Christmas Party and Bird Tree

We always celebrate Christmas with my mom's family the weekend after Thanksgiving because it's the last time we see everyone before Christmas. So Saturday we ventured up to the cabin for a weenie and marshmallow roast. Jack has inherited the fire bug from his dad and really enjoyed keeping the fire going by gathering lots of wood to throw in! We spread some reindeer dust before decorating the animal tree and were surprised by a visit from santa and the grinch! It's always fun to get together with everyone and it's fun that we have a whole new batch of little ones in the family to start these fun traditions with!

The crew trying to get a picture in front of the decorated tree. Notice most of the children in the front row are crying and trying to get away! They NEVER cooperate!

Jack spreading his reindeer dust (oatmeal and glitter) so Santa and his reindeer know where to land!

Decorating the tree.


Jack gathering more wood for the fire.

Grandpa Lee, Ella and Taylor

Ainslee and Ella

Cooper took a nose dive into the box of bird treats! It was too funny and he came up with bird seed stuck to his lip!

My little kitty!

I love this time of year and I love that December is always full of fun parties, good food, and family!

Bird Treats and BLACK Friday

My sister convinced me once again that going shopping at 3 AM at WALMART was a GOOD idea. We along with my nieces Ainslee and Taylor (and i'm pretty sure everyone else in Cassia County)ventured out to Walmart (the only store in town) and arrived at a little after 3AM. I could see the point in this if you were going for some big ticket items (i.e. computers, tv's, camera's) but all she wanted was BARBIES and BRATZ! Oh well, we had a great time and made some great memories!

Later that day we all got together to make treats for the animal tree that we decorate every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Jack was very into it and LOVED making the treats for the birds. He talked about it all day and couldn't wait to get to the cabin to decorate the tree!

Thanksgiving

We had a perfect Thanksgiving with all the family and I realized on the drive home that I didn't take any pictures! Oh well, here's a couple from the ride in the car! We had a great time and although you probably can't find a stranger family out there we sure do enjoy hanging out with them!

O' Christmas Tree

O'Christmas Tree, O'Christmas Tree how lovely are though PLASTIC branches? Yes, once again we pulled out the old fake Christmas tree and decorated it! I strongly considered going and cutting one down with Jack this year but decided the prelit one in the garage was much more convenient so we went for it!! Maybe next year we will venture out saw in hand and cut down the perfect charlie brown tree! Our tree this year turned out beautiful and Jack is thoroughly in love with it and NEVER wants to unplug it! So far so good..... he hasn't really touched the tree or any of the presents under it. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that Ella doesn't learn to crawl until AFTER Christmas so we don't have to worry about her getting into it either! I will post a picture of the end product soon!

Ella was content sitting in her high chair watching the boys do the work!

I know... I know.... I completely have failed with keeping up with my thankful posts. Life has been stressful the last few days and it seems like I have been running a mile a minute. Jack has even spent 2 afternoons with Grandma Annette and I still feel like I haven't had time to get anything done. I keep thinking.... I can't wait for this semester of school to be over... but then I remember that I'm taking more than double the classes I took this semester so I can just plan on being completely crazy then! So today we are just going to say that I am thankful that I get to be a "stay at home" mom to my kids. Most days they drive me absolutely insane but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've been given rude remarks about me not having a "job" but seriously this is the hardest job I have ever had. You can't call in sick on the days you just don't feel like it! Sometimes it's really hard when we think of all the things we could have if we were back on two incomes but I hope someday Jack and Ella will look back and see that we may have sacrificed some of the "fun" things but that they will appreciate that it was so important to Ryan and I to sacrifice so I can stay home with them!

Who else better than me can keep Elsa updated on all the latest gossip?

And I'm pretty sure somebody else besides his mother might think he's not so cute when he is desperately in need of a haircut and a face washing!

I sometimes feel bad that Ryan misses out on a lot of our fun because he's at work but somebody has to make the CHA CHING!


And couldn't leave off without posting a picture of old "thunder thighs" bathing in Grandma Rosie's sink! Oh ya, and just so I can remember..... she is no longer a gummer! Her first tooth finally came through!

Thankful

Thankfully I am able to play catch up and post for the last few days I have missed. The kids and I made a quick trip to Idaho to visit my family and it is always a whirlwind weeked while we are there.
First off I am thankful for friends. I have a few very special ones that I don't know what I would do without. You know who you are and I have some great memories with you guys. I don't have pictures of all of you that are important to me but here are just a few....




I am also thankful for all of the friends that I have in our neighborhood. I have never lived by such a fun group of girls! Which leads me to the next thing I am thankful for.... Our house.
It may not be the nicest or grandest thing you have ever seen but it's our home. It has tons of memories and for now.... it keeps us warm and safe and we couldn't ask for more!

I know this doesn't entirely catch me up but it's a start..... more to come!

