Christmas Time in Photos

As I'm sure you've noticed, I really cannot find a layout I am happy with right now. Wordpress is great, but the selection of layouts is not so much. Bare with me!

Our Christmas season starts a few weeks before Christmas when we get everything set up at home and celebrate with a number of different families over the course of several days. I love how close we are to our family and that we were able to have a wonderful, relaxing time together. Happy Christmas and Merry New Year! CHEERS!

Christmas Eve:

I worked and was able to leave early. Came home and B and I prepared our house for his mom's arrival. After she arrived, we decided to head downtown for a fancy dinner. We ate at my most favorite restaurant our little town has. I had an amazing salmon dish, something I don't get to eat very often! Then we went home, relaxed and watched It's a Wonderful Life.

Christmas Morning:

Logan woke up just before 7am and quickly discovered that Santa had come by the house. He said Santa told him "Thank you" and he was so happy for all his new presents! We spent a quiet morning opening presents, sipping on coffee, eating an amazing breakfast made by B and resting.

Later, we played with Legos and had a lovely Christmas Day dinner of steak (our new tradition), veggies and fruit salad. We topped off the evening by watching another movie and then packing for our trip to Steamboat (we were married there).

[caption id="attachment_3256" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Christmas Morning![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3257" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Santa did good![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3258" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Grandma Mac gave Logan a new trike![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3259" align="aligncenter" width="200"] B got a new saw.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3260" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Music![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3261" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I got new lamps![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3262" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Art supplies![/caption]



[caption id="attachment_3265" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Lego time.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3266" align="aligncenter" width="200"] All of us built something awesome.[/caption]

Day after Christmas:

We headed to Steamboat after I worked for a few hours. The drive up the mountains was beautiful and easy. It was our first time through the canyon since the huge fire earlier this summer and it was devastating to see how much land has been torched. Upon our arrival in Steamboat, we had drinks and dinner with our extended family (my aunt and uncle whose house is in New Jersey). The visiting was lovely! B and all our cousins tried to go sledding that night down the mountain but there was a mix up with reservations. So they came back and we continued our evening back at our hotel room where we opened presents with my parents and brother. It was so nice and relaxing! Logan got an amazing light up/legos type of game that he loves! And B and I got a new camera!! I have been borrowing my dad's for the last few years to take good quality photos so I can now join the ranks of amateur photographers with a professional camera at my eye.

 

[caption id="attachment_3267" align="aligncenter" width="300"] First day in Steamboat (and first photo with my new camera!)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3268" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Playing with his awesome new lights.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_3270" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Silly man.[/caption]

Thursday:

B treated himself to a day of snowboarding up on the snowy mountain! Fresh powder covered the slopes and B says it was the best day boarding he had ever had! Though he is quite sore, he deserved that day up in the "pow" as locals call it.

I spent the morning with Logan and my mom. We walked around downtown, I got a memory card and camera case and quickly starting snapping photos. That afternoon we had to deal with a ton of family drama, but who doesn't have family drama?! Suffice it to say that everything will be okay, but it did hinder my nap time.

Thursday night we all bundled up and took a very bumpy ride deep into the mountains to a ranch where we were dropped off at a cabin. There we had hot cocoa and apps while we waited for our sleigh ride up to the teepee where we would be having our dinner. The ride was incredible! The moon was full and you could barely see it through the snow and clouds. The air was bitterly cold, but we were covered in wool blankets. Logan loved it! We arrived 10 minutes later and entered a very warm teepee with tables and a fire in the middle where we would be spending the next 2 hours eating our meal. The food was divine! We then got back on the sleigh and went back to the cabin where we had dessert and headed back down the mountain into town.

[caption id="attachment_3271" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It snowed every day we were in town. So beautiful![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3272" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Daddy and Logan on the sleigh ride![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3273" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Our transportation.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3274" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Inside the teepee.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_3276" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Keeping warm by the fire.[/caption]

Friday we spent most of the day relaxing. My extended family headed home a day early due to some nasty weather on the East Coast. We played with our new toys, took nap, I had an incredible massage at the spa and that night we had dinner with my brother at a local Irish pub. Our last day was just what we all needed!

Saturday morning B let me sleep in a bit until I was ready to get up and start packing for our ride back home. The drive is a good 3-4 hours and was beautiful! The sun had come out for the first time in days which made the snowy trees glisten! I was so sad to leave our respit! The time off from work has been just what my soul has needed to restore balance and drive. Three more weeks and I am back to school! Hope you all had a great week!

