5 whole years??!!

Jeff and I celebrated our fifth anniversary this week by going up to Zion for the night and leaving the kiddos home with Nana. It was super fun and so nice to wake up when I wanted to fully rested to silence as opposed to a crying baby or three year old climbing into my bed telling me to get up. (I know these are memories I will look back on and miss but it was still nice to wake up when I wanted to instead of had to) We got to hang out and date like we did when we were first starting to date it was fun to be carefree for a few hours. The morning when we woke up it was rainy and gorgeous in Zion. Check out our view from our room:

You wouldn't think you could live with someone for five years and still be falling more and more in love but I am. I love that man right there next to me on the bed :) He is the best husband a woman could ask for. He works so hard for us and never complains. He puts up with my ups and downs (which are frequent) and he is the best example of loving unconditionally. It is so liberating to know someone knows you more than any other person does the good, the bad, and the ugly and yet still loves you so deeply. He is a wonderful Daddy and loves his kids so much. I'm grateful for the example he is to me and for the way he completes me. I love you babe! Happy Anniversary!

Christmas is about Family

Jeff and I are so blessed to have our families literally live five minutes apart so we get to share the holiday with both families. We had such a blast this Christmas. It was so much fun that Skylee knew what was going on this year and was super excited for Santa to come. The night before Christmas Eve we got to go down to Vegas to pick up Ken, Jeff's brother, and have dinner with all of his Mom's family.

Christmas Eve morning we got to spend with Jeff's family then headed over to my family that night. We played the Wii, ate lots of delicious food, and then went out to judge Christmas lights with animal crackers. We put down all the seats in the back of the van and just put blankets down. Nana, Grandma, Grandpa and us were there. Jaston was in heaven. He was literally jumping up and down and throwing himself all over the place he was having so much fun being free. It was hysterical and actually surprising I didn't think he would like it so much. Skylee loved singing Christmas carols esp. from her Rudolph stuffed animal that sang Rudolph so much we had to take him away and hide him. :) We listened to the lds.org version of the nativity. Then Sky wrote a letter to Santa and left a cookie for him and carrots for Rudolph and headed to bed.
While I was tucking her in I asked her what song she wanted me to sing and she wanted me to sing a Christmas one but when I started singing she told me to be quiet cuz Santa might hear and come. I said, "You don't want Santa to come?" and she whispered so quiet, "Not yet." Then she asked me if the chimney was in her room. Then i understood she was scared that Santa was going to come in her room and that idea scared her. I reassured her he couldn't come until she was sleeping and he wouldn't come into her room at all he was in too big of a hurry. She still struggled to fall asleep for a few hours.
Christmas morning was super fun. Skylee was SO excited to see the letter Santa wrote her and then see what Santa brought her and she declared after opening presents, "He brought me EVERYTHING!" It was super cute. We had Emil and Kelsi with us this year. Then after opening presents at my fams we headed to Jeff's and did the whole festivities again. His whole family was there. We were pretty spoiled at both places. Skylee was in a state of euphoria I think she started just ripping open presents throwing paper up over her shoulder and running to the next.
I'm so grateful for the time we got to spend with our families because really, that is what it is all about. We had so much fun and made great memories. This really was probably the funnest (word?) Christmas I have had in a long time cuz I was super giddy to have Skylee excited about the Christmas everything. While we were driving around looking at lights last night with my kids literally jumping up and down the thought popped into my head, "Christmas is back." I have enjoyed the Christmases in the past but it has been a long time since I have been so excited about all the little aspects of Christmas - the lights, wrapping presents, singing songs, counting down, shopping, family time etc... and the reason is because of my kids, the excitement is back and I'm super excited now for next year when I have two kids that will get it a little more. :)

Christmas Wishes already coming true...

My Skylee

Our conversation on the way home tonight

Me: Guess what Skylee?

Skylee: I LOVE YOU!

Me: No I love you!

Skylee: No, I love you more than Christmas

Me: Wow, you love me a lot :)

Sky: Yeah, can you read me a story when we get home?

Me: Sure

Sky: Cuz I'm tired of reading them by myself.

It's Party Time!

We had a party today for Jaston (b-day today the 12th), Papa (Jeff's Dad- the 11th), and Nana (Jeff's mom - the 14th). We had yummy Chicken Broccoli Casserole, opened presents, let Jaston enjoy a cake in the bath-tub (tradition) and ate yummy Baskin Robbins Ice cream. Here are some pics from the fun event. Jaston had some emotional conflict. He felt like he shouldn't be doing it and I don't think he felt very good so he would eat a bite then cry. Skylee decided to hop in and join the fun. She LOVED it. I wonder if we should start this tradition for the three year birthday instead of the first...

Happy Birthday Jaston!

Happy Birthday to my SWEET baby boy! I can't believe he is a whole year old! Seriously seems like he was born last week. Here's a few things about my little stud.

• He is all over the place and into everything! So so curious!
• He thinks when Mom says NO she is playing a game and wants him to do it more
• During Skylee's nap he will look at me and then race to Skylee's room to try and wake her up before I can stop him.
• He loves cars or anything with wheels he can run back and forth on the ground
• He does not like to be put down in his crib for naps
• He loves his Momma
• He loves to hug and kiss Mom
• He thinks his sister is hilarious
• He loves singing Patty Cake and Popcorn Popping. When I start to sing Patty Cake he throws his arms in the air.
• He is SUPER ticklish and loves to be tickled.
• He is drawn to anything musical
• He is walking and is so stinkin cute doing it!
• Momma is his first word :)
• He thinks any noises you make with your tongue is pretty darn funny
• He LOVES when I lay down on the ground and he can come climb on me and give me loves
• He loves his big sister and she loves him back and is very protective
• I cannot for the life of me keep his pants on they slip right off his little waist.
• He LOVES pizza and meat
• He is a little moocher- whenever I have food he wants some and whenever we go to a restaurant he will squeal until he gets some food.
• He's a whiner whenever Mom is around
• If I would he would want Mom to hold him ALL day long.
• He is a little sweetie
• He loves to sit on my lap and then fall backward, in fact he LOVES to hang upside down and be thrown really high in the air and wrestled on the bed.
• He does NOT enjoy getting his diaper changed and we are almost to the - needing one person to hold him down while the other changes - stage.
• He HATES to be restrained in any way.

Ward Christmas Party

I told Skylee a little early that Santa was coming she COULD not wait to sit on his lap this time. When we saw him at the mall she just hid behind my leg.
Skylee decided she wanted to sing with the primary kids (she will be in sunbeams next month I can't believe it). She had no idea what she was doing but I thought it was pretty sweet Lydia held her hand the whole time!

Here's my handsome boys

a Monster!

Skylee FLEW into my room at three this morning slammed the door shut, and dove into my bed (it's a pretty tall bed too) and was panting and one word came out, "Monster!" as she clung to me. Poor thing. Then she told me she wanted Daddy to go scare it away. So Daddy took her back to bed and "scared" it away. She told him it was a wolf but this morning she mentioned several times it was a fox. She let me know that next time it comes she will tell it, "Go away and don't come back until I say so!" Okay then.

PS: Jaston is officially walking! If he's up he will walk if he's down he will crawl but he can walk if he wants to. Crazy! He will be one in three days! I can't believe it!

Dear Santa

Skylee was supposed to write a letter to santa for joy school so I asked her what she wanted to say to Santa. Her response was pretty cute. Here's the letter:

Dear Santa,

     I love you Santa! I want a toy. I want to get in your lap. I don't know. Get presents please. I want a Handy Manny toy, the one at the store to play with it. My favorite reindeer is Rudolph. Jingle Bells, I like it. I want a truck for Jaston and a book for Mommy and a book for Daddy too. Please bring John a basketball player and a basketball for Taylor. For Teona please get a book. For Wayne please get a basketball player, a big one. Get a blanket for me and John and Taylor. That's all I need. I love you Santa. Love, Skylee

Private/ Public Debate

Ok, so I posted a few weeks ago that I was going private

My little sis is getting MARRIED

My sweet little sis

 is engaged. Kelsi and Emil got engaged a few weeks back and I have been a slacker and haven't announced it yet. I am pretty giddy about the whole thing which is pretty funny cuz I don't think I was giddy about my wedding... haha Anyway way excited for these two to start their life together. Good luck you guys and welcome to the family Emil!