Merry Christmas

We just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! We are so blessed to be able to spend the next few days with all of our family. We know we can't be with everyone, so we also wanted to wish those that aren't here with us to have the best Christmas and know that we are thinking about you and you are truly missed! We love this time of year and the opportunity we have to remember the true meaning of Christmas! Dax may be absorbed with "Santa" but Austin and I have enjoyed reading and reflecting on the birth of our Savior. It's crazy to think little Wyatt will be joining our family in just a few short weeks and that his birth will result in a miracle of our own. I am a total slacker and didn't send Christmas cards this year, but I figure with birth announcements next month I had a pretty good excuse. In an attempt to be good spirited, here is a make shift version of a family holiday picture (not a look I love, but oh well) that is soon to be happily outdated! Merry Christmas!

"1st Time Mom" lesson learned

We have been bribing Dax to go and see Santa if he sleeps in his new bed. It hasn't been working so well and he hasn't really got the concept of staying in bed, but he can't get it out of his head to "See Santa" because I talk to him about 5 trillion times a day. Even after telling him we can't go see Santa unless he sleeps in his big boy bed, which hasn't happened a full night through yet, what else do we do the first chance we get? Take him to go see Santa. So, my 1st time mommy lesson learned (related to bribing; we all know this isn't the 1st lesson learned) is never to bribe your kids with something you really do want them to have/experience. Make it something you really could care less about taking away, okay? (I'm reminding myself of the rules!)

Alright, enough Life Lessons for now....On to the meet and greet with Santa. I was picturing Disneyland all over again, but surprisingly it went pretty well.

Here is the order of events:

* We wait in line

* Dax is super excited as we approached the front

* Austin puts Dax down to run onto Santa's lap when it's his turn

* Dax cries for Austin to hold him

* Dax not looking at Santa

* Santa mentions a train for Christmas and that grabs Dax's attention enough for a glance at Jolly Ol' St. Nick

*Austin puts Dax right onto Santa's lap for the photo op

* Dax not loving being on Santa's lap... *...but, at the same time, Dax not hating being on his lap either

*Camera Elf gets a semi non-crying picture of Dax and Santa. But really, what kind of picture of Santa is there with a two year old that doesn't have a little tear shed??

*Wait for our picture to print. Dax thinks him and Santa are BFF's now that he is back in Austin's arms and waves and says "Bye Santa" with a big huge grin

*Dax happy to be back in his stroller with his chocolate covered popcorn (thanks Carter) and new book from Santa.

Overall, not bad!! I just need to work on my bribing technique!

Christmas Party x 2

'Tis the season!! I love Christmas time, and this weekend is a little reason why. We had holiday fun all weekend long with friends, work, family and of course food! Friday we headed off to an adult Christmas party with Austin's work. It was a great chance to leave Dax with Grandma and Grandpa Mac for a few hours and have some fun. The physical therapy office Austin works at is a small, tight-knit group that has been together for 5 years. Austin just joined them in July and they have taken him in like one of the family. There are basically only 4 other employees and they really are like a family. They always do such fun things in his office and I was really looking forward to seeing the spouses again. We started off at the Cheesecake Factory for dinner---yum! Then we went to his boss's house (which is absolutely beautiful) and had a gift exchange and played games to win some prizes. To make a long, super fun night short, I walked off with a brand new smoothie maker/blender/(& my favorite part) FOOD PROCESSOR! I really felt like I won the ultimate prize, even though they gave away the new 80gig video iPod. I am such a kitchen accessories lover, but I never buy any of that fun stuff. So it was really fun for us to take this home. It looks so pretty in my kitchen! Thank you Marc and Michelle!

On Saturday we went to Austin's parents for their annual family Christmas party that we've only ever been able to get to once before. The party is usually in CA, but now that his parents live out here, we can make it ever year from now on! So, I was really looking forward to it. I was asked to bring a broccoli cheese soup and I finally found a recipe that turned out super yummy! I thought it tasted great, but then again maybe I was just overly excited because i chopped the onion in my new food processor?! Either way, there were great soups and great desserts. The most anticipated activity of the night is the gift exchange, because with Austin's family, you never quite know how that is going to go. This year there was a kid game and an adult game. For the kid game they kids choose a number corresponding with a numbered present and they went youngest to oldest, making Dax the second one to get a gift. Here's a little preview of how it all happened...

"Here I am waiting with all the kids for my turn to open my much anticipated present! What will it be?"

"Yes! I scored! A new basketball!! I'm having so much fun!"

