Merry Christmas...Finally

This post is way overdue but that is because importunately I was sicker then I have been ever starting Christmas night! I am just now getting this back on track it was nuts! The only time I have ever been even close to that ill is when I was pregnant which I am not, we even took a test! Christmas was unaffected by these sickness though and it actually was a really lovely laid back weekend.

such mystery!

Christmas Eve story telling.

patiently waiting...

Using his new tools to "open" gifts.

Leo was so fun to watch this year because he understood the gift idea this time and showed excitement over everything. My favorite is when Mike opened a box of ties and Leo got so excited and put it on just like a pro!

Melts my heart 

so cute!

Help from Dad

Lily also had a fun time "opening" her gifts! Of course it was mainly me opening them for her and saying "oh Lily look at this!" she was full of smiles and coos though.

She loved sucking on her stocking

Christmas Eve


On Christmas Eve is when we celebrate with Mike's family and a tradition we have is to do a gingerbread house ,this year Mike wanted to make one for the dogs and the house turned out looking really good! The dogs demolished it in about .5 seconds.

Filled with dog treats and ham! 

The Boys had the guinea pig test it out first!

GONE

Leo was screaming at the dogs thinking they were all fighting.

After the fun of the dog gingerbread house we opened gifts and just enjoyed eachother's company. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the holiday's this year! The boys were so cute "exchanging gifts" and reading under the tree!

Leo was obsessed with the candy canes

so cute!

Oh so sleepy!

Preparing for Santa

When we got home the babies were so tired but they played for a little bit after getting their Pjs on and while I was cooking Santa's cookies...Leo fell asleep before the cookies were done, haha!

He was driving his new car on Lily!

homemade santa plate

Stockings were hung

After Santa stopped by...

Christmas Day


Leo didn't really understand why I was excited first thing in the morning until he realized that he was getting toys from under the tree! After he opened one gift he was all over opening the rest!

Christmas morning!

Since he fell asleep before they were done he had to
 finish what Santa didn't eat Christmas morning

This was the first thing he ran to!

yummy breakfast!

Helping Daddy open his gifts

He had to have a candy cane

In the afternoon my family came home to celebrate the holiday and Leo had so much fun! He went from person to person opening gifts and playing with everything, even my kitchen utensils that I got from my mom.

Helping Grandma

All ready for the day!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Evening

Seeing Great Granddad

Leo opened some new books, which he has read at least twice a day since.

Hot wheels!

Playing video games, of course!

silly hat

So as you can tell my all the pictures we had a pretty eventful day! This year I am so thankful to be living close to family again and that we were able to wake up in our own home on Christmas morning! I am so grateful for my little family and all the joys that come along with them. Leo and Lily make me smile more and more each day! Mike is an amazing husband who works hard for us all and for that we were able to have a wonderful Christmas with happy memories! Happy Holidays!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

The weather may not be looking much like Christmas time but our house is beginning to! I have been trying to get a decent picture of Leo in front of the tree but I am afraid it's just not going to happen! I still have a week or so left to try and get one...Lily on the other hand has taken successfully around 100 photos or so at least. I sent out our Christmas cards for which we took family photo's for, aw the joys of an uncooperative toddler.

First Christmas!

Kisses

I took this shot after the fact he is just sitting on our bed!

Merry Christmas!

I have also been trying to be creative on our to take pictures for our "memory books" so instead of the traditional tree poses I took some of the ornaments and such and then tried to kid the kids in front of it for pictures..as I said before we are still working on Leo!

Family Tree

Mike's St. Nicholas gift this year

Me being artistic

Big Brother Little Sister!

This one I took by accident...of course he is shirtless! 

So Pretty!

We start our holiday celebrations in the next couple days and I can't wait to see how Leo reacts to Christmas this year!

Pat-a-cake

Leo was so proud of himself for "teaching" Lily pat-a-cake. He loves the roll it up part and  he always claps her hands together and rolls them during the song! Lily surprisingly just sits and smiles during the song, this is the first thing that they really have interacted with together and it makes me so excited for all the years to come when they can play with each other!

