Bye Bye 2009!

I can't believe this year is already over! I need to make some resolutions but I have a love/hate relationship with those. I always make them and never accomplish them, agh! I have a few things on my mind that I need to work on....actually a few hundred things. Way too overwhelming for me! My resolutions are all related to self improvement. The list is never-ending for me so I feel totally buried. One thing at a time I guess. I want to be a better wife, mom, daughter and sibling. I read my patriarchal blessing today and it confirmed to me the things I need to focus on and work harder at. Of course I want to lose my last few pregnancy pounds, start running again, etc. But those things will come in time if I can ever FIND the time.

This year has been a tough one economically but somehow we managed to slide through it with no problem. We feel blessed by steady work and having a house to call our own. I have seen so many people get stuck in a bind and lose their homes this year so we are thankful to have our little casa. Now that we are pretty sure we are staying here, time to fix it up and make it cute!

I will be turning thirty this year as well! Where has the time gone?? I still feel so young! When I look at Griffin and Nolan I can't believe they are both mine. When Griff calls me "Mom" I sometimes do a double take! I am so excited to see what this year has in store for our little family. Happy New Year everyone! So excited to see what things unfold in family and friends lives as well. Cheers!

Christmas 2009

I have never been much for Christmas, I have NO idea why :/ I have always loved the meaning of course but actual Christmas has always plagued my mind. Since having kids Christmas have become so much more special to me. I was hesitant about the whole Santa thing, not that I considered not doing it though, I wouldn't rob my kids of that! I do remember when I found out Santa wasn't real I put the pieces together and realized that all of the other magical "people" that I loved (like the tooth fairy, I adored her! She even left me a beautiful dress once) weren't real and I was crushed. I felt somewhat betrayed even at that young age. Of course I got over it eventually.

I have to say that I enjoyed playing Santa so much! I loved telling Griff all about how Santa flies through the air with the help of reindeer and he rides on a sleigh packed full of presents. I told him that Santa climbs down the chimney and comes out of the fireplace to leave presents, fill our stockings and eat cookies. I would cringe while telling these little white lies but I honestly loved it. Griffin seemed to grasp the concept so well. Can't wait for next year!

We got a real tree this year but decided not to go and cut it down ourselves :( It was really cold and snowy where we would normally go so we opted for a good old Home Depot tree and it was a beauty! I can't even begin to imagine having a fake tree because growing up we always had a real tree. I can't get enough of the fresh pine smell. Love it. Our tree was decorated with silver and blue ornaments and blue lights. I am so not a Christmas tree decorating fanatic so it looked very simple and plain, just how I like it!

My whole family came this year minus one. It was a lot of fun to see my Dad and brother who I haven't seen in a while. Most of our time was spent talking and relaxing. It was a lot of fun to have everyone here! Of course we all got some great gifts which we are thankful for. Silly Kason bought me stuff after we had agreed not to. Poor guy. I followed the rules and only got him some stocking stuffers! We got some nice gifts from my parents and of course Griff got some amazing stuff. Lucky boy to have two sets of Grandparents to pick up our slack on the present buying! On Christmas morning we had a Caterpillar train set up for him and we turned it on before he went into the front room. He could hear it going and wondered what it was. Needless to say he was SO mesmerized when he saw that little train going around and around.

I have decided that I do love Christmas after all. I LOVE the meaning and I love the giving. I would rather 'give' than 'get' any day. We adopted a family this year and we delivered the gifts on Christmas Eve to two of the cutest, sweetest little girls I have ever seen. It made my night. Merry Christmas everyone!

PS What is Kason's face doing in this pic? And Griff too. Haha.

Nolan's Blessing

Nolan's blessing was very low key compared to Griff's and I kind of feel bad about it! No one was really invited and I didn't even buy the little guy a proper outfit! He wore an all white GAP sleeper. Oh well, it was an easy going event and I quite enjoyed it being that way. My Mom came into town for his blessing and then that evening we went to the Pead's for a yummy dinner. Kason gave Nolan a very sweet blessing and he had a lot of people in his little circle. We love you Nolan, so much! We are so thankful that you joined our little family. You fit in perfectly, we wouldn't trade you for anything!

Christmas Activities

Silly Griff

Griffin decided to put these pieces from his tractor on Nolan's eye's {poor baby} and then wanted them on his. Hilarious.

Big Boy is 3 Months!

This little one is darling. I love him to bits and pieces. For those that have 2 or more...do you love your little one's in a different way, no more or less than the other, just different? Make sense? I adore Griff, he made me a Mommy! But I also adore Nolan in a different way than I do Griff. I love him for the unique little person that he is. I love him because he is my second and I am so much more secure and confident. I feel like I know what I am doing this time around. The first 1-2 months with Nolan were somewhat challenging but it feels like cake now. I DO have those days where I want to slither into my bed and die, believe me. But all in all, transitioning to 2 has been pretty breezy. Now the thought of having a third, a total different story. I am terrified! But we will cross that bridge when we get there...

Nolan:
-has nasty gas. stinky and loud.
-nasty poops that reek.
-has the sweetest smile, smiles with his eye's.
-sleeps through the night, thank heavens.
-takes a few cat naps and one 4 hour nap a day.
-giggles and coo's a ton!
-major momma's boy.
-hates bottles but were getting there, slowly.
-when he is awake he eats every 2 hours. total pig.
-likes his brother but flinches constantly when he's around.
-still a big old boy.
-wears size 3 diapers, Griff wears 4's. you get the picture.

We love you Nolan boy! You are the sweetest!

Right Where He Belongs...

Sitting like a blob on the couch!

Christmas 2009

I think we are all ready for Christmas! Shopping is done, stockings are hung! Been telling Griff all about Santa Claus and baby Jesus. Very intrigued by Santa Claus and thinks Nolan is baby Jesus, a tad confused :) but that's okay. It does feel special having a sweet baby at this time of year. Very thankful for everything I have. Thankful to have a nice home and grateful to have money to buy gifts. Kason and I agreed to not buy anything for each other this year. We are feeling blessed enough through simple things like having jobs that provide for our family and having a newer, more reliable vehicle. We feel so blessed. We are also thankful to have two healthy little boys who we love dearly. Merry Christmas to family and friends! We love each and every one of you!

I Hope...

......that this cute little buster has curly hair! I can't believe I am wishing curly hair on my big, masculine boy but one of my kids better get it, why not Nolan? Kason has some luscious locks so someone better end up with them.