CHRISTMAS morning!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Thank goodness despite the fact that we were all very sick to our stomachs on Christmas Eve we woke up bright and early the next morning with smiles on our faces and ready to go! Ethan especially! He was so excited that Santa came and ate his cookies and milk we left for him. It's so exciting and fun to see him experiencing all of this. Shelby is still not quite old enough to grasp the whole Santa concept. All she knows it that Ethan is excited and that's enough for her!(me 2)

Someone was excited Christmas morning!!!!!

A special gift from you know who...

We love Thomas the engine......


We've also discovered that Ethan is quite the little engineer. He loves to study things and build and see how exactly things work. He can put this baby all together by himself. (Even I need instructions, smart boy)




Don't we all look lovely bright and VERY early Christmas morning......

Bright smiles from dad too!

Shelbydoll discovering her new princess doll....Cinderella!!!

A little help from big brother.....

Instant chemistry......best friends!

When I was a little girl my parents started a tradition of buying me a porcelain doll every Christmas. It was very special to me b/c my grandma has a collection as well. Grandma has always been a very special, close person in my life so I always thought it was a special bond we had. After we got married Nathan had carried on the tradition for a few years but now that we have a little girl of our own she will carry on the tradition....starting with Cinderella!


More fun presents...

Good books....


Cool Cars!!!

And more dollies. Isn't it funny that girls even as young as 1 year old have a natural maternal instinct. Shelby can't go anywhere without her dollies. Has to have one by her side, a little friend to take care of. I love it, a little baby-doll for my baby-doll.

New farmyard friends that Shelby really enjoys (clearly by the look on her face, she'll say "ooh") Ethan is helping her out teaching her the different animals and the sounds they make- too cute

Fun new play-dough kit and cooking it up with Daddy.






daddy breakfast tradition


Yum, yum, daddy. Thanks :)

And this is how we find our little boy after a fun filled day of play, surprise and laughter. Ethan and Shelby both have a bed time of 7:00pm......however this guy was out by 5:00pm. We must have worked him all out of energy and he had to crash early......which was nice we all ended up getting to bed early. What a great Christmas!

Family Nativity...

Here's the good old family nativity...


THE CAST...

Mary

Joseph

Shepherds, Wise men, Nativity story-teller

Conductor/piano player

checking out the props.....gold, myrrh, frankincense

And yeah that's baby Jesus in the "manger" And in the background is the rest of the cast- more shepherds, wise men and animals (all kiddos stuffed animals)
P.S. We were all doing great on Dec. 23. All day feeling great & happy. Doing some last minute preparation etc. Then about 5:00 pm Ethan was complaining his stomach was bothering him. The boy is not a baby. In fact I wish he would speak up more. He always tries to play it so tough, real mans man. Anyway so I knew when he did complain there must be some real trouble. He did feel rather hot and did have a sick look. My immediate thought was oh great Swine flu/H1N1. I knew it, I knew it would find us. (I'm a little over dramatic with hormones and pregnancy ;) Anyway so I won't give any gory details lets just say all four of us were up all night "being sick" together. We didn't get much sleep. It hit us hard and like domino's we went down. Poor Nathan had to go to work the next morning too. I'm such a lucky girl that boy never calls in, even with the flu. Well needless to say it wasn't anything horrible just a little 24 hour bug. But it stayed with us through the next day. So these kiddos are being good sports with fevers and colds and runny noses we did our nativity. NOW that's dedication if you ask me. I just prayed they would be feeling better by Christmas morning.

If you'll notice none of us are looking our best in these pics.......still feeling sick but we had to carry on the tradition!

Haul out the holly

Put up the tree before my spirit falls again....

(Im so behind so I'll make these posts short and sweet...)

Here we are pulling out the old x-mas decor.

Ethan and Shelby both really enjoyed all of the hussle and bussle of decorations. Lights, ribbons, sparkling things....oh so fun!



Our sweetheart...




Lots & lots of teamwork

December birthdays...

So here's my best attempt to play catch up=>

We've had a very exciting December this year....Everything from Santa Clause pics, shopping, birthdays, decorations, presents......etc.

Something that was very exciting this month was mine and Shelby's birthday. Mine.....not all that exciting b/c of course who looks forward to getting older right? but Shelby's was definately exciting. Speaking of getting older why is it we can't wait when we're younger.....if only we were 12 and in Young womens, if only we were 14 in high school, if only we were 16 and able to drive and date.....and so on and so on and now as I'm rounding up my 20's I'm freaking out. What is it about turning 30 that everyone dreads so much???

So I turned the big 29, Dec. 4th. I've decided I was going to start embracing this, it's not like I can change it right? AND plus when I'm in my 40's or 50's I'll be wishing I was back in my 20's or 30's. I'll think it's ridiculous that I ever thought 29 was old.....And so I'm excited that I'm ONLY 29, YAY!!!

This year was a special year also b/c our little princess turned 1, how is it that a year can go by so fast.....she was just a newborn. Shelby's birthday is very special b/c she shares it with her Grandma Abraham. This year in particular was very special b/c Shelby got to spend it with her Grandma....as a surprise. The Abraham family all got together and surprised Sydney.

Here's some pictures of all the good times....


Birthday girls




Out to eat with the fam for our birthdays.
By the way as part of Grandma Abes present all of her children flew out to surprise her. I thought it would be special for Shelby if she could spend it with her Grandma since they do share a birthday......however that means Ethan and I would be left in Utah to fend for ourselves....and on my birthday too. It turned out to be just fine. Ethan and I had a great time with the house to ourselves and I got to go out on a few dates with my little man Etom. I really enjoyed my alone time with Ethan and I think he enjoyed the attention too. However I didn't have a camera so I don't really have any pictures of our partying or dates. But we had a wonderful time together :) I'm so glad I have such a little gentlemen for a 3 year old.



Presents from Nana Carver



Shelby Nicole.....1 year old





Surprise Grandma- Happy Birthday!!!




We love Grandma & Grandpa Abraham :)



Shelby & cousin Colin both looking adorable



Somebody got spoiled for her bithday!!! (thanks Grandma for all of the pretty dresses & clothes:)


Some much needed daddy daughter time :)



Shout out to Longhorns for Christy



Brother time



More holiday fun








Much needed bonding time with Aunt Christy



and Aunt Michelle



And of course what would an Abraham Christmas be like with out a little ping pong.

More Christmas posts to follow :)