Christmas Time!

So it has been a fun and crazy 3 months and I can't believe that Christmas is a little over a week away!  Fortunately I did most of my shopping in November, cuz it's crazy at stores now when I go to get basic necessities.  I'm excited that I got the whole weekend off to spend Christmas with my family and Rigo's family, cuz I was originally scheduled to work that weekend.  Christmas in the hospital, definitely not as fun as spending it with your loved ones.  I need to find some time to make it to the temple and see the lights and enjoy the events going on up there...it is always beautiful and comforting to take a lil trip there, especially when it's only 20 minutes away!


I got my first nativity set this year and it's awesome cuz it's toddler friendly...Kaylana can pick up the pieces and play with them!  We put up a Christmas tree for the first time in 3 years, smells so good!  Kaylana helped me decorate and loves to say "Christmas tree" all the time.






Kaylana is the funnest little girl ever and she has grown SO much.  She talks like crazy and runs everywhere.  She says and does things that just crack me up and are so dang cute, I wish I wrote down all those times...I'm going to have to start carrying a notebook around with me or something.  She loves her yogurt and one evening I asked her "Want some yogurt?"  and she ran into the kitchen (which was dark since we were watching TV in the family room and it gets dark at like 4:30 now)...all  I heard was a slap on the floor and then "I'm okay!"  Or when she puts on my shoes or purse and walks around saying "Mommy's Shoes" or "Mommy's Purse."  I love how she wakes up in the morning and tells me Hi or Good Morning and gives me a hug and kiss.  She is so affectionate!  She is absolutely in love with Mickey Mouse and occasionally she will be watching on our bed and when we walk in to check on her she will say "Hi Mommy!" and pull the blanket off of her, pat the space on the bed beside her and say "Sit down, Mommy, sit down!"  She is darling.  I find myself surprised by her every day with how smart and talented she is.  Anyhow, I just adore her and could go on for days.  Instead I will catch up the last few months.

My Turkey Day decorations =)

So we had Thanksgiving at our house this year.  It was awesome to have both my family and Rigo's family under one roof and not have to trek from one house to another.  The food was amazingly delicious and I think I ate 5 different times cuz I kept going back for more like every hour haha.  We enjoyed the great food, company, and the 49ers game, even though they lost.

Halloween was so fun for Kaylana.  She went trick or treating for the first time and dressed up as Minnie Mouse.  She currently is in love with Mickey, so I thought it fitting to make her Minnie.  We only went about two blocks and within an hour she was asking me to carry her.  We had an awesome evening with my brother's family, Rojohn, Merilee, and Ashilene, who was dressed as the cutest Elmo ever!  Those girls have so much fun together!  I bought 3 big bags of candy to give out, and it was gone within an hour of coming home...by then I was looking through Kaylana's candy to see which ones I didn't want her to eat, but then I just said forget it and turned out the porch light at 9pm.  I was amazed at how many kids were out in our neighborhood, and love that we live in such a family-oriented area with tons of younger kids!  I think Kaylana will love growing up her and playing with the neighborhood children.

 

 
We also enjoyed a Trunk or Treat at church and Kaylana loved the games, the coloring, and of course the candy.  It is so nice to have a bunch of other kids her age and a good amount of youth to play with the younger kids. 

   
Kaylana's annual trip to the pumpkin patch!  She loves riding in the wagon, going down the giant slide, playing in the bouncy house, touching all the pumpkins, and playing with all the fun lil cars and horsies they have.

Kaylana's first manicure.  My sister, Jubie, and I were getting pedicures and her daughter wanted one (who is 3 years old).  When Kaylana saw all of us getting pedis she wanted to take her shoes off but instead I told her she could get her hands done.  So she got a manicure and loved it!  You can't really see but she picked orange and they drew a pumpkin on one thumbnail and a spider on the other.  She was so excited and kept showing everyone her "Pun-kin" and "Ewww Spider!"

Latest Rieta Family Pic

So I am going to continue later since I have to finish preparing my primary lesson.  Oh yeah, so after 5 years of working with the Young Women I was released, had a few chill months, then was called to be a primary teacher.  I teach the CTR 5, and I love those lil 5 year olds!  They are so smart and so sweet.  It is an exciting change and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be with them!  So much more to catch up on, but...my next post, I'm sure, will probably next year.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!!!