Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everybody!  It's 2013!  Wu!

It's also 8 degrees outside right now.  I sent my seven year old off to school in 8 degree weather.  Poor little guy.  But don't worry, he had a big new coat and gloves and a hat.  But still . . . 8!

Did you notice the light snow on my blog?  I feel cold just looking at it.  In a good way.  Not in an 8 degrees way.

I never posted ten things to smile about for December.  I still want to do that because it sure was an incredible and full month.  Maybe later today.  Maybe tomorrow.

Right now I'm just enjoying my heater.  And my slippers.  And Madeline's song she is singing to Cooper.

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.