Merry Christmas

If you thought we forgot to send you a Christmas card, we didn't. We didn't send them to anyone. And when I say "we" I mean "me", and I'm sorry. Next year I'll be on top of things.

We've had a busy year! We were so lucky that Johnny's job took us out to Philly for a couple years, and even more lucky that it brought us back here to be close to family and friends. We moved back in May and shortly after moved into our first house. Right after that, we welcomed another chubby little boy into our lives, Conrad.

This year, 3 year old Drake has learned to speak in sentences, saying things like "I'm telling you to stop it mom 'cause yore be-in annoyeen" and "How-why do I need to stop hittin Bubbs?". He's now potty trained and loves to wear 12 different pairs of underwear a day, sometimes at the same time.

21 month old Bubba is developing a feisty little personality and continues to show us how fearless he really is, belly-flopping off the couch and running on the counters. He loves to sing and can be heard, while endlessly entertaining himself, singing the ABC's and Twinkle Twinkle. I love it.

Little Conrad, 4 months old, is as pleasant as can be - that is, if I don't eat dairy, fried or greasy foods, tomato based sauces, or beans (not leaving me much to eat). He's starting to laugh and smiles at everyone, and doesn't even mind when Bubba pokes his eyes.

Johnny loves his job and I love being home with my boys. We get cabin fever from time to time and wish we could take a weekend trip like we were able to back east. We then look at our three boys and realize that family vacations will be have to be put off for a few more years : )

We are happy and healthy and are grateful for the wonderful friends and family in our lives!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Meeting Santa

Last week we went down to The Riverwoods in Provo to see the lights and let the boys meet Santa for the first time (although Johnny doesn't want to introduce the Santa concept to the them, wanting all credit for the gifts they receive on Christmas). The boys loved running around the lights and playing with Mimi and Papa.

Papa and Bubbs waiting in line

They weren't quite sure why they were supposed to sit on this mans lap, and were a little apprehensive. When Drake was being held by Santa, he said "I'm getting a roller coaster". Maybe next year he'll learn how to ask.

Bubba grabbed some candy from a basket and booked it out of there, not to fond of the old man.

Me and the Chubbacon keeping each other warm

These boys LOOOVE their grandparents. It was a fun night!

Yesterday morning we woke up to this. I'm excited to have a white Christmas!

Shoes

I am not a shoe girl, to my mothers dismay. However, once every few years a pair of shoes will catch my eye that I just LOVE and long for. Here are two examples:

Would I wear them to drop kids off at a playdate? Or to the park? Or getting groceries? No. But I like to think of a lifestyle that would include these shoes, and escape there when Bubba has eaten wet toilet paper for the 5th time, or Drake has drawn on the wall and couch and chair and floor, or when the baby has spit up all over me again...

November

November went by way too fast. Here is our month in photos:

It started off with an outing in the park (with help of Mimi and Papa, of course) with beautiful fall weather and lots of leaves on the ground.

Johnny getting ready for winter, cleaning and doing yard work in the rain.

There was plenty of torturing kitties

Johnny's Christmas present, seeing the Lakers up-close and personal. I've never seen Johnny wink so much and blow kisses, it was weird.

Drake and Johnny went on a "gate" to see Tangled 3D and Drake LOVED it.

We spent most of our time in this room, lounging and watching cartoons

There were many beautiful sunsets

And after Thanksgiving (which I have no pictures of, unfortunately) we put up some Christmas decorations. When I hung the stockings it finally hit me that I have a family of five...

...which made me think back on this Christmas 3 years ago, with little Drakie under the tree.

Where does the time go?

I have so many picture to put up and not enough time or energy to get it done!

In the meantime, you can look at chubby Con and see how big he's getting!

I think this little guy will finally be my blond baby, yay!

Drake LOVES little Con and is such a good big brother, always asking to hold him. Here they are watching Shrek.