Christmas 2014

We took the boys to the live nativity and Noah was absolutely riveted. It was beautiful evening for it. After we took the kids to Tim Hortons and they picked out a donut and we shared some hot chocolate. After that we went and looked at a few Christmas lights. The boys LOVED it all. When we got home we did a tree ornament and then after Noah went to bed, Ty and I made an ornament for the tree. It was such an amazing evening as a family.

 Ty won't eat cake or cookies, but he loves donuts.

 Michaels coworker Sarah came over for a haircut before her holidays and brought us some gingerbread men to decorate. Noah loved snacking on all the sweets. 

 The boys opening their Christmas Eve pjs.

 Noah was really into opening gifts this year.  

 Our little family photo. Wow that flash brings out all the different reds. They looked more alike in person. :) 

 Watching Disney Collector on YouTube with Grandpa. haha Ty's favorite.

 Christmas morning! Aren't they the sweetest?

We got the kids a slide for Christmas... to be used indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer. They LOVE it. I bought it hoping it would encourage more play downstairs with all the toys and so far it's been working. They spent an hour downstairs this morning. 

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Michael's parents. Then we went to my Moms for Christmas and ate subs and opened gifts and got to talk to Breanne via Skype! She looked so pretty and happy. It was so fun. It was really nice to just relax at Mom's house and eat food. Boxing Day we went to my Dad's and did gifts and played games ALL DAY...  except when we were eating our delicious ham meal. The kids all played downstairs for most of the day and I felt like a real adult telling the kids to "get downstairs" ha. Oh the memories of being told that 1000 times at family gatherings. "Go play with your cousins"....

 Noah crawling right in to get his gift. 

 The boys got a firehouse for Christmas and they love it too! 

 Ty asked Santa this year for Hungry Hippos. I was not wanting to have that game because it's loud and theres lots of pieces, but then I found a mini one and the marbles are enclosed. Ty talked about getting Hungry Hippos for Christmas for a long time and Christmas morning he woke up and said "why didn't santa bring me hungry hippos?"... we told him Santa took his gifts to G&G Mendenhalls and we said "Santa might not have brought you Hungry Hippos, Ty". So when he opened his gift from Santa he said "I toldja so. I toldja Santa would bring me Hungry Hippos... I knew it" haha... He wasn't even excited (though he was happy). He enjoyed telling us we were wrong. hahaha it was funny. 

 Noah started crawling out of the playpen at my Mom's house on Christmas day and eventually fell asleep in Michaels arms. So sweet. 

Ty and Maddy watching a Christmas show. Probably Frosty the Snowman because Ty is obsessed. He loves all the Christmas songs. 

 Noah playing a fun game with Grandpa. Up and down, up and down. 

I took lots of photos at my Dad's. Theres always lots of people to photograph, though we were missing lots of the family this year.

 We finally had a kid table for the meal. It was awesome and the kids sat and played here for about a half hour before we started the meal. 

 Sweet little Aiden. 

 After opening gifts. We wrapped Ty in leftover duct tape from Dans excellent gift wrapping to Becky. 

 Probably watching Frosty the Snowman again. haha!

 Relaxing and visiting.  

 Making a gingerbread house and tree with the kids. Ty, Maddy, and Sean sure loved it. 

 Michael "helping" haha.

 Cassandra with her usual plate of leftovers that she says she will eat later but never does. haha

 Becky and Cass' beautiful icing job on the tree. And Cassandra posing for the picture.

 G&G Parker were so involved in the decorating. 

 Noah falling asleep again. How cute!! 

We played lots of games. Rummy cards (can't remember the name), the Man game, which, as you can see the men dominated in. Becky, Phoenix and I were out first and Michael proudly won the man game. It's a fun game, if you are a man. haha. We also played a wrapping paper social game I brought, and Becky had a super fun game called Follow the Lead which we all got super into and there were tons of laughs!! Definitely my favorite game that day. I especially love all games so it's heaven for me to go out to my Dad's and Kristi's and play games with everyone. Heaven.

This Christmas I was on a high. It was definitely my favorite Christmas I can think of. I was constantly feeling so happy and I loved all the family time and seeing my kids open their gifts that they loved, and playing with their cousins. It really was exactly how I love spending our Christmas holidays. We are so blessed to have SO much family and although it was busy, I still felt like I got to relax and enjoy it all. I also have especially enjoyed this Christmas season because I felt a lot more emphasis on my Saviour than in years past. Doing our 25 days of Christ I was able to feel the spirit in our home, reading the Ensign and reading stories of giving and of Christ. Our Christmas sacrament meeting was full of beautiful words and musical performances, and most importantly going to see the Nativity with our boys. It was so spiritual and amazing to think our Saviour was born in such humble beginnings. I am so thankful for his life and example to me.

a hosted party.

