Texas Christmas

We opened presents on the 26th with the entire family, and it was so fun. The kids had a blast opening all their presents from everyone. Everyone put so much thought into all of the presents, it was really a fun day. Rylee and the other cousins opened presents first and she really got a lot of really fun and sweet presents. Nolan went down for a nap right as we started opening, so it was nice because she got to open and then we got to open presents with Nolan while she was napping. Daddy and I got some really nice gifts too, but of course we only have pictures of the kiddo's, isn't that how it always seems to workout. Sadly though we only ended up with one shot of Nolan opening presents, but he got lots of fun things too. He got some pajamas, a few books, a tool set, a fridge magnet set, a cute sweater, a train, and a few others things I am sure I am forgetting right now.

Our Little Cowgirl

Grandma and Grandpa got Rylee all ready for her long stay in Texas with her very own Cowgirl hat and boots for Christmas. They are pink, which is perfect for a little cowgirl. She loved them and tried them on the minute she opened them. She sported them around town a few times while we were in Texas and got several compliments on them. When Daddy was little he had a pair that he wore every where and Grandma still has them, and you can tell by looking at the boots that he loved them.

Family Pictures

The first thing we did when we arrived in Texas was take family pictures. Our family photographer, Aunt Erica, did a terrific job. This is just one of the many shots she took, but check out how great she did. She got all 17 1/2 (Jeff and Lisa are expecting) of us looking at the camera and even looking presentable! When I get a CD of all the pics I will show you some more of her work!

Special Time With Granna and Double G

Rylee and Nolan got to spend a lot of special time with Granna and Double G this trip, and they had to much fun with them. Granna and Double G have a cute little puppy, Liesl, and Nolan enjoyed getting to know her and even Rylee loves to pet and play with Liesl. We are so lucky to have had so much fun time with them to create great memories for our kids!

More Christmas

Rylee had a blast opening everyone's presents this year. Last year she was really excited to open presents but then would want to play with what she opened, but this year she tore through presents faster than we could keep up with her. She got a Cinderella's Castle Doll House, Tinkerbell Figurines (from Nolan), a Leapster 2 (from G'ma and Papa), a leapster game, a few board games, a Tinkerbell Shirt, and a few other things.
Nolan was not very interested in opening things, but wanted to play with everything once Rylee opened them. He got a few shake and go cars, a train, Tonka Trucks (from G'ma and Papa), a Learning Easle (from G'ma and Papa), a Spin Around Town, some small cars, and an outfit. He enjoyed an apple while we opened presents!
We made Grandma and Papa a scrapbook of our trip to Disney World and they loved it, and Rylee loved looking through it with them and naming everyone.

Papa, Rylee (with a treat in hand), Nolan, and Grandma

Rylee with her helmet and knee pads

Still wearing her helmet, while showing us her Leapster

Daddy and Nolan

Rylee with her Tinkerbell Figurines

Nolan and his Tool bench

Rylee and her Tinkerbell shirt

Grandma, Rylee and Papa looking at their scrapbook

Nolan and his apple

Santa Presents

Santa stopped by our house on Christmas Eve and dropped off a few presents for the kids, and Rylee must have been good because she got what she asked for. She actually sat on Santa's lap 2 different times this year and both times she asked for a bike. She was thrilled when she came downstairs and saw her bike. She wanted to sit on it right away, so Grandma helped her get her helmet on and sit on the bike. Nolan got a ride-on toy, and he was as excited as a one year old gets who just woke up from a nap. He did enjoy pushing it around and walking behind it.
Nolan's stocking was full of chunky trucks and a few treats, and Rylee's stocking was full of Tinkerbell stuff!! She got Tinkerbell socks, nightlight, lifesavers and the new Tinkerbell Movie.

Rylee's Bike

Nolan's Car

Nolan's stocking stuffers

Family Shot

Santa Clause Is Coming To Town

We are headed to Texas first thing tomorrow morning, so Santa is making a special visit to our house this afternoon, but it looks like he was at the birthday party last night too!

Nolan's party

We had a great birthday party last night for Nolan with just a few good friends and Grandma and Papa. Nolan got spoiled with lots of love and presents. We had soup for dinner and some fruit and dip to enjoy. After dinner we opened presents, but Nolan was more interested in going and visiting the people who still had food than opening his presents, so Rylee helped with the presents. Nolan came away with his own laptop, an airplane, a see-and-say, a car ramp, a new outfit, a train/walker, a fun singing microphone, some cute books, and a tow truck! It looks like we already had Christmas, but we are actually doing that today. After presents we let Nolan enjoy his cake and boy did he ever. At first he was not so sure about the feeling of the frosting on his hands, but within a few minutes he was enjoying his cake very much!! We cannot believe this cute little guy is one, and we are so grateful and lucky for wonderful friends and family that shared this day with us.

