Christmas {2010} Part 2

After opening gifts, I cooked Christmas morning breakfast. Which was a little rushed because the snow started coming down faster and we needed to get into town before we got stuck!

Our first stop was Nathans' parents house. We got there early so we had awhile just to relax. After awhile everyone arrived and it was time to eat. The food, of course, was good. After eating it was time to sing Happy Birthday to Michael . Then it was time for presents. It was complete chaos! All the kids jumped into their presents without hesitation.

Brody hanging out with Uncle Matt!

Next, we had dinner at my parents house. Again the food was delicious! Natalie was so much fun this year. She got into opening all her gifts and was excited about everything she received.





We all were blessed this year to be able to spend the holidays together. I am already looking forward to next year with both Natalie and Brody tearing into presents!

Christmas {2010} Part 1

Our Christmas Day started out with a little lot of SNOW! I was surprised too! When Natalie woke up she was excited to see all the white fluffy stuff falling from the sky. We waited a few minutes until Nathan got home and then got dressed to play in the snow!


After playing in the snow it was time to open presents! Natalie was so much fun this year. She would shake the present before opening it. She kept saying "so excited"! Natalie received a new Mrs. Potato Head outfit, clothes, 6 hours of Tom and Jerry dvd and her doll house. Brody received a few outfits and bunch of little things!

Brody watching all the action, playing with his fire truck!

This was just the start of our Christmas Day! More to come..........

Wordless Wednesday

Attempt number 2! Of about 50 photos this one was the only decent one! Well there is still three more days to try and get that perfect photo!!!

Fat Lip

Natalie received her first fat lip this past week! We are unsure of how she got it. All we know is she came out of her bedroom with blood on her chin and lip. The girl did not even cry! She is always running or climbing and does not slow down for much. If she is already getting fat lip, I don't want to know what is to come!!

Christmas Pajamas: First Attempt

A Christmas tradition that Nathan and I decided to start with the kids is getting new Christmas pajamas every year and taking a picture by the Christmas tree or at least near the tree).

Well....our first attempt didn't go as planned! We got a few cute pictures...but I would at least one picture were they are both looking at the camera!





We will try again another night!! I'm sure the next couple of years we will have a few runs at the picture!!

Santa Clause is coming to town

You better watch out!

You better not CRY!


You better not pout!


I'm telling you why.


Santa Clause is comin' to town.

Future Bonnie and Clyde

Ah yes......I leave the room for a minute and this is what my kids are up too!

Natalie decided she could see the t.v. better if she put her chair on top of the coffee table.

Brody just watching his sister be mischievous and taking notes. I think I am going to have my hands full with both of them when Brody starts walking. I think I may have the future Bonnie and Clyde!!!

Brody {three months}

It is hard to believe you are already three months. These three months have flown by.

You have officially found your hands and love putting them in your month.


Blowing bubbles is your favorite. You are extremely talkative. I love your dimpled smile and your laugh!


Not sure about how much you weigh but I would have to guess between 13-15 pounds. You are wearing size two diapers. You are growing out of your three month clothes and moving into mostly six months clothes.


You are finally sleeping through the night. Usually from 9 p.m. till 6:00 a.m. You take 1 good nap a day (usually 2-3 hours) and then cat nap a few other times.


You love watching your sister run around you. You hate to be put down which makes some days harder. You prefer to be held 90% of the time!!


You are definitely growing up way to fast!

Christmas Decor

This year I decided to do simple Christmas decor for one simple reason, I don't have much. I have not been really into decorating for Christmas until the past year or two. Christmas takes on a whole new meaning when you have kids!! So since I only started really decorating for Christmas two years ago...I don't have much. I hate buying Christmas decorations full price since I know the day after they all will be 1/2 off!! So I wait till after Christmas to buy things for the next year! Silly, I know but this stat-at-home mom has to be frugal!!

The entry way

I love this tree. I received it as a gift from one of my students the first Christmas I was married.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

It is a little top heavy since I have a very active two year old who loves ornaments! We bought this pre-lit tree after Christmas in 2008 for only $20! I love it!! It pays to have a brother-in-law who works at Lowes. I love to decorate our tree with ornaments that have a meaning behind it or tells you the story of our family!

My Mantel

I think last year a splurged on a few things. The Merry Christmas and the glass orbes!! I am glad I did!

