Christmas 2013 - Part 2

 Scarlett had a very good time making cookies for Santa with Nana and me.  They did turn out pretty amazing.  She took her part of the decorating very seriously and did a really great job!

This is what it looked like Christmas morning before the kids came down.

And here's what it looked like as the kids got busy opening and inspecting presents.  Scarlett was pretty disappointed because she specifically asked Santa 3 different times for a pink choo-choo train with batteries and he brought her a purple one (it looks pink to me, but WHATEVER!)  You can see it in this picture below by her foot.  Back me up people, is that a pink or purple train!?  I mean its at least pinkish.

Desmond was much easier to please, he loved ALL of his gifts.

 In fact, he even loved Scarlett's presents.  I think he thought this crib was his.

He enjoys riding and having Scarlett's dolls ride on this little rocking horse my dad gave him.  This horse plays the most will-get-caught-in-your-head-forever tune about a rocking rider pony.  I wish I had a recording and could play it for you all.

Scarlett got this cute little Waldorf doll from Santa.  It's possible I love it more than she does.

She also got this cute little My Cuddle Monkey, which we all think is adorable and fun.  However, the missionaries came over on Christmas day to call home and they said she's creepy and too real. She'll do things like turn her head and look right at you, plus she can move her lips and blow kisses.  She is pretty realistic but that's why she's so fun!  Scarlett sure loves her anyway.  She named her Annie.

One of my favorite things for this Christmas, is Scarlett is beginning to understand a little bit more about the true meaning behind Christmas.  Her favorite Christmas book to read each night was the story of Baby Jesus and she watched the Nativity put out by our church at least a half a dozen times.  I enjoy watching her grow in her understanding and knowledge!  

Well, that was our awesome Christmas.  We hope yours was fabulous, too and filled with lots of love and laughter!

Happy New Year!  We are SO ready to make 2014 our best year yet!

Christmas 2013 - Part 1

I haven't blogged in forever and I find that I kind of miss it.  This Christmas, my mom and Jerry came and visited us.  They brought with them something pretty exciting for the kids!

Their neighbors were wanting to get rid of it and Jerry said we would love it (which we do!)  So, when we were visiting my mom for Thanksgiving we disassembled it.  (I'm using the term "we" very loosely here.)  Then, they brought it with them at Christmas and they reassembled it and made some improvements.  They replaced the whole roof and the floor up in the clubhouse and we repainted the whole thing.  I can actually include myself in that "we" because I did some serious painting on this thing!

Here's a very bad midway picture!  My mom may have a better shot, but this is the only one I have of the in-between process.

Here is what it looked like when my mom and Jerry left.

Here's what it looks like now!

I just realized the angle I took these pictures, you can't even tell that we finished painting the roof!  Oh, well, just know that the roof is now completely painted.  The only thing left to paint is the inside of the clubhouse, which we'll get to…someday.

Desmond's 2012 Photo Book!

I've decided to make one of these for the kids every year.  For 2013, they'll just share the same book.  I figured, however, whenever a kid's born they deserve their own birth book.  So, this is a book from Desmond's birth on May 28, 2012 to December 31st, 2012.  Then, 2013 will be of both Scarlett and Desmond.  Scarlett got her own 2012 book, too.  Anyway, probably only grandparents will want to look through this whole thing, but here it is!  He's a pretty amazing and cute little guy.

If you're having trouble viewing it, I had better luck when I clicked the link below that said "Click here to view this photo book larger."

Click here to view this photo book larger

Create your own custom photo books at Shutterfly.com.

Desmond turns the big 1!!!

On May 28th, Desmond turned 1 year old.  On June 28th, we had these pictures taken.  So, technically they're of Desmond turning 13 months, but its good enough for me.  Scarlett also tagged along and struck a few poses.  She was helping out by getting Desmond to look in certain directions and to smile.  These pictures were taken outside in 90 degree weather, 100% humidity, at noon.  So, that explains why some of them are of the kids having sweaty, splotchy faces.  Overall, I'm pretty impressed with how good they look under these circumstances.

 "Hey, Mommy, wanna go cruising?"

"I'll catch you later!" 

"Scarlett, did you want to come or not?"

This may be my favorite from the shoot. 

 I love this smile.  Desmond has always had such big, wide mouth smiles to go along with his easy going personality. 

Here's another.

I can't believe how big he looks in these pictures! 

I don't know who thought these tricycles were more fun, Scarlett or Desmond.

 "That's right everybody, I'm 1 now."

Scarlett took 18 months before swings were acceptable to her, but Desmond has always loved swings.   

Isn't she so precious looking in this picture?

She always wants to be pushed "higher"...

 and higher...!

Poor little guy was pretty tired.  I had to do jumping jacks and many other crazy antics to get him to smile or look in certain directions.  Obviously, in this shot I was unsuccessful.

 And in this shot.

 I more surprised him and less entertained him in this shot.

There's a smile! 

Now, he just looks annoyed. 

"Seriously, how long do I have to sit in this hot sun watching you act like a fool, Mom?"

We let him walk around, which he found more enjoyable. I love these.

I love this cute, pensive look. 

There's another big smile.  

 In this picture, Desmond had just completed some "dirt angels" while face down on the ground...hence why his mouth is covered in dirt.  Scarlett would never have done something like that at any point in her life...I feel certain of that.

One more dirty face picture for you to enjoy.  These are soo cute, too.  I really wish his face was clean.  I was trying believe me, but I needed more than wipes to scrape off this sticky mid-day dirt.

 "I wanna climb these, too!"

Scarlett "teaching" Desmond to climb.

We'll try it again in another few months.

We grabbed a few more of Scarlett. 

Going super fast down the slide

 She's got climbing in her blood...from her Daddy.

 This is very serious stuff.  Also, very nerve wracking to watch her climb to the top.

Finally, this little montage!  We love you Desmond!  Thanks for all of the smiles and baby giggles!