Smirks & Smiles

 Oh too smoooth...

 What cha doin' mom?

 Getting ready to let out a BIG smile

There is my smiley man :)

Third Birthday Extravaganza

 

I know the suspense was killing you, and it is finally here - the Birthday party post!  This year I had one goal and one goal only; a birthday party NOT at my house.  Our house (although I love it) is not the prime location to throw a 20+ person party.  And by the time you invite all of my family and Marc's family it is already close to, if not there.  Since it was Mallory's 3rd Birthday and she has had the chance to really establish good and solid friendships, I wanted to make sure some of her friends could come too.  

After debating between several ideas for a venue (I can't tell you enough how hard it is to find something reasonable in the beginning of JANUARY.  How I wish all my kids were summer babies just for this reason), we finally ended up at a local Gymnastics place that my Aunt and Cousin work at.  Mallory and I had gone there several months prior to "test it out" and she loved it.  After mentioning we may have her birthday there, she really didn't let it go.  

It was a lot of fun although  in retrospect, maybe a bit over the top.  I know she loved it and that is very important to us, but I don't think we will do something like this every year.  It was a lot of fun to see them all running and playing and laughing.  The place was awesome and Mallory is always asking to go back - so all in all, it was a good choice and we were very pleased.  Here are some pictures illustrating the enjoyment...

Three Years...I can't believe it.

Well, since it is February, I thought it only appropriate to start posting things from January :)  The first major event of 2012 was my sweet little Mallory's birthday.  3 years to be exact, January 2nd.  Her actual party was scheduled for the following weekend (post to come) but we felt it necessary to celebrate the actual day in some way.   I was still on maternity leave, but it was quite convenient that her birthday was on a Monday, which made for Daddy's New Years Day holiday from work.  This meant we were all at home together on her special day.  We started the morning off by taking her to Tim Horton's across the street to pick out a very special breakfast.  To my surprise, when Daddy and her arrived back she had chosen 2 donuts, because apparently deciding between chocolate and sprinkles was just too hard.  

After breakfast, she opened her present from us (a Disney Princess Karaoke jukebox), at which point we asked her what she wanted to do on her Birthday.  She replied "WATCH PRINCESS MOVIES!"  So, that is exactly what we did.  In between dresses and fairy tale stories, we painted her nails and received visitors from both Grandma Myntz & Grandpa complete with presents in tote.  Lastly, she got to top off her evening with a trip out to Grandma and Kelly's for an overnight surprise.  She was so happy all day long, which was exactly the goal.  

I had several moments on this day that I can't seem to get out of my head.  First of all, my baby is 3.  My first little bundle is sitting across the table from me, bartering for dessert.  "Mommy...how bout I eat 2 more bites, then I get a Hershey Kiss?"  It seems like she was just nuzzled in the crack of my arm on the couch sleeping.  I remember her depending on me for everything.  For eating, for moving, for dressing.  I remember the joy I felt the first moment I laid eyes on her.  I lost control and started sobbing tears of pure bliss and joy.  Her little face, so puffy from the trauma of birth, just looking up at me as if to say "nice to meet you Mommy."  Now look at her.  She is so many things.  She is a dreamer.  She is a dancer.  She is a singer.  She is a character.  She is a hand full, and she is a screamer.  She is a artist, an actor, a princess.  She is a fire cracker, in both good and bad ways.  She is a sweet heart, she is a stubborn ox.  She is a big sister.  She is one of a kind.  She is my baby and always will be.  Happy Birthday sweet Mal.  Mommy, Daddy, & baby Wes love you.

New Christmas Tradition...one last Christmas post

Okay, so this is my LAST Christmas post.  I promise.  I almost forgot to share this, but then stumbling upon the pictures in my camera, I knew it had to be done. 

For Christmas this year, Mallory's primary sitter got her a box of the Crayola Window Markers.  I had seen these before and purposefully steered clear of them thinking to myself, "if I let her color on the windows, then what is going to keep her from coloring on the walls?"  However, I was wrong.  These things are great and so much fun!  Mallory knows they are to only go on the windows and is very good about following those directions.  Anyways, she was so excited when she opened them, she insisted that we play with them as soon as we got home that day.  It was that evening that I decided it was time for a new tradition.  

Our back door are french window doors with a wood grid (see above).  So I decided that each person coming or staying at the house over Christmas could decorate one of the rectangular windows on the back door for the holiday.  Not everyone chose to do this, but there was one particular night involving wine where we got a little carried away.  Actually, not WE but more EE & Uncle Todd.  Here are some of our crazy masterpieces.  

 It all started with EE's rendition of Dorothy's ruby red slippers.  Above, is her depiction of said slippers.

 In attempts to show her up, Uncle Todd took a stab at it and clearly won. 

 Then came Christmas presents complete with sarcastic caption "Christmas...after the economy recovers."

 This one was quite entertaining.  It started off as a person skating and it was decided that it looked like Owen Wilson when finished.  Artwork and caption by EE, "Owen Wilson Skates on a Pork Chop."

 Moving on...here is a picture drawn by Uncle Todd illustrating what is to be expected come 2015, in their dreams, of course. 

