Shhh, Mommy's Old

I enjoyed a wonderful birthday last week thanks to many wonderful friends and family! Thank you to everyone for all the love you shared with me! This year I won't admit to my age; yep, I'm getting THAT old! I even forgot how old I was turning until my friend HAD to remind me. (You know who you are, Alee!) And we won't mention the giant candy bar card Alee & Sara gave me that had OLD written all over it. I hope I can see well enough to finish this post.

Seriously, though, I received so many calls, emails, and wonderful gifts, it made for a great day. Kyle took me out the night before and then we had a fabulous family party on my birthday (including going out to eat again!), so it was a great day. If anyone is craving an Oreo shake, Kyle is the expert mixer, so you're invited over!

Definition of CUTE!

I'm the first to admit I'm biased, but I just think my little Skyler is SOOOO cute!

Even behind bars.

I'm loving the fang look right now.

We have to enjoy it while we can because the large, front tooth on the right just broke through.

What an Okole!

For all of you who don't speak Hawaiian (don't worry, I don't either!). . ."okole" means "behind", aka, your backside.


Now that that is out of the way, do you notice anything about this oh, so cute okole?


If you guessed that it is "without diaper", you are correct! This is an amazingly photographed shot of Spencer's diaperless behind, because...

HE IS POTTY TRAINED!!!

He has done an amazing job, with very few accidents, much to the relief of his mom & dad.


This is how we feel about the recent success at our house:



Happy New Year, everyone! Spencer just may be the quickest kid in the world to accomplish his New Year Resolution (imposed by his mother, of course). What an amazing kid, if I do say so myself!

A Merry Christmas Day

Christmas morning, with the traditional junk cereal and little cuties in the stockings.

Every year Kyle buys a family ornament to add to our collection.

"Da boys", Christmas afternoon.

Skyler ready to bite into his little cutie:).

Skyler taste testing his new drum!Spencer's new pony from Santa. It's just about the cutest thing on earth to watch him try to gallop across the room on this.

I love Christmas morning with kids! I love the excitement and joy over Santa coming. I love that my husband doesn't have to go to work. I love staying in my pajamas all day. I love having a huge mess of wrapping paper and gifts all over the house. I love opening four new boxes of junk cereal all in one day. I love talking on the phone to family members. I love taking a nap. I love doing nothing but being together as a family, enjoying one another. Aaaah, Christmas. Do I really have to wait another year?

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spent at my parent's house in Wilsonville. The Barney's (Alva & Wendy's family) joined us from Camas, WA. We had a delicious meal, opened our presents from grandparents, acted out the Nativity, and sang Christmas songs and listened to the girls play songs on the piano.

The Three Wise "Men".

Bringing gifts to the Baby.

Here is Spencer, opening his jean quilt from his great grandmother, Ruby (my mom's mom). She has now made quilts for all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This Christmas she gave all the great grandsons quilt, plus a few others. She made 43 in all (this fall)! At 91, that is quite the accomplishment; she is amazing!

After the festivities at my parent's, we came home and opened our Christmas pajamas. This year I decided I wanted to make matching jammies for everyone to open on Christmas Eve. I bought all the fabric like a month before Christmas and then never got around to making them. The Monday before Christmas, my mom came down and helped me make them all in one day. I couldn't have done it without her! Thanks, mom.

It was so fun to all be matching on Christmas morning when we woke up! The boys all had matching pants; Kylene wanted a night gown and I had pants that matched Kylene's.

Kylene opening her jammies.