Merry Christmas

I know it is February, but I am catching up on the blog for Christmas. In my defense, we got a new computer and it is completely different from our old one. So we have had to do a lot of data transfer and figure out the new programs. It was a wonderful Christmas. We started out in Oregon and spent great family time. Then headed out to Utah for family time there. There were so many great moments and memories. Here are a few of the little ones I want to remember.

We saw a live nativity. The kids LOVED the camel named Nigel. We were able to go right up to Nigel and pet him. It was freezing, but spending time with a baby at Christmas time is just special. Holding my baby, I can only imagine how Mary felt. I loved holding Brady and thinking of how he just came straight from heaven into my arms. Such a sweet special spirit.

The kids loved Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Sydney and Tyler were SO excited. They could hardly stand it. Christmas Eve we spent time with family friends Bob and Susan. Bob brought over magic tricks for the kids and Tyler loved them. He thought it was the best. Especially one where Bob made a ball go through a toilet paper roll with a hair dryer. Such simplicity made him one happy boy.

Christmas morning Sydney was up bright and early. We told her she couldn't get up until 7:00. Every time there was a 7 on the clock, she would say Mom it's 7! So excited for Christmas! Then of course Tyler slept in. :) I swear he did it just to spite her. We had to wake him up to go downstairs. My favorite part is sitting on the stairs right before they go see their presents. They are so happy and do not want to sit for a picture!

This year for Christmas Sydney wanted a pair of clip on earrings and new bedding for her room. Tyler wanted a scooter and some dinosaurs. Brady didn't care what he got. He just wanted baby food and cereal. Maybe a box or two to play with.

Grammy and Papa were so great to the kids and gave them a Jeep Car that they can drive around. Hours of entertainment will be spent with this special gift. They drive it around their driveway and let their imagination run wild. First they will be going to a store, then they will be dropping off berries. Or they play like they are going to get gas and Papa is the gas attendant. They will love playing with it every time they are in Salem.

Brady and Hudson spent lots of time checking each other out on the floor. Brady loved playing with Hudson's hands and just looking him up and down. It is so fun to have cousins close in age.

The kids love spending time with Grammy, Papa, Aunt Katie, Uncle Brendon, Aunt Shay, and Baby Hudson! Thanks for such a wonderful Christmas and all the Christmas memories.

The day after Christmas, we made our trip out to Utah. The kids are such wonderful travelers. They love watching movies in the car. I actually really like the family time that we are able to spend. It is fun talking and laughing, listening to movies or music.

When we got to Utah, we had our second Christmas of the season. The kids were just as excited as the first time! They love seeing what everyone got and playing with Jake and Josh. They especially liked the dragons and their DVD players from Grandma Camille and Grandpa Tom. Tyler really liked the movie Dinotopia in his player. Sydney likes the pink on her dragon and her pink headphones. Grandma and Grandpa know her so well!

While we were in Utah, it snowed!! The kids made a sledding hill in the backyard and went up and down a zillion times. Plus lots of snowball fights and snow angels. After being worn down and freezing, they came in for hot chocolate and movies.

For New Years, we celebrated by having fondue. It was DELICIOUS! We celebrated with the kids early and even looked up fireworks from Australia, so the kids could see that. Brady didn't care, but Jake, Sydney, Tyler and Josh put on a "show" and danced around and made lots of noise. After that died down and we got the kids to bed, we watched Inception (One of Ryan's favorite movies). It was a peaceful New Years, full of hope and happiness for the new year!

It was a fantastic Christmas Celebration with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Alisa, Uncle Kurt, Jake, Josh, Uncle Rob, Aunt Aubrey, and Uncle Jeff! My kids are so blessed to have so many family members that care and love them.

I loved the Christmas Season. It will be one I hope to never forget. Spending time with Ryan, Sydney, Tyler and Brady is the best! I am looking forward to a great year!

