Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's

Yes, I do know how behind I am. And now, it is 2013........ So, I will mostly let the pictures do the talking. I hope you all enjoyed the holidays, I know we did!

Wesley actually eats baby food (Gavin never would), but we tried some Mixed Vegetables, it didn't go so well. It took a while for him to trust me after that. :)

 We went and walked outside the Idaho Falls Temple while we were there for Thanksgiving. We talked to Gavin about it, and let him touch the walls and the doors.

 I sure do love this boy.

 And believe it or not. These two play well together, on rare occasions.

 And proof, that feeding time isn't always torture.

 Zac and I were asked to be in charge of our Ward Christmas Party. It sounded like it was a great success. We did a story night and asked a few people to decorate a room and read a story. After dinner we divided everyone into 4 groups and we rotated through the 4 stories and then we went back to the gym for hot chocolate and apple cider and to listen to the Nativity Story. And then Santa came. I am glad it is done with, but it was a lot of fun. I probably won't be volunteering to do that again for at least a few years. :)

 Olive, the Other Reindeer.

 The Christmas Candle.

 The Polar Express....All Aboard!

 We also had The Grinch, but my picture didn't turn out very well.

On Christmas Eve we convinced our friends the Hreinson's to come over and celebrate with us. We had pizza and then drove around Highlands Ranch to look at the lights. Then we came back and had hot chocolate and beignets and the kids acted out the Nativity for us. Look at those cute kids. Best. Nativity. Ever. I will have to get more pictures from Rachel.

 And Colorado made me happy with a white Christmas. Snow has been scarce in Denver so far, so I was very happy about this!

Gavin woke up at 3 am ready to open presents. I finally told him he could look at what Santa brought but then we had to wait for Wesley to wake up before we could open presents. Gavin and I ended up sleeping on the couch with Zac on the floor. Wesley finally woke up at 6:45 and then we had to wait until Gavin woke up around 7:20. But it was great. The boys loved all their new toys, and we feel so blessed. No big presents for us this year. We are hoping to make a BIG purchase in 2013, so we didn't need anything too big. :)

 Waiting for Gavin to wake up.

And, last night we had our NYE Party. We had everyone write some wishes/resolutions for 2013 on a balloon and then we set them free.

 Our Family Balloon.

 Hreinson Family

 Olson Family

Palmer's picture is on their phone.
Setting our wishes free. The balloons may or may not have gotten stuck on the tree branches at the top story.

 All the lovely ladies, toasting in the New Year in true Mormon fashion with our Sparkling Cider.

We enjoyed chocolate and caramel fondue with many delicious treats as well as chips and dip and cheese and bread.

It was a great New Year's and I was glad to spend it with my 3 favorite boys as well as great friends!

Here's to an even better 2013!

Gavin's 3rd Birthday

I know I have missed like the last two months, but I figured I would post about one of the loves of my life first.

GAVIN! That's right, he turned 3!
Where has the time gone. I can still remember every part of the day I had him, and I what I felt like taking him home. It seems so surreal that he has been apart of our family for 3 years. He is definitely one of the joys of our lives and brings so much happiness into our home. One thing I have to say about boys, they are SO loving! I love that Gavin still wants me to hold him and love him all the time. He is my buddy, and always tells me I am his best friend. It is hard to think that anyone else could ever love him as much as I do.

Stats:
34 lbs. 4oz (75%)
38 3/4in (80%)

How did my baby go from this

to this?

Here are some pictures from Gavin's birthday. Sorry they are not great, with a bunch of kids running around it is hard to take time to take pictures. We had a Superhero Party and all of Gavin's friends were able to come. The kids each put their capes and decorated their masks when they arrived. We played Pin the Shield on Captain America, matched villains to their superheroes, and knocked down pins(2-liter bottles) with pictures of villains on them. We had lunch and opened presents. I hope Gavin had fun, he definitely was spoiled, but I love to spoil my kids. :)
Invite

Here are some of the capes, we also had Incredibles, Wonder Woman, and Captain America. Thanks Alana for all your help with them! 

 Some friends

Along with their capes and masks, these were the favor bags. A Superhero coloring/sticker book, crayons, superhero fruit snacks, and some candy.

Thank you to all those who came and made Gavin's birthday so special!

Some things I would like to remember about Gavin:

He sleeps on the floor in his doorway and then moves to the floor in our room in the middle of the night.

He chews on anything plastic and eats it (I am hoping he grows out of this soon!)

He loves to sing along to the songs on the radio. He also tries to sing along to the hymns. 

He cries when we leave the church because he wants to play with his friends longer.

He loves the iPad and Youtube

He loves to dance to any music.

