More christmas stuff

The Monday after Christmas we got together with Russ family. Christmas weekend was pretty intense because they both fell asleep on the way to the Christensen home.

Joseph meeting Uncle Don for the first time. We really can't wait until they come back from Texas. And I wish I had taken a picture of the awesome owl cake Don made that night.

We did the traditional pinata. Gracie was old enough to like it this time.

Joseph had a good time.

We had some sweet music.

I can't get enough of his smile.

Gracie got a set of chap sticks with glittery lids. She was in heaven.

She put it on right away.

We gave Russ' parents tickets to see Fiddler on the Roof. I kind of wish we had some too. That would be fun to go and see.

At the end of the night the kids were both tired. I laughed when I looked in the rear view mirror to see Harry Potter had fallen asleep.



Happy New Year ramblings

This year will definitely be awesome cause this little guy is here. Getting to witness (and completely enable) the first year of another persons life is a precious gift that I don't intend to waste. A lot of milestones will be hit for this little guy in 2011 and I am excited for him.

 So I had a baby and he is now old enough that I feel a little more in control of my life. I miss the tiny baby already but I have to admit that I am glad that stage has passed because even though I love the sweet tiny baby, there is so much craziness. Like no sleep, trying to figure out feeding, and hormones. Things seem to be getting back to normal and I am grateful. I had another basement sale and it was a lot of fun. we had 12 vendors there and it was fun meeting all of those great gals.

Christmas came and went and I didn't make anything this year. Except an advent calendar for my friend. Oh yeah and our stockings. I go the idea online somewhere. I saw a picture of it last year (?) the year before (?) and I don't remember where, but it reminded me of a friend and I owed her so I made it for her and was lame and did not even make a way to hang it. It was everything I could do to get it ready by the 1st.

I started this post on the first Monday of the year and that week tuned out to be a crazy one (for reason beyond my control). So here I am a week later pretending it is the first week of the year. last week left me very physically and emotionally drained and tired. I hope to recover soon.

I have some New Years resolutions (that got completely ignored last week) that I hope I can master this year. Here they are:

1. Say 10 minute prayers - they don't actually have to be 10 minutes exactly, but the idea is that when I think I am done praying to stop and think of more, cause there is always more. This will also mean more meditating which is something I need.

2. Finish the Book of Mormon that I am marking for Grace. I do pretty good to read everyday and I just want to keep that up.

3. Go to the temple once a month. This shouldn't be hard for us but it is because we are lame.

4. Do yoga three times and week. At least. I know it would make my body feel so much better. Right now my back hurts me more than it should. When I stand up from sitting for a long time my lower back pops and it is hard for me to stand straight up. I feel like I am way too young to feel like this. I know doing yoga would help, now it will just be motivating myself to do it.

5. Go to a hot yoga class once this year.

6. Early to bed, early to rise. My goal is in bed by 10 up by 6 maybe even 5:30 depending on the schedule Joseph gets on.

7. Go on 1 date a month with Russ. Sometimes it feels like this is a selfish desire because I like doing it so much, but in reality it is a need for the whole family. I would really like to say once a week, but I am a realist.

8. Read the first 2 Harry Potter books with William. We are already three chapters into the first one.

9. The house. Ha! There is so much I want to get done with the house that I don't want to put any of it on this list. It needs its own list. But I do want to start posting pictures on this blog room by room for motivation to get them done and some feedback and advice. Sometimes you just need a pair of fresh eyes, cause I am kinda in a rut when it comes to decorating. I was sick when we moved in so my attitude was, "just put that there for now" and now that I have had things that way for so long it is hard for me to envision another way.

10. My most important resolution I just came up with right now and that is - Be Happy. I am happiest when I am spending non stressful time with my family. But somehow the "stuff" of life gets in my way. And for some reason I get more frustrated with my family when the "stuff" competes for my time, But I love my family more. Why does this happen? It is a mystery to me, but my goal is to reverse it. And anytime I can - just let the "stuff" go and be happy.

happy new year.

Big Fat Christmas Post

Christmas morning I told the grandparents and Connie to show up at 6:30 because I thought William would be up early since the morning of Christmas eve I was up at 4:30 changing Joseph's diaper and William came out and said, "we can get up really early." I  told him not that early and sent him back to bed. Well Christmas morning we had to wake them up and when we did William asked to sleep a little longer.What??!! The day before he could not stop talking about his presents and begging to open them.

