Oh January

January is normally one of my two least favorite months of the year, second only to February. I just don't like the cold. That's really the only reason. March can be cold sure, but at least there's hope by then. But this January hasn't been bad at all. We've had some cold days, but nothing (SO FAR) like it can normally be.

We have spend the whole month trying to get ready for school to start I feel. The first part was spent prepping classes and organizing from Christmas- which honestly, is STILL going on... School started the middle part of the month and there are ALWAYS things that you kinda forget have to be done during the first few weeks, so I always feel a little like I'm drowning, but I'm to the point now that I feel I have my head above water.

The kids have an adjustment to me being back in school as well. They go from being home with me every day to being woken up in the morning, rushed to eat, get dressed, get in the car, and then off to school, which they LOVE, for the day. Then when I get home with them I normally have more work to do from home. It's kinda sad. I always think, well, at least I am HOME with them, but really, I kinda think that may be more frustrating to them than being with a sitter. At least the sitter gives them ALL their attention...

C has had a hard few weeks and I feel that my being so busy has something to do with it. He ALWAYS has a hard first 3 months of a new age. EVERY YEAR he feels older and fights for independence. I'm yet to figure out what he needs this year. Of course it always takes about three months and we are only one month in. But I am thinking REALLY hard about what it could be this year that "does it" for him because he's bigger and meaner this year. The other day, my sweet baby gave me the MEANEST scowl EVER and slammed the door in my face. WOW! Last year the trick was giving him access to his own drinks. Seriously. I put his cups low and taught him how to use the fridge water and we had no problems. He was able to meet his own basic needs. So far this year I've tried letting him dress by himself for school, he doesn't WANT to do that, I've been letting him not wear a pull-up, he still pees, I tell him it's his responsibility to keep his playroom clean, na, apparently the things I want him to do are NOT on HIS list...So, I'm living with a ticking bomb most days... But we will work through it. We always do...Luckily when he is minding and being sweet, he is SO sweet and cute. Good thing, because being ignored by your child REALLY tests your patience. REALLY. TEST. YOUR. PATIENCE. In fact, it may be the most frustrating thing I've ever been a part of. Wanting someone to just mind you and not run in front of a car... Is that really so much to ask???

Lyla is just trucking along. Talking away, acting all sweet, still being shy of others and mostly as serious as ever. I still can ONLY get her silly CHEESE face when I ask for a smile. Most people on facebook must think she's silly looking b/c if she smiles it's all goofy haha. She has been moved to her "big girl" bed, however, the funniest thing is she lays in it, says night night, then she crawls down, opens her door and goes to sleep by her gate. Even if we are walking by her room she just watches and falls asleep. We move her to her bed before we go to sleep and she stays there all night long. SO funny! And sweet. She also is showing interest in what she wears. Like last night, she wanted her leg warmers on with her night gown. I guess you need things covered when you plan on sleeping on the floor... Her favorite thing to do is to give high fives on both hands, she say "haya" then asks for a kiss then says "bye bye".

Overall, January has been good. We have started daily routines to keep me focusd on them.... Movie Mondays, Crafty Tuesdays, Gymnastics Wednesdays, Pink Swirl Thursdays, Family Movie Night Fridays and PLAYDATES (A BIG HIT), Saturdays have mostly been spent with one parent or the other due to Freshman Seminar and duck hunting season, Sunday's church and Sushi Sunday.

I almost forgot about the highlight of my month! J has decided to run at least a 10K with me this spring!!! And due to the nice weather, we have even been able to do some runs with the kids in their stroller and then go to the park after. I have really really really enjoyed having this physical activity time with my family and the chance to share something I love so much with my husband. I'm just convinced everyone will love running if they give it a chance. So, after this weekends long run, J will be half way to a 10K. So exciting!

That's all for now! Gotta clean up for playdate at our house.

Christmas/Birthday Tour 2011

Well, it's only about a month past Chrismtas and I am finally getting around to blogging about it. Needless to say, I have been catching up since.

Christmas this year was much less crazy and much more enjoyable this year than others we have had. We started the season off like normal, decorating the house.




This was extra fun this year because Carson actually helped me out while I decoated.




