Christmas Day

This photo just about sums up our Christmas day. OK, so it wasn't completely a disaster, but it was definitely an exhausting 24 hours. We spent the day at my Mom's, but Isaac was not having it. He cried (screamed is probably more appropriate) most of the day. He had come down with a cold a couple days prior and was running a fever...that along with all the commotion of Christmas had him over the edge most of the day. We got home that evening around 6:30 and I was thrilled to have the kids to bed early and a little quiet time to myself. However, that was very short-lived. Both Tatum and Owen spent the entire night (and that's not an exaggeration) throwing-up. I was counting down the hours until Scott came home in the morning. We pulled through and finally everyone in our household is healthy again! Here's to good health in 2010!!

Christmas Eve

This year Santa came to our house one day early on Christmas Eve since he knew Daddy would be working a 24 hour shift on Christmas Day. We spent the entire day at home which was very nice and then went to my Mom and Clint's that night to have a sleep-over. Since Scott was going to be gone to work we thought it would be fun to wake up Christmas morning at Grandma and Papa's!

Trying out some of the goodies Santa left in their stockings

We were lucky enough to have Auntie Ray-Ray join our Christmas morning celebration!

Making Cookies for Santa

Tatum and Owen received adorable cooking aprons in the mail on the 23rd of December from my Aunt Mary...just in time to make cookies for Santa!

Tatum informed me several times that she was the baker and I was simply her helper.

Owen woke up just in time from his nap to help with some of the taste testing.

Thank you Aunt Mary for the aprons and very cool cooking tools!

Lights of Christmas

This year we visited the Warm Beach Lights of Christmas with our good friends the Swanson Family. It was our third visit to the Lights and hands down the best time we've had so far. It's always a gamble when attempting to do a family activity with all five of us, as to whether or not all the time and effort it takes to get out the door is worth the end result. Fortunately, this excursion proved to be a successful one! Isaac didn't fuss a bit and was very content in his stroller looking at the lights and napping. Both Tatum and Owen enjoyed the lights plus getting to do all the extras...train rides, chatting with a talking Christmas tree, a pony ride and rockin' to some live music.

Isaac warm and toasty in his new snowsuit...an early Christmas present from Grandma Cheryl and Papa.

Tatum, Tate, Lindsey, Derek and Cole

Tatum and Owen giving the Train Conductor Teddy a giant hug

The Perfect Tree

On Monday we went to a local tree farm on a search for a perfect Christmas tree. Lucky for us, we've been able to find one every year.

Daddy with Tatum and Owen, posing next to our Christmas tree.

Tatum and Owen spent the majority of our time at the farm hiding in the trees and attempting to jump out and scare Dad. Here they are in one of their hiding spots.

Helping Dad haul the tree back to the truck.

I Love My Big Sis!

Tatum continues to be very helpful when it comes to Isaac. She loves being involved in his care and still asks to hold him frequently. The other morning, she came downstairs and very excitedly told me she had just changed Isaac's diaper and wet pajamas for me. Slightly worried, I ran upstairs and sure enough found Isaac on my bed (where I had left him), pj's off and a new diaper on. The diaper was on perfectly and she had even used wipes to wipe his little bum. I told her I was very appreciative of the help, but next time she needed to ask me first!

"Reading" to Isaac

The other day I discovered the kids each "reading" a book to Issac. Owen was reading him his new favorite, "The Polar Express". He still loves anything to do with trains.

YIKES! Was our family room really that messy?? OK, I admit it...that's usually how it looks most days :-).

Our boys

I haven't quite gotten used to saying "the boys", but every time I do it brings a smile to my face. Here are a few pics I snapped of Owen and Isaac a couple mornings ago.

Isaac's Baptism

Isaac was baptized this morning at St. Mary's Catholic Church. What a special, awesome day! I've loved this day for each of our kids, and Isaac of course was no exception. Isaac did great through the ceremony and even flashed Father Guzman a big smile right after he baptized him.

Our family with Father Guzman and Auntie Ray-Ray and Uncle Justin, Isaac's Godparents

The whole gang

Happy Halloween!

Owen decided he didn't want to be a pirate after all. Instead he wanted to be a kitty and fortunately was able to borrow Tatum's costume from last year. Both kids were very into trick-or-treating this year. Owen kept asking, "Just one more house?" over and over again. After about 20 minutes we called it quits, but apparently that was plenty of time to almost fill their treat bags. Where we went trick-or-treating, the 1 piece of candy per child rule clearly did not apply.