Our Christmas Weekend

 Christmas Eve morning moments. Someone is excited to read!

 On our way to Christmas Eve festivities in Nashville with Michael's family, this is what I found. Evan sucking his finger (meaning he's exhausted) while letting Cora hold his other finger. I don't know if you can see her face reflected in the baby mirror but she has the biggest love face and smile for Evan. Very cute!

 After a delicious meal, it was gift time at Mike's brother's house.

 These are Evan's antlers from Grandma Jennie but he wouldn't wear them. He was too interested in something up his nose I guess. lol.

 Evan getting "Rocket" pajamas. Grandma didn't even know it's his new obsession word. When we sing him his good night song and include people he knows or things around his room (ie: "Good night window/light switch/ blanket/ toys" etc) he wants us to sing "Good night ROCKET" over and over and over. We don't know what it's about but it cracks us up. The picture of Grandma is of her finally receiving much hinted about photos of her grandchildren! Now if we could only get the parents of those children to cooperate and all take a photo together... we'll see.

 Poor cousin Lauren was sick and laying down a lot so not too many pictures of her but Brooke had a great time with Evan and he really appreciated the attention and energy Brooke had to chase him around and humor him. :) We appreciate that too! ha ha ha.

 I had no idea that he knew how to hold a guitar but he was obsessed with the Wii guitar.

 Twin pajamas! Sweet brother to his "baby sister" (which he calls her on occasion).

 I wanted a picture of their size difference. It really cracks me up.

 Back to our house and getting ready for Santa to come.

 Even the pets were 'nice' this year and got some treats. :)

 Christmas morning faces.

 

 This is why Christmas morning is going to start getting fun. Look at that face over a bunch of plastic zoo animals. Priceless!

 Thank you Grandma Karla/Putsie and Grandpa Allen for recording your voices in our book from cousin Luke. Both kids L-O-V-E it!

 Daddy and Cora Grace were total buddy's while we opened gifts. I was able to capture this cute one.

 Mike got some special wax lips from Santa in his stocking. We all wanted to try them out. ha ha ha ha.

 Evan got 3 remote vehicles for Christmas! This truck was from Santa and he got 2 trains from Michael's family. He could use a few more in his mind. We have played with them all day. Each works differently and he is getting to know them quickly. Here he is trying to run over his sister with his truck. lol.

 These pictures are pretty lame of the snow a few hours later (because of my rebellion against flash) but I hope you get the idea that Evan was having fun and that we had a decent snow storm here. Oh, and he's letting me put his old caps on again. Whoo hoo!

 House cleaned up and relaxing in his new chair from Santa, Evan played with Cora's new chew toy and just looked too cute not to take a picture. :) P.S. Thank you Meghan for your sweet idea on how to hang Greeting cards from a ribbon with clothes pins. It looked awesome and gave me sanity. :)

 I have wanted a little 'boom box' to play music for the kids since Cora was born and my awesome sister in law Kelli had one and would play music for the kids. I think music (the right kind) is very beneficial to small children. I love the Mozart and Beethoven Cd's for them but also the nursery rhymes etc that get them to interact. Well, recently Michael got this one but I really didn't have Cd's until Christmas. Here you see Evan obviously riveted to the "Silly Songs"CD Mike put in my stocking but do you see that sweet baby in the background also paying attention to it? :) First thing Sunday morning, Evan went right to the CD player, carried to a comfortable spot, sat down and tried to turn it on. Dang he's getting so big and smart!

 Being silly this morning while he ate his pancakes and sausage (well, our dog Smokey actually got fed his sausage. Evan is so 'sharing' sometimes. lol).

 Swoon!

 Playing in the snow on Sunday. He fell down and didn't want to get up. He said, very pitifully, "Help... me". It was so sad, he was just tired and worn out poor little guy. I'm glad he let me help him. Being a 2 year old, that's not always the case. :)

I just want to close this post with how grateful we are to have our children. They are the greatest gift anyone could give and we really do believe that God sent them to our home. We will always strive to do our best for them including resolving to always be good to each other as husband and wife. It has been hard since Cora came, for us to connect as we used to but we are working hard to be more patient with each other with our added responsibilities and make time for just us. We know that will make us better parents to these beautiful children. I am grateful for this season that we have to remember the sacrifices our Savior was born to make for us and for us to think of what good we are doing in the world in return. I hope to work harder on how I am not only to my family but to who ever I meet. It's always feels great to plan this in my mind, now I need to make time to do it. I hope you all will have confidence in the goals you will be making for the new year, that you can accomplish them and that they will bring you joy and fulfillment. God Bless.

