Oh Santa!!!

So my poor baby is deathly afraid of Santa! We went to our Ward Party on Saturday and as soon as he heard those jingle bells, he grabbed on to us so so tight and wouldn't let go for anything! I felt so bad for him. We stood in line to see him and he was just shaking uncontrollably the whole time. The closer we got, the tighter he would hold on to us. He was scared of him last year, but I was hoping that since he was a little older he would do better, but I think it got worse. When it was time to sit on his lap, he screamed and screamed. In the second picture, we got him to say cheese while he was crying, it was so sweet. I felt so bad for him, I kinda felt like a bad mom for making my poor baby go through it. But, these are the memories you tell your kids about, right?!!!

Christmas Kick-Off 2010

I love Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving (especially in good old Rupert, Idaho)! I love how everyone is in the Christmas spirit and ready to kick-off the Christmas season. I was a little sad that we were unable to be in Rupert on the Square, so we went to Pasadena's Christmas kick-off and it was really fun! In Old Town Pasadena, they have a huge Christmas Tree that Santa drops in and lights up. Everyone also is given fairy dust (hence we don't have any snow here in CA) to through up in the air when the lights come on. It was a really enjoyable evening and completed with hot chocolate and cookies.

I have been trying to load a video of that night for days now and it won't upload, so I give up! I really wanted to post it, because we were pretty impressed that Santa knew how to repel. That is how Santa came to the party, he showed up on top of some tall buildings and then repelled down to the big Christmas tree to light it up!

My top 5 things I am thankful for this year...

As I look at everything I have around me, I can't help but think how blessed I am. I couldn't ask for anything more. I love this time of the year. It always makes me reflect on all the things I am grateful for. Here are a few of many...

I am grateful for Family!

I was blessed to marry into a wonderful family, who raised an amazing son and brother for me (and a crazy BSU Bronco Fan!)

I am so grateful for my family. I couldn't have been born into a better family. I am so grateful for all their love and support.

I am so grateful for this amazing man that I get to be with for eternity. Thank you for always providing for us and making sure we are happy. You are a wonderful husband and daddy!

I am so grateful for this cute little face! He brings so much joy and happiness into my life. He is my little best friend!

I am so grateful for my Savior and his gospel. I will always be in debt to him for the ultimate sacrifice he has made for me. He is always there for me.

I have so many things to be grateful for today and everyday. I am grateful for each of you that are reading this, because you have been a part of my life. I hope your Thanksgiving is a day filled with your greatest blessings and joy.

LA Clippers

This past weekend we went to the LA Clippers game! It was pretty fun! Avery has a suite box at the Staples Center, so we have the awesome opportunity to go the the LA Clippers, LA Lakers, and the LA Kings games. The Staples Center is really nice. We are so lucky to have this opportunity!

Coulson loved watching them play, "Ball!"

Chilling with my Dad in the suite with my popcorn.

He got pretty good at clapping and cheering when he was suppose to!

It was a pretty good game that actually went into overtime, but they lost! Darn it!

Rose Bowl

We have the cool opportunity to live only about a 1/2 mile away from the Rose Bowl. It is a great little area. We wanted to make sure we got to go to a game there before we moved in February, so this past weekend we went with our friends, the Goodmans. It was the UCLA Bruins against the Oregon Beavers. It was a really close and awesome game!

Coulson loves to say "Cheese." It is so funny, because he totally squints his eyes when he says it!

Cheesing it again!

Nursery

Coulson went to Nursery for the first time about 2 weeks ago. He is growing up so fast, we can't believe it. He did so well the first week, way better than we expected he would.

I think it was harder on me then him. We took him in there and hugged him goodbye and off he went to play with all the toys. We left the room, but I stood outside the door and peeked in through the crack of the door for almost an hour. As tears rolled down my cheeks, I couldn't help but wonder if I had taught him everything I needed to in his short little 18 months he has been on earth. I know this all sounds so silly, it is after all just nursery, right?! I couldn't help but think about my parents and how they went through all this with me and more importantly how our Heavenly Father felt when he sent us down to earth. Being parents is such a growing and learning experience. As a mother, I feel I need to be so in tune with the spirit to raise these precious children that Heavenly Father has trusted us with. I am sure as most Mothers do, you worry whether you are teaching them everything they need to know. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't pray to my Heavenly Father asking him to help me to know what I need to teach Coulson. I just hope that I can raise my children in truth and righteous. Thank you to our Moms and Dad for teaching us all that we know. I owe everything I am to my family.

As I watched Coulson, I was so proud of him. He seemed to do everything that he was suppose to... he shared and was kind, he obeyed and listened to his teacher, and he cleaned up when he was suppose too. The only thing that I saw he did (which didn't surprise me) was... during snack time, he ate all his crackers, cheese cubes, and apples slices. He wanted more apple slices but there wasn't any more, so he went around to everybody else's plates and ate theirs. Don't mess with Coulson and his apples. He loves them! So I guess he was the little apple stealer in Nursery. I can deal with that if that is the least of my worries though!

Halloween Weekend

We had a super fun Halloween weekend!!

Here is our little cowboy!

We started out on Friday with a little Trick or Treating activity at Nate's work.

On Saturday, we went to our Ward's Trunk or Treat Activity and can you believe what was there for dinner!!!??? The In-n-Out Truck. It was so awesome!

Enjoying our In-n-Out together.

Our thirsty little cowboy!!

I was amazed at some of the ward member's trunks. They go all out!

After about the first 5 cars, Coulson started to get the hang of trick or treating. It was pretty cute. At home, I could get him to say Treat. But when we got there he was, of course, to shy to say anything. He would just walk up to them and put his hand out and then put the candy in his bag and then go to the next car. When anyone tried to talk to him he would just say "Hat, Hat."

He was so proud of his hat!

Our cowboy was a little scared of the black cat, but he was brave enough to get some candy real quick.

And our little cowboy won the the Best Children's Costume of the Night! Yea!!!

We came home and Coulson did what every little kid does... emptied his bucket and checked it all out!

On Sunday, I wanted to do something little, because it was Halloween after all. So Coulson helped me make a Halloween dinner for us and our friends, the Goodmans.

(Coulson loved helping me with dough and flour as you can tell!)

We had a green snake (baked ham and cheese sandwich), fingers ( carrotts with almond nails and ranch), green slime with worms, and along with pretzels, rice krispies, and cupcakes.

It was a great evening!

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween weekend!

We're Back... Halloween Fun!!!

We are finally back to blogging! I have a lot of catching up to do, but I decided to start with the most recent Halloween Fun. This past weekend we enjoyed taking Coulson to a little pumpkin patch to pick out his first pumpkin. He loved it! He is at such a fun age.




That evening we had our friends, the Goodmans, over for "dinner in a pumpkin" and pumpkin carving. It was such a fun evening!

My boys are such good "cheesers!"

FYI...

So I haven't posted for a little bit and I just thought I would let you know why... I accidentally spilled a glass of lemonade on our laptop and shorted out the motherboard. I know...wonderful, right?!?! I am posting this on Nate's work computer and will post as soon as I have access to a computer. I will have lots of catching to do!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

LA Temple and Santa Monica Pier

Last weekend we started out our adventure in California by going and seeing the LA temple and Santa Monica Pier.

The LA temple was beautiful! It was so so big, probably the biggest temple I have ever seen. We loved walking around it and visiting the new Vistor Center.




I have always seen pictures and seen the pier in movies, but have never been there till now. It was pretty fun, but super super packed with people.

I love these statue people. Coulson was totally intrigued by him!
Is that not the cutest face you have ever seen?!?!?!