Christmas Favorites and Hopes for The New Year

I thought it would be fun to share some of our Christmas favorites.

Mine:

My insanely cute phone cover from Todd.  And in the background, my new beautiful necklace from my sister.

 My mom totally indulged my love of wrapping paper, and bought me an entire collection of cute and pretty paper.  Can't wait to wrap someone a beautiful gift!

 And my MIL, having no idea that's I've wanted one for TWO years, bought me a food processor.  Sweet!

 Madeline's:  Her Magical Balloon Carriage (a Christmas miracle that she even go this one!) and the beautiful princesses to ride in it.

 Ethan's:  Huge Dino lego set with an awesome helicopter that can capture the T-rex with a claw.

 And Todd's:  55 inches of awesomeness (never mind that Madeline was watching Barbie: Magic of the Rainbow when I took the picture)  Todd prefers the high def sports channels

 And Cooper . . . well, let's be honest, he doesn't even know he got anything.  But he's so cute, I figured I'd just post pictures of him.  Here's Cooper on the last day of the year:

 and speaking of the last day of the year . . . wow.  2012, I'm not sure what happened to you.  It seems like I can sum 2012 up in one word - Cooper:

It feels like all I did was experience morning sicknesses, bed rest, his birth, being in the hospital with him, and then it was the holidays.

I know school and ballet and swimming lessons and reunions and laundry and baking and laughing were mixed up in there too.  And honestly, when I think back on the year, I'm pretty darn sure it was one of the best.

And now for 2013.  I want to start exercising again.  And reading my scriptures every day.  I want to write in my journal once a week.  And maintain some sort of family cleaning chart.  ha!  That last one is funny.  :)

Happy New Year everyone.

xoxo

Our Christmas

I'm going to remember this year as one of the best Christmases ever!  The days leading up to Christmas, the actual day, and the days after were completely and totally wonderful in every way.

Ethan looked at me with the most excited face as I tucked him into bed Christmas Eve and said to me, "Mom!  I am so excited!  My heart is pounding so much!  I mean, I can't even remember if my heart has ever been pounding like this before!"  Kids at Christmas are the best!

 Our Christmas Eve festivities were filled with so much fun family time, and amazing food too.  We even sang the Christmas carols, my favorite part!

 The kids loved their new Christmas jammies.

 And the morning was filled with magic!

 Cooper slept through most of it, but we saved some gifts for him to enjoy after he woke up!

 Look how excited he is . . . lol.

 We then went and enjoyed a second Christmas at my parent's house in the late morning.  And we ate another huge and fabulous meal.

 The day was finished with the Christmas Extravaganza at Todd's grandparent's house.  SO MANY PEOPLE.  SO MUCH FUN.  LOTS OF NOISE.  WRAPPING PAPER FLYING EVERYWHERE.  And more food.  Lots more food.  Wu . . . a stomach can only take so much.

Our house still hasn't totally recovered from all the boxes and wrappings.  We were all spoiled.  By each other.  By family members.  But overall, it was our good health and the family time that won as best thing during the holidays.

My other favorite part, by far, was participating in the powerful Christmas Program during Relief Society on the 23rd.  I truly felt the Spirit of Christmas and an overwhelming gratitude for the birth of The Son of God.

Merry Christmas!

And And

Cake Batter Truffles

 Peppermint Bark

I made another batch of the chocolate oreo truffles too, but they were gone before I could even find my camera.

Wishing your Stomach a Merry Christmas

Peppermint Meringues 

 Sugar Cookies

 Homemade Caramels

 Chocolate Truffles

 Candy Cane Cookies

May your stomach ache be as merry as mine (and your kitchen as messy!)

Merry Christmas!

My Little Dancer (and my little giggler)

Madeline had her first dance recital on Monday night!

I snapped a few quick shots of her before we left because she was just too darn cute!

 It was like a little dream come true for me to watch her up there dancing.  I remember the thrill perfectly (like it yesterday and not 25 years ago!).  What fun!

 She danced one ballet number and one tap number.  She did great too!  I only wish I had been more prepared and given here a bouquet of flowers after.

