Christmas 2010

Well let me first start off by saying I feel like the worst parent ever considering I didn't video ANY of Christmas and didn't take near enough pics.  What was I thinking?  I guess I was NOT thinking or just too distracted by the craziness ;)  Poor Parker...we have tons of video of Rylee when she was a baby but very very little since Parker has been born.

Now with that off my chest lets talk about Christmas!  These kids got SO much stuff.  The "big" gift this year was a swing set for the back yard from Nonnie & Pop Pop aka John and Lisa.  The kids LOVE it and want to play on it all the time.  Parker will go to the door several times a day, grab his shoes "sheez" and point to the door and say "ouusyy" (outside).  I am so excited to have something for the kids and their friends to play with outside.  It is not one of the super high  play sets so I am not so paranoid about them falling.  We went to Adam's cousin's house Christmas Eve day to celebrate with the Brahm family.  That night we went to John & Lisa's to celebrate with them.  Christmas morning we were able to spend with just the 4 of us at home, then to my mom and Wade's for lunch (Prime Rib yum yum) then back home that evening and Nanny & Poppy aka Dad & Sherry came over.  WHEW.  It was a crazy 2 days but so fun and it is so wonderful to have so many people to share the holidays with.  The kids got a ton from Santa. Both kids got Pillow pets, Rylee got a Strawberry Short Cake house, clothes, jewelry box, American Girl doll, Barbies, movies... too much to name.  JP got clothes, lots of toys and tools which he loves!  We have been struggling with finding toys he will actually play with but the tools were a huge hit.  He carries around the hammer 24/7.  Thank you so much to everyone for the amazing gifts!!!!!  We are so grateful. Now we just need to fine a place to put everything :)

We are looking forward to New Years.  We are having our bff's over (Rentfro's & Knott's) to ring in the new year.  We always have such a good time and the kids do too!  We have been so blessed in 2010 and I can only hope that 2011 will bring just as much joy.  These kids are growing up too fast and I want to soak up every second with them.

Grinch, Parties and Hear comes Santa Claus!

We put up our tree in our new house a few weeks after Thanksgiving.  Adam finally let me buy a pre-lit this year and I was SO happy.  It turned a usual 7 hour job into 2 hours!  Parker is extremely interested in the tree and lets just say it is a few ornaments short already.  Can't blame him though ;)  It is a huge shinny thing in the middle of the room! 

We got to go see The Grinch at the Hobby Center December 5th.  It was really cute to see the kids all dressed up to see their very first Musical.  Rylee was well behaved for the most part but had a break down towards the end. Didn't go exactly as planned but it was still really cool. They actually made it snow inside the theater which was by far their favorite part!  Hopefully every Christmas season I get the chance to take my girl to a show.

They love Kay Kay!

They were just a tiny bit impatient ;)

 We had two Birthday parties in early December and they were probably Rylee's favorite to attend thus far.  The first one was her friend Cadence's Princess party.  They had a horse drawn carriage and Cinderella actually showed up!!!  Not sure if we can top that but now Rylee names a different Disney Princess almost every day that she has decided she wants at her 5 year old Birthday party!  GREAAAAAT  ;)  It was really fun though and to top it off the girls got to ride on on the carriage with Cinderella and dress up in Disney Princess attire.  Super cute!

The second was Addison's Storybook Cottage party.  It was the cutest little place that couldn't have been more girly if you tried!  They got to dress up in any attire they choose, get their nails painted, put on a fashion show and even have a tea party while decorating cupcakes.  It was ADORABLE.  Even Cole and Cooper got to participate by dressing up in super hero costumes ;)  Addison and Rylee have been friends since birth and it is hard to believe that Addi is already 5!!!  That means Rylee will be 5 soon.  AHHHHH it is happening too fast for me.  They always say "enjoy it because it will fly by" and well....... isn't that the truth!!!

We have had a few family Christmas parties as well  (Johnson's and The Walden's), and the kids have had a blast at each. They even got to open a few gifts already!  I love love love getting to see my extended family and it makes me so sad that I only see most of them once a year :(    I have such great memories of all the gatherings over the years and hopefully the kids will too.

We ALSO had the 3rd annual Crystal Clear Mortgage Christmas party!  I can not believe this is the third year.  They are doing so amazingly well right now.  I am so very proud of you babe.  I knew you could do it!!!!! :)  

Parker has actually shown some interest in TV these days.  He likes to climb on top of the coffee table or couch and watch.  It makes me nervous since he could totally fall off the back if he isn't careful but every time I take him off he just gets right back up.  It is cute because Rylee used to do the exact same thing. 

Rylee brought a plastic shoebox in our room that was holding Barbie stuff.  It was broken and she blammed it on Parker.  When Adam told her Santa was watching and she better not be lying (knowing that Parker had been in our room the whole time), she said "well okay it might have been me".  Funny girl.

Christmas in Comfort

We spent our Thanksgiving in Comfort this year with my Dad & Sherry.  This is our second year in a row to go there for the Thanksgiving weekend and I am pretty sure I want to make it a tradition....that is if it is ok with them :)  The weather was perfect... cool and sunny during the day and VERY cold at night.  Perfect for making smores by the fire which is exactly what we did!  It is so beautiful there and the kids loved exploring.

