Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas!

Photo Cred. Samantha Kelly Photography

Christmas With A Stella {Part 2}.

Yesterday my sweet Stella pulled over the Christmas tree. It broke 3 ornaments, ruined 2 gifts and soaked the carpet. The tree was not salvageable. Remind me again why I put up a tree this year?? The funny part of it all is that she pulled it over while trying to get the fat Santa ornament that sings Feliz Navidad, Aaron's favorite Christmas song. After two hours of cleaning and vacuuming endless amounts of pine needles I turned around to Stella dumping the entire bag of goldfish crackers in the fan that was drying the carpet. We may have lost our Christmas tree but inside our house it was snowing magical goldfish snow. Stella is a stinker but I can never stay mad for long because she is just. like. me. Merry Christmas sweet girl!

Christmas With A Stella.

My second daughter is a mischievous one. You know when your parent's are frustrated with you as a kid and tell you that they "hope you have one just like you". My parents got their wish. I love you to the stars sweet Stella, but please leave the tree alone. And pick up all the pretzels you just dumped on the floor. 

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Happy Holidays From Us To You.

From The Mouth Of Babes.

Nora-ism #1:

After finishing her Rapunzel dress and telling her she can't have it until Disneyland.

Nora: Mom if you let me play with every one of Mabel's baby blankets it will distract me enough for you to take my princess dress away from me without me noticing. I hid it behind the blue chair in my room.

Nora-ism #2:

Driving in the car on the way home from getting delicious peppermint brownies at Kneaders.

Nora: Mom will you ask for a boy next.

Me: Who do I ask Nora?

Nora: I don't know. How did you ask for Mabel.

Me (chuckling): God just sent us Mabel.

Nora: Well ask for a boy next.

Me: Who do I ask Nora? (Wanting to see if she caught on about God sending babies)

Nora: Ummm probably like a genie. But a girl one. Ask the girl genie.

Apparently if Aaron want's a boy we just need to locate a female genie. Let me know if you see one.

Nora-ism #3:

Eating dinner tonight. I had just finished nursing Mabel.

Nora: Dad, let's have a boy next so you can feed him.

Dad: Only girls feed the babies.

Nora: Why?

Me: (cutting in because Aaron is feeling uncomfortable) They don't have boobs Nora.

Nora (smiling): Oh, yeah.

Nora-ism #4:

Driving to Salt Lake today to see the pediatrician for Mabel's 2 month check up (what?!)

Nora: Mom can I hear some Christmas music.

Me: Sure Nora. (turning on fm100)

......4 minutes later after listening to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and part of the next song...

Nora: MOM!! I need to call Papa Doug and tell him. I just heard that Santa is coming to our town!!! I need to tell Papa.

Christmas Through The Eye Of Canon.

Disclaimer: Sorry the lighting in some of the pics is a bit weird. It was early a.m. and still dark. The MIL couldn't wait for the kiddo's to wake up so she woke everyone up :(

Here's what we did this Christmas.

Looked too grown up.

Wore jammies all day/night.

Drank too much Diet Coke.

Grew more hair!

Happy New Year!

It's Official.

She still hates Santa.

Decking The Halls & High Flying.

This year I stumbled upon amazingness called Beck Christmas Tree Farm. No more driving 3+ hours, hiking through waist deep snow while hauling one kid on the back and one in the  belly, trying to tie a tree on the roof with frozen fingers and then finally hitting the road for the loooong drive home and getting stuck in a ditch...like last year. This year we hit up the Beck Family Farm in Alpine, UT for a much more pleasant experience that also resulted in cutting a live tree. You pay $50, walk all aroung the farm to find your perfect live tree, and then one of the Beck family drives over on their 4-wheeler and cuts the fresh tree for you. Oh and then the haul it to your car. Bonus: the have free trimmings to take home to make garlands/wreaths. It was so fun and soooo nice not to leave the christmas tree cutting event hating your tree after all the greif/time it has taken. It was perfect. Simply perfect. Thanks Papa Doug!

Joy In My World.

The holiday's are extra magical with kids. And when you are on the committee for the ward Christmas brunch (more on that later). For now you can feast your eyes on these cuties. And try no to laugh too hard when you see how much my little Bubba looks like her Daddy.

Not To Toot My Own Horn Or Anything...





 But it is November 1st...snowing...crisp...beautiful...and I am over half way done with my Christmas Shopping and haven't paid full price for a single item. I was already so giddy with excitement over this holiday season that this bargain-hunting-adrenaline rush just might put me into cardiac arrest. This year we opted for simplifying things a bit and I came across some pure genius here. Four gifts - Something to wear, something you need, something you want, and something to read. It has been incredibly easy to find reasonable, fitting gifts for each category. If it goes over as well as I hope, this will be our new family tradition. Here is a sneak peak of Christmas shopping so far: