Just a couple random pictures:

Just hanging out at my parents’ house.

I really love my Benjamin. A few weeks ago I came up from the basement to find this:

Last Christmas Benjamin got me a sewing machine. A really fancy one that we really couldn’t afford. I didn’t  know a thing about sewing, but was determined to learn. I have really struggled over the past year, but have forced myself to try new projects. I just wanted to show some of my progress. I sewed most of the Christmas presents for Benjamin’s sister’s family this year:

Merida doll for Evie:

A personal progress holder for Lydia:

A sleep sack for baby Lizzie:

And a doorway puppet theatre for Jacob, Eleni, and Gabe:

with puppets made from old stuffed animals:

 

Please don’t look to close at the crooked stitches, parts where I got fed up and glued something one, or holes from unpicking so many times.

That’s all for now! Goodnight!

Playing in the Snow

While in Idaho Benjamin, Emily, and I went cross country skiing at the Romney’s. It was hard work, but a lot of fun. Before we started out on our little expedition, we brought Stella out to go on a little sled ride. She was pretty grumpy, so it was short lived. But, isn’t she cute in her little pink snow suit that used to be Emily’s?

Christmas Day

We opened presents at my families house first. Here are some pictures of Stella’s first Christmas morning:

We split the day up and went to Benjamin’s family’s for a fancy Christmas dinner and an evening present opening.

Four of the 5 girl cousins born this last year (we missed you, Lizzie!) Left to Right: Madelyn Beth, Pearl, Iris Stone, and Stella Snow

Remotes win the prize for favorite baby toy!

More cousins: Kalina Johnette, Ruby, and Lila Louisa

Autumn posing with her new makeup kit:

What a sweet, grown up helper Amberlee is:

Stella sure loved her cousin Isaac. I think she might have been a little heavier than he planned when he picked her up!

Stink-eye Jonathon

Stunning Kylie Rae

Sunny Beautiful Beth

Dependable Doug

And baby whisperer Pappa Ben

Seriously…he is a baby whisperer. He got 3 kids to sleep right in a row. Stella NEVER snuggles to sleep!

We got thoroughly spoiled this year! Thanks everyone for the awesome gifts and fun times!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve and my Grandma and Grandpa Andreasen’s. We had pie for dinner. Everyone brought a pie to share. There were so many yummy pies! It was fun to see my cousins and aunts and uncles. And of course my grandparents! Stella is the first great grandbaby.

Stella was starting to get sick, so she was pretty clingy to me. However, my Aunt Jinger won over her heart with grapes.

A quick Christmas Eve family picture:

Typical family picture. Everyone smiling except Riley who just can’t help himself…

Now for a silly one:

Thanks Grammy and Gramps for a fun night!

Romney Reunion 2013: West Yellowstone

We were so lucky to get to see so many of Benjamin’s brothers and sisters and their kids during the holidays. Lydia and Doug took advantage of everybody being around and planned a family reunion at West Yellowstone. It was a lot of fun! The kids had a blast swimming in the big pool and I just feel sick about not getting a picture of Stella in the pool. It was her first time and she was in HEAVEN! She stayed up two hours past her bedtime playing in the pool and was kissing me on the cheeks the whole time. She was just so tickled.

Stella was in heaven just playing at the feet of her cousins and watching everyone.

She also really loved her Aunt Bethany because she looks just enough like me and her Uncle Abe because he looks like Benjamin.

While we were all cozy inside the warm cabin the snow was softly falling on the pine trees. It was a beautiful site out the windows. We found Stella awake from her nap standing in the pack and play peeking through the blinds staring  out the window at the snow and cooing sweetly to herself. It was pretty sweet. We snapped a picture before she noticed us.

There was lots of sitting on Grandma’s lap…

lounging around…

and chatting and games. Lydia was so sweet to put together a fun trivia game where all the questions were facts about family members.

And of course we were surrounded by the beauty of Yellowstone:

 

Thanks Lyd and Doug for planning a fun reunion. And Thanks Momma Kaye and Pappa Ben for funding it and helping with a the kiddos. We missed you Anthony and Kylie and the Kings!