We LOVE Christmas!!!

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year. We were going to stay home and just be as a little family, until my parents decided to rent a cabin up in Sundance. So we decided to fly to Utah. 4 checked bags, two checked suitcases, 1 carry-on, a purse, a computer bag, and a video/camera bag later and we were on our way! It wasn't two hard fitting everything since our kids are small and don't expect much and we were only there for 5 days so we didn't need a ton of clothes. The hardest thing to figure out was JJ's art easel that Santa brought him. I had it shipped to my sisters house so getting it home would be the only problem. I knew where there is a will there is a way. I definitely had the will so I was hoping John could find the way, and he did! I knew he would. He always makes it happen for me.

The kids did great on the plane. John got upgraded to First Class and then we had two seats on the row right behind FC so Calli and I sat in FC most of the way and John and JJ rode behind us. We got there on Thursday afternoon and started having fun. The cabin was awesome with three levels and different arcade games in the basement and a pool table and my sister brought the wii. We stayed up way too late each night playing and watching movies. Our kids slept pretty well though. Calli slept in the walk in closet attached to our room and JJ slept on the floor/in bed with us. He sure is cute and snugly but in less you like a foot in your face and 2:30 a.m. he isn't the easiest person to sleep with.

On Friday we bundled up and went outside to play in the snow and go sledding. The snow was pretty icy but we didn't let it detour us.
We didn't have lots of room for snow clothes, nor do we have that much since we live in Texas, hence the reason we look the way we do. :)

Uncle Bryan had fun trying to kill himself while attempting to snowboard down the hill on the sled. Esther wasn't loving his great ideas, but the rest of us thought it was pretty funny. Even my mom went down a couple of times. I am sad I didn't get a picture of it.

John took JJ down the big hill with him and then I took Calli down a little mini hill. I tried the big hill by myself, but wasn't brave enough to take one of the kids down with me. John took Calli down later too. That night we had a lovely Christmas Eve dinner prepared by my momma, and a little Christmas program with the Christmas story. My kids were exhausted with the time change and all the excitement so we got them to bed and then brought out the presents. John was so excited to spend an hour putting the easel together just to take it apart and put it back together when we got home. He is such a good sport to appease me with these things. My dad got a good laugh out of that scenario. He was remembering the many LONG Christmas Eve's.


Christmas morning and day was so great. We pretty much stayed in our PJ's all day and played with all of our new games and toys and snacked way too much. JJ was sure glad that Grandma brought pistachios. He was very excited that he learned how to open them himself this trip. (so was I)
Calli was taken a nap so we only have a picture of the three of us.

That night we played the funnest game. Minute to win it. Esther and Bryan went to a lot of work to prepare all ten of the challenges. Even after the game was over we all were redoing some of the challenges. It was awesome. Even JJ and Aubrey were into it.
This was the first challenge. You had to tie these Kleenex boxes around your waist and then dance and shake and jump until all of the jingle bells fell out.
Calli finally woke up from her long winters nap and joined the party.

Another challenge was putting a gingerbread cookie on top of your head and without using your hands getting it in your mouth.
Here is some of the gang. Each couple was a team. John and I won the game, but I think it was pretty close. Everybody did really great.
Daddy sure does love his babies. We left the cabin on Sunday and then went to Elliot and Katies house for a couple of days. Our flight left Tuesday morning so I luckily was able to squeeze in Kneaders for lunch on Monday and Cafe Rio for dinner on Mon. I sure do miss Cafe rio. With all the members here in Texas I think somebody should open one. I will come everyday!

We got back safe and sound Tuesday afternoon and I headed home with the kids while John caught another flight out to Cleveland for work. He barely caught his flight home on New Year's Eve. So we picked him up at about 5 and decided to hang out at home. It was fun to reminisce about 2010. It was a great year full of so many blessings and a challenging year at the same time. I feel like I have grown this year even though at times I may have been fighting the change both on the outside and the inside. I am excited for 2011 and what it has in store for our little family.

JJ and Jackson

In case you didn't know I have an adopted third child, Jackson. Every thursday Jackson comes over in the morning to play. (We do a little swap. On Monday's JJ goes over to his house.) These two little guys are hilarious. They love each other so much, they even hug each other when they see each other at church or wherever else. Jackson is still two so when ever we run errands or go some where to play I get very strange looks from people thinking I am crazy to have a 3, 2 and 1 year old. With his blond hair and blue eyes he looks like he could fit into our family. All three fit perfectly on the double stroller. Calli fits on the first seat then JJ sits on the bench and Jackson stands behind him.

I was in the office the other day when I heard these two having the funniest conversation. When I came out this is what I found.

They decided they wanted to make a fire so I walk out and see Jackson hold the log that weighs as much as he did and JJ has the lighter directing Jackson where to put the log. Don't worry the lighter was locked so instead of grabbing that I decided to grab my camera. I love how typical this is of JJ. He is full of ideas and so independent. He is going to be a problem solver just like his daddy.

Later I let them watch some of toy story and this is how I found them. They weren't on the love seat there was plenty of room to spread out but this is what they preferred. Notice JJ is wearing one of Jacksons boots. They can be quite the handful sometimes but I have a feeling these two are going to be some major heartbreakers when they get older.

After the trial of our FAITH

JJ's patience sure paid off, I finally brought the much coveted gingerbread house down and let him have at it. He had been waiting for this moment for so long, he almost didn't know what to do with himself.

After taking it in for a moment he wasted no time.
That is one yummy candy house as he likes to call it.

I could just kiss that face. Don't worry his shirt is colorful from doing water paints earlier that day. I didn't let him eat the whole house even if it looks like it.

