Christmas Eve in Phoenix

Normally J and I have playgroups or something during the week, but since today is Christmas Eve we didn't have any plans. Because it was gorgeous outside (I think 60 degrees) we headed over to the park.


Want some sand?


Clearly, he is on a mission.


Hey!! Get back here!!


I loved his sandy bottom, it was so cute!!


Heading down the slide.


Shawn opened one of his presents tonight (I opened one last night, Shawn could wait for me to open it - some diamond earrings! Nice!) This was a present from Jeremiah - it's a photo book with pictures of just Shawn and J throughout the last 18 months. It's cute, if I do say so myself.


We also opened our jammies!!


Shawn was very excited about his nautica pajamas.



More tomorrow! J has about 5,000 presents so there will be lots of pics.

The tree!!

It all started last Tuesday night when we went to get our tree. It was cold, dark and rainy...perfect Christmas weather! Not for me, of course, but Jeremiah loved being outside in the rain running through the rows of trees.

Brrr! But it doesn't seem to bother him.


Running....


A brief moment of rest.


Watching our tree get some branches sawed off the bottom.


Our tree!


In the door...


Yay! It's seriously one of the prettiest real trees I've seen. I didn't really want to even decorate it. And I'm not a fan of real trees. But this one may have changed my mind.


We did (or I did, I guess) decorate it, of course!


I'm trying to get a cute pic of J for thank you cards. Here's one that I won't be using. (Obviously very cute)


Another one I won't be using. He sure likes to have his picture taken, though!


A shopping center right by our house had 'snow' - a few tons of shaved ice dumped on the parking lot. Jeremiah likes to look at snow (he calls it 'ice') and so I thought it would be neat to see how he'd react. He was alright with it.




They also had a Santa there. I snapped a quick pic, he was really excited to see Santa...he even sort of says "Santa." He kept wanting to go back up to him.

In case you were wondering...

that is what 10 dozen (give or take a few) 'cheesecake delight' cookies looks like. I baked them Friday night in a marathon of rolling, filling and baking. It was fun and totally worth it, because the next day I came home with tons off different cookies!! Of course, I can't say no to ANY exchanges so I'm doing one tomorrow and one Thursday, so tonight I'll be baking only 5 more dozen. (I'm doing oatmeal cranberry white chocolate though, yummy!!)

J saying "cheese"


J loves the camera, especially taking pictures. Sorry if my morning face scares you!


This outfit is adorable - it was Caleb's, our 4 yr old nephew's until it was passed down to J. The jeans are long so you roll them up to show the little pattern and the shirt matches. He looks like a little lumberjack!


J received just a couple presents from his Grandpa Dan and Grandma Karen in California. The other day he just picked one up and started ripping the paper off. Instead of stopping him I took pics so they could see him open one of their presents.




Finally, the child is really into climbing right now. While I was making dinner last night he completely cleaned out this cabinet (placed all the tupperware on the lazy boy) and climbed in. I didn't get a photo of him all the way in because he realized I had the camera and wanted to look at the pic.

Meet "Mean"

Yesterday I get the mail and there is a package from my Dad. I open it to find a box with this little figureine in it. I check several times to see if there was a note explaining what it was and there wasn't. My first thought was..."What in the world??" That was quickly followed by a concern for my father's mental state. See, I'm not a fan of killer whales, when I was younger I always like dolphins and thought maybe he got confused. So I called him right away.

Dad: "Hello."
Me: "Dad, it's me. I got your....present?"
Dad: "Do you know what that is?"
Me: "No..." (trying to let him do the talking so I don't have to ask a weird question like...WHY DID YOU SEND ME THIS THING?)
Dad: "When you were little you had a stuffed killer whale that you took everywhere. You called it "Mean" because killer whales are mean. I was in the card store and saw this, it reminded me of you and how you have a baby now."
Me: ....(stunned silence)

My dad has a great memory so I'm not surprised he remembered but I don't recall this Mean killer whale at all! I love that he bought it and thought of J & I when he saw it. How sweet - it's a great memory to be able to share with our children.

And because I know you all will love these, here are a couple of pics of little Rachel:

Toddler Rach and Dad


I'd guess I was 3 or 4 in this pic?

Week in review!

Sorry I've been such a blog-slacker lately. Life has started to get that holiday-crazyness to it and I can't figure out why. For some reason, Shawn and I have had to turn down plans because we've already had plans...um, that NEVER happens to us! LOL.

Okay, Jeremiah has been so hilarious lately. I'm not sure why but for some reason I feel differently about him. I can't put my finger on it but I think I'm finally comfortable being a mom. Huh...that only took 17 months! It doesn't hurt that J is getting 'easier' and by that I mean more fun! Look at him use his spoon..he'll get the hang of it. Probably by the time he's 18.


Fridays is our music class with Miss Jenny. J has had so much fun and is really starting to 'get' it, I think.

Yes, that is my child being held by Cory. Your kids don't like being held by other people's parents??? Hmmm.....at this point in my life, I'll take it.


The hoops are always a big hit.


Storytime is only usually this organized for about 30 seconds.


Saturday was 'chase the pigeons' day at Encanto Park


Monday was the zoo with Jayden and Michelle. It was a gorgeous day. I am back to being in love with living here again.

Watch out for the baboons!!


Jeremiah doing his impression. (he was unhappy because I wouldn't let him walk or push the stroller...toddlers!!)


The boys after lunch.


Jayden fell asleep in his stroller and Jeremiah just could not believe it. He kept signing 'sleep'....


And then did an impression of Jayden.


And in case you ever questioned that J was a boy...he loves:

Girls (who seem to love him back, like his girl Bailey here)


And tools. Not in that order. I think tools would win over girls at least these days.

What a morning!!

Today started out great. J slept til 715am - that's good for him - we're working on pushing his bedtime back to 7pm and hoping he'll start sleeping in later, too. When I get up with him I usually turn on the radio and he likes to hang out in his crib while I get his clothes ready. Then we'll dance a little to the music and play before I change his diaper and get him into his clothes for the day. About 30 seconds into dancing, I remember that I have a doctors appointment in Ahwatukee at 810am. I should have been out of the house at that very second!! EEEK!!

So of course we rush, I drag J downstairs without his shirt, grab his morning milk and rush back upstairs, get dressed in a rush and try to remember to brush my teeth, put my contacts in, and do something with my crazy hair. Back downstairs to feed the dogs, let them out, put shoes on, pack a breakfast, get J's water, get myself water, put J's shirt on, and we were out the door by 730am. I don't know how that happened, but it did. THANK GOD.

We got to Shanna and Bailey's house (Shanna watches J while I'm at the doctors office) at 804am. I basically talked fast like a crazy person trying to explain my morning then ran out the door. I walked into the dr's office at 810am exactly. Phew!! Then I waited for the doctor for 20 minutes - surprise!!

Anyways, after this crazy morning was Bailey's 2nd birthday party. Yes, she's 2. Well, almost, she'll be 2 on Saturday. But I can't believe that little peanut is so big already!!

Before all the guests arrived. They were being cute and holding hands.


Attempts at a group pic before we loaded them up with cupcakes:


Almost...


Yay!! Success!!


Mmmm......


Cupcake trance???


Yummy!!


Playing in the giraffe tent - lots of fun!!


Happy birthday, Miss Bailey!! Thanks for having us at your 'playgroup' party!!