The videos are darling, but not ready to post yet.  Plus with all the other girls in the videos, I might not post them here.  BUT THEY SURE WERE CUTE!  My friends took a lot of pictures during the recital too (while I was doing videos) so hopefully someday I'll get those too.

I don't want to leave you wanting though, so here is a cute video of Cooper:  :)

Three Months Old

Cooper woke up happy to be THREE months old on Ethan's birthday!  

 And while Ethan was busy with his new legos, I did a little photo shoot for his 3 month birthday

 He's getting so much bigger now.  Likes toys and smiles at himself in the mirror now.

 And some WONDERFUL news:  yesterday he had a blood test again and we found out that his blood work is FINALLY normal!  He is no longer in need of the iron supplement.  Hooray!

 And it only seemed fitting to do a couple pictures of the boys together too

 and for fun, their feet.  Three months.  Seven years.

A Christmas Birthday

Ethan's birthday was a smashing success!  He was so excited the whole day.  Everything turned out as good as we had hoped and it was just all around fun.  

He was very happy with his Christmas birthday.  He even wore his Christmas pjs the night before to be ready for the occasion.  So cute.  Here he is with all the Christmasy Birthday festivities:

 a close-up of his poster:

 His birthday breakfast (it's moments like this when your kids actually think you're the coolest mom ever!)

 And birthday gifts in Christmas paper:

 with talking snowmen:

 He didn't have a friend party, but we still played "Pin the star on the birthday tree":

 His birthday cake:

 And here is my seven year old:

 I love you buddy.

I'm so glad his birthday was a happy day for him, and for all of us.  And after a day like today, I just want to scoop up all my children and hold them close and safe forever.

Merry Birthday kiddo!

Happy Birthday Ethan!!

Happy Birthday Ethan!!

Today you are seven.  SEVEN!

Not sure how that happened.  But as I think back about your birth, I think it's only fitting that you were born on your due date.  That my labor started promptly at midnight and that you came into the world at 5:45 am . . . the same time you have always woken up for the day!  You've always been Ethan.  So very Ethan.

I love your laugh.

I love your art.

I love your tender heart and awareness of the Spirit.

I love how you love your family.

I love all the things your are learning.

I love to watch you swim.

I love how you follow me around telling me jokes.

...

Happy Birthday to my son.  Oh how I love you!!

A Little Christmas Cheer

I've been feeling a little like Scrooge in the last few days.  Perhaps the severe lack of sleep and the massive head cold might have something to do with it.  And perhaps the bored kids who haven't been getting a long very well is also a part of it.  But today . . . today I was determined to have a better day for all of us!  It seems like if we start the day off right, we do pretty good.  I came out of my room smiling and the kids seemed all around better too!  

We've kept busy with projects and jobs and even went to the library.  When we got home, I found these pictures the kids has drawn a few days ago in a pile on the counter, and I smiled.  I'll admit they helped me feel a little more Christmas cheer.  So much so, that I even made a batch of Christmas cookies!  Not the big production ones (yet) but yummy ones nonetheless.  Now if only it would snow . . .

Ethan's picture

 and the back

 Madeline's picture

 Jam Thumbprint Cookies

Sometimes I forget that you often have to make your own happiness.  And in my case, make your own Christmas cheer!  I'm throwing my trying-to-lose-weight-after-having-a-baby goal out the window until the new year and enjoying the season.

Let the baking (with Christmas music playing in the background) begin!

Cooper's Blessing Day

Today was Cooper's Baby Blessing.  And it was a really wonderful day!  Todd blessed Cooper in church, surrounded by all the men that care about Cooper.  It was such a beautiful blessing.  I really felt overwhelmed with gratitude at how much the Lord has already blessed my sweet baby in the short time he's been here.  I'm so grateful he's healthy now and so grateful he's in our family.  Dearest Cooper, I LOVE you so much!

His blessing outfit:

 and shoes:

 and his sweet face:

 My friend came over after church and took a few family pictures for us too.  I couldn't be more thrilled with how these snapshots turned out.

 I heart my family!

 and a few more for fun: