2nd 1/2 of December

These past few weeks have been so much fun for our family. Londyn and Carter are going to be the best of friends. I can tell already. They love to play, bathe, snuggle, and sleep together!! As you can tell by the pictures.


We have a tradition to go to the Lutheran church here in town with Bradey's parents on Christmas Eve. While we were waiting for Bradey's parents to come over for dinner the kids fell asleep on Bradey (and it looks like Bradey is ready for a nap himself).

We also made a new tradition this year to give the kids church clothes on Christmas Eve so they have a new outfit for church. They both look "sharp" as Bradey puts it.

Another tradition is getting jammies on Christmas eve before Santa comes! Aren't they adorable!!

Londyn helped put out cookies for Santa. I left to go get the milk and found her eating them!! What a goose.

Christmas morning I woke up to get Carter a fresh bottle and found our wonderful Londyn playing with all the toys Santa brought her and her brother!! I didn't even know she was up, which isn't normal because she makes SOME kind of noise when she wakes up.
After we all got out of bed we started looking at and opening presents. It was a wonderful Christmas. Carter is a little young so he mostly got clothes. And Londyn's favorite thing to play with is her new kitchen set she got from Santa.

Afterwards we had dinner with Bradey's family. It was great to hang out and visit with everyone.

On the 26th we headed down to SLC, Utah to go visit my aunt and ALL of her kids! When we stopped for gas Londyn got a little car sick and threw up all over herself. Eeewww!! We finally made it to Nener's house!! After saying our hello's and eating lunch we went swimming in an indoor swim park and had a blast. It was Carter's first time swimming. He's not as big of a water bug as Londyn, but he did enjoy it (if he wasn't splashed in the face!). Londyn loved going down the BIG slide (the purple one to the right) and my cousin Christopher, she just wouldn't let him go!

It was really humid in there because the water was warm.
Londyn is on the right in the turqouise swimsuit with Christopher.

Monday and Tuesday we had a quite evening and hung out as a family. Londyn was dancing and entertaining all of us! ;)

As the year comes to an end I've been pondering what all happened this year. It has been very crazy and full of blessings. I've notice it has been the year of "1st"s. Everything from Londyn learning to crawl, walk, and talk to being blessed with our first son!! (If you read all my entries you 'll read about the rest of our 1st's this year.) I am truly grateful for everything that I have in my life, the blessings and the trials. I can't wait to see all the new and wonderful things that will come to us next year!

1st 1/2 of December

So many things have happened this month. I know I will have a lot to write about at the end of the month so I figured I'd do it in 2 parts. We have really enjoyed the white month. Londyn has discovered how much she loves the snow. One day she wanted to go help her Dad shovel the drive way, a few days later she helped him put up Christmas lights (which was the day she realized that snow is AWESOME to EAT!!) Carter and I stayed in the nice WARM house!!

This is Londyn after she helped!

On the 16th we had an early Christmas celebration because everyone is going their separate ways for Christmas. It's hard to believe that this will be the last time ALL of my siblings will be together for the next 2 years! And it was WONDERFUL to have Grandma and pa V. (for those of you who don't know my family this is my mom's parents) joining in the celebration. It was fun to watch Londyn and Hunter fight over things (especially everyone's attention).

The next day my little brother Arthur took Londyn and Hunter out sledding. If you notice on the last picture Londyn fell off!

We finally got our family photo in front of the Christmas tree! I think they turned out very well.

Londyn started potty training last week, and has been doing rather well. She is also turning into a girly girl and gets into all of my hair things and jewlery.

And Carter laughed for the first time last Saturday. We didn't get it on film, but I will next time!!

Car-Car Man is getting big!!

So I totally forgot to post about little man's 2 month check up appointment. We went in on Dec. 10th. He is growing big and strong!! I was excited to find out how big he is getting. He weighs in at 11 lb. 6 oz. and is 22 3/4 inches long!! WOW!! Those measurements are in the 25%, so he's below average, but he's big for one of my kids! BUT I was SHOCKED to hear his head measurement. His head is 40.3 cm, which is in the 55%!! HOLY MOLY the kid has big noggin!! But Bradey says it's because of his huge brain!! I love my little stud!!

Very Busy Londyn

After Londyn woke up from her nap on Sunday, she was ALL over the place. Bradey and Carter were in the living room watching the game, (Vikings vs. Cardinals) which is SOOO boring. So Londyn and I went and played in the toy room. Watching her makes me realize how much she has grown in the past year. She speaks in sentences, knows most of her alphabet and numbers (and says them all by herself), can read some of her books all by herself, and LOVES to help with her little brother. Along with being so quick to learn, she has figured out how to climb EVERYTHING!! Couches, chairs, boxes, piano bench, you name it! So here are a few pictures of my sweet Londyn being her usual busy body!

Getting Ready to make her climb

Strike A Pose Gorgeous
Feeding Car-Car
"Hi Car-Car" is her favorite thing to say to her brother!
Thanks to her cousin Hunter hats are her new fetish
Oh how this girl LOVES the phone
But I think she loves her books even more!

I am thankful for.....

.....MANY THINGS. The Lord has blessed me tremendously this year. A beautiful new home, a very handsome and healthy baby boy. A VERY smart and sassy little girl. And a SUPERMAN husband (I always save the best for last!!).
Thanksgiving was wonderful. I got to spend the holidays up in Washington with my family (minus the Cook Clan). It was great to see my Grandpa Leonardson, and ALL the humor he brought to the table!! ;) And I love to see my Dad with all his grandkids. He is a VERY proud Papa, and all the kids just love him to death. It was also wonderful to spend time with Arthur before he leaves for 2 whole years. Tesha and I went shopping together, while the boys watched the kids, which was something that the both of us really needed. I LOVE SISTER TIME!! And I had a BLAST kicking Michael's and Lydia's butt in bowling! Bradey won by 2 POINTS!!
I am so grateful for everyone's help with my kids. Especially you Susan, you're the greatest!!
WE went snowmobiling on Saturday, and that's what most of my pictures are so here's some pics from that day.