Christmas Day! (and a little mushy gooshy at the end)

My brother in law, Jordan was always the one to wake us up early when we were with Brandon's family Christmas morning..but this year he acted like it was no big deal..and whenever my kids woke up we would do presents. I couldn't sleep because we ended up on the floor in the sewing room next to Alexa's pack n' play...so I was up at about 5:45am and was reading in the family room. Well I figured my kids would wake up at 6:30 or 7 at the latest. 6:30 rolls around and I hear Jordan creeping up the stairs and he peeks through the railing and said, "It's 6:30..they aren't up yet..." I told him I was sure they would be up by 7:00. 7:00 rolls around and they still aren't awake..so Jordan comes up again and says," Sorry I have to resume my roll and wake everyone up!" I told him to do what he needed to do..so he went and woke everyone up. He told Chayse it was Christmas, but Chayse responded with, " No it's not..it's Christms Eve!". Then I think it clicked that Santa came!

We all headed to the family room and checked out what Santa brought! Chayse LOVED his kitchen and every doubt I had about Santa bringing it, was washed away by his reaction! A couple of his favorite things he got was a D.A.C.S. , his McD's cash register/food, arts n craft table (from my mom...pictures will be coming soon!), digital camera from my dad (he loves doing "photoshoots" and looking for his "lost lens cap" and taking "pictures like mommy"), his blanket that I made him and his new hat and scarf that Grandma Leavitt made him. His family and Santa sure spoiled him this year..but he was a good boy and deserved it! :)

Brandon on Christmas morning!

Alexa was having a blast tearing through wrapping paper and trying to eat it all. She seemed to be more interested in Chayse's giant candy cane.... and being the world's smallest sword swallower.....

than opening her presents....
That is Alexa for you! If she can pick it up..it goes in her mouth..no matter what!

What? No more presents to open and eat?

She got a really cute pink plastic horse on wheels. I thought she would love it. She hates it. I struck out. Oh well. Chayse picked out her very first doll, which she loved! Lesson learned..let a 3 yr old pick out presents...he obviously knows better than I do.

Hangin with Grandpa Leavitt.
Chayse was making everyone waffles for Christmas breakfast.

Brandon spoiled me with new clothes, shoes, boots, and a speaker dock for my Zune that I have been wanting for a long time! Thanks honey!
~*~
After we got done opening presents, we had a yummy breakfast and played with the kids! My dad and brother came up from Sandy and had Christmas (early) dinner with us at my inlaws and more yummy food was to be had! Seriously I gained a few pounds this last week with all the good food! I guess that is what the New Year will bring me...a diet plan! Anyway, after dinner we headed to our condo to do Christmas with my dad and brother. My dad gave each of us three kids a week of his timeshare to use. We chose to go to California to a resort there and hit up Sea World and the San Diego Zoo..(Chayse will be in heaven!) and have our trip planned for February! We are so excited! Thanks so much Dad! Also thanks to my mom and Vince who paid for the plane tickets for our family to go, as a Christmas present from them! We are so thankful because this is a much needed vacay! Chayse made himself a bed in the gift box with the blanket I made him. So creative haha!
My kid's were plum tuckered out by the end of the day and were ready to go home and get a good night's sleep!

My dad and brother ended up getting snowed in and stayed the night! Chayse loved that and got to sleep on the air mattress downstairs with my dad! It's not often that we have guests stay at our condo..so it was fun! I didn't get any pictures of my dad and brother..well I should say I didn't get any pictures they wouldn't kill me for putting them on here! Love you guys! :)

We had a blast this holiday season, and are so thankful for the opportunity to spend time together with family and friends!

As the New Year is approaching (in exactly 2 min)..I reflect back on this last year and feel so blessed with what it brought us. Brandon's promotion, our beautiful little Alexa joined our family, the health of our family (besides Chayse's issues but are thankful its not worse) and the good friend's I have been so blessed to make in my ward. You ladies are beautiful, strong and wonderful women and I am so glad to have you in my life! I am thankful for my friends and family in Boise, who I love and miss so much and am so excited to see when I can get there! I am excited to see what this next year brings for my family and friends who I am surrounded by! I wish all of you a Happy New Year and hope it is full of happiness, health and love.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, Brandon's brother and his family came up and we went sledding up above his parent's house! I haven't been in quite some time and it was pretty fun! Chayse went down once with Brandon and once by himself..and he fell off..so that ended his sledding for the day. He had fun building things with Aunt Stacy in the snow though, so he was happy! Alexa went down a couple times and didn't know what to think..but didn't cry..so I would say it was a success!

When I was younger I would constantly eat snow...I guess I passed on that weird quirk because that is Chayse's favorite thing. Don't worry..I have since kicked the habit. :)

Going....to....
biff it... It was way funnier in person haha!
Alexa sledding with her Aunt Jenny!

