A very merry Christmas to us all

The last month has been busy for our family, so here's some pictures to catch you up on what the boys have been up to lately.

Cooper catching a ride at the family Thanksgiving. Carson created a beautiful gingerbread house for his teacher this year.

Colten created a very loaded gingerbread house for his teacher. She cried when he took it in to her at school and wrote him a thoughtful thank you note. He was so proud of the job he did.

Our Christmas card picture for those of you who didn't receive one... sorry about that.

Carson was a camel in his preschool's Christmas pageant this year. He did a great job and was really excited. I wish I had better pictures than this, but the room was packed with people and he was one of the last students to go down the aisle.

We went to Corvallis to visit family for an early Christmas and Santa (aka: Uncle Mike) showed up. This was Cooper's first experience with Santa. He wasn't too impressed.

My big boys were excited about the pinata Santa brought them. They had lots of questions about if he was the real Santa and decided it must be one of his helpers dressed up like him. They are still believing in Santa so I'm going to let them as long as they don't ruin it for Cooper.

All three boys with my cousin Mandy, who's birthday happens to be on Christmas. The boys look forward to playing with her each time we visit.

Colten's turn at the pinata.

Carson's turn at it next. I held Cooper and tried to get him into swinging the bat since he normally loves to swing and hit things, but he didn't like this so I took his turn.

My mom made all five of us matching pajamas for Christmas Eve. They have reindeer tangled up in lights on them. The boys were so excited for Christmas morning, but even let us sleep in until 6:30. I was thankful.

Santa was out of Batman costumes, but he brought a great pirate one for Carson. Colten was a little bummed about not getting his Venus Fly Trap plant (that I drove around to four different stores looking for) but he'll get one this spring when they are in season.

Cooper is obsessed with all the ornaments. Both our tree and my mom's have been well kid-proofed this year.

My dad's latest creation in the series of wooden construction toys for my boys. This year was a side dumper semi truck.

My dad also made one with a "low-boy" trailer so the boys can haul all the previous years' creations to their constructions sites. It also gives them a different one so they can argue about who gets to use what one at what time.

Other gifts included a variety of Legos and Star Wars gear and books, Tony got me a Kindle Fire, though it is being well used by all of us, and I got Tony a skydiving trip.

Christmas in a flash

My Christmas vacation has gone by too fast. I had a long list of things to do and finish, and very little has gotten checked off the list. Vacation started with Carson getting a nasty cold. Then Christmas Eve I got it and Cooper showed the feverish symptoms when we were in Oregon. After being short of sleep and a slow recovery, I've found some time to post our holiday pictures.

We celebrated Chrismas Eve at my parents and we opened gifts from my parents that night. Mom had made all the boys (even Tony) matching pajamas to wear that night. My dad made us ladies all hand-turned bowls with lids, and chocolate to fill them of course.

The boys all had a great time opening their gifts. Even Cooper got into his new toy book.

The boys all had matching shirts to wear for Christmas day. Cooper's blends in with my dad pretty well.

My dad made all the boys matching wooden bulldozers. Even Cooper got one! The boys used them to push around all the wrapping paper.

Such cuties!

The day after Christmas we headed to Oregon to celebrate with family in Corvallis. My grandma got the boys pillowpets, which they had been wanting!

My aunt got baby time and Cooper got into his new toys.

My tired boys.

Four generations of family.

Cooper got some really cute clothes from family.

Halloween

This year I was in charge of pumpkin carving so we managed to get them cleaned and carved quick when Cooper was asleep.

Carson wanted a scary face and Colten wanted a happy face for their pumpkins. Their choices so suit their individual personalities it is very tell of who is the happy-go-lucky child and who is the manipulative one!

My boys have always been older (and much bigger) for Halloween so I was trying to come up with a costume for Cooper to wear. I wasn't about to buy one that would only be worn for a few hours, so my aunt gave me this. It was a little big (6-9 mos size), but it was a cute cowboy outfit. It even had little boots but they kept falling off.

All of us went to a Halloween party. Tony used the chef costume he's had for years and has yet to return to his friend. I was myself, a busy mom, in my pj's, hair in curlers, shower cap, and slippers. It went well with the baby, burp rag, and spit up.

We did buy Colten's costume this year. The first one we bought was a Darth Vader costume, but that was returned after reviewing his school's costume rules and we got spidy instead. (more positive character). It looks good in the pictures, but I am not likely to buy costumes again. It was very thin material and sized totally wrong, not to mention so poorly sewn it was falling apart after being worn to school. Next year I (or most likely my mom) will have to pull out the sewing machine.

My mom did make Carson's costume. He wanted to be a bat. It was really simple, really cute, and he now has the sweats to wear after Halloween. He had to be a farmer for his preschool party, but had a great time being a bat for the parties.

Ten years

Ten years ago today Tony and I were married. We were so young then (we sure look young) and it hasn't been easy. Tony and I have both changed jobs, houses, and added three kids to the mix so it's not the plan I originally had, but it has been interesting.

A year ago I didn't know if we would even make it through another year. We've had some very trying times. Last year Tony and I had different goals for ourselves and were both drained emotionally. Though not perfect, this last year has been filled with blessings and we have grown together again.

Tony and I always talked about celebrating our 10 year anniversary by throwing a big party. We had a simple (read cheap) wedding and wanted the party we didn't have then. Instead we have a new baby and a busy life. Maybe for our 20 year we'll have the party. This year we're going to a nice dinner and see a movie. My mom's watching the two older boys so Cooper will be joining us for dinner which is just fine.

Tony and I aren't usually big on presents, but this year I'm getting the family diamond re-set to upgrade my engagement ring. The diamond has been in Tony's family for four generations and was given to me in a simple setting my in-laws picked out to mail it in. I haven't gotten the ring yet, but Tony showed me the settings he likes so it shouldn't be too long before I'll get the setting.

Easter Fun

So, this isn't Easter, but a few weeks ago Tony and I had the opportunity to enjoy a fundraiser dinner at church to help teenagers go to their mission trip in Mexico. We got all dressed up and sat with another couple from church, and ate gourmet food. We so rarely get dressed up we wanted a picture, though it is not my best. Definitely not the spaghetti feed fundraisers from the past.
Colten and Carson had a great time dying eggs for Easter.

The boys get only a little candy in for Easter, but it didn't take long for Carson to start chowing down on the jelly beans!

We had all of Tony's family out to the house for Easter dinner. Great-Grandma wanted an egg hunt, so the boys had a great time finding the eggs outside. I'm just happy the rain stayed away until after everyone left.

My Valentine's Baby turned 3!

Yesterday was Carson's 3rd birthday! He requested a chocolate cake and even helped me make it.

He originally wanted a "Little Nemo" cake like last year, but since I didn't have frosting coloring or the artistic ability to pipe out Nemo, I convinced him to go for a John Deere tractor cake.

Colten helped me decorate the cake and helped pipe the rows of "plants" on the top.

We were invited to dinner at our neighbors house so we brought birthday cake dessert for everyone. Carson had a great time playing with all the kids and everyone sang happy birthday to him!


After dinner we got home and opened brithday presents and Valentine's Day cards. Carson got a quad helmet from my parents so now he is all set to go riding quads with the big boys.

My grandma got him a set of "Tigger and Pooh" books with CD. It's one of his favorite shows so it was a hit.

My grandma and mom sent the boys cards and the boys got these goofy M&M fans for Valentine's Day. It was a long, but busy night!