Starting the Year Off Right

Happy 2012!!

We spent our New Years at The Land with Tyler's family. We had so much fun playing games, taking naps, eating, watching movies, and playing the Wii. The weather was cold, but there was no snow on the ground, so the boys could go out and play. On New Years Eve we wanted to get our party started early. Makayla was all ready for the fun in her jammies.

 These are the Lurps we got to spend New Years Eve with... we had a blast!

 We played Just Dance for Kids and Mario Olympics on the Wii all night long.

 And had fun with the coasters.

We knew the kids would be up at 5 the next morning regardless what time we went to bed, so we came up with this great idea to celebrate New Years Eve early... at 8:00 (We might not be able to get away with that when the kids learn to tell time). So at 8:15, we got the pots and pans and went outside to welcome in the New Year.

 After we got all the kids to bed, the adults played Ten Penny Rummy and then we all went to bed at 11:30. It's funny how your life changes after you have kids. I would much rather go to sleep now than stay up until midnight!

Since it's the new year, I should share our New Years Resolutions. This year Tyler and I resolved to slow down. I don't know if that is possible with an almost one year old and a new baby on the way, but we are certainly going to try.

Makayla's New Year's resolution was to walk... and guess what she did on New Year's Eve? Took her first steps!!

 It was so fun that she took her first steps at The Land because 2 years ago when we were up there for New Years Eve, Colton took his first steps too. We know The Land will be like her second home, so we're excited she picked there to walk. And it was so fun to have all the family there to see her big milestone!

Makayla is still a little shaky when she walks, and she still prefers to crawl, but she's getting the hang of things now. I'll admit I'm a little sad to see her walk. Not only will things get harder, but it means she's growing up even faster than I wish she would.

Here's to a great 2012! I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us!

Year in Review

This has probably been the craziest year. If you had asked me a year ago what I thought 2011 would hold for us, I would have never guessed even a portion of the things we did. I can't believe the things we've done this year:

• Had a baby in January
• Quit both our jobs.
• Sold our house in Richfield
• Moved to South Jordan
• Both of us accepted new jobs
• Bought a new house
• Found out we're pregnant with Baby Boy.

It's a crazy life, but we sure love being together. Here's to hoping next year is a little less crazy! Bring on 2012.

So Big

I think that's the only way to sum up Makayla at 11 months... she is getting so big. It makes me so sad to see her get big, but so excited at the same time. I just don't want her to grow up, but I love seeing her learn new things. I've already blogged a lot of the fun things we've done this month with Makayla, but here's some random pictures from December.

I couldn't imagine this sleeping position was very comfortable, but she did take a good, long nap this way.

 My favorite time of the day is when I get to rock Kayla to sleep. She snuggles right up with her bottle and blankie and before you know it, she is out for the night. She is such a fun and easy baby.

 But Makayla can also be a little stink bug. Lately she loves to get into our drawers. She takes everything out and then climbs in.

 Kayla Bugs loves her daddy. They had a fun morning together one day when I was out running errands.

 Makayla still loves bath time. She loves to fill the mug up with water and try to drink out of it.

 She still loves her swing, but she is getting too big to use it. It stopped working the other day. Luckily she is used to sleeping in her crib now.

 Carson is the best cousin. He was helping her to walk.

 Our little girl loves to "help" us with everyday chores. She helped us with the laundry. Really she just pulled all the clothes out of the dryer, but I think she thought she was really helping us.

 This drawer is a little trickier. Lovies can climb in it just fine, but she struggles to climb out.

 I think this is my favorite picture. Tyler was taking an unusually long time to get Makayla down for her nap one day and when I went in to check on them, this is what I found. I don't know if I love Tyler more in this picture or Kayla. It is so typical of how they sleep.

Some other fun things about our little girl at 11 months:

• She figured out how to climb the stairs. The other day I was down stairs for a minute and I heard her fussing. I ran upstairs, but I couldn't find her. I looked up to our bonus room and there she was at the top of the stairs (which is about 17 stairs). I panicked and ran up there, but Kayla just laughed when I got up there like it was some fun game.
• She has also learned what the word "no" means. It doesn't mean that she listens... she just knows what it means. Recently she has started shaking her head and wagging her finger when we tell her no.
• Stinkies is so close to walking. She will cruise on the furniture and occasionally take a step on her own before she falls. I really think we're in trouble when she starts walking.
• She says "da-da" and "ma-ma" when she's around us.
• She jabbers all the time. It's almost like she is speaking some different language.
• Kayla loves her toys.
• Her favorite food is bananas. She doesn't like baby food anymore... I used to think she was such a good eater, now we can barely get her to try anything. We're finding out that she likes to pick up the food herself instead of us helping her eat with a spoon.
• She gives the best kisses... especially to her Daddy.
• Kayla is still the happiest and best baby we could ask for!

