Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Here's to hoping that 2011 brings everyone much joy, love, plenty of family time and a plethora of stress-free moments. I am hoping for some free time and room to breathe away from work and school. :) When I look back at 2010, it's been a fun, yet busy year for us.

*I switched teaching jobs and grade levels.
*I went back to school to obtain my Master's Degree.
*Brynn started pre-school.
*Baylen is nearly full-on potty trained (yes he's even pooping in the toilet now!).
*Dj's territory for work changed so he's traveling more, which is challenging at times for the kids and I.
*We went on a couple of mini-vacations to Lake Chelan and Great Wolf Lodge.
*We traveled back to Iowa for a summer vacay and again at Christmas time.
*Brynn turned 4.
*Baylen turned 2.
*Our kids became best buds (most of the time).
*We renovated our upstairs master bathroom, replaced all of our window blinds, the water heater, kitchen and dining room flooring, our dining room table, dining room furniture, microwave, the kitchen sink, and painted a couple of rooms. Yes...all in one year.
*Since the fall, I've been pretty stressed out. If I survive this year alive, it will be a miracle.
*We spent a lot of time laughing at all of the funny things our kids said and did.
*We have had quite a year and it's been pretty darn good!

Here's to a happy 2011!

Meeting Mr. Jackson

We were finally able to meet Mr. Jackson! He is a cute little guy and a good baby. More pics to come later but here's one for now. We were also fortunate to be a part of his baptism on Sunday. Dj took some great pics so I hope to post one or two from that later as well. Happy three month birthday, Jack!

Baylenism #4, #5, & #6

He walks into my parents' living room with a bottle of Jim Beam in his hand...

Baylen to Papa: "I don't want this for lunch. I don't like that!"


During Christmas Eve Church before it began he leans over and whispers in my ear,

"Hey mom, why does this song keep going and going?"


Leaning over looking at the Nativity scene

"Mom, where is the baby sheep?"


And my nephew Parker said this after Baylen's response re: Nativity scene...

"I wish there were bears in there so he could eat them all!"

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. We have been so blessed this past year with...two lovely children who are so smart, funny, intuitive, and loving, each other, our families and friends, a new job, the same job w/ new responsibilities, a home, and so much more.

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,

Although I talk about you all of the time and I like you a lot, when I see you in public, I change my mind and I prefer to avoid you. I won't look you in the eye and you'll be lucky if I give you a high five. I definitely WILL NOT sit on your lap, even though I say I will at home. When we went to see you at the mall last weekend, I would not sit anywhere near you or even stand by you. However, I saw a cool rocking horse, so I rode on that near you and pretended I didn't notice you were sitting next to me while we had our picture taken. I really liked that horse.

I would like Cars cars...anything and everything "Lie-king MahhQueen" would be great. KahCHOW! :) Oh, and I really want a monster truck remote control car and a Spider Man.

I will leave you some cookies and try not to eat them myself. I did sample some of your milk though, on Friday night. It was good. I know that you know I've had my ups and downs this year, but I try hard to behave...I like to be funny, and I have a good heart, and that will never change.

Love,

Baylen

Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,

I would like you to bring me everything from the American Girl Doll catalog for Christmas this year. Think you can handle that? Oh, and I'd really like a Rapunzel doll, a Rapunzel dress-up dress, and Rapunzel hair.

I love you and you know I've been pretty good this year. I believe in everything that is magical and I appreciate the little things. I have opinions about everything and like to share my emotions openly. I am SO excited about Christmas this year. Would you like to hear me sing all of the Christmas songs I know? I will start with my favorite..."Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

Love,

Brynn

Little Dancer

Oh Little Dancer, here you are all ready to shine
Oh Little Dancer, here you are with your tap shoes tied
Oh Little Dancer, here you are with your green, sequined dress
Oh Little Dancer, here you are with your eyes brightly lit
Oh Little Dancer, here you are with your sweet best friend,
Oh Little Dancer, here you are brimming with every excitement
Oh Little Dancer, here you are with a smile filled with sunshine
Oh Little Dancer, here you are with a love for rhythm and the stage.
Oh Little Dancer, how I wish I could take this moment and freeze it in time forever...
Dance, Little One, Dance
In the meantime, I'll take in every moment of it.

♥

Running out of time

I am not finished buying Christmas presents. I don't even know when I can find time to make or buy them. The ones I have purchased, I have no clue when I will be able to wrap them. We were lucky to get the Christmas cards out..some are still sitting on my counter. This year I feel so behind with everything. Boo.

Making Cookies=lots of helpers

Over the long weekend after Thanksgiving, I decided to try and make some sugar cut-out cookies. My cousin, Melissa told me about this recipe and I finally had time or MADE time to try it out. This was a great project for B & B to help with, especially cutting the cookies out once the dough was rolled. Brynn even asked if she could roll the dough, so I let her and she did a wonderful job. Both kids enjoyed helping and Baylen lost interest early and decided taste-testing was much more productive and fun. :)

We frosted some, sprinkled some, and left some plain. All of them were SO YUMMY and addicting! They are the softest sugar cookies I have made ever. Thanks, Melissa!

Elf on a Shelf

The last couple of years, I have debated buying this item. After spending the month of November trying to convince my children that Santa was watching their every move and failing miserably, I decided it was necessary to purchase our own Elf on a Shelf. The kids decided to name him...Spritz! Despite the fact that Brynn wanted to name him Sprinkles, we felt that Spritz we more elf-like and less gender-specific. Spritz has been working wonders in our house since he arrived. Even though the kids saw me pull him out of a sack and knew I bought him from a store, they still think he's magical. Good! haha

he's protecting her already.

This was so cute the other day...Baylen was totally protecting his big sister. It melted my heart. Brynn came over to talk to me and Zoey, our cat was sitting next to me. Sometimes when a person gets in Z's space, she becomes irritated and will swipe whoever it is by biting or scratching. She leaned over and bit Brynn for no reason and Brynn started crying. I scolded Zoey and pushed her off of the couch. As she was passing by, Baylen scowls at her, pointing his finger (and proudly sticks up for Brynn) in a gruffy, snarly, growly voice: No Zoey! You no bitten Bwynna! You get away! That's not NICE!

Then he went up to Brynn and asked very softly, "Ahr you okay, Bwynna?" ♥

What a sweet guy. If they grow at the same rate, he's going to have to protect her from more than a scary old cat.