"What? They didn't tell me this?" At the end of the game all the kids had the option of exchanging gifts and my big cousin Chandler decides to exchange my basketball for his lame DVD about 150 cartoons from decades ago. "I was so not happy about that!"

So, fast forward to the adult game. Dax is still upset he lost his basketball, and even though I okayed the exchange from his big cousin ('cause who really needs ANOTHER ball in the house?) I was feeling pretty crappy Dax was so hurt by it. I mean look at his face! So, the adult game went a little differently. We all choose a number 1 to 21 and started at 21. The person had to pick a wrapped gift or an opened gift to steal. The gift could only be stolen once during each round. I was number 11 and choose a pretty box full of Dentyne Ice! Awesome!! Considering some of the gifts were pretty ridiculous, I was feeling like I really scored. That is until the final round when crap hit the fan. Austin's family is pretty ruthless and no feelings are spared. You have to be tough! My big bad brother-in-law comes and swipes my gum, for no reason at all. Now it's my turn to steal from someone else. My poor sister-in-law got a hideous hydraulic raising, reindeer singing, grandma riding car that plays "Grandma got Ran Over by a Reindeer" and who has been camped out by her side all night long playing with the stupid thing?? Just my son! He loved it. I decide to "steal" it from her. She gets to choose and new gift (some nice slippers), Dax is ecstatic he gets to take "grandma" home, and I'm shaking my head at the stupid things you do as a mom sometimes. But really, it made Dax so happy, isn't that what being a mom is all about it?!? I was just trying to spread Christmas cheer...who knew 48 hours later I would be ready to throw the thing out with the trash if I heard that song one more time!!!

Merry Christmas to all!!

Happy Birthday Daxton!!

Dax turned 2 on Saturday! I can't believe it was two years ago that he joined our family. He has filled our lives with so much joy and brought so much to our family. He is such a good boy and makes me laugh everyday! The past week leading up to the party was a little stressful, with him deciding to no longer wanting to sleep in a crib, having a cold, and having a minor mouth trauma. But overall, the party was a great success!!!

We had a great Pirate birthday party with family, friends, and neighbors and even though we had to switch locations from the park to our house at the last minute due to rain, we had a great day!! The kids played in the bounce house, had a bean bag toss, ate a yummy cupcake cake, and went on a treasure hunt complete with "walking the plank". It seemed like everyone had a great time, parents included, and there was a great turn out to help Dax celebrate turning 2. Just as the kids discovered the treasure chest, it started to rain, so we all moved inside and helped Dax open presents. He received so many fun gifts from everyone! We could get away without giving him one thing for Christmas and I don't even think he would notice. Thanks everyone for being a part of Dax's special day!!

Dax waiting for all his friends

Walking the plank

Dax handing out swords to everyone after they walked across the plank The buried treasure

Singing "Happy Birthday"
Funny story: When everyone gathered around to sing Dax happy birthday, I put him on the table behind his cake and we lit the candles. Everyone was in the room and we all started singing. Dax sat there, like a statue and didn't move. He didn't smile, he didn't laugh, he didn't cry. He just sat there stone cold. I don't think he knew what to think with all those people looking at him and everyone singing "Happy Birthday". He knew exactly what to do with the burning candles because he had been playing with them earlier in the day, but when it was time to blow them out, he froze! He looked like he was about to fall asleep. With a little coaxing, and some help from me, we finally blew them out!

Opening presents

I couldn't help reminiscing a little bit. This is probably more for my benefit than yours, but here's a look back at Dax the day he was born and last year turning one!!

What does Santa say?

Dax loves to plug in the Christmas tree lights. Last night he took a particular interest in the ornaments on the tree. So I sat down while he took the ornaments on and off the bottom branches and rearranged them. Good, pretty safe, quality entertainment, which means some down time for me. I was telling him Christmas stories and this and that, and told him Santa says "Ho! Ho! Ho!" He obviously wasn't hearing me right. This is his interpretation of what Santa says...

HO!

HO!

HA!

And while we're on the topic of Christmas... it's totally ruined! Dax quickly went from sleeping like a baby in his crib to climbing out non stop. We made an emergency trip to buy him a new bed on Monday. As I went to return my sisters Expedition, Austin busily moved the crib to make room for the new bed. I was half way to my sisters when I remembered just a few days before moving ALL of Austin's Christmas presents from the spare bedroom thinking he might find them to where else? Under Dax's crib! AHHHH! I called him as fast as I could but it was too late. Christmas was ruined! He saw everything! I was so sad. I'm going to have to come up with a few surprises for him on Christmas morning, but in the meantime help me figure out some sure places his presents won't be discovered!!! Where do you hide yours??