He eats chicken nuggets, octodogs, fruitsnacks, apples, milk and juice (that's about it) and anything candy!

He loves Wesley, even when he is ornery, if Wesley smiles at him he is happy.

He always wants you to come in his room, closet, or tent and keep you in there to play with him. He will cry if you try to leave.

He likes to compliment on my clothes and hair.

Potty trained at 26 months.

When he needs to go to potty he is the king of the potty dance.

July and August

We have been having a busy Summer......and now it's over and I am still busy. Although, I probably make myself busy so I can't complain too much. I thought about just skipping the last two months and starting off in September, but I figured I can show a little.

I have been teaching Zumba classes at the church twice a week. I figured this way I can get better at being an instructor and work my library of songs before I start a paid class. I have also been trying to sub classes when I can to make some money to pay for my membership as an instructor. I really love Zumba and I enjoy the classes at church, but Zac worries that I am doing too much and taking time away from the kids. So I will probably go back to just one class a week, not to mention I am now the 2nd Counselor in the RS Presidency. I am so excited for this new calling, and to get to know the women in the ward better. I have definitely missed it while I have been in Nursery.

The beginning of July we of course celebrated the 4th. We were able to go up to the Palmer's new house and have a BBQ and watch the fireworks out there. It was a lot of fun to get out of the city spend time with them. I am always so grateful for the wonderful friends we have.

By the way, Wesley spit up on my leg, in case you were wondering.

Then on August 10th Alexandria had her baby, Adelena Noelle Palmer. We are so excited for the Palmer family and their new adventure.

Wesley also turned 4 months in August and he was 19lbs. 11oz. He hadn't eaten in like 5 hours so I don't really count it. I definitely think he is over 20 lbs., but it brought him back down so that he was actually touching the top of the growth chart instead of above it. :)
Gavin is a wonderful big brother, although a little too rough sometimes. Surprisingly Wesley doesn't mind it most of the time. I think he is going to have to be tough to hangout with Gavin. He sits(lays) and watches him play the iPad and wants to be where ever Gavin is. They are so fun but I am worried about the trouble they are going to get in next year. I think I have my hands full now, I am pretty sure I have a lot of future messes to clean up.

Zac and I also celebrated our 4th Anniversary and went out to Rodizio Grill. Zac loved the meat and I love the grilled pineapple so we both went away happy. Mostly I just love getting to spend one on one time with my best friend and the love of my life. He still makes my heart melt, and I couldn't have asked for someone better. He is the most amazing man I know and I am so lucky to be married to him for eternity.

A quick picture from Rachel's birthday. I think we could the Avenger's a run for their money. 

Avenger's Assemble!

The end of August we went to Ely for Trevor's Mission Farewell. He gave a wonderful talk on Sunday. I looked over and say my Dad and Grandpa wiping away the tears. I can't imagine how it must feel to see your posterity build their own testimonies and progress in the gospel. Even as Gavin learns that Jesus lives at the temple or who Joseph Smith is, it makes me emotional. Elder Jones is definitely as prepared as he can be and will spend 8 weeks in the MTC before he leaves for Tampico, Mexico. I am so proud of him and I know he will bless the lives of so many as he shares the gospel and his testimony.

Now we are just waiting for the fall weather to kick in and the leaves to change. We are kind of tired of 90+ degree weather. Football season has started and Zac is excited to watch Peyton play in the Mile High City. Looks like we are going to have to get some number 18 t-shirts. We hope you are all enjoying the new school year and looking forward to Halloween in 6 weeks. I know I am. :)

Breckenridge Friend Trip and Father's Day

The weekend of Father's Day we took a trip to Breckenridge with our friends. It was so nice to get away for a weekend. I think even Zac had fun. I am so grateful that we have such AMAZING friends, they are the best!

We headed up Friday after work and met everyone at the mansion that we stayed in. We spent time in the hot tub, went up to Peak 7 and went swimming in their amazing pools, rode the gondola down the mountain, went shopping at the outlets and ate a ton of amazing food. It was great! We headed home Sunday afternoon and hit some insane traffic. And one of our friends had car trouble but in the end we all made it home safely. I put up a father's day sign and hopefully all of the men had a great day I know that we are so grateful for each of you. Especially my husband. He is one amazing dad, I have no idea how I got so lucky.

Here are some pictures from our trip.......

 Some went on a bike ride while the rest of the girls went shopping.

 At the pool....We tried to get Gavin in the picture...

 On the gondola

 Everyone.......Barrus, Davison, Hrienson, Mitchell, Murray, Olson, Palmer

(We missed the Hillyard's)

Happy Father's Day!