January 2010

We had a VERY busy January. It was a great start to 2010. The first thing that happened was that we found out we are having another boy! We are very excited for this addition to our family. Tyler will love having a little brother around to play with.

At the first of this month Sydney started ballet classes. She is loving it! She gets to wear her ballet clothes and she is in the same class as her friend Kate. She told me just last week, "Mom, I don't know why I am such a good balleter."
The next event that happened was a girls weekend for me. Alisa and I were 30 for 3 weeks together so we wanted to do something fun while we were both 30. It was so much fun to have my Mom, Grandma, Aunt LoraLee, Alisa (sister) and Aubrey (sister-in-law) here to visit. We had a nice relaxing weekend over in Bend (Thanks Doug and Gayle!). We watched movies, played games, and had lots of laughs. Ryan had the kids for the weekend and the kids loved their Daddy time. Thanks to everyone for coming out to visit. We should do girls weekends more often!

Last weekend we decided to visit the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum. The kids loved all the airplanes. We were able to see the Spruce Goose and walk around to all the fun and interesting things they had there. Ryan will have to start working more in the near future, so it was really nice to be able to spend family time together.

On Monday it was such a beautiful day, I took the kids to the zoo. We were able to see lots of animals. Tyler was loving the snakes and monkeys. The weather stayed nice for most of the time we were there, until the very end. Then it POURED! We had to run to get out to the car, where the umbrella was. Oh well - we do live in Oregon. I didn't get very many pictures because the kids were too busy looking at the animals. Even the Polar Bear was not cooperating and turned his head at the last minute. Tyler is in a phase of I don't want to smile for pictures, I want to take the pictures. I do have a lot of pictures of the back of my kids heads, but I decided not to post those. :)

It has been such a great month. The kids are getting bigger and bigger. We are going to work on potty training Tyler, which I can't wait. He is talking so much more. He had his first nightmare last Sunday where he wanted to come and get Mom and Dad. I felt so bad that he was scared, but loved the cuddle time first thing in the morning. he loves playing with Buzz Lightyear and says Buzz before anything. "Can I say the Buzz prayer?" "I want a Buzz kiss." Too cute! We are working on teaching him his colors. He does know pink and purple with Sydney's help. Sydney is very interested in reading and learning how letters work together. We have checked many library books out and are constantly sounding out words. She is learning about space at school and her favorite planet is Saturn. She likes the rings. And as always, her favorite direction is left. They are so much fun! Love you guys!

A Merry Christmas Season

This year was truly a Christmas season for our family. We had a great Christmas break and enjoyed every minute with all of our family members. This year for Christmas we headed out to Utah. While we were there, my Grandma Carol hosted her annual Christmas party. The kids were able to play with cousins and eat lots of good food. They loved acting out a nativity scene. Sydney was Mary and she took very good care of the Baby Jesus during the play. Tyler didn't want to dress up, but he enjoyed the cane of the Shepard. Every time the word "Shepard" was said, Tyler would yell it out. We had to watch him carefully to make sure he didn't hit anyone with the cane. Santa and Mrs. Clause also came and talked to the kids about Christmas. Sydney told them she wanted a Barbie for Christmas. Tyler didn't want to talk to Santa, until he started handing out candy.

We also went and visited the lights at Temple Square. It was really cold and a long night. We rode the train downtown from Sandy and it was very crowded. The lights were beautiful and the Salt Lake Temple is always very peaceful on the grounds. It was a white Christmas in Utah. Sydney and Jake had a great time with Daddy building a snowman. They loved their new snowman face and buttons that my sister gave them. Sydney lasted a lot longer in the snow this year, then she did last year. Tyler enjoyed the snow from inside. He had a cough and was taking a nap when the older kids went out and played. During the trip to Utah, they enjoyed lots of Grandpa’s chocolate milk and Grandma and Aunt Alisa's homemade goodies. They enjoyed making marshmellows and eating them in hot chocolate.

Christmas morning Santa came and visited the kids at my parents’ house. Tyler got a new dinosaur and Sydney got a Barbie. Santa left a note saying that he would deliver some other items in a few days when we were back to our own house. It was kind of Santa to think of the weight limit of suitcases for flying. We then went over to Alisa and Kurt’s house and enjoyed a nice breakfast. That afternoon/evening we opened presents with my parents and siblings back at my parents’ house. Sydney and Tyler loved all their presents, especially the Disney Cars and Princess sleeping bags from Grandma and Grandpa. And what would be Christmas without dinosaurs, trucks, dolls etc? And Mom's and Dad's favorite - cash. :) Thanks to my family for all the presents and spending time with us. It was a wonderful Christmas.

When we returned from our Utah trip, we were able to spend time with family in Oregon. Sydney and Tyler enjoyed a sleepover with their Aunt Katie at our house. We watched Madagascar 2 otherwise known as "Moto Moto" at our house. (You have to have seen the movie and pay close attention to appreciate the reference) We went down to Grammy and Papa's house for New Year’s weekend. New Year’s Eve was Christmas for the Alexander family. The kids had a great time telling people what they should open and asking if they needed any help. Tyler loves his new fire truck and Sydney's new toy mixer. Sydney really likes her new butterfly shirt and toy food, just to name a few. Plus books, games, lamps, dress-up jewelry. Thanks for all the presents and for the great family time we were able to spend together. And thanks for letting my kids "help" open your presents. :)

While Brendon and Doug were around, we recruited them to help build the Shelf Reliance canned food rotation shelf system we got for Christmas for our garage. I was very excited to have it all put together and all the cans on it. It was a great Christmas present from Grammy and Papa and we love it!

During the weekend we were able to do Sydney's favorite activity - riding the Carousel. We rode it three times. I was very proud of Tyler because he actually rode also. Daddy took him on the covered wagon and he quite enjoyed himself. Maybe next time we'll promote him to a horse. After the Carousel, we went and enjoyed a hot chocolate. The kids were in hot chocolate heaven, along with their Mommy.

We really enjoyed being able to see all of our parents, siblings, friends, and other family members. As a family, we feel so blessed for all that we have and all that we were able to do this Christmas. It is so important to us to be able to spend time with family and to just be together. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone (albeit a little bit belated)!