Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving at my parents house. The day consisted of cooking, eating TONS of food, loving on and cuddling with baby Leyton, playing hide and seek and board games with Andrew, and relaxing with the family.

My parents got the kids ornaments to hang on the tree. Andrew got Spiderman and Ava & Leyton got a nativity. Andrew LOVED his Spiderman.

Andrew was in love with Leyton. He wanted to hold her most of the day. It was pretty cute. He gave her tons of kisses and kept saying that she needs to open her eyes so she can get to know him. Such a sweetie.

The boys drinking their coffee & hot cocoa.

Reading lots of princess stories throughout the day with Pama.


The grandparents with all three of their grandchildren. Leyton is only 2 weeks old.

1 on 1

I love one on one time with my kids. It's so nice to have time to just focus on one of them. Lately I've gotten a little bit of quality one on one time with each of my kids.

Andrew & I spend quite a bit of one on one time together since Ava naps every afternoon. But I will admit that not all of that time I take to just spend time with him. I am usually trying to get some things done around the house. But on one day last week we sat and had cupcakes and hot chocolate and just talked. It was wonderful. I love my little guy and the conversations we have. He is always making me laugh and I'm always surprised at how smart he is and how much he understands.

Drinking out of our new Christmas mugs from Twyla Pama...thanks Pama!

11.16.11- 4 years old

On Tuesday night Ava and I spent a little time together which happens every Tuesday and Thursday morning while Andrew is at school, but I am usually trying to run errands and get things done. That night while the boys were out running errands we sat and read lots of princess books and sang songs. It was so nice to spend some time with just my sweet little girl.

She has a terrible little rash due to all of her drooling, but I still think she's adorable.

This is her new favorite spot in the house. She stands up on this little step by the fireplace and I think she thinks it's her stage.

11.22.11- 18 months old

Being Thankful- week 3

Sunday- Family fun night filled with games and songs with my little family.

Monday- My sweet little Ava (her 18 month birthday). She brings so much joy to our family and is so funny, sassy, and sweet.

Tuesday- Coming home to a clean house and not having to clean it. I LOVE having a housekeeper!

Wednesday- Hot cocoa & cupcakes with Andrew. Love my little guy and the time we have just the 2 of us. He is full of conversation, very complementary, really smart and my little cuddle bug.

Thursday- Preschool! So nice to have a little break for a few hours.

Friday- Starbucks....I love lattes.

Saturday- A warm fire on a blustery and rainy day.

Ava at 18 months

Wow, is my daughter really a year and a half old? I can't believe it! She really doesn't look like a baby anymore. She is so funny and is constantly us cracking up. For instance, today I looked back at her while we were in the car and she was sitting there with a blanket over her head...she thought she was so funny. There's really no way to explain Ava, she just has a silly little way about her. She is obsessed with Daddy these days and goes around the house pointing at every picture that he is in. She is a really picky eater and won't even try new food. The only things she seems to like are: waffles & pancakes, eggs, grill cheese, pb&j, chips, french fries, cheese, yogurt, most fruit, juice & water. That's pretty much it. It makes it a little hard at meal times. She has a really bad rash on her face from drooling so much while teething. It doesn't seem to be going away. Her hair is super crazy! I tried curling it the other day and within 30 minutes the curl was gone. Some of her hair has curl to it and other parts are totally straight. It makes for a crazy little hair do! She loves Ariel and all of the princesses. She still loves her blanket and books. She also loves stuffed animals and loves looking at pictures of animals. She still doesn't talk much, but mainly babbles a lot. She laughs a lot and is always really happy. My favorite thing she does right now is run up to me and hug my legs....it's so sweet. She is starting to like to play with toys now. When she gives you a hug, she usually just rests her head on your legs or arm. She loves to look pretty and by that I mean, she loves dressing up, wearing new sparkly shoes, having headbands or clips in her hair. She is very girly! I just love my sweet little Ava!

11.14.2011


11.15.2011

Being Thankful-week 2

Last Saturday- My inlaws. I'm really blessed to have married into such a wonderful family.

