

So after 4 teeth had been pulled on the bottom she had to have four teeth

 pulled from the top - poor Carlie!

Here is a recent picture where you can tell her teeth are starting to look a little more normal.  You can also see her silver crown in the back of her mouth if you look really hard (she loves that stupid silver tooth because her beloved cousin Adan has one too - she thinks it is cool and I remind her it is soooooo NOT COOL!!!)

They want us to come back this summer to start talking orthodontia.....they say she is going to be a rough case - dang it...more $$$$$!!  Hopefully, my beautiful Carlie will have a beautiful smile eventually! :)...we are getting there slowly, but surely.