A Chili Christmas Eve

Brody was really naughty this year! Haha. He has been the easiest baby since his birth one year ago. He did look pretty cute in his Christmas shirt though.

Started the morning off baking cookies for Santa at Gamma and Poppi's house.

Attempting to get a picture of us three.

Maddy helping Gamma make Christmas cookies.

Grey and Bri helping too.

Looks delicious! It also looks like it is time to get mom some new cookie sheets :).

Ta da! Christmas Eve dancing around!

Mad and Grey tackling Casey.

Good times!

Everyone in the kitchen having appetizers!

Auntie Lou had just asked Mad who her favorite aunt was and then pointed to herself...funny girl!

"Uncle" Casey always has such a good time with the kids. They love him a lot!

Poppi and Brody on his first Christmas Eve.

Wearing our special crowns and showing Brody how his new Pooh car works.

Wearing their new Christmas pajamas!

We had Christmas Eve with my family this year at my parents' house. We decided to have chili and green salad so nobody had to spend the evening in the kitchen and we all got to enjoy eachother's company. However, it started earlier in the morning when the kids and I went over to make cookies for Santa with Grey. My mom (Gamma) wants to start a tradition of making cookies for Santa with her grandkids. They had so much fun. They rolled the dough, picked out their cookie cutters, and put sprinkles on top. After we went home for naps and returned later for the Christmas Eve fun!

Daddy's Big Day

Today is Mike's Birthday! Happy Birthday to an amazing daddy, husband and man! We love you so much and wish you a fabulous day!

I love:

-how you make me feel safe when you hug me tight
-how we laugh over the silliest things
-that I think it is so sexy to watch you with your kids
-how you want only the best for our family
-YOU!!!

Maddy loves:

-how you throw her up in the air
-how you play hide and seek with her
-your "scratchy" kisses
-the way you read books

Brody loves:

-how you make him laugh when you tickle him
-how you feed him his bottle at night
-how he looks just like you (he is a lucky kid) :)

We are really getting old! But there is NOBODY that I would rather get old with! I love you Mike! Happy Birthday to you..happy birthday to you..happy birthday to you...happy birthday to you..I will stop now or my singing will break our mirrors :).

Later that night for Daddy's birthday, we were off to Grandma and Grandpa's for Chicken Divan and Mud Pie (Mike's favorites).

Brody wanted to be Daddy's present!

Three of them have Dec. birthdays (Grandma the 18th, Daddy the 22nd and Brody the 27th)!


Celebrating our favorite guy! Maddy made Daddy a cake.

Helping to open the gifts!

Birthday Boy!

Grandma's Birthday

Singing happy birthday to Grandma
A special birthday hug

Loving the chairs at Javier's

Last Friday was Mike's mom, Nancy's birthday! We all went to Javier's to celebrate and have a yummy dinner. Then we were off to Stacy and Steve's for dessert and presents! Happy Birthday Nancy! Thanks for being a fabulous grandma, mother, and mother-in-law!

He is walking!

I never expected Brody to walk before Maddy did. I just figured he would do everything after she did- he is a boy right?? I learned this after freaking out when he was eight weeks old and wasn't tracking yet with his eyes. I know, what mom does that? That is when I told myself just to expect him to do everything (milestones) after Maddy did. So in my mind, I had him walking at about 14 months, since Maddy walked at 13 months. Well, he had other plans. The bumps and bruises on his head prove just that. He wants to keep up with his sister and is officially walking as of tonight. He is all over the place. It is so cute to watch him struggle to keep his balance, while holding his arms high up in the air. I can't believe my baby is going to be one next week. The saying "time flies when you have kids" is so right on- but instead of being sad that he isn't a baby anymore, I am enjoying that now he and Maddy play together and are buddies. They love eachother so much! So here we go- he is on the move!

The Perfect Tree

We got our Christmas tree on Sunday- after the downpour of rain on Saturday. I think everyone else was getting their tree that day too. Maddy was so cute and wanted to help pick the tree out. She is really into Christmas this year and it is so exciting. When we got home we decorated it and Maddy wanted to put up every "ormanent" herself. She couldn't wait to help us put the lights on and all. Now every night she wants the lights on before it is even dark. This is a magical time of year- and even more so when you see it from a children's view. We are loving our tree!!

Picking out just the right tree

Brody was more in to his Ritz crackers than choosing a tree.

"I like this one Mommy." That is what she kept saying.

Waiting so patiently with Daddy.

Us and our tree

Hanging a special ornament.

All tangled in the lights!



This is what Brody would rather be doing :)

I love this picture! She was such a big helper!

Somebody is on the move

He is walking! Not all the time, but walking. Tonight he walked across the room and last night he took 10 steps two different times. It is so cute to watch his face when he figures out that he is standing up. So fun! We are in for it now!

Sleepover

Packing their bags...
Brody wants to pull it...

All ready to go!

Maddy and Brody had a sleepover last weekend at Gamma

and Poppy's house and this is her getting ready to go!

She packed her backpack all by herself and was very proud!