Decorating Ornaments

I go this great kit from my friend this year and it was perfect for us.


James, Sam, and I had a great time decorating these ornaments for our tree this year.

This is about the Coolest thing I've seen lately...

We went outside to this:

And they were doing this:

Just one of the many things I love about my neighborhood. This is just a couple of classes from the elementary school down the street caroling around the neighborhood!

Sam's Party

We had a fun, little party with Grandma and Grandpa M for Sam's birthday. Early that day I let Sam go and pick out his cake (sorry I was too tired to make one bud!). We then came home and made his brithday shirt, decorated, and talked on the phone to Grandma and Grandpa T.






And so it begins...Sam got his first pair of Ice Hockey Skates for his birthday. I told Seth's Dad that he had to wait until Sam was 3, and he didn't miss a beat! :) Sam is so excited about his skates. He wants to be just like Dad. We were going to take him skating for his birthday, but ran out of time...as usual. We will have to take him soon. I think James will be soon to follow suit. He already carries Sam's hockey stick around the house hitting everything he possbily can!

The big 0-3

Sam is 3! I can't believe I have a 3 year old. Old...that's what I am! :)

Sam, you are a cute boy. You are very sweet and kind. You have more energy then a dozen other 3 year olds put together. You always say please, thank you, and sorry. You give great loves (hugs) and even better smiles.

You love:
dinosaurs
trains
telescopes and binoculars
watching shows
helping Mom clean and do chores
going for rides in "Sam's car"
going to Grandma's house
going to stores with Dad to see trains
animals
chicken nuggets
red spaghetti and "white spaghetti" (Alfredo)
bologna sandwiches

you like to do things yourself now:

you love to go find treats in the pantry and bring them to us behind your back like you are hiding them

you think really hard, get an idea and say, "I know" really loud while pointing your finger up

you love your "big blankie" (the one Mom made when she was a senior in high school)

you love to watch movies and have treats in mom's bed

you know all your letters and numbers 1-20, you can even read your numbers 1-12

you can say your own prayers, with a little help here and there

you can almost sit through family night

you LOVE nursery

you love to see the temple out your window

your roar is the best around

you love to read books, especially non-fiction ones with real pictures

you love to "play with friends" and cry when ever anyone leaves your house

you love cake and parties

it takes you a while to wake up in the morning, you like to cuddle up and watch a show before you start your day

running is one of your favorite things. you love to run and chase and play hide and seek

you love to go on rides in Dad's car before he goes to work

James loves you because you are such a good big brother who helps and shares (most of the time)

Your Mommy and Daddy love you so much. You are the best biggest brother ever. You keep us on our toes and help us to laugh everyday!

I got what I wanted for Christmas!

I just couldn't stop laughing when I saw Sam scrunch himself into this present box. This truly is a great Christmas present. I couldn't have asked for anything better. We should have found another box to put James in, but I think he's too big to fit! :)

I just love my little contortionist! Happy Birthday Big Guy! We love you!

Ginger Bread House

This is the first time I've done a Gingerbread House with Sam (once again James slept through it!). It was a great Family night activity. Seth got to go to a Jazz game with his friend, so we invited our neighbors (who are our very good friends) over for some Christmas fun.
Sam loves Aubree and Aymee. It was cute to see Aubree and Sam get into it. I loved all the snitching! :)



This was my side....I know, I know, it could use some work!

The kids did this side. So cute....and yummy!

This is our beauiful house. Pretty good right?!

And about 5 minutes later this is what it looked like.

Peppermint

I love peppermint. Especially at Christmas time. I love the peppermint ice cream, the peppermint chocolates, the peppermint hot cocoa, the peppermint candy canes....and now I LOVE the peppermint donuts!
I don't know if they've had them before, but this year is the first time I saw one, had to try it...and it was all over. It was DIVINE! I had to take a picture of one to remember that blessed day! :)

The "M" Family Party with Guest Star the Big S.C.

Saturday night was the big family party. It was a great. It took a lot of preparations but it was very worth it.
Each year I love going and helping Mom M get ready for the party. I get to wrap presents, reorganize things, clean out, and decorate. All things I love to do. I wasn't as much help as I would have liked to have been due to my sprained ankle. I wish I would have hurt it doing something heroic, or even cool, but you know me. I was just walking in the garage!
It was good to see Seth's side of the family again. I am really starting to get to know them and that's a good feeling. It involves all of his aunts and uncles on his Dad's side and their kids and their kids kids....and I love that it still doesn't total as many as are at my Family parties that only involve immediate family! :)
We have a family dinner, then a fun white elephant for the adults and the kids get to pick a gift. This year Grandma and Grandpa M got Santa to come! It was so fun. I knew that Sam was learning who Santa is but I had no idea that he really got it. (I guess it's all thanks to Dora and her Christmas special!)
If I could have changed anything about it....I wish James wouldn't have slept through it. I missed having him up!

Here's the video of Sam meeting Santa for the first time.


Huh, let's see what's in here...

I wanta see too....

Wow! That is great!


Santa even had a gift for Seth! I wonder how that happened! :)

What could it be?...

Oh man, the newest Galactic Hero Cinema Scene, Slave I. How did he know?!


Santa was so great. After handing out presents he sang songs with us. Sam was very into his Jingle Bells and now wants to sing it all the time.


Here's some fun shots of the family and our fun activities:

A Picture...

....is worth a 1,000 words.

My good friend Naomi is an amazing photographer. She took pictures of my boys for me. They turned out so well. She has an amazing ability to capture who a person really is in her photos. These are probably some of my favorite pictures of my boys ever because I can see who they are and I know I will always remember how they were at this stage because it literally got captured here.

You can check out her amazing work here on her blog. It's worth the trip.

Here's Sam-Sam





Here's Jimmy Boy

Gingerbread Cookies

My sweet sister-in-law brought us a Gingerbread Cookie kit for Christmas. The boys. Loved it and so did I. She made us the most delicious cookies and had a bag of yummy frosting, sprinkles, and goodies to put on them.

This is the first time Sam actually ate a cookie. It is usually is just like a trophy that he carries around and admires. You know it had to be good!







James loving every minute of his cookie and then every minute of what Sam didn't finish!



I found James on the counter downing some water. He was thirsty after all that sugar!

Sadly they were gone quickly. Here's the aftermath of it all. Gotta love when kids to "hands-on" things! I love Christmas and all it brings!