 This was the family portrait by Uncle Todd complete with dog, cat, and baby in a basket.

 This was my stunning Christmas Tree...

 and my award winning snowman. 

 And in the spirit of saving the best (most creative) for last....Marc's Krampus.  This is the Christmas tradition that began in Germany where Krampus (who is some sort of monster) comes and kidnaps kids that are bad.  He comes complete with a whip and chain.  If you look close, you can see the bad little children in his backpack.  So joyful.  

Christmas 2011

And....finally.....we have reached Christmas Day.  The funny part is, I only have about 5 pictures from the actual Christmas morning and this is 3 of them.  **sigh**  

Christmas morning was a fun whirlwind of presents and laughs and stockings and dogs and chaos.  And we loved every second of it.  The morning consists of our family, EE, Uncle Todd, Aevan, and Grandpa.  We all have breakfast, open stockings, and then move on to presents.  Santa out-did himself this year and Mallory was on cloud nine.  She loved her presents and of course, loved helping her brother open his.  

After we were finished, we all got ready and went over to Great Grandma's for the final installment of Christmas.  It seems like it is too much when I look back and revisit each part of Christmas, but then I think of how thankful I am that we have all of these places to go and all these amazing people in our family to share the holiday with.  In the true spirit of Christmas I try to not complain about the time spent on the road and the lack of time we have trying to fit everything in, because the truth is that every part of Christmas is exciting and fun and I am so thankful for everything we have been blessed with.  Merry Christmas to all (even in January as I try to catch up on the blog...)  :)  

Christmas Eve, Part 2

Now, for part 2 of our Christmas Eve adventure, an evening at Grandma Myntzs' house.  We ventured that way after Aunt Lori's in hopes of a good nap in the car on the way over.  This year, we took our time making the trip as long as possible.  I think Mallory got a good hour of sleep in, which was acceptable.  Not her normal two hour nap, but it was something.  And typically something is better then nothing.

We were the first to arrive and Aunt EE, Uncle Todd, and Aevan were soon to follow.  This year was difficult for them as EE had come down with an awful case of Strep Throat.  We quarantined her in the play room/guest room and crossed our fingers that no one would get sick.  We were successful, but poor EE was miserable.  She was a trooper though; making the 45 minute journey to Grandma Myntzs' in order to enjoy Christmas Eve.  She even got Aevan dressed up in her little Christmas dress, complete with adorable cardigan.  

Aevan was bright eyed and bushy tailed for her first Christmas, taking in all the excitement in large doses.  She was most entertained my her cousin Mallory and enjoyed watching her bounce around the room with what seemed like endless bouts of energy.  I have a feeling little Aevan will look up to her cousin, while they both torment little Wes in the coming years.  It is okay though, Wes has Ivan and Everett to look to on the other side.  :)

Additionally, Wes decided to show his smile that evening, which at that time was a rare occasion.  Wes was battling Colic and Acid reflux (and we are still working through it, but it is much better) so I often got uneasy when I knew I had to take him out of the comforts of home.  He slept through Aunt Lori's, so I was a little afraid of what would happen at Grandma Myntzs'.  He pleasantly surprised me with a lot of awake time where he was content.  That was so rare, I took it all in and got as many pictures as I could.  It was a nice little Christmas present for mom too :)  Thanks little man.  

Christmas Eve, Part 1

Let me start out by saying that currently, I think that Christmas Eve is way more exciting for Mallory then Christmas day.  She gets to open just as many (if not more) presents as she does on Christmas day, AND she gets to play with her cousins on both sides of the family.  It is a jam packed day that starts out in the morning at Aunt Lori & Uncle Mikes, and ends with the evening at Grandma Myntz's house.  Each year she seems to get more and more, which leaves me quite torn.  On the one hand she gets way too many presents and I don't want her spoiled, especially with a birthday coming up right after Christmas.  However, on the other hand, watching these kids get excited and open these gifts is SO much fun that all I want to do is buy them all more and more presents.  Let's be honest, the older you get Christmas seems to loose a little of it's magic.  Let me tell you, that all comes flowing back full speed when you have little ones and especially when they start to understand.  I was so excited for Christmas this year, simply to see the faces of these little ones. 

Here are some pictures from the first part of our Christmas at Aunt Lori & Uncle Mikes.  It seems all my pictures are of the kids because they were so animated and excited, but do know that the adults had a wonderful Christmas too, filled with laughs and very nice presents.  It was a great way to start off the Holiday.  

 This is the best picture I had of them sitting in front of the tree.  I know Ivan's finger is in his nose, but if I recall correctly it was prompted, not real.  Still pretty funny either way.

 Ev was pretty fascinated with Wesley, which was really cute.  He kept bringing him things and putting them in his seat.  He also wanted to rock Wesley in the car seat.  It seemed almost more exciting then opening gifts. He was very gentle and sweet...I think he is ready for a little sister or brother.  

 I think Ivan won the prize for biggest gifts :)

 Sweet little Ev

 Can you believe it?  Mallory got a princess!

 Uncle Marc showing Ev how to play his doggie guitar.

OMG!  Another princess!!!!