Our Winter so far...

As I was looking through my camera for pictures to post, I realized how horrible I have been at taking pictures these last few months.  I feel like a pretty horrible mom for not documenting things better.  Anywhos, we got our first nice snow storm after Thanksgiving, and David was a fun daddy and took them outside and built them a snow slide.  They had so much sliding down on a plastic sack and tripping all over in the snow.  Brigham kept falling face down and couldn't move without help, it was sooo funny!

Yes, those are Isabel's old princess boots that Brigham is wearing.  Luckily, he got some new boots for Christmas.  It was pretty sad that he was calling these boots "my boots" and got so excited to put them on.  Poor 2nd child syndrome:)

Brigham turned the big 2 on December 14th.  I can't believe how fast he is growing up!  He was up before the crack of dawn, as usual.  And we decided to open presents before David left for work at 6:30am so he could play with them.

Oh I love this kid!  He has grown up so much in the past few months.  He is talking like crazy, as well as doing his fair share of sassing those he loves!  He just melts my heart, just like Isabel.  How are we so lucky to have such amazing kids???
After we played with his toys, we got ready for the day, and headed to the mall play place to let him run around and get some energy out since we haven't done much playing outside in the cold.  Then it was off to Chick Fil-a for a fun lunch and some more playing.
I got a little ambitious and wanted to try and make him a cake after reading some amazing tutorials on a blog (http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2008/11/make-cake-series.html).  It was far from perfect, but it was fun to do, and made Brigham happy, so...mission accomplished in my opinion!

The little man is quite full of hot air and blew the candles out with hardly any effort!  I guess he is a chip off the 'ol block!
My sweet Brigham, I hope you always know how much we love you,  you are such a special part of our family and such a wonderful little boy.


For Christmas, we went down to Ephraim to spend a few days with the Bailey's.  It was lots of fun and great to get away for a couple days.  Amazingly enough, Santa was able to find his way to Grandma's house on Christmas Eve to check on the kids.  First, I have to say, that this year, my kids+Santa= unmeasurable FEAR!  They love the idea of Santa, but definitely from afar!  Each time they have had the chance to talk w/Santa, they go completely awall at the last second.  And I mean, screaming and clawing to get away like you have never seen!  I will try and post pics from our ward Christmas party for further proof.  Well, back to Grandma's house.  Here is a great example.

This is the reaction we got when we told her it was her turn to sit with Santa.  Up to that point, she had been so excited and intrigued, but the tables turned when she found out she actually had to go up to him.  We didn't torture her and make her sit on his lap, but she had to go up and get her present from him.

 

Through sobs, she told him Thank You and quickly retreated back to the couch.  What was even funnier was how happy she was to open her present and see what he gave her....

Now, I am kicking myself for not getting Brigham's reaction documented.  It was so priceless and probably could have won me money on AFV.  He was equally excited at the thought of Santa, but when he walked in the front door and caught Brigham off guard, he went completely bazerk, and started screaming hysterically.  We got him calmed down enough until we tried to get him on his lap, then it all started again.  He did take his present from his hand and cried another "thank you".  He loved his zhu zhu pet and kept saying thank you.  But then, when the time came for Santa to leave, he walked past the couch right where Brigham was sitting, and Brigham didn't realize it until he looked up and Santa was RIGHT THERE, and he freaked out again, sinking back into the couch as far as he could go and screaming NOOOOO.  Part of me felt so bad that he was so scared, but I just couldn't stop laughing.  Just wish I would have gotten a picture of it:)

After Santa came, we played the Jingle Bells Game, which has become a tradition for the Baileys.  You take a big sheet, and put lots of little bells in it and then you all gather round it and shake the sheet to make the bells bounce all over to "Jingle Bells" playing in the background.  It has also become tradition for the older guys to bounce the sheet as hard as possible during the chorus and launch the bells ALL over the living room.  We usually lose at least 4 or 5 bells that have launched into the tree, or under furniture.  We usually get laughing so hard that tears are shed by many.  Definitely a fun tradition!
Christmas morning, we had to compromise with the kids and wake up at 5:45am.  But honestly, that is a normal time for our kids, so it wasn't too terrible.  Christmas was so fun for me because both of my kids had an idea of what was going on and were so excited.  Although, as we waited to go upstairs and see what Santa had left us, Brigham kept telling us, "Santa not upstairs, santa not here"  He was so nervous about having to see Santa again and wanted to make sure he had brought the toys and left.  So cute!
The kids (and adults) were all significantly spoiled with presents and we had so much fun watching the kids enjoy their toys.  Brigham got a really cute train track set that was Cars themed (he is obsessed with that movie and Lightning McQueen).  Isabel got lots of Littlest Pet Shop toys and houses.  It was so funny to see them both go to their toys, see what they got, then Isabel sat down in front of the train and Brigham started playing with the pets.  Hey, I guess they are easy to please:)
One of my very favorite websites is www.ana-white.com.  She posts free furniture building plans, and when I saw this doll bed, I knew I had to make it for Isabel.  A few days later, she posted plans for the really cute tool bench that is behind Brigham, and I got so excited to make some presents for my kids that would last long enough for their kids to play with them.  Isabel was giddy when she saw the new bed for her new baby and has made sure she is tucked in each night before she goes to bed.  Brigham has had fun pounding away on his bench with his new tools.  I am so glad David helped me build these, and glad I got them done before my carpel tunnel got really bad.

Christmas was wonderful to experience through the eyes of two sweet toddlers.  David spoiled me and got me a Bosch mixer.  I am really excited to get good at making our own bread, as soon as I can find the right size of bread pans!  Who knew it would be so hard to find some good ones??? 

We are anxiously awaiting baby #3. Today is my due date and I am so desperate to have this baby.  We can't wait to find out what we are having and look forward to our family growing and just getting better.  Wish us luck that we don't go insane learning to cope with 3 crazy kids under 4!!!