Friend in town



Jodi, Rachel, Maribel, & Jefra



My dear friend Maribel came into town for Christmas.  We therefore got to see her after Christmas for a few hours.  It was so great to see her and her pregnant belly.  It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of good laughs.  I forgot how much I missed her.   I can't wait for her to move back in March.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

We started a lot of new traditions this Christmas since it was just our little family.  The twins are at the perfect age for traditions, and loved everything we did.  Leif and I both had similar traditions growing up so it was a easy compromise.  Christmas Eve we spent together as a family.  We went to the park, played and then had a nice early dinner. 

After dinner the Christmas traditions started as we all sat around the kitchen table. We light one candle which made it reverent.  In the dim-light, Leif then read the Christmas Story from Luke.  After reading the scriptures, we acted out the Nativity with little figurines. Micah and Savannah then got to open one present each (which turned into 2).  They both opened bing-bags made from their cousins.  It was their first bing-bag familiarity and we therefore had to have fun with them for half-an-hour.  Their other present was strawberry/chocolate milk, which wasn't very exciting.  Leif then turned our room into a movie theater and we all watched The Polar Express.  Micah loved the train and they both were alert through the whole movie.  After the movie we changed our front room into a slumber party and all fell asleep next to the Christmas Tree awaiting Santa's visit.      

On Christmas Morning we woke up early and ate cinnomon rolls and crapes for Breakfast.   The twins then started opening presents one-at-a-time, and the fun never stopped.  Micah was so excited about everything.  When Leif opened a box of popcorn Micah yelled, "open it..open it!"  His most exciting gift was a basket-ball and base-ball mit.  Micah was so excited to have a base-ball mit like daddy.    Savannah was super excited at her my-little-ponies.  She carries them everywhere, sleeps with them, and puts them in her new doll house. 

I was spoiled by Leif and got a new cell phone and a sport watch.  Leif got his chocolate covered almonds, and dark chocolate. 

For Christmas Dinner we had the Reese's over.  It was a great ham and potato dinner with sparkling cider.  After dinner we all played Risk.  After 3 hours and Lief winning all but 3 countries we called it a game.   It was a wonderful Christmas 2012

Leif & Rachel   Jefra & Ryan

After 3 hours the kids got board and wanted to play with us.

Family Pictures

We took our family pictures in the Botanical Gardens this year.  My friend, Jefra, has a really nice camera and was volunteered to take them for us.  I wanted one good family picture and a good picture of both the kids.  Well she did it!!!   She really captured Micah's personality and Savannah's spirit.  The pictures ended up making great Christmas Cards.  Merry Christmas 2012.   And thank-you Jefra. 

 Pictures of my sweet Savannah.

 Pictures of my handsome Micah.

 My Beautiful Twins

 The Kanooth Family



Pre-Christmas Days

I have some to realize that Pre-Christmas is better than Christmas morning itself.  There are so so so many fun things you can do in help bring in the Christmas Spirit.  And now with kids, these Pre-Christmas events have become so magical.  Baking cookies, making ginger-bread-houses, eating chocolate, watching movies, visiting Santa, looking at lights, and Christmas day itself are best with two 2-year-olds.   I loved watching their excitement and wonder.  I loved hearing their comments.  And best of all, I loved watching them open presents on Christmas morning. 

Leif was blessed to get a full 6 days off around Christmas!  It was so nice having him home.  Since we didn't get to see either of our families, having Leif home made Christmas personal and special.  We tried to do one fun thing together each day in preparation for Christmas. 

For one of our day, we went to Bush Gardens.  It was all decorated up for Christmas with trees, lights, decorations, Santa, and awesome Christmas shows.  The twins had so much fun watching "Christmas on Ice" and getting on stage with Santa.  They also LOVED riding the car-rides along with the train.



We then went and visited the Largest Christmas Store in Clearwater. It was big!!! 



Another day Leif and I got to celebrate our 7 year-anniversary.  Together we went and saw Jack Reacher.  It was a great movie.  We then went to lunch and got to go Christmas Shopping.  It is hard to believe that we have been married 7 years.   In those 7 years we have lived in 3 different states.  Together we have traveled,  laughed, cried, loved, and started a beautiful family.  It will be fun to see what the next years bring.

