Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 was a special one indeed. Our first Christmas in our new house. Christmas Eve we enjoyed a nice dinner and program followed by a drive to see Christmas lights. It was special to hear all of the boys talk about all of the things that they are grateful. It's always a bonus to hear how much they love each other and how much they appreciate good old mom and dad. We opened up PJ's and everyone went to bed! Well....almost everyone went to bed.....someone hadn't even wrapped ONE gift so it was a late night for Nate and I!

 Christmas morning was magical! The boys got everything they wanted and then some! Spoiled rotten I tell ya!

Babies

I just love this picture I took on my iphone last week. The boys had just left for school. I climbed into bed with my 2 babies and squished them together and smooched them and hugged them for as long as Anna would let me.
This is such a hard time of life with two babies at once. It is also such a special and sacred time that I am not taking for granted. I realize that my impromptu trips to the store or to lunch have kind of come to an abrupt halt for the time being but I am feeling such a peace about my role as a mommy to these two. I'm feeling very good about my decision to say no a little more often so that I can be less stressed and more involved with the things in life that I can control right now.
I was thinking back to the days when I would cry and plead with the Lord to send me a baby back when we were dealing with all of our fertility issues. It makes me smile to think that he always knew what he was doing. Thank heaven above I have a 5 year gap between Anna and Landon. The older boys have been phenomenal as far as helping with these two. I have been very blessed and I feel so thankful that this STRESSFUL year can come to a close on such an incredibly high note. There is something extremely special about having a sweet newborn in our home during the holidays.

Life is good and I am so thankful.

Birthday boy!

Parker Bryan is now 9 years old! Whaaaaaat? When asked what he wanted to do for his birthday he told me he wanted to take some friends and go up to Rexburg to Fatcats again like he did a few years ago. Either that or go to Leo's Place. All I could think about as he suggested these places was GERMS! I do not want to take my baby and my 17 month old anywhere where we can find booger covered 3 year olds.
I decided to propose an at home birthday party like we did for Dallin when he turned 9. A nice little "drive-in" movie night at our house with a snack stand. We'd decorate our cars out of boxes and paper and enjoy ELF in our new movie room downstairs.

He took the bait! And it was really a lot of fun!

Monday....on his ACTUAL birthday Grandma EE came up! We had dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe and came home to open family presents! Parker LOVES remote controlled cars and is pretty thrilled about his new SPECIALIZED bike!!!

Parker, of all my kids you are the one who seems to grow up the fastest! You are so much fun to be around, you are constantly surrounded by friends. You are so smart and athletic. I love to watch you play basketball, baseball and now football! You are tough when you need to be but you are sweet and sensitive...especially to your baby sister and brother. You are helpful (for the most part) and I love that you like to actually hang out with your old mom. I love you so very much! Happy Birthday Parks!

Tyler's newborn pics

I honestly wasn't really thinking much about getting Mr. Tyler's pictures taken when we first came home from the hospital. I was feeling like absolute CRAP dealing with shingles and I thought that pictures were overpriced anyway. The last thing i wanted to do was leave the house.

Then on day 3 of having him home I was just starring at him and thinking about how quickly these newborn days last. I had a complete change of heart. I didn't care how much it cost anymore...I was going to get them done. My friend Amber does the best job. When I called her up and asked if she had any time to do newborn pics which I knew was a gamble because she is SO busy. She responded.."ANYTHING for you!"

Wow! I have some great friends and we live by some pretty amazing people. We went over the next day. You'd never even know that the first hour was a waste because he was so cranky! 

They turned out beautiful! I love them!

I LOVE him!!

Mr. Ty's first few days at home!

Here is a little re-cap of Mr. Ty's first few days at home.

He came home from the hospital. He wore the same outfit his OLDEST brother wore when he came home from the hospital 11 years go!

He slept lots and lots in mommy and daddy's bed. It is the MOST comfortable place ever in his opinion. (He lets us know that HIS bed is not his favorite at all!)

He was loved on a lot by his brothers and sister.

He celebrated his very first Thanksgiving. Actually, I think he slept through the eating part.

And he was held and loved every second! Especially by his sick Mama who has been fighting shingles ever since we got home from the hospital. Mr. Ty has been the BEST medicine of all during the worst of it.

It's true. Once a baby joins the family, you being to wonder how on earth you ever lived without him. He is the perfect little addition to our family. We're SO glad he is here!