Thanksgiving Weekend Festivities

The morning started off with some baby bonding :)

The table was set and ready to enjoy the company of Michael's Parents and Brother's family at our house. Evan didn't want to 'look at me'. ha ha ha.

Maybe I should put some of that food back?

 The Cook. Don't you wanna kiss him? ;)

Evan pretty much ate everything and Cora tried some yams

My nieces, dinner for 2 anyone? I tried to make up for a too small table by giving them wooden games to play with. :) They are good sports regardless. Love you girls.

The rest of us. Michael's brother Matt is next to him and their mom Jennie who is recovering from a shoulder surgery (it couldn't hurt to add a prayer for her to have a quick and pain free recovery if you don't mind). Across from her is Michael's Step dad George and my sister in law Nanci is my my empty seat. Then of course we have the back of Evan's head but he's in his own world. ;) Our food was yummy thanks to Michael who prepared everything. All I did was clean the house and set the table :).

.THE NEXT DAY.

Our nieces Lauren and Brooke spent the night. Let me pause to say they are the most well behaved children so it is a pleasure to have our 'tweens' over to their cool aunt and uncles house. :) Here I made them yummy Hot Chocolate and I had Hot Carob as a treat before they helped me put our ornaments on the tree. I'm pretty sure I'm going to make this a tradition every year ;). Especially cause they LOVE playing with Evan and holding Cora and I trust them to be sweet to my babies.

Another ornament hanging elf.

 Really concentrating to get the job done right, although he did pause a time or two to actually play with the ornaments when he couldn't get them on right away. :) We came up with a "one finger touch" rule for him that for the most part is successful. He has resisted 'grabbing' the mesmerizing ornaments and lights. C.G., not so much, ha ha ha (pics wouldn't load of her, i think i put too many on this post, opps!)

The finished project.

Some of my favorite ornaments:

Krispy Kreme - it lights up and flashes by battery power and makes me think I'm at the bakery getting a "Hot Fresh Now". Mmmm.

These are Beaded Tinsel's I bought at Pottery Barn a couple years ago. They are sooOO fun for me and for kids to put on and they really add sparkle.

Evan paused to play with this Airplane we won in an ornament exchange at Michael's old work at Asphalt Professionals. We miss those Christmas Parties so much! I still cannot walk past an ornament without wishing I was there for the exchange and it's been 8 years! (can you believe that? wow)

These are Boyd's Bear Snowmen for 1997, the year we were married. Funny story is that my sister Katrina bought it for her daughters "First Christmas" ornament... I was like, Katrina, it's two snowmen kissing! ;) She let me have it for our first Christmas as a married couple. Thanks! LMBO.

What can I say, I used to have a sweet spot for Boyd's stuff. I don't know why but I still enjoy the figurines and ornaments I have though don't really want more.



These two are our tribute to the mission we individually served in Seattle Washington. They make us happy. Although I have never been in or even to the Space Needle, it still reminds me of Washington State. I have however been on a Ferry and love it.



This is our motorized Santa. He "climbs" or "dances" like a puppet when you turn his switch on. His carriage is attached to one of the lights sockets and he's just plain fun. Evan is a little scared of him so far but is warming up. :)

Another winner from the A.P. ornament exchange and all these years later, he's not only still intact but it, along with the airplane bring Evan much joy and opportunities for TIME OUT when he breaks the "one finger touch" rule. :) he he he he.

I'm not sure if I bought this or my mother in law but I just love this cat. It's all raggedy and is 'tangled' in Christmas lights. It's playful and warms my pet lover side... that I used to have. (sorry)

Finally. Last but not least, one of my favorite ornaments is this one that I actually made last year for a homemade ornament exchange here in TN. I love it because, Evan received everything 'he' asked for last year. If you will notice the 6th request down? BIG GRIN. If all his Christmas dreams are going to come true this year like last year,"He" is going to ask for a LOT more stuff this year, I'll tell you that! ha ha ha.