MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas has been so much fun this year! With a new baby and a 2 year old...it has been quite exciting! Our activities have included...

Seeing the most spectacularly decorated house

Christmas morning crazy family photo

Sweetest ever Christmas smiles

Playing with toys from Santa

Opening Cameron's first present

Setting out cookies for Santa

Opening presents that shouldn't have been unwrapped (on Christmas Eve)--yes, my child looks like the culprit in this one!

Seeing the trains at Poppy's work

Shoveling snow, and sledding too

A Polar Express train ride

We have had a wonderful Christmas and hope everyone else has had the same! Love to all!

BLESSING DAY

On Christmas Eve we blessed Cameron. We had the blessing in Tim's parents' home. It was a lovely blessing, and a great evening. I am glad we were able to have so many of Tim's family there. Here are a few photos from the evening.

CHRISTMAS PARTY

We had our little Christmas Party tonight. I totally forgot to get out my camera and take pictures of all the guests and the delicious food they brought. We didn't really play many games (like I had planned)...but it was so much fun to visit without the stress of kids...I hope all who came enjoyed it...we had so much fun...and I of course had fun planning it.

The food table

Snowflake marshmallows for the hot chocolate

Some of my favorite Christmas candies...English toffee, buttermints, and chocolate covered cinnamon bears!

Snowflake cheeseball


The favors

TRIMMING THE TREE

Rylan got to decorate his very own tree(s) this year. We painted ornaments with glitter and had a little decorating party...he was so proud...we even put his little choo-choo train underneath.

SANTA

Santa Claus visited our ward party last week. After waiting in line for about an hour and a half (I should have taken them to the mall--it probably would have been quicker--but this one was free,) we finally got our turn. Rylan is not a huge fan of people he doesn't know, much less a scary bearded man. He opted to stay in Tim's arms and give Santa a hand shake--at least Santa knows he's been a good boy this year, despite his crying to not sit in Santa's lap. Cameron did great, but then again he had no clue what was going on.

FIRST SNOW

We had our first snow storm yesterday and we are expecting another big storm this weekend. I am looking forward to taking my little bug out sledding. Rylan tried tasting as much of the snow as he could...although I did have to steer him away from a few spots. Of course we took Cameron out to experience the snow for the first time...it was so exciting that he fell asleep!

TODAY...

We took Rylan to Bright Nights at Forest Park...he LOVED looking at all of the lights!

I got a little creative with Rylan's lunch...I'm not sure he fully understood what a "reindeer" was...maybe next year.

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

Those that know me well can attest to the fact that I love to plan parties. Of course growing up I had my birthday party planned for the following year the day after my birthday. Needless to say, I love any excuse to plan one! Tim and I will be hosting a small couple's Christmas party that I am very excited for (small because we have no room in our little apartment--we wish we could invite everyone!) I can't wait to post pictures of how it all turns out!

MOTHERHOOD

There is a saying that goes, "Mothers of little boys work from son up until son down." My days lately consist of changing diapers, feeding baby, feeding toddler, changing more diapers, keeping toddler entertained and baby quiet, and getting myself cleaned up at some miraculous point during the day. How true that saying is...and I still find myself exhausted at the end of the day!

MOMENTS

I love when I am able to capture sweet moments when I photograph...they make for the best pictures

Birthday Wishes

This past Monday was Rylan's Birthday. My parents were in town and we just had a little family pizza party with cake, pretty low key. It was a tractor theme!

My mom found the perfect cake idea online and we had a blast decorating it!

Getting ready to blow out the candles...my big two year old...I can't believe it!

What he found waiting for him on birthday morning!

All bundled up in the freezing 8:00 am weather to try out the tractor

Watching Lightning McQueen (his new obsession!)

The gift from my parents...he calls it his ball house...notice he is naked with his boots on and majorly staticky hair!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE RYLES...WE LOVE YOU!

CAMERON

My sister-in-law Natalie came up from Hartford the other day and took some super cute photos of Cameron. Here are some of my fav's! (THANKS NAT!)

TRICK OR TREAT!

A picture of our two little pumpkins!



We came home from the hospital on Friday afternoon so we were able to take Rylan trick-or-treating. He actually understood it this year. However, even though we practiced saying "trick-or-treat" all month long, once he got to the door he just held out his pumpkin bag. He did say thank you (which we were grateful for!)

NEW ARRIVAL

Well since it has been a week since Cameron arrived, I decided that I'd better post! He was born on Wednesday, October 29th at 7:57 pm and weighed 8 lbs 11 oz and is 21 inches long. He is such a joy! Thank goodness for all of the help we have received so far because it is a HUGE adjustment going from 1 child to 2! Thank you everyone for all your thoughts and prayers!