Christmas Day

We had such an amazing Christmas this year. We always have so much fun in California and this year was no let down. We made an awesome dinner Christmas Eve and then laid out the stockings and went to bed. Brilee woke up at 3:00 Christmas morning and wanted to play. She was awake for three hours and so Jake and I were pretty tired Christmas morning. Everyone showed up to Grandma and Grandpa's around 7:30 and then the fun began. Brilee was SPOILED rotten by everyone, and it was so much fun spending her first Christmas with family. Brilee got dolls, books, farm toys, snow suit, barn toys, uggs, CUTE clothes, a stroller, money, and other fun toys. Jake and I were spoiled too, and we are so GRATEFUL to everyone for EVERYTHING they did for us. Saturday Grandma, Jackie, Stacia, and I went down the hill for our traditional shopping day. It was so much fun. I love spending time with all of them and we have so much fun together. Brilee loved being in Lake Arrowhead and spending time with her GGMA and GGPA. She did awesome with all the dogs and loved showing off for everyone. Only 363 days until next Christmas! We love you guys and already miss you tons! 

Jake and Brilee heading out to see what Santa brought them!

We sang her some Christmas Carols while we waited to open presents.

First Christmas

Aunt Jackie and Kinly

Brilee opening her stocking.

Grandpa showing off the quilt I made him. 

Brilee really enjoyed crawling over her presents.

Stacia and Mom with their bikes. (Jake got me a bike and so I see a lot of bike rides in our future!)

The whole Dickson crew.

My baby and me!

Stacia's weird.

Brilee Christmas night.

Brilee and her Christmas presents (she was SOOOO spoiled).

SoCal

We are spending our holidays in Lake Arrowhead, California. We are having a great time and are really enjoying the weather! Brilee is loving being around her California family, and today we were lucky enough to meet up with some of my cousins. It was so fun to see them. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! 

Brilee did so good on our drive. Jake and I were prepared for the worst, but Brilee was better than we ever could have imagined. She slept, played with her horse, and ate suckers. 

GGMA gave Brilee a rocking horse for her first California advent, and Brilee LOVES it! Her Dad loves watching her ride it because she is a "natural." She gets on and starts kicking the horse, and when she is done riding she gets off all by herself (even dismounting on the correct side!)

When she pinches the horse's ear it neighs at her, moves its head, and shakes its tail. 

Brilee LOVES sharing her dinner with the dogs. She eats a goldfish and then feeds a goldfish to the dogs. After she feeds them she laughs and laughs. 

Daisey thinks it is pretty fun having Brilee here (especially during dinner.)

My Grandma and I baked an apple and berry pie today. It was so fun baking with her and having her teach me her baking secrets. Unfortunately, the pies were half eaten by a cute German Shepherd!

Brilee and her cousin Addison. She is such a cute girl!

Addison, Grandma, Benjamin, and Brilee all hanging out at GGMA's.

Brilee loved Benjamin. She kept hugging him and we had a hard time getting her to loosen her grip on him.

The whole crew!

Brilee loves crawling all over the dog bed.

Wishes

Brilee is eleven months old today! Eleven is a lucky number, and so I have eleven wishes for her.

*I wish for her to always be healthy.

*I wish her her to always be happy.

*I wish for her to value education.

*I wish for her to be a hard worker.

*I wish for her to always know how loved she is.

*I wish for her to always have good friends.

*I wish for her to always be my best friend.

*I wish for her to always find happiness in life.

*I wish for her to always be a good example.

*I wish for her to find success in all she does.

*I wish for her to be able to take chances to find what she wants in life. 

'09 Cabin Christmas Party

My parents held their annual Cabin Christmas party today. It was a blast! My Dad bought Brilee and Cy Mrs. Claus and Santa outfits, and they looked adorable! Santa was very impressed with his helpers. I want to give a BIG thanks to my parents for all their hard work in making this party so special! 

Brilee all dressed up!

This baby loves her Grandma!

Santa Baby!

Cutest Mrs. Claus and Santa I have ever seen.

It's amazing how many people we fit into the cabin.

Another shot of all the people.

The kids sledding down the steep hill! They would catch air at the bottom.

It wasn't easy pulling that big 'ole sled back up the hill.

First time meeting Santa... PRICELESS!

Loves from Santa.

No Longer Working Gals!

Today was my last day at work for ten weeks, and Brilee's last day at work forever. It has been so nice being able to bring her to work with me, and I really don't know what I will do when I have to go back and she has to stay with a baby-sitter. I am so lucky to work with people who love Brilee and truly enjoyed having her in the office. I have been told numerous times that when she isn't in the office A LOT more work gets done because they don't have anyone to play with. I am so excited for my time off! 

Us leaving as a family for our last day of work together! (I don't know what went wrong with this pic.).

We saw three moose on the outside of Lapoint on our way over to work this morning. They are the three dark spots in the right hand side of the picture. I was to slow to get the camera for a good picture.

Brilee after a long work week. She is worn out!

Christmas Decorations

I finally got my house all decorated and I am so excited about it! Julie made most of my decorations and I love them. She is one crafty girl. I LOVE this time of year! 

Tytan came over to help Jake carry the tree in the house.

Our cute lil' tree! We decided to try a snowman theme. I have some good ideas for next years tree with this theme too!

Brilee spends most of her time pulling off the ornaments and opening the presents under the tree! I try to just let her do it because it is so fun for her.

Opening presents and pulling ornaments off the tree at the same time! Talented girl.

Who me?

Julie is a creative girl! She made the HO HO HO and the Christmas countdown! I love them.

Here are our stockings hung by the fire, and Santa's plate for his cookies.

My village and nativity.

My favorite decoration of all... Brilee's advent calendar. GGMA made this for Brilee and it is such a treasure for us. I cannot wait until she is older and will get into the advents. Advents are one of my favorite Christmas time memories.

Chocolate Weekend!

Friday night my Mom and I met Julie at her house to make the peanut butter fillings for our chocolate. We made the peanut butter, went and bought the chocolate boxes, and finished our night by rolling the peanut butter. 

Here is our Friday night peanut butter crew. Jens spent about an hour rolling and then re- rolling his peanut butter chocolates. 

We (Granny, Jenny, Angie, Andre, my Mom, Aaron, Hoopsie, Becky, and all the kids!) all met at Julie's house Saturday morning and immediately got to work. Jenny, Julie, and I were the molders. Granny does all the cooking. Hoopsie and Donny stir the fondant. And my Mom, Andre, Aaron, and Angie are the dippers. We dipped caramels, turtles, peanut butter, cherry cordial's, toffee, peanut clusters, almond joy, and orange cream's. The house has to be kept cold in order for the chocolate to set up, so on top of working hard you are also freezing all day long! We had a surprise visit from the Harrison clan in the afternoon, and it was so nice to have their help. We dipped fifty pounds of chocolate! It's a crazy day, but when it is all said in done, it's a day we all look forward to! It is also very nice to have delicious chocolate's to give to family and friends (and to eat ourself)!

The dipping team!
Hoopsie working the fondant.
Hard at work...
We appreciated BreAnna for all of her help with Brilee.
Jake kept Brilee most of the day, but he had to come visit often. Every time he would walk in he would have Brilee in his coat. 
We even got the kids to help...or not help!
All those pizza boxes are filled with chocolates.