Christmas is in full swing around these parts

A Christmas tree would not be complete without the Walmart popcorn tin sitting underneath it. Our family sure loves popcorn and this tin did not go to waste. After a few days the popcorn tin had to be moved to the top of the refrigerator. I think I took these picture on the first day we opened it, they pretty much thought Christmas was here. They were some happy kiddo's.

They were telling each other stories as they filled those tummies with all that yumminess.

5 Years Today

Today I celebrate the best 5 years of my life. 5 years ago today I married my best friend, my equal, my love, the one who would some day share in the greatest joy I have experienced, bearing and raising our children together. It has been a busy 5 years, there is always something happening, something new on the horizon, but I wouldn't change it for the world. I LOVE our little family so much and I look forward with anticipation to all of the wonderful blessings and challenges to come.

We got a babysitter for the kids and got dressed up in our fanciest duds and had dinner at III Forks. It is this AMAZING steakhouse in Dallas that has won all sort of awards and been featured in many magazines. I didn't realize it was such a big deal until we got there. It had pictures of all of the famous people that have eaten there. I just wanted to go because it looked so pretty and fancy from the outside when I would drive by it on the tollway. The food was amazing and it was so great to be out with my man. Then we went to see a movie, we felt a little over dressed but we wanted to take advantage of having a babysitter so we went anyway.

It was such a great anniversary! We are continuing the celebrations next month when we go to Puerto Rico! This is our first time going away together and leaving the kids. I am so excited and a little nervous too. We decided to wait and go in January with all of the business of December.

Human Garbage Disposal

Our little lady sure loves to eat. That girl eats almost as much as I do, which is also a lot. JJ's new favorite past time is to feed his sister.
Calli had already eaten her breakfast and when I came in the kitchen this is what I found. JJ putting spoonfuls of his cereal on the chair so sissy-pie could share with him. It was pretty cute. I wondered why it was so quiet in their.
A few days later I had been feeding Calli some smoothie mixed with oatmeal. She was acting like she was done so I got up and started doing the dishes. I look over and JJ says, "Mom, I think she wants more." So he started to feed her and she kept eating.

JJ is such a big helper and LOVES his little sis so much. They definitely have started their fighting times, but when they are playing cute together it is so sweet. The other day Calli woke up from her nap and JJ said "mom, stay here I will go get her." So I said ok and of course snuck up to watch what was going to happen. He turned the fan off and opened the door and then this is what came out of his mouth.. (in his highest, sweetest voice he could muster.) "Hi princess, did you have such a good nappy. We missed you. Are you a happy girl princess. Mommy is coming to get you out of your cribby princess. (while stroking her cheek)"

It was so cute I kind of wanted to freeze time right then and there.

Gingerbread Time

We had such a great time with the Piersons making Gingerbread houses this year, besides the fact that I cut out the houses crooked (I couldn't find my original cut outs) and I didn't follow the frosting recipe exactly right so it was a little runny. But despite my screwups they turned out pretty cute.

This was the Piersons first time, now they are pretty much professionals. We are all looking forward to next years creativity.

Little lady was our supervisor

Daddy and JJ were the architects and the designers

These two little rugrats were all about the candy that JJ kept dropping on "accident". We kept telling them to go play so we could make their gingerbread houses. :)

JJ was so kind as to inspect the candy before it went on the house. Way to take one for the team little man.

I was there too and put a few pieces on our house.

This little sweetie is all about her momma these days. I am pretty for sure in her mind I am still an appendage in her. In other words I wasn't going to get very close to that house and not have her all up in my business.

My favorite part was at the end when the kids and the moms were tuckered out these cute daddy's were going strong. Perfecting their homes. They are such great providers even when it comes to Gingerbread!

The next morning this is what I found. JJ has never been much of a climber so you know he was extremely motivated. After he ate his lunch I did cave and let him eat some of the candy off the house.

Oh Christmas Tree

So my wonderful husband surprised me with having the Christmas tree set up and ready for us to decorate when I arrived home from NYC! It is tradition to decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, but since I was flying out the morning after I couldn't do it. He made my heart so happy to come home to Christmas. He didn't decorate it without me though because he knew I would be sad to miss out.
JJ was so excited about setting up the train to go around the train.

He was always in charge of fixing it if it got stuck. Once he told me, "Mom, I will fix it, I am a boy. Girls don't fix things, Just boys do."


Cali was in charge of organizing the ornaments. She took her job very seriously and stayed on task for most of the evening.

It was a lot of tough decisions on which ornaments should go where.



JJ was so cute and into decorating the christmas tree this year. He could have gone on for hours. It was so fun watching him.

Mommy and Cali got to hang a few ornaments as well.

I could just eat this little stinker up. You gotta love the five rolls on her thigh in the above pic.

After Calli went to bed, JJ took over on her job of organizing the ornaments.

Here is daddy doing the test run to make sure that the star will stay on the tree.

We clearly had some issues, but daddy did what he does best and remedied the situation so the star would stay up.

Then JJ got to help him stick it in place.

I sure do LOVE christmas and am excited to celebrate the season of Christ with my favorite people in the whole world. These 3 sure do make life amazing.

On the Go

Calli has made some great strides the las few weeks. She is so close to walking. The other day I was doing the Laundry and she grabbed the basket and started pushing it and didn't stop. She was walking all over the house. It was so cute, she had never done that before not even with her walker. She had walked along furniture but hadn't moved anything. Now she is addicted and LOVES to push her walker or laundry basked all day long. She is getting really good at holding our hands and walking also. She can even just hold on with one hand. I am thinking we may have a full fledged walker just in time for Christmas!