Our Top 14 of 2014

This year was filled with great vacations, lots of free local activities with the fam, leaps of development in each of the Rosier Ruffians, and just overall love and happiness. Don't get me wrong, there was yelling, time-outs, disagreements, and drama, too, but that's to be expected. Overall, our 2014 was incredible! And here are our favorite 14 things that we did this year (You can click on each title to read the post).

#14: Our January Trip to MD

#13: Black Friday Cookie Painting

#12: Halloween Festivities

#11: Christmas

#10: Paxton Learning to Talk

#9: Our March Trip to MD for April's Baby Shower

#8: Apple Picking this Fall

#7: The Twins Starting Kindergarten!

#6: Our Annual Fourth of July Trip to the Milligan's

#5: The Pirate-Mermaid Birthday Party

#4: Our Deep Creek Lake Vacation (Part One, Part Two, Part Three, & Part Four)

#3: Our Smith Mountain Lake Vacation (Part One & Part Two)

#2: Discovering Riven Rock Park

#1: Finding out that another Rosier Ruffian is on the way!

Other Stuff from December

 One of my students brought her new puppy over to play with the kiddos. Vivi was IN LOVE with it and cried for 15+ minutes after it left.

We decorated our tree. This year, we did a citrus colored tree- orange, yellow, and lime colors.

The twins had Pajama Day at school.

We decorated candy cane shaped cookies with melted peppermint chocolate.

We went to an indoor mini golf place and Dairy Queen for lunch with the Whitehursts.

Christmas Day 2014

Of course, I woke up first n Christmas morning. Pax was next and then Gavin and Vivian were up a few minutes later. Wes and I got everything ready downstairs, while the kiddos distracted themselves with the iPad upstairs.

This year, we got each twin a scooter and Pax got a motorized four wheeler (he must have asked for a "four wee-wer" for the last 6 months). They also each got more new pajamas, a flashlight, a book, a pack of silly socks, and a wearable blanket. Vivian got a few craft projects, new colorful pens, and a new notebook. Gavin got a model airplane to put together with Daddy, a large wooden sword, a bungee hook thingy, a crazy dinosaur toy, and a Connect Four game. Paxton got a Caillou puzzle, a crazy dinosaur toy, and a foam sword and shield set. And of course, everyone got some candy in their stockings.

We took a family pic and then it was time to open presents!

It's a bit of an understatement to say that they liked the scooters and four wheeler. The twins must have thanked us for their presents 15 times each (which is new... and really nice!). We ate French toast and strawberries for breakfast and then spent the rest of the day relaxing, making Shrinky-Dinks, scooting around the house (living room, kitchen, dining room, living room, kitchen, dining room, etc.), building the model airplane, coloring Vivian's hair with her new hair chalk pens,

Around 6pm, the kiddos decided that they wanted to turn all of the lights out (except the Christmas tree) and scoot/ride around the house using their new flashlights. They did this for about an hour and a half. It was hilarious.

And that was how we spent Christmas day.

Christmas Eve 2014

Our Christmas Eve was spent relaxing, crafting, and baking and decorating cookies at home. It was awesome. First, we made paper strip Christmas trees.

Then, we watched a movie before making cut out cookies, baking them, and decorating them.

The kiddos took a nice long bubble bath/shower after the cookie making. When they came downstairs, there were three wrapped presents under the tree for them! It was their traditional Christmas jammies.

We ate pizza for dinner and snuggled on the couch to watch the Muppets Family Christmas Movie (a favorite of mine (and my sister's) growing up. Pax fell asleep on the couch around 7:15. I read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and put the twins to bed around 8pm. Then Wes and I got ready for the next morning...