Christmas 2013

Christmas - from start to finish - was literally perfect.

McKay woke up at 7:00 bright eyed and the first words out of his mouth were, "How long do we have to do this? Lay in here and wait for Santa?"  Like he was all bugged he had been up waiting for us forever.  It was pretty funny.  Gavin and Jonah were ready to go right at the same time.  Dave, Karyn, and their kids were up and waiting so we headed out.  We put wrapping paper at the end of the hall the night before so they couldn't see out.  This was in place of the "chair of death" of my youth.  I thought it looked and sounded a little more pleasant.  They busted through the paper while Uncle Dave guarded the sharp piano edge.

Eyes were sparkly and voices were happy and busy for an hour opening gifts.  It really was a happy time.  Jonah was wide-eyed and enjoyed his first Christmas eating paper and watching all of the busyness.

Kids played while we got a yummy breakfast of aebelskivers, eggs, sausage, bacon, and orange juice.  Then they were off to play before the cousins had to leave.  Beyblade battles with accompanying songs lasted for hours.  The Woolf's left just before 1:00.  We were still in our jammies and went to Melinda and Justin's to say hi and see their new prizes.  Headed home for naptime and lunch leftovers.  Note: Honeybaked Ham turkey breast is ridiculously yummy!  Rested, played, hung out.  Still in jams.  Went back to Melinda's to play games until bedtime.  The kids went to bed - in the same jammies - happy.  Still talking about Christmas Eve.  "Wasn't that fun yesterday?"

A honest-to-goodness PERFECT day.  I'm cataloging that one in my brain forever.  December 26 @ 7:00 am - whining, bickering, etc.  Business as usual.

Christmas Eve

A week before Christmas, Dave and Karyn called and said they would be driving through on Christmas morning to get to Karyn's family's house.  I talked them into coming a day early and spending Christmas Eve and morning with us instead of being on the road.  (That doesn't sound fun at all!)  So they got there mid-day Christmas Eve and the kids spend a good hour or two out in the snow with their snow-deprived Arizona cousins building a snowman and snow fort.  They came in wet and freezing, but happy.  The kids had each other and their excitement reminded both me and Brian of our younger years.  When you could hardly STAND to wait for the next thing...the dinner, family night, pjs, etc.  When everything seemed to take FOR. EV. ER.

We had a yummy dinner of ham and potatoes, salad, jello, and Christmas cookies.  We watched Luke 2 and opened up just ONE present.  Our kids still haven't figured out the pattern here.  Maybe next year they will guess what it is before they open it.  They were pleased and punch with their jammies.  Jonah lasted just long enough to get a family picture and then he had enough of his first Christmas Eve.  Kids were jumping and wild and they settled down to get Santa's cookies and Rudolph's carrots on a plate and then watched a movie.  Our three boys slept in our room with us.  McKay was pooped right out and fell asleep quickly with me laying by him.  Gavin was restless and excited and took a little longer.  He knew he MUST go to sleep so Santa could come - but isn't that easier said than done??  I remember that too...  But he finally gave in and they all slept soundly and dreamt of sugarplums I am sure.

Birthdays, Christmas Prep and Other Happenings

Over the years I've toned down my need for a crazy birthday.  While I've been high-maintenance in the past, things are getting easier and just a quiet day at home with no expectations is what I want most now.  I must be maturing, in my 35-years.  THIRTY FIVE!   Why does that sound so serious??  I feel like I'm supposed to be all grown up.  Some days I feel old (those lines on my face!, white hairs on my head that come out of nowhere, my back that kills after I've been sitting on the floor for five minutes...) but at the same time I feel like I'm just getting started!  So the month started off with our Santa visit on my birthday.  That's been my new tradition the past two years.  A simple day at home, dinner with Brian, then take the kids to see Santa.  It was freezing and had been snowing all day.  After a snuggle day on the couch watching the first real snow, we were the only ones there to meet with the big guy.

We got McKay sick and better early in the month.  Better sooner than later!  Poor little guy.  We had several days at home just hanging out.

Things were a little different with Grandma and Grandpa gone on their mission this Christmas.  Our party going was minimal - just two the entire month.  The extended Argyle family didn't do their Christmas thing because Judy is usually the one who heads that up.

Melinda pulled things together for the immediate family and we had our traditional turkey dinner at the mothership without Mr. and Mrs. Founder of the Feast.  Shauna brought a little wooden tree to set the mood.  Granted, it wasn't the way that grandma does it (fancy plates, glasses, napkin rings, chocolates and treats on trays all over waiting for us... but it was fun to be with everyone just the same.

We had such a nice time.  The kids were excited to give and get their presents.  Crystal about had a heart attack that I didn't put Jonah's name in the exchange.  Luckily he was ok with it!  Gavin got the Ice Age 2 movie, fruit snacks and spirit sticks from Landen.  McKay got a Batman toy from Jorja.  Everyone was happy and the feeling was good.  We really love spending time with siblings and cousins.

Later in the month we got to go to Scott's party with Brian's childhood friends.  They are always so funny when they get together.  I love getting together with people that we love.  Having just a few parties to look forward to, shopping done early, Brian home more...  It's been a great month.

