Merry Merry

Buxton loving some wrapping and tissue paper.

Yes he got a skateboard. No, he can't walk yet.

Funny faces with Daddy and Buxton making a face that seriously cracked me up.

Family Christmas pic

Ben with his Mom and Buxton

Buxton loves the Radio Flyer wagon from Papa!

Looking out the window with Mimi.

Look Ma no hands!

Buxton with his Great Grandparents. I love this one!

I love Christmas cards

So our Christmas tree is dead. Very dead. So dead it's on the back porch, ornaments and all. I couldn't take the ornaments off in the house cause the mess from the falling debris would have been too much. The dogs and cats kept drinking the tree's water and I guess I wasn't refilling it fast enough. Oh well, we are OK with not having the tree for Christmas. I've come to love my wall of Christmas photos more than a tree anyways. Getting the mail is the most fun at Christmas. I love to see how everyone chooses to do their card and especially love how walking by our wall of photos makes me feel so warm and fuzzy. Here it is so far:

And who needs a tree when you have this bundle of love:

Here we are having some fun with this huge mirror that is the last item to be taken away from the major garage remodel Ben just completed. The mirror was left here when Ben moved in...I think it had something to do with a garage band.

32 and lovin it

I had a wonderful birthday thanks to all the wonderful people in my life. It started with a big yummy breakfast that Ben made us and ended with a night of QT with my niece and sister in law at home. In between was yoga, shopping (for myself), chic-fil-a, cupcakes, and a million birthday wishes from friends on facebook. Today Ben and I get to see a movie. I don't think we've been to the movies since before Buxton was born...probably way before because I couldn't sit in a theatre for 2 hours towards the end of my pregnancy. And then my sweet Dad is taking us to dinner. So really today is just phase 2 of my birthday celebration. I feel so lucky! And I have to say that this has been the best year of my life by far since I have the best baby boy and husband a girl could ask for.

the prettiest lights

buxton and santa and the candy canes santa bribed him with

buxton was all snugged in while i carried him though the garden in the ergo (jenn's ergo since we forgot ours and a stroller!)

the lights were all crazy with our point and shoot

notice wynn and buxon's matching uggs...they actually both belong to wynn. thankfully we get to borrow all her unisex stuff.

the lights at the daniel stowe garden pretty much kick mcadenville's you know what. sunday night the smith family and the webster family had a cozy dinner at our house then drove a few minutes up the road to the daniel stowe gardens. it was pretty cold but the babes were troopers and the outing was enjoyed by all.

jenn and i have never had an issue with having fun...no matter what we are doing. but now we have the most wonderful babies to share in our fun with us and this takes our friendship to a whole new level.

i think we may have new tradition #1 here!

trees and traditions

For the 2nd year we bought our tree from Penland's Tree Farm which is owned by Ben's friend Brannon Penland's family. We've bought a lot of trees that are planted in our yard from them and they always have a great selection and we love supporting their family business. Their Christmas tree farm set-up is so cool and great for kids. We look forward to making this a tradition for many years to come!

And here is a shot that I love of my sweet 9 month old boy. I am so excited about starting new traditions with him this holiday season and teaching him about the birth of our Savior.