Brady at 6 months

My baby is 6 months old. The time has just FLOWN by. I promise it didn't go by this fast when I was pregnant with him. He is just an angel baby. He is a great sleeper and eater. He loves to smile and laugh. He is very ticklish! His face lights up when Sydney and Tyler walk into the room. And they are such good big brother and sister. He is a bit of a Mommas boy, but the other two were too. Sorry daddy. I figure it means I am doing a good job taking care of him. :) We went and saw Dr. Mandi for his check-up/immunizations this last week. He weighs 15 pounds 2 ounces and is 27 and 3/4 inches. I always love to see where they are on the percentage list. He is in the 95th percent for height and 10th for weight. Wouldn't we all love that problem? He started on rice cereal and we are going to move that up to two meals a day to keep his calorie intake up. He is also going to be starting him on baby food next week. He is going to love it. Things I want to remember about Brady are:

~ He loves to sleep with a specific blanket and he likes to rub it against his check. That is how he sleeps for every nap and at bedtime.

~ He loves his binkie - but is very specific on the kind of binkie that he wants. As a side note - I love how Tyler calls it his pinkie. :)

~ He is getting to a phase where he wants to be held all day long, this does make it hard on my back - even if he is a skinny little thing.

~ He loves to roll over, and almost has it going from back to front. He gets clear over to his side and then just hangs out.

~ He loves to look at himself in the mirror. He thinks it is so funny.

~ His hair is growing in lighter. He had a ton of hair when he was born and then he lost it all. Now it is growing in and is lighter - almost a blond like Sydney.

~ He is such a sweetheart and I love him!!!

Christmas Tree

Every year we go and pick out our tree and cut it down to bring home and decorate. The kids really get into it and love walking around in their boots to pick out the perfect tree. I get to hold Brady and wait to get back into the warm car. This year we got a mighty fine tree. It is the perfect size for our family room. Sydney and Tyler helped me decorate it. They put the ornaments in sections of "families." I think it is a beautiful tree, made prettier by the fact that my darling children put their creativity and love into it. I would not move a single ornament. It is perfect!

Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving 2010! This year we headed to Utah for the big holiday. It was a great time. We were able to spend time with lots of family and even met a new nephew/cousin! We were so excited to meet and play with "Baby Hudson."

It snowed lots while we were there and the kids had a great time playing with Uncle Jeff in it, while the parents stayed inside where it was warm. We went shopping and saw Tangled, watched How To Train Your Dragon. Lots of fun. Alisa and I decided to do a 10k for the Utah Food Bank. It was FREEZING! I decided when I started to run that I was only going to do the 5K, Alisa did all of it. I did feel better eating the pumpkin pie that night!

Sydney loves all the things about Thanksgiving. She especially loved Grandma Carols slush drink. She had a TON of it. She talked about Turkeys at school. One worksheet she had to do was color a turkey and then underneath fill in the blank. Hers said, "My turkey is tasty." That is what she filled in and I thought it was so creative.

Tyler really liked the snow. I dressed him up all warm (thanks to Aunt Alisa for providing the snow gear) and he actually looked like Ralphie's brother on A Christmas Story. He could barely move his arms down. It was adorable. Tyler became Uncle Jeff's little buddy. Everywhere Jeff was Ty would want to follow. They went on errands together and watched sports together. He had lots of fun with that. He also really liked watching How To Train Your Dragon with Brendon and Shay. He loves that movie and loved the cookies and treats they provided to go along with the movie.

This was Brady's first Thanksgiving and he even got to try Rice Cereal. Technically it was the day after Thanksgiving, but either way he LOVES eating it. He gets a funny look on his face and it cracks me up. He is a messy eater while he tries to figure out how to do it. He loved being held by everyone. I was excited for all the cousins to be able to play with him.

The thing I loved most was spending time with family and friends. It was great to have Ryan off work for a week and see him all day. I feel very blessed to have three beautiful children and a husband I adore.

Thanks everyone for such a great trip!