~*~

After that we went in, got warmed up, had a delicous Christmas Eve lunch and opened presents with Justin and his family!

Alexa has a tendency to attack people's faces...
but Taylor still loves her anyway! :)
After Justin and Jenny headed home...everyone opened their Christmas jammies, snacked, chatted, watched "Fred Claus" and had fun enjoying being around family!

Chayse was so excited his Aunt Stacy was home for Christmas!

They love eachother....
most of the time! :)
My two little monkey's in their matching pajamas!

This was Alexa's first Christmas! This is a position we often find Alexa in...she is special. :)

~*~

K, so we got Chayse and Alexa little kitchen for Christmas from Santa. I don't want to hear it. I know Chayse is a boy and a kitchen seems girly, but he LOVES them. It's his favorite toy in nursery, he constantly has my kitchen stuff out and pretends to make food for me. Boys can like the kitchen..that is all I am going to say! :)

So on to why I brought that up. It was late on Christmas Eve and Brandon and I were going to start putting together the kitchen. We emptied everything and realized there wasn't any screws! I was freaking out needless to say. Very colorful words were passing through my mind as I was certain my son's Christmas was ruined. We searched all over and couldn't find them anywhere! My father in law kindly started putting everything back in the box while I was moping..and lo and behold....Jordan found them! They had fallen out on the couch under a pillow when we had lifted up the box to pull out the parts. He saved Christmas! :) Thanks Jordan! So Brandon, Travis and myself put it all together and it all worked out! :)

(See...it's blue and grey...it's boyish.)

holdin on..

Me: Chayse..hold on please.

Chayse: K Mommy..I'm holdin on to my horsies really tight!

The time has come...

Alrighty....the time has come for me to go private! I hate private blogs just as much as the next blog stalker...but unfortunately not all the blog stalkers out there are innocently curious. I have heard way too many stories, and had way too many people go private for various reasons, that I feel its time.

Please leave your email on my comments and don't be afraid. I know alot of people out there feel weird leaving them if I haven't talked to you for a long time, or you just may know me through somebody or have just been totally drawn to my amazingly adventurous life as a mother of two (haha...riiiight)..please feel free to leave your email! Chances are..I'm probably looking at your blog too!

Christmas Parties

Last weekend we went to the Leavitt Family Christmas party, and it was a lot of fun to catch up with those we hadnt seen in a couple years. The kids got to decorate gingerbread houses and Alexa knocked a few to the ground. Luckily the owners were not around, so revenge wasnt taken upon my sweet little busy body! Haha! Santa Claus came and handed out presents and when they hit the bottom of the bag..Chayse still didnt have a present. It was small and had been forgotten at the bottom. Poor little kid was almost distraught! Its ok..he got one and Santa is back on his list of his Top 10 Favorite People. ( Me of course being #1!)
Here are pictures from that day. Family that sees this, that wants to borrow pics for their blog..feel free!

~*~

Then on Friday night, Brenda had a girl's night and it was so much fun! Time flew way to fast because we were all having a ton of fun! It was a much needed break from the stressful couple of weeks I have had following the crash of my computer on Thanksgiving night, and trying to play catch up!

There was lots of yummy snacks, fun games and a gift exchange that got a little ruthless at times haha! It was so fun to chat more with more of the girls from the ward and get to know eachother. I really do have a great ward with a great group of girls who have given me back my social life haha! (We missed you Jenny!)

Thanks so so much Brenda for opening your home and planning such a fun party and bringing all the girls together! You are awesome!

IQ or lack thereof...

I seriously sometimes wonder about my IQ level, and if at times..I even have one.

Last night I was boiling some noodles and needed to check if they were done. I stuck my fingers in the boiling water to grab one...

Luckily I have nails and my IQ kicked in before my fingers got too far in, so I avoided any serious burning.

Seriously, who does that? Me obviously...

Fahnestock Turkey Day

So this year for Thanksgiving, we went to my Dad's house in Sandy and had a blast! We missed having Kimber, Adam and Jonas there though!
It was my dad's first time making a turkey and it turned out really yummy! I made my brother's face raspberry preztel jello salad...and ya its pretty much the best and it's pretty much my fav too! There was lots of good food, that took lots of time to prepare..and it was all over in about 15 minutes haha!

I did manage to snap a few pictures. We were stuffed and we were making burp faces and "technicolor yawn" faces..dont ask me why...but hey..it was entertaining at the time and picture worthy. Haha! Alexa's is actually legit because she didnt like the mashed potatoes we gave her.

(Please excuse Alexa's messy hair..cant believe I am posting pics with her hair not done, but I just didnt want to mess with it that day..she was cranky and hates it when I do her hair..so that was what she was thankful for that day!

I point the camera at him..and he isntantly strikes this pose! Haha

My dad and brother! Love them!
Thanks for a fun day everyone!