During Pre-Christmas  we look the twins to visit Santa 2 times.  One was at our ward Christmas Party.  And the other was at "Winter Wonderland" in Clearwater.  Winter Wonderland was a lot of fun.  The twins got decorate cookies with Mrs. Clase, ride a train, go to a petting zoo, and visit Santa!!   Both the kids understood who Santa was and were so excited to sit on his lap.  Savannah had decided that she wanted My Little Ponies for Christmas.  Micah asked for either a Soccer-ball, or Base-ball.   Both of them were so cute when they sat on Santa's lap and whispered what they wanted. 

Telling Santa their secrets

Decorating cookies w Mrs. Claus

The petting zoo

Riding the train

I have now come to realize that I will forever have 2 little helpers when making cookies or treats.  Together the twins and I made A LOT of cookies to give away to neighbors.   We filled 12 plates full of treats and delivered them to our random neighbors.  Micah and Savannah were so cute.  I think our neighbors were more excited with seeing the twins delivering gifts then they were the cookies.   

 And best of all we go to relax.   The twins just loved having Daddy at home.  It was so fun to watch them cuddle and play together.  I love my little family.

Christmas Party

When living in Kansas City, Angela always put on awesome Christmas Parties.  Everyone looked forward to her party brought awesome gifts, and awesome foods.   My first Christmas in Florida I decide to keep the tradition going and had Christmas Gift Exchange Party.  Therefore this year was the 2nd annual Christmas Party.  It was a lot of fun.  Everyone brought great gifts.  We ate, talked and laughed all night.   I really do enjoy hosting parties.

Christmas Gift Exchange 2012



Jefra, Chelsea, & Rachel



Rachel & Sang Min

Juliette Weinert

My sweet little sister delivered her first baby on Saturday December 15.  They named her Juliette Weinert.  Josett showed us all how amazing she was be laboring for 26 hours, pushing for 6 hours, and trying everything in her own power to give birth naturally.  My sister worked so long to avoid have a C-section but to her disappointment that was the last option for her.  In the end it was all worth it as she now has a beautiful baby girl.  And I have an adorable baby niece.  Congratulation to Josett & Scott.  

My little twin

Sometimes I get jealous that Savannah & Micah can dress up as Twins.  I sometimes wish I were a twin.  Then I realize that I can have a twin whenever I want.   Little Savannah LOVES being Mommy's twins.  I dressed us up as twins on Sunday and Savannah said, "Mommy we same". 

Santa

We went and saw Santa as Leif's work Christmas Breakfast.  I had prepared the twins on what to say.  Savannah was going to ask for "my little ponies"  Micah was going to ask for a "basket-ball". 

Well, we walked into the Cafeteria.  Savannah saw Santa.  She waved her little arm and yelled, "I WANT PONY."  Everyone turned and look to see who this crazy child was.  Yes, she is mine. 

Happy Early Christmas Everyone

A Wednesday with Daddy

Leif had a Wednesday off.  So we got to have a family day.  I somehow received a list of 30 things you HAVE to do in the Pinellas County.  Well, going to a Derby Club Dog Race was one of the 30.  We had no idea what to expect and that was good because it was nothing like I expected!!!  So they have about 15 dog races per show.  Before each show the dogs are brought to the front and their stats are announced.  There were old retired men with cigars everywhere!!!  People jumping up and down screaming for their dogs.  And did I say lots of retired people. 

Well, the twins loved watching the motorized rabbit run around the track with the dogs chasing them.  Before each race, Leif and I better between ourselves.  But neither of us ever won.  It was a fun thing to do....once.  

Can you see the dogs??

 Having fun and taking pictures inbetween races. 

 After 5 reaces we left and headed to Freedom Lake Park for a Family Picnic in the park.  I was a beautiful day.  Our turky sandwhiches were yummy.  It was nice.

 That night we had a family slumber party.  We piled all our blankets into the front room along with every pillow.   We tickeled the twins, jumped on pillows, and ate pop-corn.  We watched a little show on Leif's I-pad and then all tried to sleep together.  It was a fun thing to do.... once.