Merry Christmas 2013

What a wonderful Christmas! I hope all of you had a very merry Christmas. It was fun in our house, let me tell you!

We were up, bright and early at 6 AM. Santa came!!!

Alden received exactly what he asked for: A Buzz Lightyear. Collyn got what he asked for: A Woody doll. Santa went even farther than that. The boys also got a Jessie Doll and a Bullseye. PLUS a new work bench and a large Goofy stuffed animal.

It was so fun to see the excitement on their faces, getting to play with their new toys for the first time. After about 20 minutes of playing, we started opening presents from under the tree and from family.



I got a new Keurig coffee maker. I'm in heaven. Plus some amazing amazing amazing cookbooks! Lyndon got some clothes, a remote control helicopter and a new video game. Alden got clothes, a fire station toy, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates toys. Collyn got an Ark shape sorter, clothes, and a tractor. We also got gift cards from family.

We spent the whole morning and afternoon in our jammies playing with our new "Toys". I had a fresh cup of a caramel mocha, Lyndon played with his helicopter, and the boys played Toy Story together. It was such a fun, relaxing day. We Skyped both our families and wished them all a Merry Christmas from sunny California.

In the afternoon, we headed out to a friend our ours' house for a Christmas Dinner of Prime Rib. It was delicious, but of course, I ate way too many snacks during the day that I couldn't eat half my meal. It was so good, I wish I could have shoved more down my throat! The boys played with some friends there and we chatted until the boys got tired. Then, we headed home.

Meeting Santa

We headed to the Chico Mall this last weekend to meet Santa. We stood in line for about 20 minutes, spent over $20 for 2 4x6 photos so Alden could tell Santa he wanted a Buzz Lightyear for Christmas.

Collyn wanted NOTHING to do with Santa. He sat on his lap because his brother did, but he was not happy about it. Alden was thrilled to meet the big guy!

Christmas Caroling 2013

Some of the members of the church went caroling last Saturday evening. We went to 11 different locations to sing. It was perfect weather out to go. A nice 40-45 degrees out.

The first stop was at a assisted living facility. They have their own apartments, but have a central location for events. We met in that building and sang a few songs. They had cookies, punch, hot cocoa, and other goodies for us. The boys loved the attention from all the elderly people and Alden loved acting like he was singing.

We then went house to house to other members of our church to sing. On the fourth stop, Collyn was getting really sleepy, because he was still sick and on an antibiotic and I had given him Benedryl to dry up his nose. He was laying on my shoulder the whole time, so I decided that Collyn and I would head home and Lyndon would take Alden with him.

They went to all the stops and then enjoyed pizza at the church.

It was a fun night for all. Even if we did only make it half way through. ;)

Oh, Sickness... Again

Well, before Thanksgiving, we all got colds. We headed to Idaho with colds, came home with colds and dealt with them for 2 more weeks, but no one was getting better, we were all getting worse.

Last Monday, we decided to go to the doctor to get checked out. We didn't have a family doctor here yet, so we went to an office with Walk-Ins in the afternoon. Thankfully, we liked the doctor and found our family doctor.

After we were all checked out.... We all have sinus infections/ear infections. We are all on antibiotics and the boys have been laid out most of the week.

Well, sort of... Collyn likes to cuddle with his brother...

Christmas Program 2013

This is the first year our little guys were able to be in the Christmas program at church. Both Alden and Collyn got up on stage and "sang". Alden spent a good 2 months in his Sunday school class learning the songs and dance moves. He was so into it. Collyn just enjoyed being up with the older kids and moving his mouth like he knew the words.

Of course, I dressed them up and brushed their hair in the "comb-over" style, because nothing is more adorable than that!

The boys performing...

Lyndon was part of the Adult choir and they had a good 30 minute show

Decorating the Tree

The boys and I decorated the tree this year together. Such a wonderful family memory. Lyndon wasn't interested in helping, but the boys enjoyed it!

Thanksgiving 2013

Wow! I am so behind on blogging. There has been so much going on in this house and in the midst of the chaos, we all have been sick with something or another. Thanksgiving was wonderful. We headed to Idaho for the long 10 hour drive after church on Sunday before Thanksgiving. We didn't get to my parents house until late Sunday night after contemplating stopping at hotel multiple times because we were so exhausted. Plus, Collyn decided it would be wonderful to get car sick 5 hours in... in the middle of nowhere... In the dark. We didn't sleep great the first night because the boys slept most of the car ride. We were up until 1 AM playing with toys trying to wear them out. The next day, we spent the morning and afternoon at Lyndon's parents house and grandparents house. Alden and Collyn were able to help on the farm and get spoiled by the Haines and Hartnett's. :) In the evening, we spent time with my family. All 20 of them (or about). My mom made dinner and we enjoyed the evening.

The next few days we spent time back and forth from different houses. I was also able to visit some friends and neighbors that we used to live by when we were in Weiser. It was such a great visit. On the evening before Thanksgiving, we went out to Lyndon's grandparents house for pizza and dessert. On Thanksgiving, we spent the day at my parents house with all the family. We all ate WAY too much. Collyn was the first at the table and the last to leave. His favorite holiday, by far. FOOD! Alden was able to spend the night at my sister, Susan's, house the night before thanksgiving and both boys spent the night at Lyndon's parents house the night of Thanksgiving. On Friday, my mom, grandma, sisters, and I headed to Nampa, ID for Black Friday shopping. I got ALL my Christmas shopping done! ALL! Can you believe it!? Then, we had to cram into our car Saturday morning to head home because of all the presents I bought. Oops. I didn't think that one through. It was such a nice time with family.

On Friday night, we decorated my parents tree with the whole family. A annual tradition.