A couple days after Christmas the snow stopped and we had bright, sunny skies for the remainder of our vacation. The kids went sledding everyday. For the first time, the Burns family joined us in the New Years festivities. The kids had so much fun together!
Makenzie loved going over the bump on the sled run. I'm so thankful she hung on tight!
Everytime it looked like she was going to bounce right out of the tube.
It has always been a family tradition to pull out a puzzle over the New Years Holiday.
This year was the hardest puzzle we ever had to conquer. I think everyone tried their best to help and it still took forever. We'll be hiding this one in the back of the closet.
New Years Eve: Happy Birthday Charlie B
For as long as I can remember we have celebrated New Years in Pinetop with our family and great friends: The Hilemans and Robertsons. Even when my parents went crazy and decided not to have a place in Pinetop we all got together for our usual festivies!
Every year we take a group picture: One serious and one funny
Most of the day was spent in the kitchen preparing our big turkey feast!
It's so much fun visiting, cooking, dancing, laughing and the end result was delicious!
A classic story we will never forget!
Me and my buddy
My mom and her friend Diane. They really missed their other partner in crime!
(We love you Jody!)
Brad Hileman got the group going in a first time tournament of flip cup!
Team 2
Team 1 THE CHAMPIONS
This evening was so much fun. We went strong all day and our dinner was delicious (the left overs even better) By 11:45 we all slumped on the couches in the living room and watched the ball drop in Times Square. By 12:15 we were in bed. As we watched the ball drop I sat and thought about how fast this year flew by and how fortunate we are! Our life is filled with so many blessings that I am so thankful for. I'm not sure what the next year has in store for us, but if it's half as good as the year we just had we will still be some of the luckiest people in the world!
So last week Makenzie and her girl scout troop visited a tae kwon do academy that is right up the street from us. The girls learned some self defense skills and had a great time. The grand master was a really nice guy so we thought we'd try Hunter with a little karate and see how he likes it. It is pretty darn cute. His costume (as he calls it) looks so adorable on him. I silently giggle during the whole class, while I'm cheering him on from the side lines. He thinks it is so cool to punch and kick at things while he keys up with his "hi-ya!" I hope he doesn't use these moves on his sisters. :-)
On her birthday, January 21 we had a family dinner at the house.
Kandra came home from Tucson to surprise Madi
I can't believe how fast my oldest baby is growing up! It seems like just yesterday she was born and she fit so nicely in my arms. Now she's almost as tall as I am and wears bigger shoes than me! I am so proud of her and really enjoy her fun, happy and sweet personality.
Grandma and Grandpa Stratton and Uncle Brad got Madi a new cruiser with Hawaiin flowers
Madi, Chloe and Daisy
Hunter and Christian
Madi and her jump into the pile
Hunter did a cannon ball!
Dad and Scott early in the afternoon preparing our turkey
This picture was taken hours after they put the turkey in the bbq. It was taking longer than usual and they kept thinking the turkey sure looked funny. Long story short: they ended up basting the rear end of the turkey all afternoon until they figured out it was upside down! 