Sunday- My parents for bringing us dinner and spending time with us.

Monday- Both of the kids napping which is a rare occasion since Andrew never naps anymore.

Tuesday- My husband who is always so helpful with the kids in the morning.

Wednesday- A morning fun with my kids, coffee and looking at Christmas decorations.

Thursday- My sweet new niece, Leyton. I love her and am so glad that she is healthy.

Friday- My husband who kept the kids overnight so I could be with my sister and then drove both the kids down the next morning for the day.

Saturday- A lazy day of just relaxing with the family.

Baby Girl

My sister had her baby on Thursday! Leyton Olivia Dixon, born November 10th at 1:31pm, weighting 8 lbs 7 oz. She is a doll!

Kayla was due on the 9th, but was induced on the 10th at 6am. I left Portland around 1pm and thought I had plenty of time to get there before Leyton arrived. I got a call from my mom when I was in Albany saying that she had arrived. I saw her a few hours after she was born and she was beautiful. She has tons of dark hair, chunky little cheeks and her daddy's nose. She was a sleepy little thing and only opened her eyes for me on Friday right before I had to leave.

Doesn't my sister look amazing after having a baby?!

Leyton's first bath.

Wearing an outfit that her cousin Ava wore in the hospital.

The proud grandparents.

Nathan took the kids for Thursday night and then drove down with them on Friday to meet their new cousin. Andrew wasn't very interested, but Ava loved her. I think she thought it was one of her dolls. She wanted to give her little kisses, but she didn't love it when I held her.




The proud parents!

I don't get to see her again until Thanksgiving and I'm sure she will change a lot in the next few weeks. So proud of you Kayla and thanks to you and Cory for making me an auntie!

Dad's breakfast

On Saturday Andrew's school had a Dad's breakfast. I helped set up, cook and serve the breakfast. Nate dropped Ava at my parents so he could have a little one on one time with Andrew. They had a good time hanging out, eating and making a craft. They even sat next to one of Andrew's new school buddies, Landon. Halfway through the breakfast the kids sang for the dads. It was pretty cute. Andrew was very shy and stood there the whole time looking miserable. When I asked him about it, he said that he didn't like that all of those people were looking at him. Such a shy little guy.

11.5.2011- Living Savior Preschool 3- Andrew 4 years old

Being Thankful- week 1

I've decided that each Friday during the month of November I am going to write what I was thankful for during the week. I am so blessed and have so much to be thankful for. I want to be mindful of that this month and document it.

Monday- My mother in law who came over for a bit and let me get out of the house while my kids were sick.

Tuesday-My dad, it's his birthday. I'm so blessed that he is my father, he's an amazing man, dad, and papa. And that both of the kids are starting feeling better.

Wednesday- My first gingerbread latte in a Starbucks Christmas cup while listening to Christmas music. And, my first time out of the house with the kids since they've been sick.

Thursday- A really fun date day/night with my hubby... quality time is my love language!

Friday- My kids are finally feeling a lot better and a great coffee date with my parents and kids.

Halloween

Halloween this year was not what I was hoping for. Both kids were sick. Since they'd been sick for days leading up to Halloween, I was hoping they'd be better for Halloween night. We still had the family over for our traditional Halloween dinner of chili (or chili dogs), warm apple cider and lots of goodies. I think the kids enjoyed seeing their grandparents, but they still didn't feel good. We made it to only 2 house, 3 including our own, trick or treating before Andrew was ready to go home. Both kids were coughing the whole time. The rest of the night Andrew spent watching cartoons while cuddling with papa and Ava spent going to do the door every time a trick or treater would come. She loved that people were coming to our house and cried every time they left. I think she's tired of being stuck in the house too....she's my little social butterfly!

Such a cute little bumble bee!

Batman without his mask....he refused to wear it.

Attempt at a picture of daddy with the kids. Andrew was mid cough.

They were excited to trick or treat at our house.

Especially excited when all of their grandparents came to the door.

Ava loved her post trick or treating snack of pumpkin chocolate chip bars.

She loved watching all of the trick or treaters out the window.