The Birthday Boy and Daddy

Grandma, Papa, and Nolan

Nolan's presents

We had a Mickey Mouse party, this is Nolan's cake.

Still trying to find the cake

There it is!

Look what I found!

Nolan and his Apple

Yesterday afternoon I sat down with and apple to eat as a snack, well thanks to this cute boy I got one bite. As soon as I sat down my little puppy Nolan was at my feet begging for a bite. I bit him off a little piece and he reached his hand out and snatched the entire apple out of my hand. I let him hold it thinking there is no way he could eat the apple with just two bottom teeth, but he proved me wrong. He sat and ate the apple for nearly an hour, only letting go of it, unwillingly, for me to put his bib on. He ate a little over 1/3 of the apple and then went down for his nap. When he woke up from his nap he started right back in on it, and by the end he ate nearly the whole thing!

Happy 1st Birthday Nolan

It seems like not that long ago we were driving this cute little guy home from the hospital last Christmas day in a blizzard, but it is true he is 1 today! He is the sweetest, happiest baby, and we can always count on Nolan to have a smile for us! He loves his big sister and wants to follow her and do everything she does. She too loves him, and she is extremely protective of him. She does hurt him sometimes, but most of the time she is trying to protect him from something. He loves to eat, and out eats his big sister every meal. It will not be long before he is as big as her. Things about Nolan:

• Taking steps
• Standing up on his own
• Climbing the entire stair case
• Bouncing on the little tramp at the gym
• Plays chase and peek-a-boo
• Blows kisses and gives kisses
• has two teeth
• loves to watch Mickey Mouse
• tries to play everything with his sister
• sleeps through the night just fine & takes two naps
• drinks from a straw, but does not care for a sippy cup (yet)
• puts everything he finds in his mouth
• pushes all the buttons on the TV no matter how many times you move him, he always goes back
• has learned how to flush the toilets and finds it hilarious
• throws temper tantrums that are hilarious and last all of 3 seconds until he is over it and smiling again
• can entertain himself very well, one of his favorite things to do is play with the toy kitchen
• thinks the cold is funny. When we get him out of the car he laughs and shivers and does not seem to be bothered by the cold.
• has the cutest cheesy smile

We are so lucky to be blessed with our sweet boy and we look forward to all the fun that he will bring through the next year.

Snow Fun

On our way home from My Gym yesterday Rylee kept asking me if she could play in the snow, so I told her after Nolan was asleep we could go out and play. Well, Nolan was asleep before we got home, so as soon as we pulled in the driveway she was ready to play. We came inside and got her all bundled up and headed out to play. She was a little bummed because the snow was "weally hawd!" The weather has been warmer the last few days so the snow has melted a bit and then it freezes over night, so it was really hard and she could not break it up. I crushed a section up for her and she proceeded to fill her cup up with snow and throw it at me. We had a great time for about thirty minutes and then it started to get cold, so we headed in.

Excited to play

I asked her to make a funny face and this is what she did.

(makes me laugh looking at it!)

Another Surprise!

On Monday I told Rylee that after her nap we had another surprise for her. Immediately she asked me if we were going to another movie, and I told her no the surprise would come to our house. She then asked me if Santa was coming, and I told her it was better than Santa. So, she eagerly took a nap, and, luckily, after she woke up her surprise arrived, Papa!! Grandpa Steve had some work to do back here in the morning, so he booked a late flight out so he could play all afternoon with us. He and Rylee played all their silly games and built many towers, we went shopping at Old Navy, and then out to dinner. After dinner it was time for Papa to go to the airport, but Rylee was excited because he comes back in next Monday for Christmas!

Girls Day & Boys Day Out

Last Friday I surprised Rylee with a fun afternoon. We started by going to the new Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog, and then we went out to lunch together.
I was a little nervous about how she would do with the movie, but she loved it. Every now and then she would start to get wiggly, but just then there would be another song in the movie and it would catch her attention. Since we went to the movie she has asked to go back and see it again every time we go to the theater.
While we were out at the movie and lunch, Nolan got to go out to lunch with Daddy and the boys. Daddy, a few friends, and Nolan went to the Wing Shack. They had a great time together and Nolan enjoyed his boy time.
It is really fun to get to spend one on one time with the kids, but Rylee and I were both excited to hang out with Nolan all evening.

A Sample

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago and we thought it would be cute to do them in the snow. While they are cute, the kids thought it was a little too cold! They were really good for the pictures, Rylee was just a little shy.