As far as Baby Boy goes, he is starting to kick a lot in my belly. He is about 1 1/2 pounds and the length of an envelope. Here's my 6 month prego picture. I can't wait until he's here!!

Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas! Hands down this was the best Christmas ever! It was so fun to see Kayla experience all the fun things that this season brings. We started our fun a week early when we went to Grandma and Grandpa Evans' for a little Christmas party.

Our little family of 3 1/2

And the Jones family

(I blame the hectic time of opening presents because I forgot to take a picture of Terry and Craig)

Makayla got spoiled with a lot of gifts. At first she didn't know what to do, but soon she figured out that something was under all that paper.

Grandma and Grandpa Evans got Makayla a little school bus walker, and she LOVES it! Makayla is learning how to walk, so this is the perfect gift to help her.

She also got a dish set, but Makayla apparently thinks it is a hat.

Terry and Craig got us a freezer. Perfect gift for us! We have been thinking about getting one for a while.

What is that behind Tracy and Jeremy's freezer? Yep, Kayla's head. I chuckle every time I see this picture.

The week leading up to Christmas was the longest week. Tyler and I both had to work the whole week. Do you know how hard it is to keep 8th and 9th graders (and a very excited teacher) under control until December 23rd?

But finally Christmas Eve arrived.

On Christmas Eve we went to the Collard party. This year we decided to just stay at one party. It was getting too hard to drive back and forth between my parents' house and Tyler's parent's house. It was a little sad to miss my family's Christmas Eve, but we had fun with all the Collard traditions.  

Makayla was all ready for the festivities to begin! Isn't her outfit cute? I love having a little girl to dress up!

She managed to keep her bow on for a few hours.

After dinner we had the family talent show. Makayla showed off her walking skills with her new toy and Carson and Colton sang some songs. Really no one in the family has any talent but Tyler, so he played the accordion.

Then we moved on to Nuerdeleun in the street. This year Makayla got to lead everyone in the dancing in the street. I think this picture proves how much she loved it.

Then we came in and had the right/left game and opened presents. Makayla got a toy purse and a doll from Rico. 

She loved her gifts!

We finally headed home around 10:00 and went to bed hoping Santa would come.

We were up bright and early on Christmas morning (sleeping in is a thing of the past with kids). We headed down to see if Santa came... and did he ever! He brought Makayla a lot of fun toys and books.

Our Christmas tree was full of gifts underneath.

We spent forever opening toys and playing with them. It was so much fun to see Makayla get so excited about the toys. I think this was my favorite part of the whole day.

After a few presents she finally got the hang of how to rip the paper.

Even though she got a bunch of new toys, Makayla's favorite gift might have been a new blankie. She immediately stuck the corner of it in her mouth and was content the rest of the time.

You know how you always hear parents complain that the kids got a whole bunch of gifts and had more fun playing with the boxes and wrapping paper? We felt the same way.

After opening presents, we had our traditional gooey buns, which I burned again this year. You would think I would learn after last year, but I didn't. We also had to take our "traditional" family picture in front of our tree.

We spent Christmas day at my parent's house. Where Makayla got spoiled again with presents.

Can you see her little tongue sticking out? So cute!

Makayla got "Elefun" and a learning time dog. She LOVED both of her gifts!!

Here's Ryan, Preston, Gage, and Brayden.

And Darren, Meg, Cole, Hannah, Maddie, and Sadie. Their catch phrase this year was "nice," which they were saying as we took this picture (I think it was a family inside joke, which none of the rest of us really understood).

I feel so bad, but I forgot to take a picture of my parents and my Grandma Draper and Karen.

We had so much fun eating, talking, and playing with all the kids' new toys. Sadie got a new camera for Christmas and she liked taking pictures of Makayla.

After my family party, we headed over for the last part of the Evans' party where we got spoiled yet again with more presents. I must have been worn out, because I only took one picture at this party.

Christmas 2011 was really the best Christmas yet. I absolutely love spending time with our families and it was so much fun to watch Kayla experience all the fun traditions. I can't wait until next year when we will have our little man to celebrate with us!