Our bookshelf

These are probably my favorite ornaments I have ever bought (you can't really see but they have the Manger scene on them)! The penguin was Nathans when he was younger! I love how it has memories attached to it! Natalie loves to shake it and look at it!

My hutch

I love owls so it was only right to have an owl tree! The Santa Clause and Angel were Nathans when we has younger. They were a gift from his Grandparents.

Our Advent House

This was a must buy last year after Christmas. I don't think we ever went without an Advent caladenar growing up. Natalie does not understand now but I look forward to making that memory with both kids in the future and sharing the story of Jesus birth with them.

I love tradtions around the holidays and look forward sharing old and making new ones as our kids get older!!

I am linking up to Kellys Korner and The Nester Tour Of Homes!!

NO NO Nap

Nap time around these parts are never the same. It could go as.....Natalie hops into bed and drifts into sweet dreams. Or.......Natalie goes kicking and screaming to be laid down only to jump right up and go running for the door. It could also go with her just wanting to hang out in bed for awhile and then drift off to sleep after awhile. But yesterday we add another way.

I told Natalie it was nap time thinking she would drift off to heavenly sleep since she has up at the crack of dawn (5:30) but she had different plans. I laid her down like I usually do. We did our back and forth stalling (kiss, hug, another kiss, one more hug and then the last kiss and hug). She was pretty quite at first so I assumed she had fallen asleep. I went about my nap time routine. After about 15 minutes I heard her singing. She must be singing in bed trying to fall asleep. I went to check on her and to turn on her sea horse back on. I cracked the down open to find........

...........her light on and playing! I grabbed my camera to take a few pictures. She is just a mess :) I figured she would eventually fall asleep and hey this means nap time will be a little longer today (EXTRA ME TIME....SCORE)!! She eventually turned out her own light and fell asleep in bed.

Sleep

Brody is finally sleeping through the night!!

He has been doing it for about a week and a half. It has been amazing finally getting to sleep through the night. He is still sleeping in the pack and play in our room. I don't know when we are planning on moving him into his own room but I don't see that happening anytime soon. I don't know why, just have yet to muster up enough courage to do so yet. We moved Natalie out a week or two after her 2 month birthday. Don't worry I'm sure he will be sleeping in his own room before his 16 Birthday :)!!

Christmas is right around the corner. Can you believe it In 3 weeks Christmas will be over and we will be putting another year behind us. It time to start thinking about New Year Resolutions!! I am almost done Christmas shopping. I have a few more things to buy and then I will be done. It has been hard getting it done with two kids in tow. Plus I absolutely hate going out alone with them plus it has been cold and I just don't move fast enough when it is cold out. Hopefully we can finish up this weekend (if it don't storm) after out family pictures. Yes....We have attempting family pictures. My mom wants the entire family to get one done....so we are heading to Portrait Innovations this Saturday. Nathan and I have never had a family portrait taken (professionally). I know thats sad but just never got around to it. My plan is in the Spring is to hire a professional photographer for family pictures! But until I can get around to it....I hope these will be good!

Here are a few pictures of the kids this past Sunday before church. Luckily I took pictures before church since Brody did not make it home in the same outfit (thats a whole different post)!!




The only way I could get Natalie to take a picture was to ask her to sit beside "her" baby!!

Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving was not very eventful this year. The day started out with us relaxing around the house and watching some of the Macy's Parade. We started out our Thanksgiving feast at my parents house for lunch and ended with dinner at Nathans mom and dad's house. I did not take any pictures. Running after two kids will sometimes make you forget you even have a camera.


This was our attempt for a family picture. Not a great picture but with a two year old and a 2 month old....it was the best we could do!! It was a great Thanksgiving all around. We all went home more stuffed then we needed to be.

The next morning was BLACK FRIDAY. I love Black Friday not only for it's bargains but just for the atmosphere. I did score a few good deals. I bought me a Cricut for only $65.00, bought all the nieces and nephew Christmas gifts. Mom bought a lot of Christmas presents. But the best deal anyone received was Nathan. He bought me my Christmas presents and gave it to me that day. He bought me a Cannon Rebel. I could not have been more excited. I have wanted one for so long now. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful husband!! Saturday Nathan and I went out with some friends to celebrate his birthday that was on Sunday. We spent the rest of our holiday weekend watch football and relaxing. I was a great Thanksgiving Holiday.