I can't believe that this year has come and gone. The years go so quick anymore it's scary. I wish I could have a pause button for moments I want to stop and cherish just one more day. Our kids are growing up too fast on us. We have had one crazy year with being in three different states and being weeks apart from Todd while he was finishing up his last year of school, then graduating from Optometry school, then preparing for the Air Force at training "hell" camp for six weeks, oh and me giving birth to our son in between all this, and finishing up with our big move to Florida. I learned a lot this year from all the craziness and that is we can do anything as long as we are with each other as a family even if we are not together physically. We are a team and we can conquer anything that the road of life takes us on. I learn daily from my 2 1/2 year old. She is more knowledgeable that I think she is. It's almost scary at times. When I look into my children's sweet eyes I know that the veil is so thin for them. I know that Jesus and Heavenly Father are very close by and watch out for them. I feel so blessed to have them in our family and to be their parents. I know that we are not perfect at all but we are learning daily and as long as we have each other, the gospel, and the light of Christ in our life we can move mountains. I am too grateful for the life I live. I wouldn't change one thing about it. Todd and I have grown closer and closer over the years. And after knowing each other for over 15 years and being married for almost 9 we are still the bestest of friends!!! I can go anywhere or live anywhere cause Todd and our children is where home is to me!! Here are the rest of our highlights for the last two months of 2012. It was a good and eventful year!!
This sweet stud muffin is already 8 months old and growing faster than I can keep up with. I swear I am changing his size of clothing on a weekly basis. He is wearing 12 month clothing at this point!! I know he is a big boy but is so sweet and I just can't get enough of kissing this sweet face. His personality is showing through more and more. He makes us laugh with all his manly grunting and boy sounds he makes. He also says "ma ma" which of course melts my heart. He has the sweetest laugh and is so ticklish so it makes it more fun to get giggles out of him. He is very social and rarely likes to be alone in a room unless he is sleeping. He loves to be held and talked to. He finds that everything that he has in his hands has to go into his mouth to be tested for approval. He is a very good eater and will for sure be eating us out of house and home when he becomes a teenager or sooner I am sure. Todd hopes he will have the height he always dreamed of growing up. He also can't wait to play sports with is little buddy.
Don't mind this picture, he was really having fun. =)
We spent New Year's eve at one of our favorite beaches out here. The weather was a nice 65-70 degrees but the water was much chillier than we would have liked. But that didn't stop Tatum from running in it and making sand castles for her imaginary "Cinderella" princess. Her imagination is amazing. I love to see her thinking process.
Our Christmas card.
Christmas was nice and quite this year for us. We as a little family had so much fun sleeping in, taking time to open our presents, eating yummy food/treats all day, and taking naps when we could. We did miss being in Utah with both our families but it was fun having our first Christmas together with just the 4 of us. Todd and I had so much fun seeing the kids open gifts and enjoy each and every one of them. Kolvin was just happy with the loud crinkly wrapping paper to play with. He is too young to really know what is going on. But he had fun watching his sister open presents and together they played with their new toys from Santa, Daddy, and Mommy. It's so fun seeing the kids get excited. It made our Christmas complete. Tatum was excited when she saw her first dress up Princess outfit with shoes and a tiara. She put it on immediately and has worn it pretty much every day ever since. She also loved her new Ariel princess doll that had her own dress and tiara like she got for herself. Tatum is all girl and loves dresses and all the accessories that go with the outfit. She is pretty smart when she gets all ready for the perfect outfit. It all has to match she says. Kolvin like I said loved the crinkly wrapping paper but he got some fun toy cars, airplane, shoes, clothes, books, and stuffed animals. It's nice that you don't have to spend an arm and a leg on presents for kids when they are this young. They truly appreciate the gifts and the price means nothing to them. I know that one day they will be asking for all the expensive electronic stuff and that is when the number of presents dwindles to just like one present. Until then, I am glad they enjoy the simplest of things for now. As for Todd and I, we decided not to really buy gifts for each other since we don't need anything. But Todd surprised me with a gps running Garmin which I have been asking for for the last 6 years and we always put it off since he was in school and it was more of a "want" then a "need" item. But we both have been enjoying the Garmin since are both runners, so this gift was a great mutual gift.
