Christmas 2013

Post at the beginning of the year and one at the end... SAD!  Bad Jenn!

Oh well that's life.
Christmas this year was awesome!  I love this age with the kids.  They had so much fun and really got into the Holiday Spirit.

We have an elf on the shelf; December 1st Franko (our elf) appears with his book.  We read his book to remind us of the rules (can't touch the guy or he looses his magic) and to remember why he is here.  To tell the big guy if we've been bad or good.  He's a scout elf.  The kids also like to talk to him and tell him about their day and what they want for Christmas.  It's always fun to have Franko watching over us.  Some families get a little crazy by having a Mischievous elf but Franko isn't like those elves, he just moves each day to a new spot so the kids can find him and watches over our family. 

Gavin up until this year has been pretty scared of Santa.  He kind of has issues with strangers and doesn't like them to get too close to him.  Really ask the Dentist or the Doctor who neither of them has done a proper exam on him because all he does is SCREAM!  So I was a little shocked to see Gavin hop right up on Santa's lap and actually talk to him.  Of course as you can see from the pictures below he still isn't quite sure how he feels about it.  This is Gavin nervously smiling.

By the third Santa he was actually pretty okay with it.  Zack on the other hand has never had a problem with Santa! He loves strangers... LOL  not sure if that's a good thing.  Sometimes Zack with go talk to the adults (with kids) at the park and then tell me they aren't strangers because he asked them their name.  Such a funny boy.

Christmas morning was so much fun.  I purposely stayed in bed because I love listening to how excited Zack got when he saw the presents.  It's so much fun.  And I want them to learn that the stocking gifts they can open before Mom and Dad get up but the presents under the tree are to be opened as a family.  Also we take turns opening presents.  Everyone gets the respect and excitement of being watched open their presents.  Zack got excited for everyone's presents.  It was so cute.  He just has such genuine excitement for everyone.  Gavin was pretty excited too.  But was excited just to open the presents... ANY presents.  At one point he was trying to open my presents I told him it was my turn and the little turd said, "I'm going to buy a new mom."  When we told him that wasn't nice he ran off crying.  It was sad, and after a little talk he was as good as new.  This was the first time that Gavin really got into Christmas, so it was fun to see him so excited about opening presents.  It was almost sad when we were all done.

After we opened our presents we had breakfast, played with the toys, got ready for the day and went to my Grandparents house.  We usually do buffet style (no sit down dinner) that way no one feels like they have to be there at a specific time and there isn't any stress about what time dinner is.  Just easy-peasy.  After we open Christmas presents.  We have a mini party for Christopher.  Poor brother has to share his birthday with everyone!  We ended the day by visiting Bob's parent's, played UNO, then headed home.

It really was a wonderful day.  As I said before this age was so much fun with the kids.  Buying presents for them wasn't too hard because they like everything.  (trust me every commercial that came on they were like I want that, I want that...) 

And now some pictures...

Christmas Pajamas.  We get to open them Christmas Eve.

I love the next few pictures because this is totally how I remember Christmas as a child.  We would throw all the paper down the stairs.  After presents we would play in the boxes and paper, then clean it up.  It made me happy that the boys did the same thing at my Grandma's!

Merry Christmas from the Speakman Family.  We hope you have a very Happy New Year!

SuperBowel = Super Fun

My family is amazing when it comes to parties.  We've always gone way out and always have more then enough food.  This year for Superbowl was no exception.  49er's -v- Ravens.  It was going to be a good rival. 

Here's the story.  I've been a Dallas Cowboy fan since High School (jumped on the bandwagon when they were winning SuperBowls).  They aren't the best team in the league now a days, but they were the only team I've every claimed as my own.  Anyways when Bob and I got married he found out I was a Cowboys fan.  He couldn't accept that being that he HATES the Cowboys so he told me to choose a new team... LOL.  I love purple and I went to Weber State (purple & white) so I asked which teams were Purple.  My two options: Baltimore Ravens & Minnesota Vikings.  So I chose the Ravens.  So they have been my unofficial favorite team (still Cowboys are my #1 team).  Through the years Bob has realized that I do like the Cowboys and he's accepted it, he's even bought me a Jersey and my own Cowboys cup.  But still I've always cheered for the Ravens.  So yeah for them being in the SuperBowl this year!  Only problem Bob's team is and has been the San Fransisco 49er's.  They have been his team since.... Forever!  So this year we have a official SuperBowl rival!

My family came over.  We had good food and a lot of fun.  Pretty much everyone was cheering for the 49er's so my sister and I were the only Raven fans this year.  Guess who won!  Yup the Ravens.  But it was a good game.  Ravens ran up the score quite a bit the first half.  During the second half the Ravens started strong.  Then the power went out in the Stadium for about 1/2 hour.  The 49ers came back and really pushed hard.  It was a good second half.  But in the end Raven's won.  Luckily my hubby is a good sport and wasn't too upset that MY team won.  Only sad part, it was so noisy in the house we couldn't hear the commercials.  Guess I'll have find them online and watch them.  My favorite was the Budweiser Clydesdale horse commercial.  It really got us teary eyed. 

And now for the pictures:

Yummy food for the Superbowl.  I even made little pennants for each team.  They were fun.  But more of a hit for the kids then for the adults.  Oh well.  They made cute decorations.

  

 
 

I made the little kids a 49er's Tshirt.  For my niece I added a little bit of pink to the sleeves to make a little more girly.

 

My cute little family.  First Superbowl I've actually had a Tshirt to match the team that is playing.

Catching up

It's been a while since I have been on my blog, I almost forgot that it existed.  Shame on me!  This blog has been such a great way for me to keep in contact with family plus document my kids lives.  My mom even printed all the pages of our journey to first time parenthood and gave it to us for Christmas (best gift!).  Since having Gavin and starting working full time I've totally neglected this blog.  Do you hear a resolution coming on.... nope.  I hate resolutions.  But I will try to update more often just in case anyone stops by.  And for journaling purpose. 

So what is going on?

Zack has started preschool (last August).  And will be starting Kindergarten this Fall.  He is so ready and excited.  Every day that he has preschool he comes home and tells me what he has learned.  He loved practicing his letter and identifying letters.  Zack is as active as he always has been.  He is starting to make up games which is really funny.  Last night it was Dash vs Dinosaur.  Zack would run really fast (Dash) and I had to be the Dinosaur stopping after him.  If I caught him then I became Dash and he was the Dinosaur.  It's pretty funny. 

Gavin is an amazing little 2 almost 3 year old.  He is very focused.  If you give him a book, puzzle or blocks he will sit there and just play with them.  He loves to read and every night I have to read 2-3 books to him.  And he loves to play with his toys.  Which is amazing because his big brother doesn't really have the attention span for quiet play.  Gavin loves to play with his action figures, it's so fun to stand in the doorway and watch him play.  He gets so involved that he wont even notice me.  Gavin is also active and loves to do things outdoors.  The park is his favorite.  Unfortunately with the horrible cold weather that we've been having Mom doesn't like to be outside much.  (4 degree weather and icky inversion).

Anyways that's all for now.  Just know that we are happy, healthy and  having a great time.  I'll try to post more later. 

A few pictures from our New Year Party

Don't worry it's just Apple Cider.  But this is my favorite picture.  LOL

TTFN