Thankful for Listen

I am beyond thankful that Ryan has such a good job at Listen. We are truly lucky that he has been able to support our family on one income so that I can stay home and raise our kids. Especially now when GOOD jobs are few and far between it really makes you realize how lucky we are. He gets spoiled rotten at work with such a flexible schedule and great benefits. I always tease him and say if he ever had to get a "real" job he won't be able to handle it!:) Thank you Ry for working so hard to support us!

Thankful for MY baby GIRL!

I have always dreamed of having a little girl and all of the cute things I could dress her in.... and now I finally have one of my own! I love my little princess and yes, I am having a great time playing dress up with her! We love her so much... especially now since she has learned to sleep through the night! Unfortunately she is getting a mind of her own and is already starting to protest when I try and make her wear bows in her hair. Protesting or not I usually win and she is most often found with a cute bow on her head! She is taking her sweet time growing up and I am loving it. She wants me to pack her all around and as much as I might complain in the moment, I love that I am needed still by her! I love her open mouthed smile and I love her laugh when you tickle her sides! She is a sweetheart and I am so thankful for my baby girl. I hope we spend many years enjoying things together... especially when the boys go hunting.... my luck though... she will want to join them!
Already sporting the "hunters" orange!

I've tried to instill the traveling bug in her so that I can have a traveling partner... I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Here she is on her first cross country vacation at 9 weeks old!
Love this girl!

Holiday Shopping Party

A few friends are getting together to host a shopping party tomorrow night and YOU are invited!

Come shop items from Cookie Lee Jewelry, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Back Home Decor, and Squeaky Shoes. We will also have Jewelry, Hair Accessories and more. (I am making hair clips to sell... please someone buy at least one!)

It's going to be a great time.... and if anything you should at least come for some piping hot apple cider and dessert!

Where: 2207 Hawthorne St Saratogs Springs
When: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Why: Because it's going to be tons of fun!

Hope to see you there!

Thankful for these Baby Blues

These blue eyes can melt me like butter. You can only imagine how irresistable he is when he produces a few big crocodile tears with them. He is hard to tell no to! I am thankful for my little boy. He will always be special to me be because he made me a mom. He introduced me to all the terrors that go along with it too. He is a challenge most days but he provides some great comic relief in our house and keeps us on our toes. Just this morning he fed Wally our fish some nerds and then bawled for me to get them back out because he wanted to eat them!


Out of the blue this morning Jack looked at me and said "Ella has thunder thighs." Why yes son she does! I hurried and grabbed the camera because it was just too cute! Oh boy, I love this little guy!

Thankful it's Naptime

I think I very well might lose my sanity if it wasn't for naptime! On a good day I can get them both sleeping at the same time and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I try to squeeze in some homework, some cleaning, some surfing (web style), and on a very rare occasion a nap for myself. I am going to cry the day Jack gives up his nap because I NEED these precious two hours to keep my SANITY!


( I need to take some more pictures... but this one will have to do for now...)

Thankful for Weekends and Good Health

Seriously my two favorite days of the week. I love having Ryan home to spend the weekend with us. It feels like a vacation for me because I am no longer on "call" 24/7 from the kids. Ryan always takes a HUGE load off of me on the weekends and I am so appreciative of that!

(one of my favorite pictures.... they have so much fun together!)

Yesterday I had probably one of the scariest experiences of my life. I was at Target and Ryan was home with the kids. I was leisurely driving home and turned the corner to come down our street when parked in front of my house was 2 fire trucks, 2 ambulances, and several police cars. My heart literally dropped out of my chest with worry. Luckily for me, the problem wasn't at our house but at our poor neighbors. I was so scared that something had happened to my babies! We have been blessed with good health in our family and we hope that it continues. We also hope all is well with the little neighbor girl who was hurt! What a scary experience!

Thankful for Cousins

I am so thankful that Jack and Ella have such fun cousins that love them! I have so many great memories of doing fun things with all of my cousins when I was little and i'm glad Jack and Ella will too!









Ainslee and Taylor are just like second moms to my kids and I love it. Their help is always appreciated and I think they will always be good examples to my kids. Hunter, Colty, Kaden, and Okie are the best boy cousins Jack could ask for. Colty definately teaches him all sorts of naughty things and Okie is always up for a good fist fight with Jack! Hunter is such a loving guy and will always jump at the chance to hold Ella and will pack her around all day if given the opportunity! Hannah and Emmy are also so good with them. They drive Emma a little crazy and she has a hard time having any patience but Hannah is always ready to help out in any way she can.
I am also thankful that I have had the opporutnity to be an Aunt to all of them. I was young when I became an Aunt and I think it was a great experience for me. I learned to have a lot of patience because they were ALWAYS around and I am very thankful that I was able to experience them growing up.

Now.... we just need to get some cousins on the Paxman side..... Someday!

Just some more Cuteness

Some more of the wonderful pictures my neighbor Aubrey did of Ella! She did a fabulous job and I love love love them!

Oh, and FYI.... I wasn't being partial to Ella but for some reason when I tried to load more it wouldn't work so I will have to load some of Jack tomorrow!