New Year's Eve 2010...

We spent New Year's Eve at our friend's Mike, Katie and Luke's. We enjoyed a night of dinner, snacks, playtime with the kiddos, ping pong, Dutch Blitz and more. Though Mike and Katie just live across town we decided to spend the night because it would be easiest to put Larkyn down for bed and keep her in one spot. Luke and Larkyn both slept very well and we had a great sleepover! To top all things off, Mike made us breakfast in the morning. He went all out with popovers, pancakes, sausage, eggs and coffee!

Luke and Shea

"Cool pants Larkyn!"

"Thanks Luke! You better watch your hands our moms are watching!"

"It's okay Larkyn, just a couple more!"

"Mom, get me out of here...this girl is crazy!"

"Okay fine, I'll sit still for a minute!"

"Oh Luke, I just love your hair!"

Our first New Year's as a family of 3!

A friendly game of ping pong between Shea and Katie after the babes were in bed. Shea and I also played Mike and Katie in doubles.

Larkyn loved Mike's breakfast the next morning! She had pancakes and sausage and tried orange juice for the first time!

I think Luke was a little confused that we were at his house the next morning and Larkyn was in his highchair!

Playdate with Hannah...

Larkyn and Hannah had another play-date on New Year's Eve day. It had been way too long since the two of them could get down on the floor together. The girls are now both very mobile and like to move around so it was fun to watch them play together and interact.

"Come here Hannah, look at the snow!"

"Quick, look up at our moms. They will keep bothering us until they get a good one so we might as well get this over with!"
(I love this picture of the girls!)

We gave Hannah her Christmas present...a new car!
Larkyn was very interested in helping her open up her gift.

Larkyn was also very interested in pushing Hannah around!
"Just think, in 15 years we'll be doing this for real!"

"Scoot over girl...let me drive!"

"Ohh, what else did you get?"

"Thanks for the cute fleece outfit Larkyn, but I want to push around my new ride!"

Christmas Day 2010 in Iowa...

We spent Christmas morning at my mom's house playing with new toys, making mini donuts, visiting my grandpa and his Christmas decorations and getting ready to travel to Des Moines for our big family Christmas. Larkyn wore her Christmas dress during the morning because she was sleeping before we went to church on Christmas Eve and we didn't get the opportunity to change her. Larkyn opened up a new Christmas dress for her baby doll the night before from Grandma Debbie. We put the girls in their matching dresses for pictures by the tree!

Christmas Kisses for Baby Jesus II

I just love this face...

Larkyn wanted to help Grandma Debbie wrap some last minute presents for Great Grandpa Ralph!

We went over to my grandparent's house to show Larkyn all of my grandpa's decorations. My cousin MacKenzie set up all of the stuffed animals on the floor just at Larkyn's level! The Santa and the white elf in the distance are over 50 years old!

Larkyn and the giant Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves!

Great Grandpa Ralph and Larkyn

He was showing her his snow village, the ski hill, and the choo-choo train.

In the afternoon we traveled to my aunt and uncle's house near Des Moines for our big family Christmas. My mom is the oldest of five and four of the five have three children, the youngest has two. The whole gang, consisting of 28 of us, spent the night in the same house! Larkyn enjoyed seeing and spending time with her cousins, aunts and uncles. It is a family tradition to read a Christmas story and/or do a family activity. This year after my cousin Kayce read a story, we split into groups to come up with family memories starting with the letters in the word FAMILY. We also usually go bowling on our Christmas gatherings, but we decided to stay in for the night to play games.

"M" is for Many Majerus Memories, Montana Caravan, Many Grandchildren, Marvelous Chocolate Chip Cookies by Grandma Barb, and Much More!

Larkyn was intrigued by Cousin Luke's hair. It's actually a lot like her Daddy's!

The Majerus Clan...28 beautiful people!

"Hmm...I wonder what is in this one?"

"Oooh, a new tractor and tractor crayons! I can't wait to use them!"

"No no no, like this..."

Larkyn looks like she is telling Jake, Brandon and Cameron what to do!

More pictures from Christmas Day...

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Christmas Eve 2010 in Iowa...

We spent Christmas Eve morning at my sister Megan's house with her husband Luke, my sister Courtney and my dad. We (mostly Megan) made a wonderful brunch and spent some time catching up and watching Larkyn move from place to place all over the house. Larkyn got to open up one present from Aunt Megan and Uncle Luke. She was so much fun to watch. Larkyn was so excited about each gift...well more the wrapping paper, but always smiled from ear to ear!

"Wow Mom and Dad, look at my new ride! I am going to have so much fun crusin' around in this. Watch out neighborhood boys...here I come!"

Courtney and Luke resting up for the big day!

Grandpa Jim and Larkyn

The fun continued at my mom's house Christmas Eve night. We went to church in the afternoon, had dinner and then opened up gifts. Larkyn got many rides around the house from Aunt Courtney and did some walking behind the car as well.

"Thank you Aunt Megan and Uncle Luke! I LOVE my new car!"

It's our first Christmas together...of course we needed a family picture!

Luke, Megan, Kim, Larkyn, Shea, Courtney, Debbie

My grandparents joined us for Christmas Eve as well. It was fun to spend the evening with them and share in the joy of Larkyn's first Christmas!

"Hmm...which one should I open first?"

Larkyn got a new pair of shoes from Aunt Megan and Uncle Luke. They are huge Hawkeye fans so we can pretty guarantee Hawkeye apparel!

It didn't matter what was in the boxes, Larkyn was just having fun being a part of it all!

Aunt Courtney gave Larkyn a basketball hoop. We were showing her how to put the ball in the hoop and let go. She kept putting her hand above the hoop with the ball but would not let go! We'll continue to work on this:)

Larkyn and Great-Grandpa Ralph

I guess it was a scarf Christmas this year...

Courtney trying out some of her new gifts. She scored a new pair of Hawkeye slippers!

After putting Larkyn to bed and my grandparents left, my mom, Megan, Luke, Courtney, Shea and I played Banana Grams. This is a picture of Shea's words. Poor guy just couldn't get any words to work. He had four words--toy, tub, bit, and top! I pretty much won every round. Must be the teacher in me...spelling was always my thing!

More photos of the day...

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