how we weekend - mlk weekend

Weekends at home are just my most favorite thing ever. Although we did actually go out to eat and to the movie. And we took full advantage of the heat wave and spent most of our afternoons outside. So come to think of it, we really weren't in our home as much as usual. Although mornings were spent playing inside and evenings were spent watching movies.

1. Justin pulled out the electrical kit and when Corbin wouldn't let Rudger play, well he was a bit devastated.
2. He was just fine once they let him play.

These faces...

1. Waiting in line at the restaurant. 
2. Coming back from seeing The Penguins from Madagascar. We found it quite humorous. 

1. Corbin making our Saturday night dinner.
2. Playing Father may I. (With dad. He really is the fun parent)

1. The swings are Rudger's favorite. Next to the slides.
2. Levi started feeling much more confident on his bike this weekend.

1. I mean, seriously, this weather was amazing.
2. Feels so good to see blue skies and happy clouds this January.

1. Tree climbing is a must for this boy.
2. There is a school being built not far from our house. This kid is thrilled to see all the tractors. Although they are not tractors, they're 'excamaters'.(excavator) 

This weather really was one of the best things to happen this January. Next to watching my husband playing with our boys.

Then we ended the weekend with a baked treat. We finished it in one seating.

so far this month

With the boys back in school, I decided that Rudger and I should try out story time at the Library. Rudger was not at all interested, so we checked out half the books there and came home to have our own story time. 

All the bonding we did over Christmas break has extended into the new year. They played adventure games and some basketball.

For our Family Home Evening activity, we built towers as tall as we could.

1. Rudger - dad's harmonica, mom's headband, no pants - it's how he rolls.
2. Now that the boys are back in school, Rudger wants my undivided attention. I let him watch Curious George to extend his breakfast time so I can get a few extra minutes to clean up.

Seriously love these men of mine.

Obviously most of my January days are spent with our baby. Even after bedtime when mom and dad just want to lay in bed and watch a movie...he thinks he needs to be there. *sigh*

January has been pretty good to us so far. We are getting used to being back in school and work, having routines again, and having to actually make dinner. January is when I do my spring cleaning. It feels soooo good. I started this week in Corbin and Taylor's room. Maybe if I am on top of it, I'll even show pictures on Monday. Happy January!

scenes from Christmas morning

Merry Christmas!! What a happy day it was. Trains, legos, dinosaurs, a teepee were fun, but had nothing on the snow we got during the night. A white Christmas was just what we had hoped for.

 ^^ convincing him that a shirt for a present is the best. we really didn't have to try hard, it had a train on it ^^

 ^^ seriously, he did not want to let go of one train ^^

 ^^ i died ^^

 ^^ and then i died again ^^

 ^^ i think this snowman is my most favorite ever. ^^

Half way through the day our Taylor got a terrible headache and ended up being sick for just over two days. We were so sad for him. His electrical blanket that he got for Christmas was the perfect comfort. We enjoyed watching movies for the rest of the day with him.

 It really was a magical day. Two days before Christmas, I was afraid that it was ruined. I so carelessly left 'the list' in plain sight for them to see. They found out just about everything they were getting. After a few tears, I told them it was okay and that I probably would have done the same thing when I was their age. We made a deal that they would 'forget' and we moved on. From that moment on though, their was an even bigger excitement in the air, if that was even possible. 

christmas eve

^^ sorry Rudger ^^

Spending Christmas Eve with our little family was just about perfect.    

 We played and prepared for our dinner most of the day. We ate our Christmas ham by candlelight. The brothers exchanged gifts. The boys finally got to open their present that jingled every time they shook the box. We opened our Christmas Eve games, Spot It and Story Cubes this year. We watched the Nativity. We sang Christmas Hymns. And then we tucked the boys into their beds; they laid their heads downs and, even though the excitement was thick in the air, fell asleep pretty quickly. 

 ^^ The Polar Express movie is our favorite, that last scene really gets to me. I hope the boys will always have a believing heart, but not in Santa, in their Savior. I made each of them robes this year and put this bell in the pocket with a quote from President Monson to remind them that the Christmas Spirit is the Christ Spirit. ^^

Justin and I stayed up to watch It's a Wonderful Life and finish a few things before morning came. As always, Justin fell asleep before me. As I was putting the final touches on Christmas I looked out the window. 2:00 in the morning, this is what I saw. My heart was so happy.

how our home looked at Christmastime

 This year our decor was simple, homemade, some old favorites, and some new things. The Christmas tree was small. I wanted the white tree to be our basement tree, Justin was not convinced that a real tree was the way to go, and our big tree was just not working for us. So the little tree it was. 

My favorite scene was these boys under the tree trying their hardest to decide what the jingle sound was in their boxes.