Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year. Obviously the highlight was having Gavin with us! We kept our schedule as low key as possible, did most of our shopping online. Hooray for Amazon!

We made gingerbread houses

We decorated sugar cookies

And delivered them to our neighbors

Had loads of Christmas spirit

We saw Santa (I KNOW him!)

Made snowman crafts with family

Enjoyed giving and receiving gifts from family and friends 

And talked 374,369,673 times about the true meaning of Christmas - that Jesus came to earth in human form to bridge the gap between man and God. 

On Christmas Day we had plans with my family but sickness struck so about half of our family was able to come. 

On Christmas morning, it was just our little family. Owen was up first. He got to open his stocking and play with it while I prepared breakfast. I made monkey bread for the first time. It was so yummy, I think this might have to be a new tradition!

Here's Austin snuggling with Uncle Jesse while we watched The Santa Clause. He and Dad drove up from Gilbert to spend Christmas evening with us! This is the only picture I took that night because I was too busy playing hostess! 

I can't wait until next Christmas! It is absolutely the most wonderful time of the year!

Halloween

We had so much fun on Halloween this year. Ryan made Trader Joe's pumpkin pancakes so the day started out right!

It's definitely not my favorite holiday (I always say it's a necessary evil to get to the good holidays), but it is fun to dress up, have parties, carve pumpkins, and hand out candy! We keep it simple, fun, don't put much money into costumes (thanks Tara for the hand me downs!) and focus on the fun family aspect. 

Owen was so excited, remembering the fun from last year. And, being in preschool, he was looking forward to his class' Halloween celebration. He went as a Superhero. Not a "power ranger", ahem. A Superhero. 

I volunteered in his class for the party and it was toooo cute. Owen did great and had lots of fun. I enjoyed meeting some of his friends and seeing them all interact!

Here's Owen stringing a bracelet. Not Halloween related, haha.

He was showing me some of his favorite things in his class. Here's the "specimen station". Spiders. Oh joy.

Crafts!

I was in charge of the snack table. The kids would smear orange-tinted cream cheese on rice cakes and make a face with candy corn and pretzels. It was quite cute. 

After school was out we went to lunch at Chick fil A. The boys took a nice loooong nap and woke up just in time to get ready for the evening's festivities!

The McFaddens came over to our house. I made a big pot of chili and some cornbread that turned out great. 

Then we got the kids dressed up!

Austin (Spider Man) Owen (Superhero) Luke (firefighter) Joel (dalmatian)

We need to work on our poses a bit more..

Owen totally "got" the whole trick or treating process!

I tried to get some pictures of our group after Nana & Papa and some other friends joined us, but they all turned out pretty dark because of the lighting :(

After trick or treating we headed home to eat some candy and watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. 

The boys went to town on the candy. I'm not a "2 pieces of candy" kinda mom come Halloween night ;)

Hanging with the McFaddens! The grandparents stayed for a bit too!

Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm already looking forward to next Halloween!

Father's Day 2012

Father's Day started out nice! Owen and I ran to Dunkin Donuts for some coffee and donuts. We gave Daddy presents and gave him the day off of chores and diaper duty. 

Ryan had been feeling sick the night before and thankfully we made it through church, but after church he started feeling worse. Owen also was acting off, lethargic, and was having some tummy trouble. All in all we had to cancel our plans in the evening (grilling out with the in-laws and Chris & Tara) and stay in. Good thing, because a few days later Ry was diagnosed with Strep. 

So Father's Day was a bit of a bust :( But Ryan's birthday is coming up this week and we have some fun plans, so hopefully that will make up for it!

Love you babe, thanks for being a wonderful father to our littles!

A Lovely Mother's Day and the Weekend

I had a lovely mothers day. Actually we had 2 reasons to celebrate this weekend because Sunday was also our 6 year anniversary!

So let me back up. 

Friday Ry & I celebrated our anniversary by going out on a date. We hit my faaaaavorite restaurant, Carabbas. I got the lobster ravioli (a splurge) and we shared a yummy dessert and lots of great, relaxed conversation. So happy to spend time with my husband and enjoy him. I can't believe it's been 6 years. 

Here's to 60 more, babe!

(of course I got a picture of the food but not one of me and Ryan. laaaame.)

Saturday we did the usual, hit the gym, grocery shopping, errands. 

Sunday I woke up to Ryan bringing me coffee, a donut, and my Bible in bed. Ahh, it was such a nice morning! After my quite little breakfast I opened my present from the boys. Ryan got me a gift certificate to one of my favorite stores, Charming Charlies. Oh and Owen picked out this necklace for me. He did good! He knows brown is my favorite color :)

After church and a wonderful Mother's Day message, we headed home and after I put the boys down for a nap I headed to the mall all by myself for some shopping. It was sooo nice! I admit I did miss the boys when I walked by the play area :) I enjoyed shopping at Forever21 for a few hours. Of course, when I actually have spending money (thanks, Ry & Dad!), I can't find a thing to buy. I did walk away with one cute top. I think the quite time alone was well worth it though. 

Ruth met me at Starbucks for the last part of my afternoon out and we chatted. So relaxing!

Sunday evening we went to Chris & Tara's along with Doug & JoAnn for more Mother's Day fun. After dinner we let the kids play in the pool. My boys loooooved it. They're water babies for sure. Austin and Lexie have hit a whole new level of friendship. They played together so well all evening. Love this girl!

It was such a nice day spending time with family and getting out for a bit. I'm so grateful for JoAnn, Tara, Ruth, my mom, all the mothers out there who helped shape me and give me inspiration to the be the wife and Mom that God has called me to be. I'm so grateful for my 2 boys who made me a mommy, and for my husband, who does a wonderful job walking beside me in raising them. I am blessed!

Easter

We had a nice Easter weekend. On Saturday night we decorated eggs. I remember Owen loved this last time and he had just as much fun this year. And this time Austin got to join in on the fun!

Easter baskets

Sunday morning the boys got to open their baskets. Ok, they did fight a little bit over each other's toys. 

Cheese!

I totally forgot to get the boys' pictures in their Easter outfits! They were nothing special, just colored plaid shorts and bright polos. They did look cute, though. 

Like my Easter pedi? I did it myself! (duh.) It's Essie in Play Date, a gift from Ruth!

After church and naps we headed to Gilbert. I was in charge of the deviled eggs. Ick. 

Here's my sweet nephew, Drew. He's 7 now! What a sweetheart. 

My niece Bella lovin' on the boys. (oh look! I have a picture of them in their Easter outfits after all!)

Cute Eli. Only a few months younger than Austy!

We didn't get to celebrate with the Jones side of the family because my sweet mother-in-law has been in the hospital. Once she's out and recovered, we hope to have an Easter "re-do!"

What a blessing to celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior!