December and the Close of 2014

December could not have been more eventful for our family!  We stayed incredibly busy, and really enjoyed the Christmas season.  Here's what we did...

Santa Babies....

Gingerbread House Display with Friends...

Quincy officially learned to ride her bike without training wheels this month.  It took a lot of convincing her that she could do it (like, seriously a lot) but once she decided that she could do it, it took less than 10 minutes before she was riding like a champ. 

Took the older girls to see The Nutcracker on Temple Hill in Oakland...

Went to the annual Creche...

Decorated Christmas cookies...

Tuckered out at the Ward Christmas Party...

Met Santa...

After talking to Santa Addie asked me if that was the real Santa.  I replied, "What do you think?"  Her response... "I don't think so cause he talked funny!"  Santa had a bit of an accent!

Park days with friends.  This bunch of 4 year old girls has been so fun for Quincy to have.  They make the cutest group and they all play so well together. 

(Aubrey, Kaylena, Carly, Quincy, and Grace)

This bitty turned 5 months this month...

And just like that it was time to head to Utah.  The drive there was pretty amazing.  The older girls have always been easy travelers, but little did we know that sweet Tess was going to be easy as well.  We only had to stop to feed her and we were able to make the entire drive all in one day.  

Staying at Uncle Matt's and Aunt Shanny's was the best!  The kids got some extra attention and they loved having their older cousins at their disposal 24 hours a day!

The Extended Payne Family Party...

Playing with old (new for Tess) friends...

Squishy babies Sully and Tess...

Lunch with cousins...

 Got to spend a day hanging out with my sister Melissa.  The girls love playing with cousin Brailey...

On Christmas Eve we visited Great Grandma and Grandpa Wayment...

Met cousin Landon for the first time...

7 months, 5 months, 4 months... Cute cousin babies

Both Addie and Quincy were so cute about giving Great Grandma Johnson luvs throughout the night...

Annual Wayment Christmas Party!  Let the games begin...

Great Grandma and Tess...

In our Christmas jammies...

Christmas Morning...

Christmas Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Payne's...

A Christmas miracle... The girls were so excited to be able to play in the snow!

Bowling with the Lingwalls...

Devin and I were so excited to sneak away for a temple date, all thanks to Shannon, Natalee, and Carson for taking the kids so we could go!

Western Themed White Elephant Party with our friends The Jensens...

Family Pictures with the Wayments...

Of course dinner and wrestling with Grandpa came afterwards...

Party with the Paynes...

Tess got to meet Uncle Gavin and Becky for the first time as well...

We rang in the New Year eating Nachos, watching the kids have a dance party, and then getting them to bed before 10...

And just as quickly as it came, our trip was over and we were heading back to California.  The girls had another amazing drive and we were again able to get through it in one day.  We were sad to leave family but it did feel good to be in our own home again. We are so appreciative to those who took us in while we were in Utah!  We enjoyed every moment we had with our family and friends and couldn't have done it without you being so accommodating to us!

And that closes out our 2014!  It has been a great year, with lots of ups and downs, changes, and new adventures.  We hope that 2015 brings lots of personal and spiritual growth!