December 31, 2012

We rang in the New Year with our newest family addition.

Flowers from Grandma and Grandpa Becker (Packa Susie and Packa Becker) 

 I was up feeding little Sara Leonetta when the mid-night fireworks and celebrations went off ... Benj was in the nursery singing primary songs to Mary Susan who still gets up from time-to-time throughout the night.

December 30, 2012

After a quick 24-hour hospital stay, we headed home with our new bundle of joy ...

Baby Sara "Lee Lee" gave her sisters gifts too ... 

their completed "first year" photo books (thank you Tammy Rogers) and stuffed toys...

An elephant for Ella Jane, a giraffe for Mary Susan, and Merida from Brave for Anne Catherine. 

~Sisterly Love~

Visits from Aunt Mimi (Amy) and Aunt Sara (namesake) 

Sara Leonetta

Born: December 29, 2012 ~ 2:03pm
Weight: 6 pounds 14 ounces
Length: 19 1/2 inches (we think)
LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT

Welcomed with love and joy (later that day!) 

by big sisters Ella Jane, Anne Catherine, and Mary Susan Becker

Christmas 2012

Christmas Eve: Traditional feast ~ Family ~ Christmas program ~ Chimes ~ Piano ~ Carols ~ Night Before Christmas ~ Nativity

Christmas Morning: Orange juice in Santa mugs ~ Run down stairs ~ Room full of presents ~ Stockings ~ Gifts ~ Breakfast ~ Family

Packa Susie and Becker gave Ella a princess carriage, Anne an art table and supplies  and Mary a doubles-stroller and bunk-bed set for her baby dolls. 

Packa Lee Lee and Low Low gave Ella her own computer, Anne a Giddy-Up-And-Go pony, and Mary a pink trike.

We are so lucky to be so spoiled and loved by very adoring, and attentive Grandparents. Thank you! 

 Other memorable gift ... Benj had the last 4 years of our family blog printed into books. THANK YOU.

I feel great relief that we have a hard copy of our family activities ... if only I had kept a more thorough blog:)! - and thus the reason I am back-tracking and updating 2012 posts.

December Highlights

(Not necessarily in order):

Lights on Temple Square:

MoTab Christmas concert - incredible!

City Creek - Macy's Candy display, the holiday decorations, and Santa. 

Snow - sledding, snowball fights, and the ice-field that is outside our condo door! 

German Fest at This Is the Place monument (more specifically the reindeer): 

Grand America window scavenger hunt and gingerbread house: 

Piano recital - Ella played "Good King Wenceslas" and Anne performed "Jingle Bells":

Making our own gingerbread house - at Grandma's too!

The ward party - and Grandpa as Santa ... in fact, BOTH grandpa's as Santa! 

Tree Hunt

It's tradition ... from our first Christmas together in western Montana ... cutting down our tree is the official beginning of our Christmas festivities. This year we went to a tree farm outside of Huntsville (not as systematic as the Half Moon Bay tree farm, or as wide-open as the tree "farm" in the Santa Cruz Mountains). In truth, we've never found the 'perfect' tree that you would find on a lot - but we always have a lot of fun! Plus, it's a great excuse for Benj to get to use a saw ... and for an Eagle Scout in a house full of girls, you can't have enough reasons to use a tool. 

And yes, we were in touch with Ukraine and Bulbuski!

This year's tree had an extra special surprise - a REAL nest!
And time to get out our Christmas dishes ... formerly in storage.
Our finished tree ...
And a picture of me several weeks later (December 23 rd) 39 weeks pregnant - I just didn't know where to post it:)