December

December means Christmas movies non-stop! :) This is one of Ryan's favorites! haha
Riley is more interested in the DVD cases at this age. 

December also means peppermint ice cream! Mmmmm

Our friends the Hillsheim's hosted an ugly sweater party. So fun to dress up in our sweaters and hang out with friends.

Riley looked so cute all dressed up in her Christmas dress for church!

Trying to reach the Christmas ornaments!

The magic of Christmas through a baby's eyes. 

Riley started doing this thing where she arches her back when she throws a fit. Oh boy...

Riley loves greek yogurt and loves to feed herself and make a mess :)

After we got back from our trip to Utah we did our own family Christmas. Because we were flying and had to take all of our presents for both of our families, we didn't have room in our suit case to take each others' presents. It ended up being so fun to have each others' presents to look forward to though and be able to do our own thing as a family.
 

We made a Christmas breakfast and everything. It was really fun!

Riley loves the wrapping paper maybe more than her actual gifts! haha 

Daddy helping Riley open her Christmas presents. 

Ryan's favorite gift was a grill for our little balcony. It was pretty much a gift for me because now he grills a lot and I don't have to cook! :) My favorite present was a new lens that I have been dying for. I was so excited! Riley's favorite present was the $5 stacking rings that we got for her haha. It's the simple things that kids always love the most! So funny.

December is such a magical time of year! My birthday AND Christmas and the holiday cheer that is all around. What more can you ask for? Between traveling to Utah and Texas and then ending home in California, it was a wonderful month with so many great memories. Until next year December.

Christmas in Utah

We flew straight from Texas to Utah to spend Christmas with our family. It had snowed so much and was definitely a beautiful white Christmas waiting for us! We had a great time being with family.

Utah is sooooo snowy!! It will definitely be a white Christmas!

The first night in Utah we headed to Springville and went to Jack's first birthday party. It was so fun to see some of my best friends/cousins and also to see Jack who is only about a month older than Riley.

Seeing Ry's family!

Riley and Nana

Karli danced in The Nutcracker ballet and we got to go see her preform.
I was so impressed with how amazing the ballet was! They all did a phenomenal job and it was so fun to watch.
Karli did such a great job. She is one talented ballerina. 

Look who else was at the Nutcracker! Elder Cook!

Riley has really started to love dogs. Everytime we go on a walk, Riley is always so excited to see them on the path or around the neighborhood. She was happy to see Sundance. They were very interested in each other :) 

Riley also loved Felix. I think our girl likes animals.

Happy to see Grandpa!

Ryan got to go snowshoeing with his dad and brother. Utah is so pretty. 

We went out to Costa Vida for lunch with Ryan's family. Mmmmm. So good. I thought it was cute how these two accidentally ended up as twins! Matchy-matchy.  

Doing some Christmas shopping with this cute elf! :) 

We got to go snowboarding!

I absolutely love a ski day with my favorite man. So much fun to be on the mountain together.
He's a good snowboarder and it's pretty hot watching him :) 

Danny, Sarah, Dad VW

Karli, me, Ry

Riley hung out in the lodge and Ryan's parents and I took turns watching her. It was so nice of them! That way it gave Ryan and I a lot of time to snowboard together. Riley was so good the whole time! Or so I heard :)
This is taking my turn with Riley at the end of the day.

On Christmas Eve day we went with my family to go see Star Wars. I. LOVED. It. LOVED it.
I think Rey is such a cool role model for girls. It was also just really fun to go with my family and see it all together. 

After the movie we went back to the Van Wagoner's for the family talent show. Carson played the piano and Addie danced!

Mike playing a song and Addie still dancing :)

Everyone hanging out after the family talent show on Christmas Eve. We also ended up doing the nativity reenactment with all the grown up kids. It was kinda funny and fun to participate since that is usually only the littles that do it. Ryan was Joseph, I was Mary and Riley was baby Jesus.

This was on Christmas Eve--it snowed so much and felt so Christmasy!

Christmas morning waiting at the top of the stairs to come down. 

Christmas morning by the tree with our little family. 

Opening our stockings. My favorite stocking stuffer was a box of Godiva chocolates. WOW! They were incredible. 

Riley loved her present from Nana and Bapa! It's a fun interactive book. 

Ry got some new road bike shoes. He was pretty surprised/excited to get them as you can tell by his face.

Riley was sick but she still managed to smile for the picture and enjoy Christmas morning. 

The Swanson's. Izzy loved her play kitchen. 

Riley and Izzy.

After the Van Wagoner's house we headed to my family's house for more Christmas fun.

My family waited for us which was so nice so that way we got to open presents with both of our families.

All of the kids in my family got Cheez-its. Mmmmm we Biesingers love Cheez-its!

Roah being a goof in the Christmas wrap.

My Grandma O made this cute fabric Christmas book for Riley.
I thought it was so sweet that she sewed it for her! Riley loves it.

Riley really loved this singing bear. It put a smile on her face every time we played the song. But you could tell she was really not feeling well. She was sick the whole week we were in Utah and had the stuffiest nose. She wasn't really herself. 

Riley loved this little walking/barking dog from Grandma and Grandpa.

After Christmas at my parents' we had a delicious Mexican feast! Usually my mom makes ham and potatoes and the traditional stuff but this year she mixed it up and did an amazing Mexican meal. We all voted to do this every year! After that, Ryan and I drove over to look at some Christmas lights!

Christmas was so fun but we were sooooo pooped after not getting any sleep for about a week. Riley was not sleeping well and throwing up/feeling so sick all week. It was pretty tiring. 

The last time we pulled over to help someone was on the side of the road in CA and people passed by honking at us and flipping us off because the car we were helping had broken down with part of the car sticking out into the road still. It was so sad that people were so rude to someone who was in need. When we pulled over to help this person on the side of the road, at least 4-5 other people pulled over within minutes to help as well. It was such an interesting contrast to the last time. Maybe it is that neighborly culture that Utah has about helping others! I took a picture because I just loved that so many people were so willing to help so quickly.

Riley not feeling so well but enjoying some snuggles with Grandma.

Emma gave me a pedicure with her new foot spa. It was so relaxing and fun!

I gave Emma a pedicure too. Fun times. 

Riley conked out on the floor once again after a busy, fun day. 

Hanging out with aunt Karli 

Saying goodbye to Karli and Nana. 

Saying bye to Grandpa and Bapa.

On our way to the airport we stopped by the singles ward building to say bye to Whitney. Hopefully she will come visit us soon out in San Francisco!

Taking a snooze in the car on the way to the airport. My mom is happy to sit in the back with me and Riley so she can stare at Riley girl and play with her. We will miss her and all of our family!

We had so much fun with our families in Utah and really enjoyed our Christmas with them. We miss living close to family but we know how lucky we are that we have been able to go out to Utah pretty frequently since we moved a few years ago.

 After we got back to Utah Riley really perked up and felt so much better! So glad to have our happy girl feeling like her happy self again. 

Merry Christmas!