Holiday Traditions

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate for sure! We started a tradition that after getting our Christmas tree we go to Starbucks and get our hot cocoa and decorate the tree as a family!



2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps our presents in gold wrapping paper. It is always VERY nicely wrapped and usually takes Santa a LONG time to make sure it looks very nice!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Haha, Tyler and I disagree on this completely. I CANNOT stand color lights. Like at all. I like the look of white lights. Sorry to everyone who likes colored lights. However, while shopping for our outside lights Tyler refused to cave. And of course, I refused to get color lights. However, we compromised a little bit. We did candy cane inspired lights where we alternated and did red & white lights. But he still lets me have white lights on the tree:)

4. Do you hang mistletoe? We actually never have. And I don't know why but we will for sure do it this year!

5. When do you put your decorations up? We don't have a set time but usually the first week after Thanksgiving. We put our decorations up on Nov 30th and then put our tree up Dec 1st!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I love love love baking with Ty so usually whatever we do as a family. However, my dad makes the best ham with this mouth watering honey glaze that goes on it. It is just amazing!!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I loved decorating the tree while listening to the Mariah Carey Christmas CD.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth? The spirit of Santa is as real as can be!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, Pj's!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Tyler's mom had this amazing tradition of getting each kid an ornament each year. We have continued this tradition so Ty gets to pick one out and we pick out a family ornament each year. So, our tree is very boyish. I have gotten some new ones but a lot of them consist of Tyler's sporting ones. Our tree has a lot of character but it is beautiful anways!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? LOVE it! We went to the snow last year and want to plan a family snow trip again this year!

12. Can you ice skate? I haven't ice skated in about 6 years. I wanted to take Ty but being pregnant I will have to hold off.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Actually no. I do remember getting an outfit I really like.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? I just love the magic of Christmas.Especially this year because Ty is so overly excited about everything.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I love everything! Sugar cookies, fudge, cakes... mmmm!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? We started a new tradition with a advent calender and a little Christmas tree. Each day, Ty gets to open the little door and there is an ornament for him to put on his very own tree. The first 12 days are nativity pieces so we have been going over the Birth of Christ so he has a better understanding of the purpose of Christmas.

17. What tops your tree? A ribbon. We haven't found one we really like!

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I love giving! Especially with kids... seeing their cute little eyes and smiles definitely puts a smile on your face!

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? I only like the multi colored ones or the cherry ones. Not a peppermint fan!

20. Favorite Christmas show or movie? Elf, The original How the Grinch Stole Christmas, all of the old Christmas cartoons, Miracle on 34Th St

21. Saddest Christmas Song? Definitely Christmas shoes. My dad had me listen to the song a few years ago and every time I hear that I just cry!

22. What is your favorite Christmas song? I love every Christmas song. Really. Ty and I have the Christmas station in the car all month long and listen to it at home. But no one sings Christmas music like Mariah Carey! I am IN LOVE with her CD!

Thanksgiving 2011

This year was just so amazing! We were able to celebrate the Sunday before Thanksgiving with my family and Thanksgiving Day with my in laws. It was so nice to have a stress free Thanksgiving where nobody was sick and we were able to relax and enjoy everyone's company unlike last year. I didn't take any pictures at my parent's house but the food was yummy and all of the kids and our family had a blast.

Thanksgiving Day was nice because we were able to sleep in a little bit and watch some football before we had to leave for my in laws. Dinner was sooo absolutely delicious! Tyler's mom turned her garage into a cute play area for the kids where there were couches, movies, table for coloring and glow sticks. The kids had a great time! It was so nice to enjoy the evening and spend time with a fabulous family! We are so lucky to have so many wonderful people to spend the holiday season with!

The beautiful table

The yummy food!


Ty with Uncle Nico and Erin!

Me holding little Cooper :)

Monday Funday

Tyler had Monday off so we were able to get a TON done around the house. We started cleaning out the guest bedroom to move everything around so we could start setting up the new babies room. Ty originally had a twin bed and there was a queen in the guest room but we realized a crib, dresser, rocking chair and queen bed wouldn't fit in the babies room so we decided to switch out the beds. Ty was so excited to have a big bed. Thankfully, the rooms are quite large so he still has ample play room to accomodate such a large bed.

