Merry Christmas 2011

Christmas seems like it came really quick this year!  We had a lot of fun seeing what Santa brought us, and opening gifts.

Griffin woke up around 7:30 and came into get us.  He told me Santa brought him everything he wanted!  Santa brought Griffin an art easel, with supplies, hex bugs and hex bug tracks, a bat mobile, and some candy in his sock!

Griffin thought it was so funny Santa left Joe peanuts and trail mix in his sock. He is still talking about it.

We were able to go to church in the afternoon, and it was cut down to just over an hour.  It was nice to go and feel the spirit and then come home and enjoy the day with our family!

I think Joe was most excited about his rolling massage thing.  I had Heather wrap it up and she wrote it was for Griffin from them on it, so Joe had no idea it was his.  Although he won't admit this to anyone, he is still a kid at heart, and I know he peeks under the tree to see which presents are his, and I've even caught him shaking them.  So I fooled him this year!

We are now going to start gearing up for 2012-  It is going to be a big year for us and we all are eagerly anticipating the arrival of our twins.  Course we don't want them to make their debut too soon, I hoping for mid February!

Happy Birthday Griffin!

Can't believe my little Griffin is now 5 years old!  I will always remember the day I brought this little guy home from the hospital, sometimes when I look at him I can hardly remember him being so tiny and fragile!

Five fun facts about Griffin!

1-He loves going to preschool.  He is learning all his letters and can write his own name!

2-He is a wizard at putting together puzzles! He loves them.  He has been putting together 100 piece puzzles all by himself for quite awhile.  Joe and him have ventured onto the 500 piece puzzles, but I think Joe is having more fun with that one!

3-Griffin loves to tell us that he loves us.  Sometimes he will pop his head into the office, or our room, or snuggle up on our laps and just say, I love you!  You can tell he really means it.  He's always learned to say, "but I love you" after he gets in trouble.  Melts my heart!

4-Griffin knows how to get around town.  He will often tell me where we are going before I can even tell him what we are doing.

5-Griffin has an exceptional memory.  He must have picked this trait up from me.  I am always amazed at the things he remembers, and he remembers them with such detail!  We've had to learn to be careful what we promise him because this kid does not forget!!!

For his birthday this year he decided he wanted a soldier party!

For his cake this year I made soldier cupcakes.  The up close photo was taken with my phone and somehow got pushed to an off site storage place so I got to figure out how to get it!

Griffin wore his soldier outfit and was very excited for everyone to come to his party.  He did get his party taken away because he was being really naughty but he worked really hard and earned it back just in the nick of time.

Easton came and was wearing his soldier outfit, and Ella just showed up as her cute self.

Griffin had lots of fun and enjoyed all his presents!  Just for the sake of remembering this is what he got:

Julane & Dan- Spiderman cars
Heather & Nate- Angry Bird Hat and Joker action figure
LJ- Hot wheels launcher
Mom & Dad- Camera
Julie & Dad- a gun that shoots out discs

I think his most favorite gift was his angry bird hat! When he first felt the package he was a little disappointed because he thought it was underwear.  But once he opened it he said, "Oh my gosh an Angry Bird hat, I didn't know you got this for me. I saw it at the store!" It immediately went on his head!

Pretty much sums up the night! He was one happy kid and thanks everyone for his gifts and for coming to his soldier party!

Christmas helpers

These two can be the best of friends and also the worst of friends all at the same time.  Heather has been coming over every Tuesday to spend time with us, and help me get prepared for the twins arrival.  She has even dared to watch Griffin and Ella while I head off to work for a few hours.

This day was a particularly hard day because Griffin was being such a little pill about everything.  Anyways, Heather got the tree out and assembled it and Griffin, Ella and I worked on getting all the ornaments on.  They both seemed to really enjoy themselves, and they didn't fight too much over who got to do what!

I always feel like Christmas is getting closer once we get our tree up. Still lots to do to get ready!

Hope everyone enjoys their 25 days of the 2011 Christmas Season!

Thanksgiving 2011

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We spent the afternoon/evening with family and friends.

This year during our "what are you grateful for tradition" we each said the following:

Joe - The Grace of God
Tabby- Grateful we made the decision to move to Billings
Griffin- Grateful for all his family, his Uncle, and his babies

Halloween 2011

We had a lot of fun on Halloween. We had a little family dinner consisting of homemade chili, salad, halloween jello, and freshly brewed wassail.  Then it was off to trick-er-treat.  Griffin and Ella were really having a fun time running through the neighborhood.  Heather kept up with them pretty good, I just kind of waddled behind everyone.

This year Ella was a fairy, she let me do her makeup!  Griffin was a swat team member, Easton wore his monster jammies, and according to Griffin I was the "fat doctor". LOL-

The drama for the night happened when Griffin and Ella somehow managed to crash into each other, and Griffin fell and scuffed up his knee. We took them home and Griffin went into his room and screamed, "This is the worst Halloween ever"-  It was quite funny and we all laughed.

Griffin really enjoyed passing out candy to all the trick-er-treaters that came by.  I did find it kind of funny how many mommies were collecting candy for their babies?  Maybe I should have gone to the door requesting double the candy for the twins???  Seriously...made me wonder.

All in all we had a very memorable  night.  I'm so grateful Nate & Heather decided to move here, I love being able to share our life moments together!  Looking forward to many more fun Halloween's!

Just for the sake of remembering I was preggie with twins this year, I'm including a full body photo- and I'm grateful to be able to do so.

Our Elf on the Shelf

This holiday season we have started a new tradition, thanks to Auntie Heather!  We have a special visitor that watches us during the day, and then flies to the North Pole at night to tell Santa if we have been naughty or nice!

Before we wake up she comes back and hides in a new spot to watch us for the day.  So each morning when we wake up we have to find her!

When she first came to our house she didn't have a name so Griffin named her.  He picked the name Sally!

I would encourage everyone to pick your own Elf on the Shelf!

We sure have been having a lot of fun with our elf!