Holiday Memories.....

So happy the Zhu Zhu hamsters were a big hit!!!!


Brooklyn kept telling us Santa was bringing her a Zhu Zhu pet??? I had no clue what one was or how to spell it, so I asked James and he called me the next time a commercial was on. When I saw it I knew I had to find one, Brooklyn is such an animal nut that I knew she would love it. So with weeks till Christmas I wasn't concerned at all. I have always been an early shopper. So I googled the little hamsters and of course they were the HOT toy this year. Even weeks before christmas I could not just order one. Everyone was sold out or if I could find anything they wanted three times as much for it. So, I tried to talk her into something else. Of course it didn't work and of course this year that is all she was asking for. So I went to both Target and Walmart and ask them what their delivery days were, between Dean and I we hit both stores on all delivery days for the next 2 1/2 weeks and we came up with every piece she was asking for. And to think Santa gets all the credit.........


The shoveling went on and on.....


Dean took this of Brooklyn admiring my necklace, I think it's a sweet picture.


Anticipation........


Kylie playing away on her new guitar....


Male bonding over a new game....and a bowl of soup.

Christmas Letter 2009

This year we decided to post our Christmas letter on our blog, several of our friends did it last year and we loved it. So here it is..


This has been such a fun year for our family. We were able to do quite a bit of traveling this summer to see family and friends. The best part was our kids are all at such fun ages, traveling seemed so easy this year. If I could freeze our kids it would be right now at the ages they are. Dean and I keep busy trying to keep up with the kids activities, our church callings, trying to hang out with friends here and there and trying to keep our house from falling apart. It has been busy but we love it and we wouldn't have it any other way.

Kylie is 15 and a Freshman this year. She is loving High School. She bought a pink acoustic guitar several months ago and she is really enjoying learning to play it. She has constant blisters on her fingers. We love hearing her play, Taylor Swift songs are her favorite. She still reads constantly, writes stories and sketches pictures for them. She is really excited to get to drive and date next year. We love that she's a great babysitter, it makes getting in that weekly date night a little easier! She is a lot of fun to talk to and laugh with!



Nolan is ten and in 4th grade . He is a great big brother, he lets James and Brooklyn follow him everywhere. He loves building with legos, we are always amazed at his imagination and attention to detail. He loves to be at home, he is the hardest kid to talk into doing anything extracurricular. He really likes to read and he is very interested in History, especially WW II. He has a habit of losing adults with his scientific explanations. He also loves his computer and video games. He is a sweet kid , he is our little Mini Dean!


James is 5 and we are doing a home pre-school this year with some of his friends. He is also a great brother, he plays with Brooklyn all day and they have a great time together. When Nolan gets home he becomes his shadow. He loves anything Starwars, legos and anything Nolan likes! He played T-ball this year and he really liked it, he is excited to try Basketball. He loves his Mommy and Daddy and likes to come up and just snuggle. James is so much fun and he keeps us all laughing.


Brooklyn is 3 and she is a sweet little girl. She adores Kylie, she loves to hang out with her in her room and is thrilled to get any of Kylie's cast off jewelry. She loves to follow her brothers everywhere. She loves play dough, paints and anything crafty. She loves animals, she takes her people out of her doll house and uses animals instead. Every dress is a Princess dress to her, it doesn't matter how simple or fancy it is she just runs through the house "look I'm a Princess today". She is definitely a Daddy's girl and if he wants to go somewhere without her he has to sneak!

We feel so blessed during this Holiday Season and we are so grateful for our family and friends. We hope and pray that each of you feel our Saviors love this holiday season and hope the very best for you and your families this coming year.

Love,
The Haggens
Dean, Natalie, Kylie, Nolan, James and Brooklyn

Holiday Traditions........

Pictures with Santa~Yes, there was bribery involved to get the older two in the pic!




Dinner (at Traverna's this year) before going to see Santa


Our kids pick out a new ornament every year, it's fun to see what they pick. Kylie-a Santa, Nolan-Big Ben, James-Yoda , Brooklyn-a dog.

Making sugar cookies~This year was fun James and Brook wanted to do it all themselves. The christmas Tree's had a Charlie Brown effect and the stars -well, only we would know they were stars. But, I love it! I think it's one of the things they look the most forward to.

Going to Dean's work Christmas party. I love that it's the one time of the year I know we get to dance somewhere besides the living room.

I loved this pic

New holiday clothes are always exciting...

For the girls any way. The boys could care less! I'm not even sure they could tell you they were new!

Let it Snow, Let it snow, Let it Snow......

I love the first Post Card looking snowfall.

Nolan's reaction to the first Snow Day of the year.

Brooklyn HATED the snow last year, this year we can't get her out of it!

O.K. so what kid hasn't eaten a little snow?

Nolan tubing with a friend.

Her first Snow angel.

Our little snowman James!

Dean built a cool snow slide for the kids.

Oh, those first magical days of winter......

Happy Birthday Kylie!

Kylie is now 15! She has started her official countdown for driving and dating. I am glad I have another year, I am not ready! For her Birthday she wanted to go see New Moon, it came out midnight on her birthday. I would rather have waited to see a matinee, but instead we waited for 5 hours in the freezing cold. Our toes hurt so bad by the time we got in it took 45 min to warm them up. But, I will have to admit I would do it again, to stand there with Kylie and a couple of friends jumping up and down to keep warm when blankets didn't help anymore. It was one of those Priceless moments, at 15 she still wanted me there because I had gotten into the Twilight Series with her long before her friends had heard of it.

~She wanted cowboy boots and a cowboy hat for her birthday. I had so much fun picking them out, There are some really cute boots out there!

~Kylie is at such a fun stage in life, I really enjoy just talking to her and hanging out with her. We are so proud of her, this last couple of years have been really hard for her but she is really figuring out who she is and what's important to her. She still loves to write stories and she never quits player her guitar! We love you Kylie! Happy Birthday!