We were able to set up the the twin bed and semi-organize the babies room. We have along ways to go but we are so excited to have a nursery to decorate!

Breaking Dawn

The last two twilight movies consisted of hot cocoa and waiting in line with my mama. This year we decided to switch it up since my dad and hubby both wanted to join us. We made a date night out of it and got a babysitter for the evening (my fabulous in laws) and it was BLISS! We got in line about 8:30, snacked on a bunch of junk food and enjoyed each other's company! All of the ladies kept telling me how lucky I was that my hubby came because theirs wouldn't. It was such a fun night and I was so glad to share it with my favorite people :)

Yup, I definitely have a keeper...

Smarty pants

I could probably have a whole blog dedicated to all of the hillarious things Ty says to me. Seriously, this kid cracks me up.

We didn't enroll Ty in pre school this year so we have school at home. He has a little desk, chair and workbooks and we go over the alphabets, numbers, colors and basic stuff at home. We were going over numbers starting with FOURteen, Fifteen, SIXteen, SEVENteen, EIGHTteen, NINEteen and Ty would not let up about 15 being incorrect. He did not believe me... at all. So when we go over numbers he says FIVEteen. I felt so bad for him because his little brain did not comprehend why it wouldn't be FIVEteen.

"Mommy, I don't want her to hurt you"

Last Sunday, the Discovery channel was showing "Curiosity:Life Before Birth" and Ty came out and wanted to watch it. It wasn't graphic and showed how the baby develops during the whole process. It was incredibly fascinating. He loved watching how the tummy got bigger and the baby sleeping when inside the tummy.

Then they covered the delivery part. Ty was so intrigued and yet so confused. He kept asking why the baby was hurting the mommy and that he didn't want the baby hurting me. So Tyler and I explained in a 3 year old way how it hurts for only a short while and then the baby comes out and everything is fine. So before we put him back in bed he prayed that his little sister wouldn't hurt mommy too much. It was the sweetest little remark. Ty has been so compassionate during the pregnancy. When I am throwing up he rushes over to me and pats my back and tells me everything is going to be okay. Tyler likes to shield him and draw his attention elsewhere but Ty will say, "I need to see my sweetie heart."

I am just so in love with this little boy. He drives me insane but he has a heart full of gold :)

14 weeks... officially out of my 1st Tri

To say this pregnancy is different than my 1st would be a complete understatement. I have pretty much every symptom that a woman could have during pregnancy. This nauseous 24/7 is still kicking. I throw up at least every other day sometimes twice. I am so tired all.the.time. My poor husband who usually gets a clean house, dinner on the table when he gets home, and work clothes neatly hung up probably has not gotten that for a week straight for the past 2 months. Thankfully, I married a very independent man who doesn't hesitate to make dinner. Although, cleaning just hasn't happened. So please no random stops at our house because it is just not clean unless I know we will be having company :)

I am so thankful for our new arrival, don't get me wrong. Ty is SO excited to have a sibling or as he calls it his "baby sister." Ty is just convinced we are having a little girl. We have tried to sway him just in case we are having another boy but he is completely set on a little girl. Part of me thinks I am having a girl because I feel 100% different this time around. But who knows. We will find out in a little over a month! Tyler is dead set on it being another boy because he doesn't believe he will make girls.

When I went to the doctor's for my 8 week appointment I had lost 5 lbs then went back a month later and gained three pounds so... so far, I am at -2 lbs. However, I'm sure once I stop throwing up everything I eat then I should be semi normal and start to enjoy food again :)

And luckily for us, Ty and I have been battling a cold for the past week that has not let up. Ty is just the sweetest little guy when he is sick and just wants to lay and cuddle me. Which, is great because I have no energy to do anything else.

Anyways, it's almost 1 am and my husband wants a grilled cheese sandwich so off to make him one.

Cute things Ty says :)

As soon as Ty meets anyone he likes to inform them I have a baby in my tummy. We went to my 14 week doctor's appointment and Ty begins to tell the doctor that I have a baby in my tummy. The doctor informs Ty that he already knew. So Ty replies with,

"Ohhh I know. You did it"