This year I hosted a party for my close high school friends. It is the 4th year we have done it and it's always so fun to see everyone and to visit. There's always new additions and we always have so much fun.

I love these girls. I was so lucky to have amazing friends in high school!

December so far!

This is the best time of year and more now than ever before because we have our two boys to share the excitement with. We've gone to some Christmas parties and enjoyed the holiday traditions. First up was our ward Christmas party. There was a delicious catered meal of roast beef, a short program, and then a family dance. We love the dance party and Ty loved dancing so much. The kids also got to see Santa!

 Aiden loved Santa!

 Ty's face when he saw Santa. He was awestruck. He has been wanting to ask Santa for Hungry Hippos for a long time and finally got the chance. The other day we were driving in the car and Ty said "I love Jesus... I love Santa.... OH MOMMY, I forgot to tell Santa that I love him!!" He was so sad he never got to say I love you. It was pretty cute. 

The next few pictures are awesome. Santa was talking to Ty and Noah was trying to get a good look and finally Santa turned to Noah and then Noah lost it. He was terrified.

 We've been playing lots of Wii with Cassandra and her boyfriend Glenn. Super Mario all night long. It's serious stuff.

The kids got to make gingerbread houses at Grandma and Grandpa Mendenhalls one evening. Ty had been begging to do it. This is them having them for breakfast one morning. There wasn't many candies left and Ty was even resorting to licking the icing off the house. haha

 

Ty had a joy school Christmas concert at St Therese that I only got video of. He was so cute and they kids did a nativity as well. We have also been doing our 25 days of Christ- an ornament each day of the month until Christmas Day. Ty loves the videos and pictures. 

 This was taken at the Parker Christmas Party. The turnout was not as good this year due to a crazy storm that night but we had so much fun, as always.

Sisters!!

 Ty and Dad. He sure loves his Dad.

 This December has been amazing weather. It's even suppose to get up to 9 degrees this Saturday! The kids have even played on the trampoline a few times this month. 

Becky also hosted a Christmas party which was lots of fun. Good food, and we did a white elephant gift exchange where we brought useful gifts from our home and there was all kinds of awesome stuff given out!! We sure love going to Christmas parties. We even made some treats to hand out the other day and I even got all my Christmas cards out before Christmas came! ha! Ty also got to write Santa but just like last year he was sad when he put his card in the red mail box to send away because he realized he wouldn't get it back... Hopefully he enjoys his reply from Santa!

Michael gets the whole week of Christmas off so we are excited to spend time as a family. I'm hoping to take the kids swimming because they LOVE going lately, hand out some more goodies to friends, have hot chocolate and watch some Christmas movies. We also get to Skype with Breanne on Christmas!! We are so excited to visit with her!

7 Years!

It is our 7th anniversary today! I will probably say this each year but I can't believe we have been married for SEVEN years. We were able to celebrate on Friday evening. My Mom and Bryan were sooo wonderful and took the boys for us for the whole night. We went out for all you can eat Sushi, our fav. We don't go our for dinner very often and it has always been something we have loved to do so we were really craving some sushi. We had Cassandra and her boyfriend Glenn join us for dinner and then we all went to see the newest Hunger Games movie. After that we went home to bed and slept in until 8:30!!!!!!! Heaven I tell ya! I feel so blessed to have this very handsome man in my life! We've had our ups and downs but we've been learning together and I am so grateful to share my life with Michael. Not only is he an awesome husband (and a really good looking one),  he is a really amazing father, and he does a wonderful job providing for our family. On many of our anniversaries we have enjoyed some Martinelli's together while we sit and reminisce of all the wonderful memories we have. Memories of dating, before we had kids, the experience of becoming parents, and enjoying our two boys together. It's always a conversation that brings a bit of happy tears and laughs.

Update on the kids (and us)

I've been wanting to do an update about the boys for a while. So here it goes.