[caption id="attachment_3277" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Moon setting over the mountains.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_3279" align="aligncenter" width="300"] I love this photo I snapped on our way home.[/caption]

Dear Logan (on your 2nd Christmas)

Celebrating Christmas this year with you has been an incredible joy. I can't imagine a anything better than watching the smile spread across your face as your eyes set on all the incredible lights everywhere. It's such a beautiful smile. It did not take long for your to grasp what this Christmas was all about. You loved tearing the paper off your presents, being careful to hand me each piece to keep things clean. You ate just as much of the yummy food we did and then some. We certainly broke many of our rules about eating so many sweets in one day (whatever those are) and thankfully you still slept great. You have made this Christmas so special, Logan. We love you so much and could not be more proud of how you're growing into a little boy.

Here's what we did this Christmas:

On Christmas Eve we spent the day running around gathering last minute gifts for you and your daddy. I had a revelation that next year I will not be able to purchase your gifts while you're with me. We came home and wrapped everything up, watched the Broncos loose a game, and made some yummy treats for Great-Grandpa's party. Before we left the house, daddy decided it was time to turn your car seat around. You are only 6 weeks away from 2 years old and you've made it to 27 pounds. You LOVE facing forward!

We arrived there right at 5oopm and enjoyed hanging out with all your cousins, running around and playing with your new toys. Mommy and Daddy had to keep you from going upstairs--it was all you wanted to do! After the party we headed to Grandma Mac's, a tradition that is 3 years strong now. There, you played even more, staying up late and finally crashing after 10pm.

At 715 on Christmas day you woke us up saying "mama". I was thrilled that a) you slept past 6am and b) you woke up happy. We made breakfast and sipped on hot drinks. You love the juice boxes Grandma Mac gives you. While the frittata cooked in the oven we opened presents. You became very serious while opening each one and would immediatly say "out!" and daddy had to cut the toy out of its box.

Later, we took a walk with the dogs and you slipped on the ice a few times but handled it like a big boy, never crying. Mommy made lasagna for the first time ever and it was delicious! Although you didn't try it, you sure did love the garlic toast and black grapes. You went down for a nap and we watched a movie. It was so nice to just relax and soak in this beautiful day.

After your nap we headed to see your great Grammy. She loved the calendar we made her and you loved the truck she gave you. Then we headed to Lolly and Pops for a nice ham dinner and 9 holes of Wii golf. Lolly and Pop got you a train table and a train set which you love! You even sat on the table, something which we think you'll be doing a lot!

This Christmas was so special. It was as if it was your real first Christmas in which you were able to participate and understand that under all that paper was something fun to see. With time we will do our best as your parents to teach you the true meaning of Christmas, of baby Jesus' birth and how much he loves you. We say your prayers every night. Thank you for being our son, Logan. You're an incredible little boy and you light up our world more than we could have ever imagined.

Love you,

Mama and Daddy

Santa's Little Helper

Our trip to see Santa this year was nothing short of an epic fail. The morning started out great. Logan was in a good mood and we were having a great family day. B was heading to Denver later in the day with Logan and I had to get some time in with my boys. We headed to the mall and even while in line, Logan was not totally opposed to the idea of Santa.

There was a little girl in front of us who was just a month older than Logan. She set the bar by wailing and screaming her way off of Santa's lap. Logan stared at her and the closer we got the more sullen his face became. No more smiles and no more "uh-hus" when we asked if he was ready.

I stepped behind the photographer to take my own photos while B managed Logan. As you can see, he was not too keen on the idea of sitting on this strange mans lap! Afterwards he was given a candy cane and of course that cleared up his tears quickly. This kid LOVES candy and ate his candy cane before we'd even gotten to the car.

My dad mentioned how he's "too young" to be going to see Santa and I could not agree more. However, getting the shot of Logan crying on his lap feels like one of those parental rights of passage that you just have to do.

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In other news, Thursday's 21 Questions will return in January. If you'd like to be featured, please email me samama8 at gmail dot com.

I pray you all have a fantastic and blessed Holiday weekend with your families. Celebrating Christmas with a toddler is SO MUCH FUN!!

One more post coming up: my trip to the ER a few weekends ago!

Plans Change

I can't catch a break. Everyday, something else is going on with my health and well-being, or so it seems. On Friday night I was walking quickly through the parking lot carrying a rather large bottle of wine when I slipped and fell on some ice. I saved the wine! But my wrist? Mildly sprained and then yesterday my low back flared up. Awesome.

The results from my ultrasound last week are normal, but I did not find out from my doctor or from looking the results up myself. On Saturday, we had big plans to have a Christmas party with B's family. We were so excited. I went shopping and bought everything for a really yummy salad, we went a cut down our Christmas tree, and only a few things to do before they arrived. All morning, however, I was actually having some serious stomach issues. I could not keep anything I ate or drank inside. But I tried to push through it. I assumed it was just my stomach acting up, of course, when we have something great planned. I took my meds and hoped for the best.

