Merry Christmas!

It's always such a fun and exciting build up to Christmas, even as an adult I've always eagerly anticipated the day. Now that I have children it again becomes even more exciting as I get to experience it through their eyes.

We had a WONDERFUL busy christmas this year and still one more family celebration to go.

On December 18 we had dinner with the Dykman clan (aunts, uncles, cousins) It's always nice to see everyone and enjoy each others company- of course good food is also involved.

The next day Grace, Cori and I did our annual Christmas baking- we made sugar cookies, candy cane cookies and spekulaas (however that is spelt). Jaxon of course was there to help decorate the cookies but I think ended up eating more candies than decorating with them. Not too many pictures from the day but heres a few!

The rest of the week was pretty low key, we didn't even do any crafts just hanging out at home getting ready for Christmas, I did have to go to the mall one last time and was dreading it sooooo much. The kids did amazing though and we got everything we needed.

Some yummy Christmas treats we made!

Christmas Eve was spent with Bill, Grace, Conrad and Cori. We always love spending time with them, it's wonderful to have such an amazing family I married into. We kept dinner pretty simple with appy's and also had a cake to celebrate Alivia's actual birthday. Jaxon kept telling us it wasn't Alivia's birthday because she already had it, so we tried to explain it was just a party last week and Christmas Eve was the actual day she was born. We exchanged gifts and got spoiled again, Jaxon was VERY eager to help everyone with their gifts.

Pretty little birthday girl!

I Love this picture of the kids with Grandma (wearing their new sweaters)

Trying out the new toys

Annual Dykman family picture

Helping to blow out Alivia's candle

Christmas morning started off with some SUPER yummy cinnamon roll pancakes- thanks pinterest, and of course egg nog. Once we were done it was time for presents! Jaxon by now had this down pat, Alivia on the other hand couldn't care less- she did end up ripping some paper off her presents but was more interested in the paper itself and putting it in her mouth- usually the way it goes! The rest of the day was a nice lazy one enjoying having Daddy home, playing with the new toys and having too many sweets.

Helping Alivia

Alivia napping, Jaxon in his underwear and Daddy putting together the new easel

Jaxon painting on his new art easel

My friend Caszie made the kids these blankets... so cozy!

We then went to my parents house to exchange gifts and of course were spoiled some more before heading to my Aunt Eunice and Uncle Barry's for the Hamalock family dinner. A YUMMY turkey dinner along with more good company seeing cousins, aunts and uncles who we only see a couple times a year. ( I forgot my camera so I have to get the pictures from my mom)

The past couple days I've been trying to play catch up with cleaning and sleeping and just trying to find the energy to make it through the day and get to bed time. We've had a busy but fun Christmas with lots of memories made!

Today I am officially in my 3rd trimester, only 12 weeks until baby is due- we'll see when this one decides to make his or her appearance since my first 2 were both early! Still nervous and anxious about having 3 children but so excited to meet this new little miracle! Here I am at 28 weeks pregnant!

Happy New Year and looking forward to all that 2012 has to offer!

Merry Chirstmas from our family to yours!

Alivia's 1st Birthday!

We celebrated our baby girl a week before her actual birthday. It was a rainbow theme and I love how everything turned out- you wouldn't have realized it was only a week before Christmas!

We had lots of fun, and Alivia got spoiled. Jaxon of course loved helping to open the gifts- but mostly did it himself and he would say thank-you to everyone after he had opened them, it was very cute. He also had to help Alivia blow out her candles.

It's amazing how quickly this past year has gone and it always amazes me how much a baby changes in their first year! Alivia is such a JOY to have in our family, she has become a happy girl who seems to like to make people laugh and definitely loves attention! She LOVES her Daddy, as soon as he comes home from work the kids both rush to see him at the door, Alivia gets sooooo excited she starts flapping her hands and saying DADA, many many times. She just started walking about a week and a half ago and already seems as though she's trying to run to catch up to her big brother. We all love her to pieces and couldn't imagine life without our sweet baby girl!

Not much else to say so here are some pictures of the special day!

Me and my Beautiful children!

Alivia with Grandma

Trying to share some cake!

More Christmas FUN!

We've had quite a busy week around here and an even busier weekend (which we're only half way through).

Last Sunday we took the kids along with my parents and went to the Santa Clause parade in Cloverdale, despite the cold evening and Alivia being grumpy the entire time Jaxon loved all the lights and floats.

Jaxon and I did a few more Christmas crafts including these fun Christmas ornaments that now hang in the kids bedroom window. I printed an ornament shape off the internet, and used my circle cutter to cut out the middle. We then used packing tape and stuck christmas confetti and glitter (from the $ store) to it, covered it with packing tape then glued it to the ornament shape. (We did this same effect in the summer with streamers).

We also did marshmallow snowman. I drew the 3 circles on paper and then drew a line of white glue, Jaxon took the mini marshmallows and put them on the lines- great for fine motor and also fun because he got to eat marshmallows too!

We decorated gift bags and made some cute Christmas cards- I'm so happy with how they turned out. We did fingerprint reindeer and lightbulbs using potatoes. Jaxon stamped the potatoes and once it was dry i outlined them and added swirly lines.

We made a gingerbread house this week and decorated it. I got this GREAT cast iron form a couple of Christmases ago from my mother in law and so we always make out own house from scratch- such a fun memory and tradition I'm hoping my children will love as much as I do.

Last night we went to Christmas in Williams Park. This is the 5th year me and Jordan have gone, we took Mya when she was 3 and have gone every year since. This year was just the 4 of us, Jaxon loved all the lights and he even got to go on a pony ride! We had hot dogs, hot chocolate and cookies while we warmed up by the fire. Jaxon also got to sit in the fire truck. Another family tradition for years to come.

Enjoying our hot dogs

The only Santa that Jaxon likes- lifeless

How Alivia started the night...

...and how she ended it!

Cool Dude sitting in the fire truck

Jaxon riding on the pony

This time of year is extra busy now that Alivia's birthday is added right into the mix, today we celebrated her 1st birthday with our family. I was busy making her cake yesterday with my good friend Caszie. I will add a special post just for her birthday.

Tomorrow we have a Christmas dinner with the Dykman side of the family and on Monday Grace, Cori and I are doing some Christmas baking... lots of Christmas fun, let's hope I can keep up and find the energy for it all!