I finally made the kids matching shirts the week before Christmas. I know I was a little late but at least I got them done right?
Then we all matchy matched at church the Sunday before Christmas. The kids looked so cute!!! Kolvin wore his very first suit with a tie and vest. He is such a little man. And of course Taters was the bell of the ball in her black and red dress.
Our little branch had a small Christmas party two weeks before Christmas. It was a hot chocolate bar with tons of different cookies we could eat or dip with the hot chocolate. Then Santa came and the kids got to sit on his lap and he gave them all a little bag with some goodies and a stuffed animal. Our Branch President made a great Santa this year for all the kids. Tatum was so excited when he came into the room. She immediately ran up to the front of the line like she and him were Bestest Friends. She just adores Santa. Both our kids never cried when they sat on his lap.
This Second Santa picture with both the kids was at the Christmas party that the Air Force held here on base. This Santa looks a little frightened to be holding my kids. He was a younger looking one which made it harder to believe he was the "real" Santa. But the kids still had fun and that is all that matters.
Waiting to meet Santa and so patiently too.
Here are a few random fun pictures of Kolvin buddy. He is such a hoot. We just love his big huge blue eyes and his adorable open mouthed smile.
Taters just loves cooking with mommy in the kitchen whenever she can. Her favorite thing to make with me is sugar cookies. She has had lots of experience playing with play doe so when we make the real thing she steps it up in the kitchen. She loves to turn on the kitchen aid mixer to mix the dough and then she loves using all the different cookie cutters to create the best cookies ever. Sugar cookies are daddy's favorite so we make them at least once a month around our house. And they always get eaten up within a few days.
Todd and Tatum love going on bike rides that end up at a fun park where they have fun swinging on swings and sliding down slides together. Daddy daughter dates are very important and these two just can't get enough of each other.
These last pictures are of us in Sea World on Thanksgiving day in Orlando. We had TOO much fun while we were there. We saw as many shows as we could and the kids took naps in the stroller when they needed and we kept on going. And just when we thought we had seen it all and it was dark outside Todd and I snuck in one roller coaster ride where he would go first while I stayed with the kids and then we would switch. We had to do it cause the wait time was only 5 minutes!! And the ride was AWESOME!!! So we all had a good time and stayed at a really fun hotel with an amazing pool with a tube slide and a lazy river. We are for sure going back to that hotel and to Orlando so we can take the kids to meet Micky Mouse in Disney World. Oh and of course meet all the Princesses for Tatum. She will be in heaven when that day comes.
Tatum couldn't wait to see "Shampoo" as she called him for the first time. She loved his high jumps out of the water.
I finally made the kids matching shirts the week before Christmas. I know I was a little late but at least I got them done right?
Then we all matchy matched at church the Sunday before Christmas. The kids looked so cute!!! Kolvin wore his very first suit with a tie and vest. He is such a little man. And of course Taters was the bell of the ball in her black and red dress.
These last pictures are of us in Sea World on Thanksgiving day in Orlando. We had TOO much fun while we were there. We saw as many shows as we could and the kids took naps in the stroller when they needed and we kept on going. And just when we thought we had seen it all and it was dark outside Todd and I snuck in one roller coaster ride where he would go first while I stayed with the kids and then we would switch. We had to do it cause the wait time was only 5 minutes!! And the ride was AWESOME!!! So we all had a good time and stayed at a really fun hotel with an amazing pool with a tube slide and a lazy river. We are for sure going back to that hotel and to Orlando so we can take the kids to meet Micky Mouse in Disney World. Oh and of course meet all the Princesses for Tatum. She will be in heaven when that day comes.
