Christmas Readiness Check-list

2 puking kids- check, check
1 baby with croup- check
1 mom with a foot sprained so bad she can't walk- check
1 mom not feeling well- check
1 exhausted dad- check
not a single present wrapped- check
pajama pants cut wrong and possibly not fixable- check
4 other presents not finished (due to a week and a half of sick kids)- check
cookies for Santa not made- check
1 messy house- check
Christmas breakfast not made- check

Can we postpone Christmas?

7 Wonderful Years

Happy Anniversary to my handsome hubby! Sunday was our 7 year anniversary. My first recollection of Aaron was the summer before our sophomore year of high school. He was in the same driver's ed class as my cousin and my aunt gave him a ride home one day. I didn't think much of him then, but in September he hung out with my friends one night and I remember thinking he was cute, but still didn't give it much thought. Then over the next month the crush started taking full force until I was madly "in love" with him. Unfortunately for me he just thought of me as a really good friend.
I was the one who planned all of the activities and get togethers with our friends so of course he started getting regular invites. I would always save him until last to call and would get a horrible case of butterflies before I called him.
For the next year I had to endure seeing him "going out" with another good friend and seeing him with other girls he liked while we became better and better friends. He was a huge flirt and so he flirted with me and others constantly which I loved/hated. Finally in October of our Junior year I decided I couldn't stand liking him anymore since he obviously didn't feel the same way so I decided the only way to get over it because he constantly flirted with me was to just completely ignore him and pretend that he wasn't there. (Don't you love how high school this sounds)
After 2 days of ignoring him; we were all watching a movie at my parent's and he stayed behind to talk to me after everyone else had left. It was October 8, 1998. He told me that he had realized when I stopped talking to him that not only was I his best friend, but that he had realized he liked me and then we hugged. I was so giddy and happy!
After 2 years of dating him I sent my best friend on a mission. We were NEVER apart so to say good bye to him for 2 years felt like he had died. I didn't handle it well which makes me laugh now to think how immature I was. However, it was the best decision ever, I am so grateful he went on a mission!
He came home on September 24, 2002 and we were secretly engaged 4 days later. It was the night before his homecoming and we were not about to tell anyone because we knew what the reaction would be. So for the next couple of weeks we booked the temple and went ring shopping and he officially proposed October 8, 2002. We were married in the Salt Lake Temple December 20th. It was one of the best days of my life! (My little boys birth days are the other days.)
I have loved being his wife almost every day. :) And I think he's become even sexier through the years! Thanks for a wonderful 11 years with you Aaron and I can't wait for even more! Love you forever!!!

The beautiful roses he surprised me with.

Happy Birthday!

I was really hoping that this would be the first year that Zack and Austin would be healthy on their birthdays, but I will have to hope for next year. Zack was feeling mostly better from his cold, but Austin had a really rough day. I felt really bad for him. I'm glad they at least aren't to the age where they realize it sucks to not feel good on your birthday.

After they woke up I went downstairs to get them balloons. We copy my bro and sis-in-law and give them a balloon for every year they are. When I came up the stairs with all of their balloons and we sang happy birthday to them they got so excited. It was really cute. Then we let them open their presents and they LOVED that. Zack is much faster at opening presents so Austin saw everything they were getting from Zack because his presents were always opened a minute later. Their favorite was probably the Toy Story action figures that they got.
Despite me also not feeling well I still had to decorate 2 dinosaur cakes. Sometimes it really sucks to be a mom especially when you don't feel good and you have to get things done. I do not have the talent that some people like Malinda have when it comes to cake decorating, but at least I made the effort right? Austin wanted green and Zack picked blue.
That night we decided to go to my parent's even though we didn't feel good, but it was really nice because then I didn't have to make dinner. Thanks Dad! They got spoiled by my family and had a lot of fun up there playing. My mom gave them these dinosaurs and Austin got so excited when he saw it.
Zack cheesing for the camera.
Neal was so cute. He was opening these motorcycles for them. I felt bad that he had to sit there and watch them open presents and he didn't get any. It's a good thing it's close to Christmas.
Lucky for me, my boys are not harsh critics and they loved their cakes. They kept saying, "Thanks, Mom" and telling me that it was yummy.

Austin

Zack

I kept getting choked up all day thinking about how hopeless we felt 3 years ago wondering if we would ever have any of these experiences with Zack. I'm so grateful for the miracles we were granted and for how blessed I am to have these 2 boys in my life.

Austin is such a fun adventurous boy. He is very independent and likes to do everything himself. He loves to tackle and wrestle and loves all sports. He also likes dinosaurs and cars. He loves to play outside and usually is the one to try things first. He is still a mommy's boy (which I love). He always does this cute little squinty smile to me and likes to follow me around everywhere. He is such a good brother to Zack and Gavin. He is such a sweet boy and I love him so very much!

