2011's Updates...

The new year has proven to be a little, okay A LOT crazy around our house! So it is time for a few updates. Avery is back to school after a very, veeerrrryyy long Christmas break. She is thrilled to be back! We are heading up North for a long weekend to see my Grandparents and she can hardly wait to see them.

As for Graysen, in the past week I have had three people tell me he has outgrown his "baby" face! Sad news.... But with that comes lots of fun new things! He has new words by the day. Yesterday alone, he learned to say 'please', 'tickle', and 'night-night'. And we were at someone's house the other day and saw football on, he started screaming 'ball!' and clapping his hands. Is this normal "male behavior" for a 14 month old?! Tonight, Avery told Nana, "I am going to be a doctor and Gray is going to be a football player." I love how the way three year olds think!

Bananas still hold title for his favorite food. He wakes up every morning,

walks to the kitchen and asks for a "dana".

He's got him trapped, so he can pet him. He adores dogs, BIG and small!

Where do boys learn to make car noises with their lips? Is it programmed at birth?

Christmas Eve Thoughts

Kids are in bed, finally, sound asleep.

I just finished filling Avery and Graysen's stockings and wrapping the last of the presents and now I am wishing I had used my larger springform pan for my pumpkin cheesecake as I am watching it in the oven billowing over the top of the pan, yes, at midnight. Hoping the mistake won't be a tragic one. *crossing my fingers*

Tonight, we continued my absolute favorite holiday tradition, chinese take-out. Fa-ra-ra-ra-ra...

We went to our Christmas Eve service and realized just how blessed we are to have so many wonderful people in our lives.

Ben is now very, very patiently putting together the doll house, that, of course, came in about a thousand pieces and he is finishing the last M & M cookie just so Avery will be amazed in the morning at the sight of the empty plate.

As I am counting the many things we got done today and the hundred things we have to do before we go to bed, I am so grateful. Now that we are on the other side, as the mom and dad, we see just how much work and effort our parents put in to making each and every Christmas special. I remember my mom up until 3 am cooking and stuffing stockings and my dad struggling to stay awake in his chair, trying so hard to "support" in her efforts. Dad would spend all of Christmas day getting toys out of boxes and equipping with batteries, as mom would put on a fantastic meal with her best China. But more than the presents and yummy food, our parents taught us the true meaning of Christmas, they taught us the gift of giving, the true meaning behind presents and how fortunate we are to celebrate in Christ's birth. A gift that we receive everyday of the year, freedom in Him. This is our first Christmas without family around, and I am so grateful for both of our wonderful families who, even though we couldn't be with either one, we are still so blessed by them every day.

Happy Merry Christmas!

Ave and her two best buds at the Christmas Eve Service

After many, MANY attempts to get a picture by the tree...

This is the best we got!

Gray in his seriously cute Christmas jams!

And one last wild attempt at a picture of them together!

And the beginnings of a doll house...

Brighter Days to Come

If you've been up on the news, California is drowning. I have never ever seen this much rain in my life. In Montana, it freezes before it hits ground. Here, well, it's pretty much 60 degrees all the time. We definitely were not equipped for this kind of rain. I wouldn't call it a White Christmas but probably the closest to it Santa Maria will ever see.

This picture reminds me of brighter days to come!

Preschool Christmas Show

On Thursday, Avery's preschool had a Christmas show for all families to see what they have been up to these past few weeks. The kids sang a few Christmas songs and had a slide show of pictures from the past few months of school. Felt like a total sap when the video almost made me cry, but things like that make me realize how fast these past 3 1/2 years have gone by! But they were all too cute and it was a great oppotunity to meet some of the other families.

Lately...

I took this picture the other day and just love it. Her and I have really been connecting on a very different level recently. It's exciting, a tad bit sad, but mostly very cool! Her vocabulary and understanding of life is increasing by the day. We have officially exited the tantrum stage and are on to bigger and more "emotional" things. But her smile is big and her heart is even bigger!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like....

Well, Christmas! On a beautiful, sunny 65 degree day we decorated for Christmas. In our attempt to make it feel more like Christmas, we put on Christmas music and started a fire. We have really enjoyed this holiday season with many old traditions and lots of new ones! Between the Christmas Parade, baking lots of yummy things, and having eight hundred Christmas parties to attend we have had lots of fun!

Avery was a big help with the tree this year!

(And I'm sure Ben will be thrilled with this shot)

Ave & Graysen setting up one of their nativities. Yes, one of four!

Graysen is very curious as to why we have a tree in the house?!

My 'Merry Christmas' trees... Love these!

This year I got a little crafty (weird, right?) and made an advent calendar. We have enjoyed it thoroughly.

Each day, there is a new craft or activity. Definitely a new tradition at our house!

Awesome new ornament I made with my super creative friend, Ann.

The adorable ornaments Ben got for his Grandmother on a missions trip to Russia ages ago.

I just love these, and they look so cute on the mantle!

My first nativity, Melissa got me before Ben and I even got married. And I look forward to it every Christmas!