December Activities

December is usually a busy month and this year was no exception. We had a fun time doing lots of fun activities with the kids and family. Here are some of our favorite moments!

 

Helping Grandma Hawker decorate her Christmas Tree

 

Visiting my family. Briggs, Andy, and Braiden are all the same age. They had so much playing like Army men and wrestling with each other!

 

Decorating Gingerbread Men

 

We went to the Ethel M Chocolate Museum. We saw how they make and package their chocolate. They also have a huge cactus garden all lit up with lights.

 

A night out at Chucke Cheese!

 

Its blurry but a family photo at the Christmas Display at the Bellagio

Me and Emily got to spend a day Christmas Shopping!

 

Brad and I at his work Sundance Christmas Party

 

 

MaKayla and Brad

We went out shopping and having fun together!

Christmas Tree

This year has been filled with many "Firsts" Getting a Christmas tree from a parking lot is one of the "Firsts" we never thought would happen. Usually we drive up into the mountains and cut down 2 trees. One huge one and one little one. However, here in NV there isnt anywhere to get a tree, so for the first time we had to buy one. We found a cute tree and brought it home. It was the "First" time MaKayla wasn't with us to pick out our tree. That was very hard for me. It was also the "First" time we have had a Christmas tree this small! But it turned out beautiful and I loved having that perfect tree shaped tree!

Emily and Izzy next to the tree, the tree lot guy made them a little tree of thier own from the cut off stump and limbs.

 

It was so small if fit into the back of the truck

 

All the kids in front of the decorated tree.

Anderson Dairy Field Trip

Today Emily got to go on her first Field Trip with her Preschool. They went to the Anderson Dairy in Las Vegas. They learned how they make and package milk and ice cream. It is the milk used in the schools here at lunch, so she thought that was cool! Me, Brad, and Andy were able to go with her and we all had a fun time. At the end they served us all a sample of thier yummy ice cream.

 

Emily with her Best Friend Elle

 

Andy and Emily

 

Andy and Emily with all the other kids learning how the dairy works!

Hoover Dam

Brad finally got another day off, so we decided to take the kids to Hoover Dam. Brad has always wanted to go take a tour in it, so we finally did. We got to go down way below the ground and see where all the water comes in and runs the energy through. It was so cool and we all loved it. Afterwards we drove across the new bridge.

 

All of us in front  of the new bridge.

 

Walking underground through the tunnels

 

Down in the pump room

 

Overlooking the dam

 

Fall at Bellagio

We took the kids to see the Fall decorations at the Bellagio. It was beautiful as always. And of course we had to see the water show cause its my FAVORITE!

 

Emily, Izzy, and Andy in front of the huge scarecrow

 

They had the biggest pumpkins we have ever seen!

 

Me and the kids on the bridge

 

Brad and Andy watching the water show

 

1st Flight!

Because of Brad's new job, we are able to fly now :) I took the three little ones to Salt Lake City for my nephew Derek's wedding. The kids were so excited, it was their first time flying on an airplane! I was very nervous not knowing how they would behave or handle the trip, but they did awesome! They were so good and had so much fun!

 

Watching all the airplanes come and go, patiently waiting our turn!

 

Boarding the plane

 

Izzy sat in front of us and felt so grown up. She talked with the couple who sat next to her the whole time and was just so excited!

 

I sat next to Emily and Andy.

Andy could see the airplane wing out the window, but didn't realize it was our airplane so the whole time he kept saying "Is that airplane going with us Mom?"

Halloween 2012

I love Halloween! We had so much fun this year. We took the kids back to Gilcrease Orchird and they got to pick out their very own pumpkins. We of course had to get a baby one for the new baby too!

All the kids with their pumpkins!

 

We drove up to St. George so that we could carve pumpkins with MaKayla. It was so fun watching them all pick out what they wanted their pumpkins to look like.

 

Emily did a silly face

 

MaKayla did a Browning Deer Logo

 

Izzy did a sad face

 

Andy picked Brodie from Yo Gabba Gabba but was too tired to see it finished

 

Steph did RAGNAR logo

 

Brad did helicopter

 

Andy was a French Soldier, Izzy was Draculara from Monster High, and Emily was Marie Antoinettent

 

MaKayla was an adorable clown

 

Gilcrease Orchard

Andy in the Apple Trees

 

Grandma Hawker and Andy

 

MaKayla and Emily

 

Brads Parents came into town to visit for Andy's Brithday. We decided to take them to the Gilcrease Orchird in Summerlin. They had fun picking apples, pears, and playing in the haystack maze.

1st Day of School 2012

Its that time of year again!! 1st Day of School!!

 

 

Oh my goodness, she is a Senior this year at Dixie High School!

Izzy and her 1st day of 4th Grade. Mrs. B is her teacher at Glenn Taylor Elem and she rides the bus and wears uniforms. What a change!

Emily started Preschool she goes to Mrs. Robertsons Preschool. I  cannot believe how grown up she looks!

Lake Mead Day

My MOST favorite thing about Brad's new job is all the time we get to spend together as a family. He gets some mornings off and some afternoons off early so we are able to go and do things! I LOVE IT!! The kids love it too! We decided to take the kids to Lake Mead, its only 20 min from our house now! Andy and I didn't get in the water but Brad and the girls had fun playing and swimming.

 

 

 

 

Circus Circus!!

After the Family Reunion, my brother Darin and Nephew Justin stayed with us for a few days. We all went to Circus Circus together, it was the first time the kids had been there, and they are hooked!

All of us so excited!

 

Justin and Darin

 

Andy and Emily

 

Spin around and around

 

Andy loved the Helicopter, I wonder who he gets that from ;)