The Alguire Family

This year we decided on New Years Resolutions as a family and we each came up with a few for ourselves.

Craig: More family time and less time on facebook. I don't think he spends that much time on it, but whatever.

Staci: Read at least one book a month and watch the ice cream intake

Allison: Clean up her room and toys

Connor: Learn to go on the potty all the time!

Ella: Stop the screaming. She loves to scream when she Connor tries to take something from her.

We all can agree that spending time as a family is our number one priority, but spending time with each kid and spending time as a couple is another priority for the New Year. Now that we have some good babysitters we intend to use them!

The last year was a good one for us. Craig finished up his fellowship in Ann Arbor. We sold our condo and bought a new home in East Grand Rapids. Craig started his new job in July and Allison started her first year of Kindergarten at Breton Downs. It was a great year and hard to believe that it is 2011. Here is a quick look back at some of the memories.

Making a house for Valentine's Day

Womens' Gymnastics Meet

Cabellas

Allison Feeds Ella her first solid food meal

Valentine's Day

Craig swam in the Masters' Meet

Chad and Kimberly came to visit and meet Ella

Connor turns 2!

The Constant Cousins

Connor's 2 Year Appointment

We found our house!

Easter

Allison's ballet performance

Fun day with friends before leaving Ann Arbor

Connor and Tess

Spring Game

The morning of the River Bank 25K

My time was 2:02

Fun with the Constant cousins

Coast Guard 2010

Allison's First day of Kindergarten

Ella Turns one! Celebrating with GG and Papa

Art Prize 2010

Halloween 2010

The lighting of the Christmas tree East Grand Rapids

Christmas with Papa and GG

It is hard to believe that the holidays are over. They are a very busy time for us with more parties and presents than you can even imagine. It all began on Christmas Eve where we met at the Ackerman's house (Craig's sister) to decorate Christmas cookies and have the girls do a dress rehearsal of their Christmas day performance that was put together by Anna Marie, our oldest niece. That night we headed over to my parents' house to open presents and have a nice dinner together. By the time we got home, all the kids were asleep and we decided we had better put together the doll house for Allison and Ella. Craig and I stayed up until 12:00 am putting together the doll house and watching Harry Potter, The Half Blood Prince. A little less than two hours later, the house was complete and we decided we better get to bed before three kids were up ready to open presents.

Allison was up at 5:00 saying she had a bad tummy ache, but we knew she was eager to open presents. She climbed in bed with us and after kicking and bumping me for the next two hours, we finally got out of bed around 7:00 when Connor got up. We decided the kids had waited long enough and woke up Ella to join in the fun. She was not happy.

The kids were thrilled with there stuff. Connor said, "Is this for me?". He cheered and hugged his blue ring pop that he had asked for from Santa. Every gift was a huge smile and hug. Allison was thrilled to get her Rebecca American Girl and lot of accessories for her. The doll house and a couple Barbies were a hit too. Ella liked her peez and really wanted nothing to do with any of her new toys.

After cleaning up the mess and making some food, we headed off to my grandparents house for noon dinner. We had a lovely dinner with the Constants (even my other grandparents joined us since their party wasn't until the next day). The kids had more presents to open and lots of desserts too!

From there, it was on to Grandma and Grandpa Alguire's house (Craig's parents) to open presents. The kids were thrilled with their piggy banks filled with money and lots of trinkets.

Next, it was on to the Ackerman's for Christmas dinner with Craig's side of the family. We had a wonderful dinner and an amazing Christmas program put on by all the girls. The oldest girls played the piano and the rest of the girls sang Christmas songs. It was adorable and so organized. WOW!

That night we drove back to GR and we were exhausted! Sunday morning the kids were happy to play with all their new stuff and we headed back to GH for the Jonas Christmas. Luckily, it was held in a hall and the kids could run around, ride bikes, and play with balls.

That was it for Christmas parties, but we managed to squeeze in a New Year's party at Craig's parents' house on January 1st. We sure did have a wonderful time with family and friends, but it is nice to have all the festivities behind us.