The kids didn't even want to run through the wrapping paper covering the door way so Russ did.

They perked up once they saw the presents.

Here he is checking out all the loot. Do you see that stroller/walker I got for Joseph? I love it. He might have received the most expensive gift this year. Wouldn't it a great photography prop? It will probably show up in our next family picture.

I love his sleepy eyes in this picture. Sleepy eyes are one of my favorite things.

Santa brought William what he asked for - a Harry Potter wand. But he also brought him the glasses and a quidditch coat. Thanks for going the extra mile big guy, William looks great in his glasses.

Gracie got makeup from Santa. As I am typing this I realized we still have not opened it and I could probably take it back without her noticing. She had more distracting gifts.

I found this awesome globe bank while thrifting and it is prefect for him. He loves maps and globes and all things space.

Another thrift store find was this mirror for Gracie. I got it so she can see herself when she washes and also when she puts on her makeup and chap stick. She loves it.

Here she is looking at the picture inside her new locket necklace. She loves it, but not wearing it unfortunately.

What could this be?

This is a doll house that aunt Sue gave us to give to her. It belonged to her when she was little and she has only had boys so she gave it to us. Thank you so much Sue - she loves it (William does too:)

Could she be more excited?

Gracie giving Connie her Eiffel tower necklace that she picked out for her.

Awesome!

Williams new reptile book.

Opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa.

She got a shopping cart. I think she now has everything she could ever want. I hope by her birthday I can think of something to get her.

William got a book he had been wanting about the human body.

Russ wearing the hat I got him, the newsies hankie Connie got William and looking a picture that his parents gave him of his Grandma Clara.

Joseph woke up to join the party.

We got a box of goodies from Aunt Kirsten for Joseph. Russ showing off one of the onsies.

William snuggling in the quilt Grandma C made for Joseph.

Now with its rightful owner.

Gracie got gum, lots of gum in her stocking. I got gum because my kids love it and it is sugar free. They got enough sugar this holiday season.

What a beautiful Christmas morning

After awhile my whole family came over for a amazing breakfast that my mom made. Then we had a gift exchange. Connie had our family and I got the book Anna and the French Kiss and a super cute butter dish that I wanted and needed.

 She gave Russ and shirt with Abraham Lincoln's face on it, He has always had a love for honest Abe.

Connie also made our little Joseph Lincoln  an awesome little onsie.

 We spent the rest of the day watching Williams new movies - Newsies and Harry Potter. And doing this...



look at how cute!

We had a wonderful Christmas. I have felt so blessed this year and am grateful for the time I got to spend with family and friends. I hope everyone had  as good a Christmas as we did.

Christmas eve 2010

On Christmas eve my mom brought over the loud singing reindeer and the kids loved it.

We got the kids bathed and had a lovely dinner. William knew he got to open one present on Christmas eve and he carried it around with him most of the night. He could not stop talking about it.

(Notice in the above picture the reindeer wrapped gift leaning against the fire place. That is my moms gift to Russ and I say she wins best wrapping job.)

Both kids got to open a game. William has always loved playing Trouble at his grandparents house this is a Star Was version. He was pretty happy. I love it because there is a little R2D2 inside the bubble and it makes R2 noises every time you pop it. Apparently I like R2D2.

The face on this little girl is priceless.

It is fun to give gifts when the kids like them this much. I loved this Bed Bugs game when I was a kid so I got it for her. I got them this game so we could play it that night.

Connie and William played Trouble and Gracie would come and "help" Connie. It was hilarious to watch because every time after she would move the game piece she would turn and give Connie a big hug

William won. It was a very close, very exciting game.

After the kids were in bed my brother Ryan showed up with some huge sparklers so we got the kids back out of bed and lit them.

It was cold out there so my dad wrapped up in a blanket and pretended to be the Grinch. Good ole Dad.

The kids loved the sparklers

After that we put the kids to be to wait for the arrival of Santa. Christmas is so much fun with kids and each year that they grow older the more fun it gets. I am sure that won't always be the case, but I will take it and enjoy it for now.