Christmas/New Year

I love Christmas! It is my favorite time of the year. In the past we have always spent it with our families. This year, however, we stayed home and had Christmas with just our family. Xavier got to help decorate the tree and put up the stockings. On Christmas Eve we opened our gifts that were sent from Grandma Soosa. I got a mandolin slicer. Drake got some slippers, or "house shoes" as he calls them and a turtle hand puppet thing. Xavier got a lego train set that he absolutely loves! On Christmas morning, we all came downstairs to see what santa had brought us. The first thing we saw under the tree was a bike for X (it has Thomas on it). He saw it, but was confused. He stood there staring at it not sure if it was for him or what to do. We told him it was his and he got excited and sat on it, scooting it around the house. We tried to help him pedal, but it is just a little too big for him right now. We got him some puzzles, play dough, and a Thomas Christmas book that came with watercolors. He got candy and a hot wheels car in his stocking. Santa left Isobel some little ball rattles that have Finding Nemo characters on/in them. In her stocking she got a book, a little pig rattle and a lady bug pull down toy for her car seat. We wrapped a puzzle for her as well. Drake and I both got candy in our stockings. I got him a Game of Thrones t-shirt and he made me some gauges for my ears.

On the 26th we drove up to Farmington to see our families where we got even more gifts. I got pajamas, a snuggie, clothes, some scarves, more earings, a bracelet, a pressure cooker, a large mixing bowl, a rolling pin, a sifter, a moby wrap, and a heating pad. Drake got some clothes, pajama pants, a panini maker/ grill, a brita water filter, and a tent. Xavier got a wagon, clothes, toys, more tacks for his trains, a train puzzle that makes train noises, and a helmet and knee pads for his bike. Isobel got some babies, a mobile that makes calming sounds, clothes, shoes, and hair accessories. We all got gift cards, money and ornaments as well.

I made all of our gifts that we gave this year. I crocheted a scarf for my mom and a deadmau5 hat for my brother-in-law. I made a welcome mat for my dad and a couple of pot holders for my mother-in-law. My brother got a bracelet, my sister got a necklace, and my father-in-law got a belt- all made out of paracord. For our parents and grandparents I helped the kids make ornaments- a handprint from Xavier and a footprint from Isobel.

We drove back home on the 31st. We got back at 8, got the kids to bed by 9 and went to bed at 10:30. Drake had to be at work at 6 this morning and we were both tired so we didn't try to stay up. We were both up at midnight because Isobel woke up and needed to eat so we still got to celebrate the new year together.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we stayed home and had a big dinner for the 3 of us. We made a turkey, stuffing, candied yams, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a pumpkin pie. We also had cranberry sauce and sparkling cider with our dinner. It was a very mellow, laid back Thanksgiving, which was weird. Neither of us have had a calm Thanksgiving before. It was kind of nice, but kind of lonely too. We all ate way too much so we went for a walk to the park. This got us out of the house, and Xavier got to play and get some energy out. I was also hoping to start labor since this was the due date, but it didn't work.

Halloween!

This Halloween was another success. Both Xavier and Drake were feeling sick yesterday. By about 6 they were both feeling a little better so we decided to put costumes on and go trick or treating. Xavier went as a little soldier- camo attire and a gun (nerf gun). Drake went as deadmau5, and I was a redneck with the beer gut hanging out. We went to the same neighborhood as last year, but to our surprise not very many houses had candy. The street we decided on had two houses with porch lights on on one side of the road and three or four on the other. That was it! Just six houses passing out candy. This worked well enough for us with the boys not feeling that great. Xavier was done after five houses. He asked me to hold him, so I carried him to the last house. I put him down so he could say trick or treat one last time this year. He was excited to eat his candy when we got home (we only let him have one piece).

Last Saturday we carved pumpkins with our good friends Margo and Ella. Ella decorated her pumpkin with stickers, lots and lots of stickers! Xavier wasn't very interested in the stickers. He put two stickers on his pumpkin and decided he was done. He enjoyed cleaning out the pumpkins much better. He went from person to person to help clean out the pumpkins. He reached in and pulled out all his little hand could hold. Once that was done he sat next to Ella and watched her as she continued to put stickers on her pumpkin.

We let them sit outside too long...

Redneck with beer gut, little soldier, deadmau5