July 2016

What a hot month! We spent a lot of time seeing friends and attempting to spend time outdoors.  I have to admit it is a bit of a challenge when one kid wants someone to play with and the other just wants to crawl and put everything in their mouth.  I tried to plan excursions where I knew someone would be there to help or I could confine the kids into a smaller area.  The library is one of our favorite places!  It is super kid friendly and has AC!  I am ready for some cooler weather!

Eva

• can use the potty like a big girl (most of the time)
• spoke her first complete sentence "This is MY firetruck."
• starting use the word "I" instead of always saying "Eva"
• started having more meltdowns when she doesn't get what she wants ..."But, I really want it" and "I don't want to" have become a couple of her favorite phrases

Owen

• mastering pulling himself up (loves to stand in his crib)
• can now get into sitting position from crawling
• making more attempts to crawl for real not just army crawl
• officially has 2 teeth coming in
• eating more and more 

(52/52)

2015 is coming to an end and what a year it has been!

 Owen's first Christmas!

Eva loving to open open open!

Some Highlights:

• we moved to a house near family (it has been sooooo nice)
• Eva turned one
• We found out we were expecting baby number 2
• Eva went on her first airplane
• visited family in Ohio
• Owen arrived on November 19, 2015
• celebrated our first Christmas as a family of 4

(27/52)

Happy 4th of July!  Eva sends sends sticky, watermelon hugs and kisses to everyone!

Christmas with The Smiths

The Smiths celebrated Christmas in style!  We enjoyed lots of family time during the week leading up to Christmas (and still some to come).  We were able to have a wonderful brunch at my mom's.  We enjoyed a day in Pueblo with Chris' family.  And on Christmas day we stayed home, relaxing as a family of three. We still need to celebrate with my dad, but he got his wish of Christmas snow so we will celebrate in a couple days.

With Micheal Buble playing in the background and the fireplace keeping us warm we began Christmas morning exchanging gifts. Eva was quite the champ ripping paper and putting it in her mouth.  Then, we proceeded to eat the day away.  We started off the morning with yummy baked french toast with a praline topping, mimosas, and bacon.  Mid-afternoon we enjoyed a yummy cheese dip and shrimp cocktail.  Our evening dinner was delicious prime rib, mashed potatoes, and homemade green bean casserole.

Throughout the day the TV played many Christmas classics...Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, Love Actually, and Frozen!  It was a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to many many more.

 

Santa

Check off another first...Santa!   Today we visited Santa.  Now, I wouldn't call us the outdoorsie type, but when looking into seeing Santa, Chris discovered Bass Pro Shops gave a free picture with your visit.  So, Bass Pro it was!  It was actually really great!  I remember standing in line and waiting FOREVER to see Santa as a kid.  It would get really hot and it would seem like your turn was never going to happen.  But, at Bass Pro it was relaxed and fun.  They have so many great things for kids to do while waiting...crafts, carousel, bows and arrows, etc... (we look forward to next year when Eva can actually enjoy them)!  Oh, and since everyone knew they were getting a free picture you could just feel the weight being lifted off parents shoulders.  There was no pressure to buy and no stuffy rules about not taking pictures with your phone!  It was just a fun family experience!

Now, the question I know everyone wants to know...did she cry????  Yep, she did, but not right away!  She took it all in and then decided sitting with Santa by herself wasn't her cup of tea.  So, mom and dad joined and we got a pretty great family picture with Santa!

Thankful Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I love all the yummy food and family time.  This year was even more special having little Miss Eva with us.  We indulged in delicious food.  Then, we spent most of our time playing and admiring Eva.

One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is our exchange of ornaments.  It is even more fun now that Eva gets to start her own little collection!  This year Uncle Zach got the honor of getting her an ornament.  He got her the cutest snowman that says I <3 My Uncle.

So much to be thankful for this holiday season.  A healthy baby girl, a great husband, a new job I don't mind going to, and great family and friends.