Top Twelve of 2012

During the holidays I am noticed a new trend of posting on blogs or sending Christmas cards with the top 10 favorite moments or events for the year.  I have really enjoyed our family and friends Christmas cards and blogs with their families top 10 of 2012.  Since I have enjoyed this so much I thought it would be nice for some of our family and friends who do not get to see us or chat with us as often as we would like to see our favorite moments of 2012.  I am going to put my own spin on this new trend and instead of The Grunenfelder's top 10, I am posting our top 12 favorite events/moments of 2012.  I hope everyone enjoys The Grunenfelder's Top 12 of 2012!

12. Kent, Emma and I completed our second Bloomsday as a family of three!

 

11. Swimming lessons

 

10. We celebrated Grandpa Young's 60th birthday at a Mariner's game in April

 

9. Kent, Emma and Papa G. built Emma's swing set

 

8. We had a camp out at the Speer family reunion.

 

7. Emma sure loves her sand and watermelon

 

6. I completed my first Warrior Dash.

 

5.  Emma and I flew to Fresno, California to meet baby Riley and to visit Eric, Molly and of course Emma's boyfriend Micah!

 

4.  Even though Kent and I could not spend our anniversary together, we celebrated 3 years of marriage August 1st.

 

3. Family vacation in Mazatlan, Mexico

2. Emma turned ONE February 4, 2012

 

1. We found out we will be having a baby BOY due to arrive May 22, 2013!

 



Merry Christmas

Since we were not able to send all of our friends and family Christmas cards this year I thought I would post our card on our blog.  We are very sorry that we could not send a card to everyone and hopefully Kent will have a job soon and we can send a Christmas card out to everyone next year!  Thanks for understanding and we hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Our Annual Gingerbread Houses

Every year our friends Jeff and Jenny host our entire home group over at their house to decorate gingerbread houses.  It has become a very fun tradition within our home group.  Kent and I are very sad that we will probably not be able to join them next year, but are so very blessed to have been able to participate over that past few years!

Our pre-decorated gingerbread house.

Everyone hard at work on their houses.



Mya and Lauren strategizing how to decorate their house.

The Allens waiting for their frosting to dry.

Kristen and Lainey

The front walkway to our house made out of chocolate covered sunflower seeds and twizzlers!

The Finished Gingerbread Houses of 2012

Kylan, Kristen and Lainey had some troubles with their house so they turned it into Santa's Garage!

The Allen's very colorful and yummy gingerbread house!

The Grunenfelder's gingerbread house.  Our gingerbread man caught his first deer of the season!

Celisse & Jacob's house.

Mya and Lauren's house.

 

 

 

Christmas 2012

Our Christmas this year was filled with lots of family, smiles, wrapping paper, and gifts.  We enjoyed our first Christmas get together on Sunday before Christmas eve with Kent's Grandma Dayton and his mom's side of the family.  Everyone pitched in making a very yummy brunch and then once our bellies were full we began opening lots of presents. 

We celebrated our second Christmas on Christmas Eve with my mom, Alex, and Grandma ABC at my mom's house.  For as long as I can remember my mom has had the elves come Christmas Eve night (or in this case Christmas Eve Eve night) bringing everyone brand new pjs for everyone to wake up in Christmas morning (in this case Christmas Eve morning).  After opening many more presents Christmas Eve morning we enjoyed some homemade ..... for breakfast and began our journey to the mall to meet Santa.  Emma had her picture taken with Santa and was definitely a trooper.  We were not sure how she would react since she does not like people in costumes, but she managed to sit on Santa's lap without shedding one tear!  I am so very proud of my brave little girl facing her fears!

Emma's new doll house.

For our third Christmas celebration we headed to my dad's house Christmas Eve night.  After opening yet more presents; which at this point we had an extremely hard to getting Emma to actually open her gifts. All Emma really wanted to do was play with the toys she had already opened, so mommy began to open her gifts for her.  After opening presents we headed into town for dinner and to browse for Christmas lights.  Emma loved looking at all of the lights on the houses and the elaborate decorations people put out in their yards. 

Emma in her Christmas dress with her new  and favorite baby from Great Grandpa Grunenfelder.

I wonder how I am suppose to play with a kitchen in a box?  Thanks Grandpa Dave!

For our fourth and final Christmas celebration we spent Christmas day with Kent's parents and sister.  We woke up Christmas day to more presents, but this time no traveling.  We spent the entire day relaxing, watching movies, and playing with Emma's new toys.  This was kind of strange for me to spend Christmas day in one place.  Since I can remember I have been traveling between family gatherings on Christmas day, so to spend a day in one place in my pjs was kind of strange, but definitely a needed day of relaxing. 


Thanks to all of our family for a wonderful Christmas.  We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family. 

Here are some more photos from our Christmas in Pullman!

Emma seeing the presents under our Christmas tree for the first time!

Emma's new race track!

Santa brought Emma a doll all the way from Mazatlan!

Playing cars with her new muneca or doll!

Mazatlan Part II

After a few days of laying by the pool, playing in the waves and building sand castles we decided to venture into downtown Mazatlan for a little shopping.  

 

 

Riding the bus with Auntie Lo Lo!

Eating Mexican Popsicles. So YUMMY!

Every Monday the Torres Mazatlan (the hotel we were staying at) does a welcome party for all of their guests.  They have free drinks, a mariachi band and at this welcome party they lit the lights on their Christmas tree.

The mariachi band!

Emma dancing with her new friend Kate!

Family photo by the Christmas Tree!

Of course after shopping and dancing we headed back to the pool and beach for some more fun.

 

Emma and daddy taking a ride on the slide!

Daddy and Emma playing in a hole someone dug earlier in the day!

One of the perks of going on vacation with the grandparents is Mommy and Daddy get to go on their own adventures without the little one!  Kent and I headed out on a sailing trip tour of Stone and Deer Island.

Before we even headed towards the islands the dolphins decided to say hello!



All ready for my first time snorkeling!

So apparently mommy really likes snorkeling since when I finally got out of the water everyone was already in the boat ready to leave!

One of the guides found a conch shell while snorkeling!

Enjoying the sunshine!

While we were looking at the sail boats Kent and I came across this boat from Pullman, Washington. 

Some of the fish that were caught by other tourists.

And of course during one of our last times in the pool Emma and daddy practiced blowing bubbles in the water!  Mommy and Daddy are pretty sure we are raising a fish and not a little girl!

 

Mazatlan Part I

Every year after Thanksgiving Kent's parents head to Mexico for a three week vacation.  This year Kent, Emma and myself were able to join them along with Kent's sister Laura.  This was Emma and my first trip to Mexico and we had a blast.  It was a much needed vacation for Kent and I.  Thank you Dave and Alana for inviting us to join you.  We had so much fun and enjoyed our time in the sunshine! 

 

After a very long day of flying Auntie Lo Lo and Emma took a break!

Our first day in Mexico and we are ready for the pool!  Thank you Papa and Grandma for the car floaty!

Enjoying the pool in the sunshine!

Stone Island and Deer Island

Papa, Emma, and Daddy relaxing in the pool!

Daddy, Emma, and Papa building a sand hill!

Papa and Auntie Lo Lo helping Emma jump waves!

Looking for shells with Papa!

Taking a stroll on the beach!

We were having so much fun playing in the pool and walking on the beach that the first half of our trip flew by.  See Mazatlan Part II for more adventures in Mexico!