Zack is a fun loving boy! He can be quite the little dare devil and is a wild man. He is also very compassionate and caring. He is always concerned about where Austin is and if I get hurt he always asks me if I need it kissed better. He loves Gavin and is very protective of him. He also loves to tackle and wrestle and loves sports. Their nursery leader came up to me a couple of months ago and was so excited that he had found a ball that they didn't know what it was- it was a hackey sack. He also likes dinosaurs and cars and is a mommy's boy. I love this little boy so much!

I'm so grateful for my 2 little boys! I love you Austin and Zack!

Family No Fun Day

We were supposed to have our Family Fun Day on the 19th because our anniversary and birthdays fell on Sunday this year. We had big plans to go to Boondocks and out to lunch and about 5 minutes before we left Austin started throwing up. After the first time we were kind of waiting to see if it was a fluke, but he kept going and going and going. He threw up about 11 times in 2 hours and could hardly move he was so weak. It ended up being a really crappy morning! After a nap he acted 100% better and like it had never happened. He keeps having these episodes, but we're not sure why.
So we decided to go ahead with our plans for the night and took the boys to Firehouse Pizzeria for dinner and then went to Temple Square to see the lights. It was freezing! Austin and Zack loved seeing all of the lights, Gavin was not impressed!
Our day has been rescheduled and hopefully we'll have more luck then.

Zack, Austin

Dos and Tres

We had our Christmas Eve party with my family on the 14th because Angie was in town from Arkansas (she moved there at the end of August). My dad made his yummy chicken a la king dinner that he makes every year. We had fun watching the boys jump on these cushions and exchanged some presents, but the best part was being with everyone because it's been 5 months since we were all together.
Austin jumping
Neal jumping
Zack getting ready to jump on Austin. This was the only picture I had of him because people kept blocking my shot.

Last Friday we had our party with my mom's family. We had a yummy dinner and then the kids played some games. They played pop Rudolph's nose. The little kids didn't really get it, but it was pretty funny to watch. Austin popped his balloon before they even started and thought it was pretty funny.
Then the kids all did the nativity. It is so funny to watch every year. Gavin was a pretty active baby Jesus. He was not going to just lay quietly in the manger. I was so worried he was going to take a head dive.
Then Zack decided he was done towards the end and pulled his pants off in the process of trying to get his Shepard's costume off. He was not happy about his pants coming off. These boys make me laugh, they are so much fun!
All of the cute kids
We were really lucky and got Santa to come to our party. Gavin's fascination with Santa continues.
Zack was willing to sit on Santa's lap in order to get a present and he decided he wasn't even going to wait to open it.
Austin enduring the torture.
And one last picture because I love it. Gavin loved the bear he got!

Christmas Party numero uno

Last Friday we went to my work Christmas party. We go to a bowling lane for fun, food, and Santa. Austin and Zack had so much fun bowling, they flipped out when we left. They were so cute after they would push the ball down they would stand there and watch it and then get all excited when it hit the pins. Then they would run back jumping and clapping to get the ball again. It cracked me up!
Austin
Zack
Gavin was fascinated with Santa's beard and didn't show an ounce of fear.
Austin flipped out when we put him on Santa's lap. They were so excited to go see him, but as soon as he got there they didn't want anything to do with him. I'm not sure if it's because they didn't want to have to stop bowling or if it's because they were scared.
After telling Zack he would get candy he decided he would tolerate it for a minute.

Snow fun

Last week when it snowed I decided to bundle up Zack and Austin to go play in the snow. We had a blast! They had a much easier time walking around in their boots this year and were just over all more coordinated in the snow which meant for a much more fun time. The only problem was when they would get snow in their face and then go to wipe it with their snow covered gloves. Playing in the snow with my boys reminded me of how I need to take advantage of moments like that with them.
Austin, Zack
Zack (I think, I had a really hard time figuring out who was who in these pictures)
Austin

More Randomness

Some pictures that haven't made it to the blog.
For a couple of weeks when we would lay Zack and Austin down for their naps/bedtime they would rip everything off of their beds and make beds on the floor. Zack woke up right when we went to take the picture.
Our fun Christmas tree chains that we make for FHE at the first of December. They are getting pretty small now.
I finally got some pictures of our cute Gavin crawling. He is still mostly army crawling, but he loves to go up on his knees. He's also started going on his feet and he pushes his bum in the air like he's doing yoga poses. It's pretty funny, but I have yet to get a picture of it.
Gavin's GQ pose, it's the best one we could get.
This picture is a little blurry because our camera sucks. Gavin loves to crawl underneath these side tables and the boys decided to join him.
For FHE a couple of weeks ago I made some peppermint bark (so insanely good!) and we decided to drive around and look at Christmas lights with some hot chocolate. The boys loved the lights.
Austin
Zack
I wish that I could say that I had worked the night before so I was tired and my brain wasn't working, but I have no excuse. I thought it will be fun to have a treat while we're driving around and then I gave them the peppermint bark. What was I thinking?
Zack didn't want his picture taken.
This has been one of the best Christmas seasons I've had in a while. Kids really bring out the Christmas spirit.
And now for the last pictures. Gavin likes to peep around to watch me from his high chair while I'm getting food ready. Isn't that the cutest face!