We then continued our tradition of having family advent activities every night. Well, almost every night, we did take a break when we took our cruise. But even on the cruiser, C got to be in a Christmas play and visit Santa! Other advent activities this year included, Christmas carols, hot chocolate by the fire, pictures with Santa, letter to Santa, Christmas movie night, painting our windows (a Carson favorite!), we hosted a Christmas, we donated money for others Christmas, and a night learning about our new family visitor, Crispy the Elf, which was a gift from Josh's grandmother.





J and I decided to limit the number of Christmas celebrations we have in one year and we saved them all up until two days before Christmas. Then we took off. First stop was my mom's house. We joined my mom and my grandmother for yummy food and lots of gifts. Big hits included C's Batmobil, C's dinosaur park, army men, Lyla's pots and pans, her stuffed cat, sun glasses and a new baby. We got home that night, unloaded and got to bed to hop up the next day to go to Josh's mom's house.






We joined J's mom and her side of the family for lunch and more gifts. Big hits were C's guitar, another baby, cute clothes and movies. We then went home to get ready for Santa.


This year, C had reindeer food from school to put out for Santa's reindeer, C was also very careful about picking Santa's snacks. The kiddo's both climbed in Lyla's "big girl" bed which she wasn't sleeping in yet, to listen to Josh read the Christmas story as well as The Night Before Christmas.



This year was also the first time it was tough getting C to go down because he was SOOOO excited. So, he ended up falling asleep in my bed while J and I did some last minute things ;) to get ready for the big day.

J & I had a great time making sure things were pretty and ready while enjoying a little Christmas time with just us. We got to bed around midnight and got an early 6am wake up from C, who was wanting to "go see if Santa liked his snack." He is so sweet. I snuck out leaving C in my room with J, got Lyla, brought her in the room, turned on some music, started coffee, got my video camera, and my regular camera then told the kiddos to come out.

And man were they excited!



C had been wanting Santa to bring him drums and a toothbrush. And Santa DID! And C also wanted Santa to bring L a kitchen, with a grill for him, and Santa DID! They played with each others Santa gifts for a while before ever getting into their stockings...




However, they soon moved on. C didn't get a toothbrush from Santa because Santa know he just got a new one at the dentis, but he did get some flossers...



Carson was very excited about everything he got, but had to keep drumming in between, and cooking. He was so sweet helping his sister open her gifts and wanting to see everything she got. Little bit had gotten down opening gifts by this point and was so sweet wanting her daddy to help her with everything, including little play jewelry...



We got lots of kissed and hugs and cuddles and enjoyed the morning SO. After gifts, bubble bread and a little clean up we all got ready and went to church, came back and spent the rest of the day playing and straightening up and cooking for another Christmas the next day.

Here are some more pics of Christmas morning:










By noon the next day our tree was once again surrounded by gifts
and my home was full of people laughing eating and drinking on my "awesome" homemade sangria. (I actually ruined it by putting the Ginger Ale in it the night before, but my family is not picky, lol). We had J's homemade chicken and dumplins, lots of candies, fudge, chips, dips, sausage, and of course opened lots of gifts. Big hits were the quiet impressive clothes my DAD picked out for L, C's remote control car and my dads, I mean, Josh's, or Dillon's, oh YES CARSON'S remote helicopter. This helicopter is bought every year, the big boys fly it all around crashing it into walls and usually breaking it before C ever gets to try. I THINK it survived this year...

That evening we caught our breath. I honestly can't remember the 27th, I have NO clue what went on that day. But I DO know that I decided last minute to make C some cupcakes for his birthday the next day.

I know I know, why was this a last minute decision? Well, we had his bday party in MEXICO and I was determined to let that be IT. BUT, we did need to let family come wish him happy birthday, so we had a come and go the 28th. We had not given C his bday present yet, so we decided to let him open that up before J went to work. He had been asking for "boots like Casen's" for a year and I made him ask for them for his birthday (trying to teach patience) and the day had arrived!

I did a HORRIBLE job of taking pics this day, but her are a few...

Love this pic of my dad and L bc I have one like it from when I was her age.





So that wraps up the Christmas/Birthday Tour 2011. I loved every second with my sweet children. THEY are what make Christmas.

I can now finally start blogging for 2012!