Ty:
-is POTTY TRAINED!! Hallelujah!! This is our 3rd round of potty training and it has been one of the hardest things I've done as a parent (the other is getting no sleep). Thank goodness for my sweet husband getting a kick start on round #3 after my first big meltdown of motherhood. Don't ask....
-says "I'm hungry" 1000X's a day. Even 15 minutes after breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It kind of drives us nuts. :)
-says Brefkest for breakfast. haha
-LOVES joy school. He is always happy to go. It probably helps that 3 out of 4 of the other kids are his second cousins (that he knows pretty well already)
-doesn't understand how to play soccer. He loves having his own ball but when they have the kids play a game with one ball, he picks it up and holds onto it. He doesn't get why they had lots of balls, and then only one.
-is SUCH a good helper around the house. He puts clothes in the laundry, unloads the dishwasher, puts his plate and cup away after meals, dresses himself, cleans up the living room when I ask, cleans the sinks in the bathrooms when I ask, puts his boots/shoes away and gives me his coat to hang up, and putting boots and coat on!. Next up: setting the table, wiping the table, sweeping the floor. :)
-eats Cheerios every morning and could have 3 bowls if we let him
-loudly sings the ABC's when he has soap on his hands and rinses them once the song is done
-fav TV shows right now are Wild Kratts (He calls it Wild Craps), Daniel Tigers Neighbourhood, and Napkin Man.
-finishing swimming lessons tomorrow and there's a good chance he won't pass (for the second time). He is the best one in his class but I think the techniques are just too difficult for kids so young so he will go in it another session in the summer next year. He likes going though and did a back float the other week on his own for a moment. It has also helped him to be more brave in the water.

 Noah:
-says "night night" "nana" (banana) "dada" "mama" "ty" "baby" "cheese" "MAAA" (please)
-Noah fell a month or two ago and split his head open and he now has a scar on his forehead. It was a pretty big gash so we hope with time the scar will fade.
-loves to be silly
-carries his white and blue minky blanket and his soother everywhere and has to have them both for naps and bedtime
-gives kisses and hugs all the time
-loves to copy and follow Ty around
-loves playing with cars and trucks on the floor
-still has the longest eyelashes
-sleeps 12 hrs at night and naps for about an hour and a half once a day
-loves eating breakfast at the table with Ty each morning
-mumbles ALL the time. I'm thinking he won't be able to form a sentence for a loooong time, but we love his little mumbles as he tried to communicate with us. "MA" "what, Noah?" "mmm m mmmm mm mmmmmmm mm mm m" (I wish you could hear it, haha)

 Mid yawn^^^ haha

Sharing a chair... Awwwwww

Michael:
-just had surgery 2 weeks ago. A hernia repair and it went well. He is recovering well, and goes back to work in 2 more weeks. Thank goodness he had so many sick days saved up so he could be getting full pay for this month off of work.
-enjoying relaxing and taking some pictures of the kids

Me:
-finishing adult swimming lessons this week. I LOVE going. Yes, I know how to swim, but a friend (Amy B) and I wanted to learn better technique and it's be fun to learn new ways to swim, to practice them, to visit, and I find it sooo relaxing to be in the water.
-starting a 6 week points challenge where I need to check in each day with points (for eating veggies, fruit, drinking 64 oz of water, no sugar for 6 days a week, working out 30 mins 5 days a week, and a few other things. we'll see how I do... I feel motivated and I'm hoping I can get into a good routine.
-Michael and I made Nov a no sugar month (we have cheated a few times for a date night and a girls night I had) but it's been awesome. We didn't binge on all the kids Halloween candy (and I didn't even really miss it) and I've done a good job at saying no to sugar. I should admit though that my weakness is not sugar, it's Salt N Vinegar chips, but sugar is everywhere and I always found myself eating it even if I didn't really want it.

Halloween time

We did lots this Halloween season. We were able to attend the Hubbards 3rd annual Pumpkin Pick. It's always a blast and this year it was extra special because all the proceeds went to support Finley Malmberg and another boy named Lincoln who has recently been paralyzed. It was so fun. They had bouncy castles, a bake sale, food, hay/trailer rides, and a huge pumpkin gun... not to mention all the awesome people we always get to visit with when we go.

 We had Cassandra, Aiden, and Glenn over to carve pumpkins.  

 He's getting so big!!

 Working hard.

 Our little skeleton looking a little rough. :) 

 Ty with his joy school class. He sure loves joy school. It is Tues and Thurs mornings from 9-11. 

COUSINS

We went trick or treating around our crescent with Ty's cousins and he had so much fun. After they left he was much less excited to trick or treat so next year we will have to make sure he is with a few other kids!