The Long Lost Sister

This past week my wonderful twin Jamie came to AZ with her adorable little girls. Sadly, she is the only one of us 5 girls that doesn't live within the 5 mile radius. We were so so glad to have her for a week! She is the best twin anyone could ask for and I miss her so much! Can you believe she left without us even getting one picture together? What is wrong with us? These are very precious moments that we have together and not one of us, all my other sisters included, managed to get a picture of us all together. We should know better when this happens only but twice a year.

But, we did have a lot of fun and spent some wonderful time together. Shopping is always involved, but we went to the Tempe Art Festival, out to eat a few times, took a tamale cooking class and had a very fun night with the family doing a progressive dinner. Here's how the fun night went, and will hopefully become a tradition!!!

My mom thought it would be fun to have a progressive dinner with Jamie here to visit all our houses and see them decorated and just to enjoy each other's company. Even with 4 of the 5 girls and my parents living so close, it's not too often that we get together as an entire family, so this was a great way to start off the Holiday season. We started at my house where I served up the appetizers. I made yummy meatballs, a dip, and a new recipe I tried called chicken taco cups. I'm always nervous to serve something new, even if it is just for my family, but everyone enjoyed everything and wanted all the recipes so I count that as a success! I had so much fun getting my house ready and playing hostess. I kinda love being a "party planner" so it is always fun for me to let my creative juices flow. We also decided to give little gifts at each house as a thank you for coming. I sent everyone home with a new cookie sheet and some sugar cookies to make.

Next we were off to my sister Shanen's house. She has a great new house that looked so nice decorated and she served the good ol' yummy green salad. If you know any of us girls in my family, a green salad with ranch dressing is always a staple. No matter what time of day or year, a green salad is always super appreciated! For her gift she gave all of us a magnet recipe holder with a recipe for chocolate dipped double stuffed Oreos! Now if that doesn't make your mouth water I don't know what does!! And the best part...she made them for us too! I have to tell you, these are the yummiest little things ever. Austin loves Oreo's and I knew he would think these were the greatest thing since sliced bread, but being the pregnant heifer that I am, I hid them in the back of the fridge so he wouldn't discover them so I could enjoy them quietly by myself when he is gone at school. Hee Hee!! And by the time he reads this, they will be all gone! :)

After Shanen's house we stopped for the main course at my parents. They served us excellent enchiladas complete with rice and guacamole. I always love being at my parents at the holidays. The house is so much fun. My dad has a train set that he has had since he was a kid and he just found out that it is close to 60 years old. The kids LOVED it and my dad was so calm letting all of them stand over the track to be a tunnel. With 6 of the 11 grand kids being under 3, this was a mini heart attack waiting to happen but my dad was a great conductor as everyone took their turn! We had a great time and my mom sent the girls home with a wonderful jar full of ornaments, books, Christmas stories and goodies.

After my parents we went to Nicole's where she and Jamie had a fun craft for all the kids. I wish I had a picture because they turned out sooo cute. They painted the kids thumbs with a red paint and then pressed them onto white mugs and made little reindeer's out of them. The mugs came with a cute story and food to sprinkle on our lawns so that the reindeer can find our house on Christmas Eve. They were so cute! Nicole and Jamie sent us off with a cute plate for us to put cookies on for Santa.

Lastly, we headed to Jennifer's house. She had great desserts and her house looked so festive. Each of her three children have their own small Christmas tree that they get to decorate with any of their ornaments and I loved seeing them clustered together. I thought it was such a cute tradition for the kids and may need to steal it from her for my own one day. She had great treats with brownies and a peppermint ice cream/Oreo dessert. They were all so good! She gave us all a fun Christmas picture frame.

All in all the night couldn't have been more fun! I was so glad to have a hearty appetite (what else is new?) and loved being at every one's house. I love that we have such a great family and relationship with each other and can do such nice things together. I think we should have a progressive dinner with each major holiday because it was a great way to spend some time as a family. At the beginning of the night we took the best pictures we could of the grnadkids! I can't believe that it will be out dated in just a few weeks when our little guy arrives!! From left to right: Taylor L., Cole L., Kylee H., Ally L., Kobi H., Gabriella C., Dylan B., Kruz H., Dax M., Gwyneth C., & Isaac B.