Christmas Party 2015

For some reason, it has always been a dream of mine to host an annual Christmas party at my house. I wanted to do it in California but our little condo was just that, little! We had a hard time just fitting my sisters family in there with us let alone 4-5 more families! So when we made the decision to move to Utah, I told Shaun we WOULD be having a Christmas party!

I went back and forth on what "theme" I wanted to do for it. I have no idea why, but my family is obsessed with themes. From parties, to the rooms in our homes, they all have a theme. I thought about doing an ugly sweater party because those always seem so funny. But then I thought that was more for adults, and maybe one year we will do an ugly sweater/cocktail party but this year I wanted it all about the kids. I finally decided on a Christmas pajama party and I could not have been happier.

We dont know many people in Utah yet. We have our core friends, which oddly enough, is made up of mostly people from back home! Those were the peeps I wanted to invite. I have been struggling with the fact I wont be home for Christmas so this was the perfect solution...bring people I love from home, here! We just invited 4 families so it was smallish and perfect.

The kids got along so well. We had 3 month-12 years old and everyone had someone their age to play with. Well besides Brynlee but she got LOTS of loves that night! We had pizza, a cookie decorating station (I am pretty sure the kids just ate the candy because a TON of cookies were left but hardly any candy haha) then they were able to write letters to Santa, a hot chocolate bar, and a bonfire with smores outside. It was great having the fire going (Shaun's idea) because it allowed the kids to come and go and not just be crammed inside. So kids were upstairs, in the basement playing with toys, or outside by the fire/playing. Let's be honest though, the men, yeah they never moved from the fire unless it was to get more food! ;)

Having this simple, small, yet fun party really helped me get out of my funk. I am still VERY sad about not being home, and I really dont think that will change, but being able to spend an evening with people I have known since I was a little girl, was just perfect. It was like no time had passed between us all. I cannot wait to get everyone together again...and lucky for me I love hosting parties! NYE anyone!?!?

Lincoln

Dear Lincoln,

This has been a tough year and yet, you have handled it like a champ. You took the move away from your best friend, Gio, better than I could have EVER imagined. You never complained, you never cried, you just took your little 3 year old self and said "alright lets go on a plane". Sure you have missed your friends, but you have adjusted to your new home amazingly well.

Watching you learn your world around you is such an incredible joy. You have begun talking and asking questions about everything. You remind me so much of myself, so curious about the world. Your little self is so aware of others and your surroundings. You don't hesitate to play with new friends. You welcome others in so gently and warmly.

This year you started, as I like to call it, REAL preschool. You were hesitant at first, holding onto us as we dropped you off, but now you RUN to the door to get inside. You are learning so much and are always so eager to tell us about your day. You light up with new knowledge and want everyone to know what you did. Your language is continuing to grow thankfully!!!

You also had a major change this year as you became a big brother. Tears are filling my eyes as I think of the first time you met Brynlee. You were unsure of her, but when we told you she had to go get shots, you cried because you thought they were going to hurt her. From that moment on, you have guarded her like a boss. Your favorite thing is to check on her in the morning if she is awake. You call it your "brother time" and she smiles ear to ear when you enter her room. You are so incredibly helpful and patient. You love to hold her "next to you" and you LOVE feeding her. I was afraid you were not going to adjust well, that you would miss all the attention always being on you, but man was I wrong. You are special like that, always tender and caring about those around you. You only want to be called brother when Brynlee is around you. If we call you Lincoln you get mad! It's really cute!

I love watching you light up with the holiday season here. You ask every morning if you can open your presents. You try to convince me "HoHo" told you that you could open one...but it doesnt work! The elf, Koko, is here, and you LOVE to run out of your room and go find him. I love hearing "oh my gosh what are you doing there" as you find him. It makes my little heart swell. The magic of Christmas is surely not lost in you.

You are still my cuddle bug. You will grab your blanket Grandma Lynda made you and come snuggle right up next to me. You do it mostly in the mornings and at nights. I know when you are tired when you say you are itchy and I need to scratch your back...it soothes you right to sleep everytime. You give the biggest and best hugs, holding extra tight until we say let go. Honestly, I never want you to let go because I know one day you aren't going to want to hug me.

I have loved watching you grow, blossom, and become such an incredible kiddo. Everyday spent at home with you is seriously so fun! Your imagination is beyond amazing! You love playing with your toys, you have always been a great toy player. You obsess over things like your dad. Right now you are obsessed with firefighters! You used to be obsessed with Curious George...I am secretly so glad THAT stage is over!

I hope as the new year begins you will continue to be gentle and tender towards others. Let others in, and not be too shy. You are loved beyond belief and I am soooo thankful you are my little knucklehead!!!

The best

Before we found we were having a girl for sure, I always said I never wanted one. They are drama, high maintenance, so many different accessories you have to have, etc. I am the farthest thing from a girly girl so it just was not my thing. Then however, I got the news it was a girl and I started shopping.

Let me say this, I have fallen in love. I like to pride myself on the fact my kids are always dressed nice and hair is always done. I can't stand to see little boys with horrible hair cuts in dirty clothes. Or girls with hair in their face. It drives me CRAZY!!! Boys are sooo fun to dress like little men, however there is only so much you can do with the. Girls however, holy moly there is sooo much you can do! From tights, to headbands, to necklaces, shoes, etc you can deck them out for sure! I like my kiddos to be dressed as little adults. You will not find my kids in ducks, or bunnies, etc. My neighbor always says Brynlee is the best dressed newborn she has ever seen. Thats just it though, she would just be in leggings and a top. You know, CLOTHES not sleepers! HA.

So I give you my latest favorite outfit! I mean have you ever seen a cuter 3 month old???

 And just for kicks here is her sweet little smile! I love this booger!!!

She's an eating machine!

Brynlee can eat! And eat and eat and eat! She is a CHAMP at eating! She is slow but man does she like her food! She is like clockwork! Every 4 hours on the hour she is smacking her lips at you! Lately however she was getting hungry every 2 hours and started to not sleep through the night again...she wanted a bottle at 3am! This momma was NOT having any of that! Soooo say hello to baby Oatmeal. She still isn't sure what to think of it, but she was a champ and ate a ton then topped it off with a bottle. Thankfully she is back to 13 hours at night and about 5 hour stretches during the day! WOOHOO!!! 

SANTA!

The biggest rip off ever!!! $24 for ONE picture of your kid with Santa! We have been spoiled with Bass Pro and there free santa pictures! Brynlees was $24 and then a week later Lincoln finally wanted to take his so we went to an outdoor outlet area and that was only $12...still a rip off! Oh well the price you pay for Christmas! ;)

Do as the Mormons Do...

Well since we live in Utah we figure we better just do as the Mormons do! ;) Temple square...its a big thing around here. We live about 20 minutes North of Salt Lake but we always hear how beautiful temple square is this time of year. We decided this past weekend to go on a little family date night.

Honestly, I was not too impressed. The coolest aspect was how perfectly wrapped the trees were with lights but that was about it. I was expecting way more. I am not sure exactly what I was expecting just more. At one point the sister missionaries gathered around and started singing Christmas songs...well Lincoln was NOT happy about it! He covered his ears and ran by them saying "make it stop make it stop". AHAHA...they werent THAT bad!

We rode the Jingle Bus which in the pictures look more like a cable car but its not...it is literally a city bus! HA...we got to it before all the crowds (or maybe no one rides it?!?) so it was just us on it. Its free and takes you from one mall to the other pretty much. The christmas music the guy had playing was WEIRD! He was friendly and all it was just a little weird. Plus again. a let down because we are so used to San Francisco Christmas stuff.

We finished off the night with a trip to the mall..which Brynlee hated because if she is outside then goes inside she gets MAD! She LOVES to be outside. She also hates beanies...sooo there is that aspect to. Lincoln enjoyed finding these books that he could press a button and the action figures spun really fast and danced. They made me dizzy so I couldn;t look at it.

Finally we grabbed some Cold Stone (omg the dark chocolate peppermint is back! YES!!!) and grabbed some Chinese food to eat at home. It was a fun family date night just not what I was expecting.

Im just really not feeling Christmas at all this year. Part of me is excited to be here where it snows, but a HUGE part of me misses home. I miss shopping with my sister, being around friends, going to San Francisco, etc. Everytime the radio comes on it is a song about being home for Christmas...seriously I have to fight back tears EVERY TIME! I want to be home so badly. I miss it. Christmas day is going to be REALLY hard I already know it. One day we will be back...sooner than later! ;)

That darn turkey

This was the first year we have been away from family for the holidays and was rough. I miss spending time with my nephews and my sister. Shaun and I used to complain because we had to go to several different homes on holidays but this year we actually missed doing it.

We spent the morning going to the peanuts movie. It was super cute but it did GET LONG in the middle. Shaun and Brynlee both fell asleep but Lincoln and I cuddled together. We went to the theater that has the reclining seats which are super comfy but also tend to make you sleepy. We bring our own snacks in but forgot drinks this time (okay really the diaper bag was already full so there was no room) so Shaun grabbed a water, small soda, and a chocolate milk for $15! Ridiculous! This is exactly why we bring our own food!

Later we went down to Sandy to his Aunts house for dinner. She made chicken instead of turkey and I was sad :( I am picky about my meat not being on a bone and this was so it was a tough dinner. Shaun ended up getting really sick the entire weekend too.

After that I put the kiddos to bed and headed to Michaels. I always go here to get garland and ribbon. The garland is $1.99 so I dont feel bad when I toss it at the end of the season. I also had to grab some stuff for our Christmas party I am hosting next weekend. Say what you will about shopping on Thanksgiving...I worked the holiday and enjoyed it when I was in college and I know several people who do it now. I think society makes a bigger issue than is necessary.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!