Christmas 2012

Holidays are always busy and this year was no different. Between both of our families we do a lot of running around to make it all work and see everyone. This year we spent the 23rd with Dave's family and did a family celebration with them, then had Christmas Eve and morning at our house with my parents and Christmas dinner at my mom and dad's. Dave and I both really enjoyed having a quieter Christmas at home, we were able to relax and just enjoy Christmas day with just the 5 of us which we have never done before and we found ourselves so much more appreciative and thankful for what we have. It was so fun to watch the boys play with their toys and to spend some quiet time with our family.

Our Christmas holiday in pictures:

Making Christmas Chains

 Christmas Tree:

 Christmas with the Pemberton's

 Christmas Eve

 Christmas Day

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving this year, the holidays are always a fun time and something we all look forward to with a lot of excitement. Thanksgiving is Dave's very favorite holiday and we were excited to spend it with Dave's family. Everyone was together for the first holiday in over 2 years. Travis and Katie (and baby Evie) live in Louisiana so we do not get to see them as much as we would like but they got to come this year and we all got to meet the newest addition to their family Evalynn. It was a fun day and lots of yummy food was eaten and fun family memories were made.

We started off the day right with a Pemberton Family Turkey Trot. I pushed the older 2 boys and Randee offered to walk with Case so Dave and I ran together.

Travis, Katie and baby Evie (3 months old).

Group picture.

Camryn and Calvin.

The cute turkey trot signs that Randee made and put up so we knew where to run.

Thanksgiving Tradition : dancing the turkey. 

Every year Mike and Julie dress up and do a fun dance with the turkey before putting it in the oven. This year they were hillbillies and it was so funny, they had us laughing hard. They even put fake teeth in.

Boys playing Settlers of Cattaan. Another holiday tradition.

Colt and Cam.

Jax and Cal.

We had a great Thanksgiving, the food was delicious and the company was even better. 

Case : 18 months

 This little guy in now a year and a half old. He keeps us so busy and constantly on our toes. He loves to run, explore and say no. He knows what he wants and he screams if he is not getting it. He is outgoing, loveable and very independent. He is also a talker, loves to tell knock-knock jokes and follows me around the house while I am cleaning saying "hand, hand" until I hold his hand. He is still pretty good about naps and going to bed and does not fight us on that most nights. The time is coming where we will have to move him to a big boy bed but right now I am content with keeping him in the crib. He sleeps about 7-6:30 with a 1-2.5 hour nap in the afternoon.  He loves to eat and is not too picky but his favorites are banana, bagel, milk, apple, grapes, yogurt, cheese and yellos (fruit snacks - Colt has called fruit snacks yellows since he could take because the first fruit snack he ever had was yellow and that was much easier to say than fruit snack. It has stuck and all the boys still call them yellos on occasion). He loves to do exactly what his brothers are doing; coloring, riding bikes, swinging, going down the big slides, feeding the dogs, taking showers, wrestling with daddy and lots more. He gives knuckles, high fives, shakes hands and is really starting to like to read some books. He is getting big so fast and I am trying to hold on to these memories because I feel like I am already forgetting what he was like as a baby.

18 month stats:

Height: 32.5 inches (50%)

Weight : 24lbs (50%)

 Always climbing on the table even though it is not allowed!

 Stole brother's apple. Yum!

Aunt Kenzie gave him his first haircut.

November Update

Just a quick update. Can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving, this month has already flown by and we are getting ready to spend Thanksgiving with Dave's family in Kennewick. It should be a lot of fun and it will be the first time that all 6 cousins will be together (Evalynn was born in August and we have not met her yet). Boys are doing great. Colt loves preschool and any type of craft or reading activity. Jax is into reading a lot of books, wearing his Avenger shirt daily and making me laugh. Case is talking a lot more and is his normal CRAZY self, into everything and climbing everywhere. Dave and I are working, taking care of the boys, and still going to school. Our evenings are spent side by side on the couch with our laptops writing papers and studying while the boys sleep. Life is full but overall going well.