Arizona Thanksgiving 2013

We were happy to get to warmer after the cold streak we'd been having here at home.  We hadn't been to Arizona for a year, so it was nice to go back.  After a quick stop in St. George for a night, the drive was pretty easy.  Our boys are still good travelers.  I don't know at what point we will stop saying that - but with treats prepared ahead of time and some DVDs, they are good to go.  And Jonah was just a sweetheart, both ways.  Bless him.

We stayed with Dave and Karyn and their kids.  My family is always so nice to let this party of five crash their place for days on end.  The best part about trips like these is how occupied the kids are.  We literally hardly see them for days as they are off playing with cousins from morning 'til night.  Gavin and McKay are at ages now where we could send them to the park with the other kids and I felt like they would be safe.

Thanksgiving dinner was at Grandma and Grandpa Woolf's house.  It did not disappoint!  While I do not have a picture of my race earlier that day, I ran a 10K with Allison and Karyn.  It was hard.  I was last.  But that's not the important part.  The important part was that I actually did it.  The other important part was that Brian held Jonah after our yummy dinner so I could fully enjoy my piece of pumpkin cheesecake.  The kids loved making gumdrop turkeys with grandpa and Gavin worked extensively on his drawing for the art contest.  He won "Most Original" and was pretty excited about it.

Nate and Lynsey and their families came over to Dave's everyday so there was lots of playing and park time.  I accidentally broke McKay's stick during the group picture, so he's was a little bent out of shape.    Made for one of my favorite pictures of him ever!  We did an adult date night with yummy mexican food and the traditional Bahama Bucks run.  Dad rode his bike over and took the kids around the block a few times.  We visited Mother.  Ann and Steve Williams and their kids even drove over to see us for a bit.  Steve took Brian to sushi and made his year complete.  Seeing them was an absolute highlight.  It was a wonderful, quick trip.

In a split minute decision, we decided to go home a little early and left at 7pm and got to St. George around 2am instead of leaving the following morning.  I was grateful that Brian got us there in one piece since I am not always a reliable nighttime driver!  As always, we were happy to get to our little home on 1010 West.

Family Pictures

Taken in a 7-minute window of waning light on Thanksgiving Day at Mother's by Matt Evans.

Case of the Sickies

We are on day five of our daylight savings hangover.  What a mess!  After waking up at 5:30 for the past week, it's safe to say this has been the hardest one ever.  I prefer to do it like the Arizonians and skip it all together.  Jonah is still in a daze and way off on his naps.  And then the two days he decided to sleep in til 7:00, Gavin woke up sick.  We've had two sick days (Gavin home from school) - coughing, snotty, poopy boys.  McKay's has been hanging on for at least a week.  Poor little buddy.  I, on the other hand, have been pretty dang productive.  I generally am not one to park the kids in front of the tv for hours.  Until today.  So with my low guilt they are totally occupied and I'm getting lots done.

As the tides have turned, Gavin has been testing my patience with his new Kindergarten sassiness.  I remember him doing this for a few weeks when he started preschool.  He's not being the nicest to McKay.  It makes me sad.  They all go through phases and obviously brothers can't treat each other perfectly all the time.  McKay has been the cutest little thing and is helping and saying thank you and giving me hugs and kisses all over the place.  Minimal crying and whining.  Maybe he's growing out of that?  Either way, this is where we are now and next week it will be something new I'm sure.

We'll see if Jonah escapes the sickness...  I'm guessing not since McKay leaned over him last night and drooled right into his eye.

Halloween 2013 - The Avengers

Our day was simple and fun. It started off with me taking the two little boys to Gavin's parade at school. The kids walk by for a few seconds, but his happy face and hug as he walked by was well worth it. McKay and I had a wonderful morning jumping with Ivy and making granola bars together. The boys were anxious and McKay asked over and over when it was time to trick-or-treat. Brian got home and we got things set up for Happy Hallowiener. We met up with Dave and Risa Jense and their cute girlies and new baby to continue our walking the neighborhood tradition. It's so nice to have good friends for our kids. Hallowiener was a hit. We had a handful of people come up and give us a hug or tell us how awesome of a tradition this is and how much their kids look forward to it each year. That's good a reason as any to keep it going! I love the ages of these boys... Their excitement lasts all day and into the next. They loved their costumes. This year was the first year of literally running from house to house. That's how things will be from now on! No time to dilly dally - gotta get that candy! McKay woke up an hour later than usual the next morning and walked in and said, "That sure was fun trick-or-treating last night, wasn't it?" Success!

Ordinary Days

I will just say this. Life is good. Things are really, really good. We are enjoying our routine and simple days.  I love these kids and they teach me so much!

McKay loves his little brother.  He can't keep away from him!  The other day I saw him kissing and licking the back of his head.  There's always something...

Jonah will sit like this and watch his brothers jump on the tramp.

Someone is always in a costume around here.  And Gavin has a thing with weird faces lately.

Gavin knows all of his letters and sounds.  And he's reading a little too!

Jonah is not quite sitting up but when we need room in the cart, he just hangs on and comes along for the ride.