"Oh Gosh"

 "Oh Gosh" is Leo's new favorite phrase! He says it when he drops something, taking off his socks, changing his diaper you name it he says it at a drop of a hat. It's the cutest thing and I am glad he has picked up on the word "gosh" and not the other 4 letter words that he sometimes hears, haha.

Princess in Training

Lily will be 4 months next week. Seriously where does the time go? She is changing so much everyday and her own personality is really starting to shine. She loves to sit on your lap and smile away while trying to talk to you. She can carry on quite the conversation if you let her. She also is a really good sleeper but here recently she has been waking up around 230 to eat so maybe it's time to start the rice cereal? We put her to bed while she was still awake the other night to start the self soothing she was sleepy but still had her eyes open and she barely cried! It took about 20 minutes but she just layed there whimpering every once in awhile but eventually fell asleep all on her own, I was so proud! Lets hope she keeps this up. That would be awesome. She can also roll to her side which makes bouncy time interesting since we lost the buckle, so good thing she likes her swing!  When feeding her I love that she smiles behind the bottle and when you kiss her cheek she almost laughs she smiles so much! She is precious.

3 months old in this picture

Being funny sticking her tongue out!

Playing games with Daddy and Godfather Connor 

Oh so Happy!

She is growing so fast I had to put her in this shirt before she grew out of it! I was cutting it  close!

Busting out of that shirt...lol

Almost asleep...

She loves her hands

Can we say cheese!?

Leo has become an expert on taking picture for Mama...He has known for a long time now that when he sees the camera to say "cheese" but now he does it all the time! It is hard to take action shots of the little man now because he always stops what he is doing when he notices the camera! Funny boy that Leo.

Playing away...

OH MOM YOU CAUGHT ME!

CHHEEESSSEE!

So Many Projects so Little Time!

I was able to accomplish some of my crafty projects that I mentioned before, I know I can't believe I did it either. Every project  obviously starts out with an idea in my head, then I look up how other people do it online, then a billion trips to hobby lobby and I can finally start! Wait...Leo needs to eat, Lily needs a bottle, Leo is climbing onto the counter again what!? Finally get him down to take a nap and what is Lily doing...she is wide awake! well then it is time to cook dinner and switch out the laundry Leo wakes up we play we get grumpy Mike gets home and I have NO IDEA where the time went. So the fact that I was able to get these few projects done blows my mind. I am getting better at managing my time though but my list of craft projects keeps growing but I will feel so good when  I have them done!

Project # 1: old wooden stand into ironing board

My Granddad put this together from scrap
 lumber years ago for my TV in my apartment...I am glad I kept it!

Found fabric and 2 layers of quilt batting to cover it.

Leo helped me staple the pieces...or so he thought.

Done! I still think I am going to paint
 the legs blue for a finished look.

Project #2: Lily's Hair bow organizer

I don't have any before pictures but it started out as an unfinished wooden frame
that I screwed hooks into on the bottom  and painted
 green attached a crocheted flower then lastly stapling ribbon to the back.

 I should have bought the bigger frame! LOL

She barely has any hair yet.

Project #3: Carseat Canopy

This was my first sewing project.

Things I learned:

1. I don't know how to sew a straight line yet.
2. When sewing things with two layers sew inside out!
3. Adhesive velcro doesn't work.

Still turned out pretty good!

Now don't think I am neglecting Leo with my projects..right now I am working on a tool workbench and a lego table for him for Christmas!

Other projects that are on my list:
Lily's taggie blanket
Baby's memory shadow box
and diy Christmas decor

Wish me Luck!

Night Night Teddy

Leo received this bear as a gift they day he was born from my friend Jessica and recently he has become very attached to Mr. Bear. One night he just started carrying him to bed with him and giving the bear "hugs" around the neck until he fell asleep. This is seriously the cutest thing. The bear is a soothing sounds bear so he makes heart beat noises, ocean wave sounds and thunderstorm sounds. Leo goes to bed pretty easy if this bear is with him and it is soooo cute to watch him cuddle with it. This is the first thing besides me that he has been clingy too at bedtime. This bear might be with us  awhile so I thought I would jot down when this started so that one day when Mr. Bear is all worn and raggy from being slept with  and carried around I will remember how he started out...

Goodnight everyone!