Going Natural

After some major difficulties with our artificial, perfectly lit Costco tree, we decided to go natural this year. Chad was determined to cut down one down from a tree farm and so we made the trek up to Ogden, only to determine it was FREEZING and the trees were yellow, long needled, sparse, over priced and did not smell like Christmas Trees...so we headed back to good old fashion Lowes and found a great Nobel Fir. my goobers...

James was apparently pooped after biting all the tips off my new candy cane ornamnets:)

James turns 1

This little boy is the most spoiled little thing on the planet. I can't help it. He may be my last. He is rocked all the time...doesn't sleep through the night ...held constantly...played with and entertained by all of us all the time...fed with me still holding the bottle and is the love of my life -as is the rest of my family;) He is not quite walking yet but he is a climber. I have never had a baby actually climb out of his high chair and be sitting on the tray waiting for me. He can also give some pretty mean scowls when things don't go his way. Again, spoiled. He has 8 teeth which he has had since 6 months and eats most everything. Chad is also proud of his "college football thighs" cause he is a chubby thing.

He turned 1 in November and I did something out of the ordinary (says my mom). We had a small, simple and delightful party. Just the 5 of us. There was a store bought cake, 3 balloons, 1 present and lots of smiles. Maybe I am slacking or maybe It is all we need. Halle made the cutest card for james...a picture of her and him taped on 2 forks. I saved it in his keep sake box cause it was so dang cute. He didn't love the cake too much (prob cause it was store bought). He mostly just played with it like play dough. shrug.

Chad was determined to have a family picture with party hat "horns" (???) Needless to say James was not thrilled...but at least Daddy is!

We love you James!

Happy Halloween!

Our first year with a school Halloween parade! I cried literal tears when I saw all the cute happy kids parading through. I am SO sentimental about this tradition.

This is Halle's cute teacher Mrs Rushton

I helped out with Halle's classroom party. I can't believe I have turned into one of those embarrassing moms who shows up dressed as a witch with brew in hand. I was a little embarrassed myself:/ what we do for our kids...

Off to trick ot treat. I stayed home with James, the candy and a headache. Love the holidays and love when they are over:)

Nona's famous Halloween Party!

We had a awesome Halloween this year. We had amazing weather and happy, happy kids. My mom always throws a fun party for the kiddos. Here are some of our cousins, Nina, Annalie, Ellie and Samuel. Meet my cute little cowboy, cowgirl and bullseye!!!

This year costumes were a little complicated because Mommy wanted the kids to be this...

and Cohen was dead set on being a dragon (an old costume from our dress up box that is not cute and semi broken). To get him to wear this costume I had to bribe and bribe and bribe. Basically he gave me one hour at Nona's party and then it was OFF! Halle wanted to be Rapunzel and I had the hardest time finding a decent costume for under 60 bucks so to satisfy her I found this cute little cowgirl costume and a cheerleader costume for a fraction of the price and so she was thrilled to announce that she got to be TWO things for Halloween and thus Mommy was happy to have my cute matching kids and the kids were happy too. This is the last year that I care though cause it was too much work. Next year they can be dressed as themselves for all I care:)

James lasted 15 min in this costume. He hates hats on his head for some reason and so he just pulled and tugged and cried. I didn't even dress him up on Halloween night...poor third child. Isn't he so squishy, gooey and lovable though?


Cohen attempting to "ride bullseye" He is his horse after all right?

Our little babes this year. So funny taking this picture!Sonny and Cher! My parents always go all out!Playing games...the classic wrap the mummy

SO much fun and chaos and such a headache at the end, but the kids had fun and that is what matters most:)

Pirrrrate Parrrty

"Ahoy Maties!!!" That is what Cohen is saying in this picture. In fact he said it over and over again while I was shooting his picture and I couldn't get a normal smile out of him. We had such a fun party for Cohen's bday! (I never thought planning a little boys party would be fun for me too, but it was such a blast). Love Halle in this picture with her missing tooth cause it just fits so well... she was such a cute sister for Cohen. Not an ounce of jealousy or anything. She just wanted Cohen to have a great day and to be my little helper.
We had some pretty cute pirates join us to celebrate...loves my littlest pirate!!!Arrrrrh....eating some grub!

Cupcakes compliments of my creative sister Tracie. Freaked just a little when cute Kyler dropped his, face down on my rug under his chair....I know, i know, my fault for having a rug under my table:) The highlight was Chad's treasure hunt which took the kids all over the neighborhood finding clues which lead to the buried treasure.
burried in our backyard...

Can't be a pirate and not walk the plank. And yes, there was water under them...

a filled up kiddie pool! Chad thinks of everything.

Happy Birthday Coco bean!