christmas eve 2013

ever since danny & i got married we have done christmas morning on our own. but with family close by, we usually join one of them for christmas eve & the other family for christmas day. this year we spent christmas eve with my family, and though it ended up being an incredibly late, late night (for danny & i) it was magical for the kids.

they were so excited to finally be able to open some presents! avery received her very first lego set (which she loves!!) and they both got new stories from grandma & grandpa. they also got a 24 pack of play-doh (yay!!) and some very fun play-doh accessories. i'm pretty sure they've played with play-doh everyday since christmas.

they also got some new jammies, and though they weren't christmasy at all, they loved them. jake and the neverland pirates for max, and jessie the cowgirl nightgown for ave. 

and then, just like that, we were home with the kids tucked in bed and the presents were wrapped under the tree. 

(oh wait...it wasn't "just like that" because we had sooo much wrapping to do when we got home, but these pictures make it look like we were ultra-prepared and not terribly sleep-deprived zombies! :) good thing the kids slept in the following morning because my goodness it was late!

seven peaks ice arena

over the break we were feeling extra adventurous & ambitious so we went ice skating!! i was planning on skating...up until we mentioned the plan to my dad, and he pointed out that pregnant ladies should definitely not ice skate. right. :)

so aunt cami came along to help out with our crazy little duo and i happily observed from the sides. actually, i really wanted to be out there skating but it was insanely busy that day so it's probably wise that i didn't attempt it.

avery looked absolutely adorable in her tiny little skates and max (who dreams of playing hockey one day...though i have no clue where that originated from!) was extremely antsy to get out on the ice. i don't think it was quite what he expected but overall the kids did pretty well. and danny survived to tell the tale! ;)

love these three!! oh, and those ice walkers saved us!!

this girl sure loves her daddy! #bestillmyheart

brown paper packages

since sweets & treats seem to be overabundant during the month of december (see previous post!), we like to give out a "simmering scent" to our neighbors and this year was our most productive assembly year yet! it's so nice having two very willing helpers around!

while danny & i sliced citrus, the kids filled up each of the bags with two cinnamon sticks, a tablespoon of clove buds, and two bay leaves. they took their jobs very seriously and even started a contest to see who could find the tiniest "baby" bay leaf. 

i just love this time of year! and if you've never made a simmering scent during the holidays--do it! your house will smell heavenly!!

bellybuttons

inspired by my friend julia, we made "bellybuttons" for a holiday treat. not that we needed any more treats lying around...but the kids sure had fun unwrapping all of those candy kisses (and sneaking a few!) 

day date in slc

since danny is such a great student (he really has improved significantly since starting his masters!) he sent us away for the day so he could get cracking on his final paper. instead of being grumpy about it, we made the most of our day and had such a wonderful little outing.

our first stop: visit natasha at primary children's. we were hoping to see isaac too (who has had a crazy fight with pneumonia!), but at the time he was in a room where children weren't allowed :( max was pretty bummed but we had a great time visiting with natasha in the cafeteria and the kids even got pink pudding with whipped cream on top (of which they only ate the cream...) natasha saved isaac's present so that he could open it, and we were so happy to see him with it later via pictures. we sure do love the dansies!!

next stop: temple square!! it was such a beautiful day (for the middle of december) and we miraculously found a spot to park only a couple blocks away. we bundled up and then we all set out (without any type of stroller!!! i kept a prayer in my heart that the kids would be ok to walk the whole time!) for our "big adventure" (as max said). 

they were such good kids and i think this day was one of my favorite memories from the christmas season. we sure missed our daddy but we definitely made the most of it!!

they were so excited to see baby jesus!

and the temple!

ave really perfected her cheesy smile during this trip. the deseret book downtown had a really fun display to launch your own parachute with free peppermint sticks at the end. the kids were in heaven.

in front of the tree in the joseph smith memorial building. they even got to see santa! though they didn't want to talk to him.

they were also super intrigued by the water fountains & pools everywhere with money in them! they each got two pennies to throw in. ave instantly chucked hers...max saved them in his pocket. typical :)

and we ended the day with dinner at blue lemon! some of my favorite food, enjoyed with two of my all-time favorite little people.

we stopped in provo to pick up our daddy and visit my family. max couldn't contain his excitement when uncle bri drew batman for him!! and the kids started helping me get stamps on the christmas cards.

 

the darndest things // part five

Maxwellio:

Every once in a while I'll catch Max being particularly polite. It's so great! For example:

"Mom do you happen to know where my yo ho toys are?"

"Ave, could I possibly have that lego piece?"

(This little guy loves Legos. I can't blame him though! They are pretty sweet.)

Mom: "Please stop yelling Max!"

Max: "No! I'm yelling at Ave!"

(These were taken quite a while ago at Tim & Kristina's house...Uncle Tim is teaching him young ;)

Max: "Go-ab Juab!"

(I love the way Max colors. He takes advantage of so many!)

After one of Ave's silly voice videos, Max said: "That's so weird!"

While visiting Danny at work, Max knocked off a liahona replica of Cody's made out of styrofoam. He must have sensed my worry because he quickly said, "It's fine Mom. It's only sty-la-phone."

(He's being the Statue of Liberty here, in case you couldn't tell :)

Max: "Ave, those are your jack hammer toes!"

 

 

(Some of Max's many, many drawings. That boy loves to draw! However, he's a slight perfectionist and if he doesn't think he can draw it good enough, he won't. So...the plane and the motorcycle type thing were drawn by yours truly! My personal fav: his adorable octopus!)

Max climbed into the pack-n-play when Grandma was tucking Ave into bed. She told him he needed to stay in the corner so as not to get in Ave's space. She still wasn't having it but Max said, "Ave! I'm Max! You love me, remember?"

 

Singing Noah was a prophet over and over (20 times) and finally he said, "Oh! I need to listen at church!" He thought Grandma was sleeping :)

Max: "Did you hear those creepy noises? They came from inside my tummy!"

(He borrowed this "armor of God" outfit from Grandma Nell and he loves it!!)

Max woke up in a great mood and when it was time to leave for preschool he wanted to wake Ave up. He did (so nicely!) and said, "You're a champion Ave!!" #meltmyheart

Max spilled a cup of water at dinner and he amazingly & happily went to get a towel to clean it up without being asked. As he was walking into the kitchen he said, "I just did not see that coming!"

Avery Maevery:

Driving home late one night Max said, "When we get home I want oils on." I asked him what kind he wanted and Ave chimed in, "Max do you want yavender?" 

Ave said, "Max, dance with me you little alligator!"

I told Ave we needed to pick up Daddy from work because he was feeling really sick. She said, "Really sick like Grandpa Frank?" Such a sweetie, that Ave is.

Ave climbed through the window since we were locked out. She did NOT want to run to the front door to unlock it all by herself but finally did when she realized Penny could "help her be brave!" (She loves her Penny doll more than I ever thought possible!! Let's hope nothing ever happens to Penny Penn.)

Ave situated her corn pack under her head to go to sleep and grandma was reading "Go Dog Go" to her when they saw a dog lying in a hammock. Grandma said, "Look Ave! That dog is lying on a pillow just like you!" Ave responded very matter-of-factly: "No, I'm lying on a corn pack."

"Dad! Guess what I got for you? Purple cabbage! And guess what else I got you? Chocolate ice!"

The "Twins":

"Go away old puddy!"

Sure do love these crazy kids of ours. Can't wait to add to the craziness in two short months!!!