Lu gets her ears pierced!

Mae got her ears pierced for her 3rd birthday and I have always told Lu that she could do it if she wanted to, but she never had any desire until one day in January!  On a whim one night she decided that she was ready and we told her we would take her in the morning...and guess what--SHE DID IT!

 This was her WAY excited right before she got it done.  She had just picked out her new pretty earrings and we were waiting to get them done.  I had told her that it would hurt for just a second, like a small shot, and then it would feel better because I didn't want to lie to her and have her be shocked when it actually did hurt.  She held very still while they did it, but as soon as it was over, she started to cry for just a minute and looked at me and asked "Why he do that?" (talking about the people who pierced her ears).  And then she got embarrassed, and hid her head, not looking up the whole rest of the time in the jewelry shop, but she had recovered by the time we pulled out of the parking lot.  When we got home, she finally got to see her new earrings (since she wouldn't look at the store) and she LOVED them!  She looks so dang cute with her new earrings!  (take note: Mae-our little diva- was feeling a little left out of the limelight and if you look closely, in EVERY picture, you can see her trying to steal just a little bit of her sisters thunder...)

 She picked out pretty pink (big surprise) diamond earrings

Silly little Lu with her new beautiful earrings! (And you just gotta love Mae's face in the backgrounds-ha!)

SNOW Day!

As much as I don't like the cold, there is something so fun about getting all gussied up in snow suits, hats, gloves and boots and going outside for a little snow fun!

The girls geared up for the cold--Emme, Reagan, Lu and Mae

 Emme was a little unsure what to do with our new presents from Great Grandma and Grandpa, but soon caught on just fine.

 My little snow angel...

 Love that smile!

 What cuties!

And what could be better than warming up with some hot cocoa?  What a fun day with these cute girlies!

More pix of this amazing year!

Here are a couple of stragglers that I just can't forget...

Lu perched on her daddy's shoulder, snuggling.

Love those sweet chubby cheeks!

Coby with a *bright* idea!

Mae our ever-model with a pose!

Lu and her 'stach!

Lu and her find in the bathroom cabinet (that is right my friends, a pantiliner)..What an adorable little weirdo!

Emme rub-a-dubbing with that amazing smile!

Lu and Em--now that could be dangerous.

Mae and her preschool Christmas caroling to the people at the Beehive House

My three favorite girls!

Mae and her gingerbread house at school--and lucky me, I got to go help her!

No, no...that is not blood.  This is what happens when we give Lu half of a cupcake. Don't ask me how she does that!

What another BANNER year here at the Coonradt Casa!  How lucky am I that this is my life!  LOVE IT!

Christmas in Ogden

For actual Christmas we were in Ogden this year and  we had a blast!  My parents had just gotten back from Hawaii and had brought all the girls back a little grass skirt and coconuts set that we put to good use...

Aunt Capri helped teach all of them a hula dance

 and even little Emme LOVED that!  It was so cute to see all of them dancing around and Emme trying so hard to do it just like the bigger girls <3

 Mae took it very seriously

After the "luau" we tried to get all the kids together for the nativity.  Mae was Mary with her boyfried/cousin Ben as her Joseph, Lu was a partially nude shepherd and Emme was the angel (with her dad as her pedestal).

I somehow missed taking any more pix while we were in Ogden, but I can assure you, we had a fabulous Christmas there visiting with our friends and family!  What a special Christmas we had this year!

Christmas in Vernal!

This year Christmas came early here in Vernal--since it was our year in Ogden on the actual day!  We had a nice evening with Nana and Papa where we got to open ALL their presents (and there was A LOT!) and had dinner and it was a GREAT night!  As usual, we got totally spoiled!

 The girls were pretty excited and moving really fast!

Later in the week we celebrated our early "Christmas Eve" by going to Mae's Christmas preschool program and LOVED every minute of it!  

They did a bunch of WAY cute songs, had cookies and milk for everyone (seriously, how cute of an idea is that?) and then a special someone made an appearance...

and Emme LOST it!  Lu got super shy and Mae was soooooo sweet!

They did a bunch of WAY cute songs...

 had cookies and milk for everyone (seriously, how cute of an idea is that?)...

 and then had a visit from a certain special someone...

 And Emme LOST it!

Later that night, for our Christmas Eve we started a new tradition to make and decorate cookies for Santa (and eat some!) and Nana and Papa got to come!  I thought it was such a special, fun way to spend this night!  The girls absolutely LOVED it and honestly, so did I!

   

The finished masterpieces :)

And then it was time for....PAJAMAS!

These two were getting a little silly, and maybe a little punchy, with all the excitement and even more excitement to come...

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!  And Santa found us!!!

Yes, it was early...why do you ask?

 BONK!

 Em is always down for candy!

 Oh how Emme loves doggies!

 Peek-A-Boo!

 Lu and her pony she had been ADORING every time we went to WalMart!  Santa knows :)

 Where could Mae's big present be?

 YAY!  It was her Ariel vanity set!

After all the presents were opened we made Santa pancakes for breakfast and the girls got a total kick out of that!

I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas morning with my little family!  Oh how I love these girlies and the happiness they bring into my life!