On Friday Rylee, Sherry (aka Nanny) and I went to see the new Disney movie "Tangled".  It was SOOO good.  Rylee has showed signs of boredom the last few movies we have taken her to but not this one.  She was glued the whole time.  After that, we all went to Singing Water Vineyards and did a little wine tasting.  It is a small vineyard but the property is amazing and I got some cute pics of the kids.  

Of course we can't visit Comfort without seeing Jenny the donkey and the sheep.  Jenny is NOT shy at all and likes to run straight for you in hopes that you have some apples for her.

 Jenny will run right at you even if you are in the car just driving on the main road!

Then there was the main event... Christmas in Comfort.  It is amazing how many people come to little ole Comfort just for this event.  It is shopping and festival during the day and a parade at night.  The kids loved seeing all the floats with Christmas lights on them but I think it may be a little easier in another year or two when Parker isn't wanting to get down and be apart of the actual parade! 

 Rylee insisted that I get her these butterfly wings.  She wore them the rest of the weekend!

 Parker didn't really want to sleep much while we were there... as you can tell he was exhausted. :)

Thanks Nanny & Poppy for letting our little tornado of a family come visit :)  Even more thank you for loving Tucker so much and letting him visit for so long.  He says he misses you already!

For the past 10 years or so Sherry & my Dad have been getting me pieces to a Lenox nativity scene.  This year they gave me the final figures so now it is complete.  Anyone who has seen it knows how special it is to me and how I will threaten you with your life if you get too close ;)  I think it is beautiful and will pass it down to Rylee when she gets a family of her own one day.

 When we returned home we had a visitor waiting for us!  Rylee spotted her "Elf on the Shelf" that she met for the first time last year and named Bizzle.  He comes each year to watch over the kids and report to Santa if they are naughty or nice. He flies to the North Pole each night and appears somewhere different in our house each morning.  So fun!  By the way Rylee has been very quick to tell us what Parker is doing bad when we mention Santa watching over her.  "Well Parker hit me today".

We also brought something or should I say someone else home from Comfort....yep you guess it!  TUCKER dog is back.  We missed him so much but I am already reminded of why he needed to go on a vacation to begin with ;)  He likes to bark at absolutely nothing even though in the new house he can't see out the front door.  Parker is REALLY interested in Tucker.  He will walk up to him and actually growl.  He has already dumped his water bowl twice and chases him around with anything he can waving it at him. Hopefully Tucker is smart enough to stay out of his way ha ha.  We really are happy to have him back home. We have worked out a little custody arrangement with my Dad & Sherry so he will be taking another "vacation" later in the year.

Rylee has been really into music lately.  She has always loved it actually but now she will go in her room and play her cd's or even the radio and just play and dance.  Parker even likes going to "club Rylee" and dancing.  It is a daily event at our house.  Her favorite right now is Alvin and The Chipmunks Christmas.  I have Chipmunks singing in my head all day now! ;)

We are going to see "The Grinch" this weekend at The Hobby Center.  I am SOOOO excited to go do something like this with Rylee.  I hope we get to do some sort of Christmas play each year and make some awesome memories!!!

15 months!

Happy 15 month Birthday my sweet boy.  You are the most handsome, loving, funniest guy I know ;)  You have brought so much joy to us in the past 15 months and I am so very happy to be your mommy.  You call me "mom" which is a little mature for a 1 year old but I will take it.  I could eat you up!

Parker had his 15 month check up today. He is right on track with his speech and milestones and is in the 75th % with weight, height and head circ. Very healthy aside from a little weather related eczema which he has had since birth. He only had 1 vaccine but also got a flu shot.  Tough guy only cried for 5 seconds tops.  He is saying "hello, mom, dada, uh oh, that and trying to say hot dog".  He shakes his head yes and no however I think he has them backwards.  He likes watching Mikey Mouse and starts dancing and clapping when it comes on.  He also claps when he is trying to tell you that he wants something. He gives the best hugs and kisses and loves being held.... ALL THE TIME.  He shovels food into his mouth as fast as he can.  I gave him a slice of cheese and the whole entire thing was in his mouth in 2.5 seconds.  He loves eggo waffles, pancakes, mac and cheese, bananas, blueberries and cheddar cheese.  OH and his very favorite thing is milk!  He would drink 36oz a day if you let him.  He hasn't gotten any more teeth lately.  Still only the top four and bottom four.  They are closing in quite nicely and looking like he will have a great smile just like his big sis. 

Rylee had her Thanksgiving Feast at school this week and I was able to go up there and eat with her.  Her class dressed up as Pilgrims and Indians.  When she got home she said "Dad, look at me, I am a Pil Graham".  :)  We have been trying to talk about things that we are thankful for and to be appreciative for what we have.  Of course she thought I was speaking of material things like Barbies, and Polly Pockets!!!  She is only 4 I guess ha ha

We have decided to go up to Comfort for Thanksgiving this year.  We are REALLY looking forward to it.  It is so relaxing there and of course we get to see Tucker whom we haven't seen since August.  I wonder if he will recognize us???   We are bringing him home with us that Sunday.  He is going to have a rude awakening after living in luxury with my Dad and Sherry, roaming the land, chasing deer and being treated like a Prince.  Now he has a new home he has never been to before and a little boy (who was not walking last time he saw him) who will be chasing him 80% of the day.  OH Tucker will just be thrilled.  He will probably gain back any weight he has lost too since most of Parker's food ends up on the floor.  Hey, I will have my own little vacuum cleaner back!!!  We really have missed him and are looking forward to having him home. :)