Three Weeks of Christmas!

Christmas is such a magical time of year. To my sweet husband and I, there's no such thing as too much Christmas. No time too early to listen to Christmas music, never too early to decorate, etc. Seeing as there is so much to do and so much family to see, we decided to celebrate for three weeks in a row.
It doesn't get a whole lot better than that!
I am going to attempt to capture these 3 weeks of Christmas in one blog entry. Here goes. . .

First week:

First Christmas-Saturday, December 12th
Celebrated with my Marm, Mike, Kris and Brent

Sawyer soaking up Christmas

Tuya hastily unwrapping her present

She got a rubber chicken from Grandma and Grandpa.
She loved it a little too much.
The picture on the right was the chicken (or its remains) 2 days later.

Second week:

Second Christmas- Saturday, December 19th
Celebrated in our own home w/our little Fam

Oh Christmas Tree . . .

The little man on "Christmas Eve"

I got a present that read,
To Am
Love,
Your Not So Secret Admirer

I laughed so hard when I turned it over and saw that my
"Not So Secret Admirer" must have run out of paper!

Santa's Helper on "Christmas Morning"

He was pretty happy it was Christmas

We told him that it was snowing and he was very interested

We decided to bundle him up and take him in the snow for the first time.
That probably wasn't the best idea that we've ever had.
I don't think that he liked it very much.
What do you think?

He did leave the cutest little angel in the snow though :)

Our little angel

Third week:

Tuesday December 22nd- Drive to Philadelphia in anticipation for our 7AM flight the next morning.

Wednesday December 23rd- Fly with our 3 1/2 month old for the first time! He did great on the way there, barely cried. However, my pants are sad to say that there was a major blowout on the descent into the Salt Lake Valley.
Let's just say it was very memorable for all!

Once in Utah we. . .

Made Christmas Cookies
Jonny and Tay got pretty creative.

Got Russian themed t-shirts (thanks to Taylor) for our Christmas PJ's

Third (and most common) Christmas-Friday, December 25th
Celebrated in Utah with the Woods

Christmas Morning

Jazz enjoyed her present!

Post Actual Christmas Celebration:

Went to the Bountiful Temple with our littlest brother Taylor.
He's going on a mission soon!
p.s.We love you Tay!

Lance played b-ball with some fun guys. Sawyer and I cheered them on.

Visited our close buds, the Cutlers.
If you look closely you will see the kiddos holding hands.
Note: This was not planned by their parents.

Kate and Sawyer really hit it off. Fast friends, just like her momma and me!

Ate at the most wonderflest place ever, The Spaghetti Factory

And took Fun Pictures

Good Bye for now Christmas. See you next year!

6 Years Ago Today. . .

. . . I was lucky enough to marry the most wonderful guy in the whole world!

We were married in the Salt Lake Temple for Time and All Eternity.

That means that we get to be together FOREVER!

Happy Anniversary Lance. Here's to forever!

(I love you. Love you more. Dumbledore!)

Thumbs Down . . .

For Thumb Sucking!

I had decided fairly early on in this parenting adventure that I would love it if little Sawyer would take a pacifier. I happen to prefer them over thumb sucking because seeing as I highly frown upon removing a digit from a child, it would seem easier to take away a pacifier than a thumb.
I had it all figured out.
Well, until I looked over at my son yesterday to find this. . .


Apparently I forgot to tell Sawyer how I felt about the whole thumb sucking thing :)
I'm trying to discourage it, but I think I may be fighting a losing battle.

p.s. I do find solace in the fact that he is so stinkin cute when he sucks the darn thing!

Sawyer Meets Santa

Our Little Man met the Big Guy. . .


. . . and it went so well, we went back to do it as a Family!

We love you Santa!

Surprise #2

Since our good buddies, the Clements, were out of town over Lance's Birthday, we plotted to have a surprise party for him with some friends as soon as they got back.

So, exactly a week after his birthday he was surprised yet again when we showed up to the Clements home and a bunch of our close friends jumped out at him. His face was priceless.

A big thanks to Tom and Misty for helping me plot this party and another big thanks to all of our friends that came to play! It was a really fun night with hot fudge, and chocolate and lightening bolt cookies (Lance may or may not have many similar qualities to Harry Potter).

I took my camera and was so excited to take some pictures. However, I sadly forgot until everyone had left! Figures! So here is a picture of Tom, Misty, the belated birthday boy and I!

I wish I had photoshop to add in the Biglers, the Johnsons and the Larsens!

Thanks to all of you!

I think that wraps up Lance's birthday celebrations! He's been 30 for a week and he's still just as handsome and awesome as ever!
I love you Lance. Happy Birthday!

The First Snow

Our First Snow of the Year!

Simply Magical!

3 Months Old

Sawyer Is Three Months Old!!!

This month was comprised of three main events. . .

1.Sawyer got a cold the very beginning of this month. We had about a week and a half of a runny/stuffy nose and some sneezing and coughing before he started getting better.

2. Sawyer got another cold. We had another week and a half of snotty, sneezy, coughy fun and then he started to get better.

3. Sawyer got yet another cold bringing with it not only a runny/stuffy nose and sneezing, coughing spells but added a fever of 101 Degrees. The fever only lasted one night, but he still has this cold. This Mommy's hoping her little baby has finished "building up his immune system" for awhile!

***As a note*** Right when he got his first cold he got these really rosy cheeks. He has pretty much had them off and on the entire month. Although he looks pretty cute like this, I will be happy to see his "sick cheeks" go away!
For your viewing pleasure . . .


He's been so cute and snuggly this month. Because he's been a little under the weather, he's wanted Mommy to hold him a lot more than usual. I was more than happy to oblige. But don't think that he's a softy or anything. He's a little tough guy sometimes! :)


A few other things to note. He found his fist and he's obsessed with it. He used to take a pacifier, but alas, no more. He's got a more natural replacement. I have to admit, he's so cute when he sucks on it. Don't you think?



He also looks a little bigger in his crib now.


He's getting even more steady holding up that cute head.


Speaking of that cute little head, he's growing a little bit more hair. . .


Not a whole lot else has happened. We were hoping for a belly laugh this month, but unfortunately, he's going to keep us waiting on that one. However, he's more than compensated with all of his cute smiles. For example. . .


He's enjoying his time with Sis. They've been playing. . .

Snuggling. . .


And just loving one another's company. . .


He's also been loving his Daddy time. . .

And loving his Mommy time. . .

And that was our Sawyer's 3rd Month of Life!
We love our little three month old!