As the day went on I started to feel worse. I laid in bed until everyone arrived and put on a smile, pushing through and trying to hid any of the pain and discomfort I was feeling. I knew in my heart this had to be something more than just my stomach being dumb. I felt ill.

I looked awesome. I had been planning my outfit for the party for a week and tried to convince myself that I looked good so I feel good. That ran through my head over and over to no avail. We watching Logan open Christmas presents. He totally gets it! With hardly any help from his Nona he was ripping paper off and saying "out, out, out" after seeing his new toy. His grandparents absolutely spoiled him, in a good way of course! I'll post pictures as soon as I can, but watching Logan really enjoy Christmas for the first time was priceless. I am so thankful that I was able to hold out for that.

We took a break and I mustered up any strength I had to help make the salad and get things ready for dinner. Standing up made me feel as though I would faint and I pushed through those feelings as long as I could until I went back to lay on the couch. I felt terrible. Our family was doing everything and here I was laying on the couch. I hated, and still do, that I was not able to be in the mix with everyone, sipping on homemade eggnog and wine. My heart still hurts that it did not go that way.

At one point while I was laying on the couch B came over and asked if I needed to go to the ER. I had those thoughts in the back of my head but it was the last thing I wanted to do. But then we thought about it. It had been over 12 hours since I had been able to keep anything from coming right back out and sipping on water was painful. The cramping had me keeled over and I knew I was becoming very dehydrated. We made the decision to go. I was devastated. I was leaving Logan with our family and I knew he would be fine, but B was also leaving his family and we don't get enough time with them as it is. But I was going downhill so fast both B and I were scared. We could not worry about those things.

Only one other time in my life have I been in the ER. When I was in college the week before spring finals I became sick. I passed out in the dinning hall and was taken to the ER via ambulance. Diagnosis was sever dehydration and a viral infection.

When we got to the ER, things moved quickly. We didn't have to wait long and in no time I was having blood drawn and an IV put in. The fluids were a welcomed relief. I went through a liter in less than an hour. After anti-nausea meds, 2 liters of fluids and good blood work, I was sent home. I felt worse, though, because the body aches had kicked in. The drive home was just as bad as the drive to the hospital when I was in labor. And yes, I made that connection! lol

In the end, I slept until 130pm the next day and slowly regained my strength. Today, I am totally back to normal, stomach pains and all. The meds I'm taking for that do keep them under control and on the 19th I have a follow up to find out if this is going to be a life-long battle.

The moral of this story, friends, is to WASH YOUR HANDS and DON"T TOUCH YOUR FACE! I know these things are so simple and "DUH" even, but until you start paying attention to how often you touch your face, you don't even realize you do. My official diagnosis was the flu and gastritis. YUCK! Stay healthy friends!

Christmas in Pictures

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 (Logan & Grandma Ruthie--he loves her!)

 (Giving Auntie M hugs!)

 (Celebrating our 3rd Christmas together--so special!)

 (We ALL got a new stroller and we NEEDED it so badly! Thanks Gma & Gpa!)

 (Bundle up! Logan got a snow suite.)

 (Logan and Uncle K hanging out!)

 (Christmas Eve-Logan took several ornaments off the tree.)

(Eating paper was way more interesting that the new toys! Silly Man)

The Day After Christmas

>I'm busy rearranging our tiny apartment. We have accumulated a lot of new fun toys for Logan and well, we barely have 800 square feet for all of us and our things, oh yeah and the dogs too. ;) But guess what? That's gonna change reallllllly soon! More on that later...

I'm having a hard time writing something decent. We had a great Christmas weekend, but our evening did not end how I would have liked and sadly, I'm still trying to run that conversation through my head without feeling bitter about it. We were able to wake up Christmas morning with my parents and B's mom at her place. We had yummy French Bread and sipped on hot coffee. It was lovely. We Logan waited patiently to open his presents and boy is he spoiled! I only had to return two things today, one which had a crack in the wood and another which we already had. After Logan went down for a nap and all the morning festivities came to a close, I took a nap. It felt great! Then B and I went to the movies and saw Black Swan. It was AWESOME! Logan got to spend some quality one on one time with his Grandma and I know they both loved that. Then we headed up to my parents house for Christmas dinner. Dinner was super yummy and my mom made excellent green bean casserole, my fav! Later we watched The Big Lebowski. Aside from a sour conversation I had, we did exactly what we wanted on our first Christmas together.

FYI Logan's cough is still hanging around. Not getting better, not really getting worse either. It's frustrating.

Holiday Card from Shutterfly

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Oh Holy Night Religious Christmas Card

Visit Shutterfly.com for classic photo Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

The Money Shot-Wordless Wednesday

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Identity Crisis

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I am pulling my hair out over the way my blog looks right now. I hate it. I hate all the options that blogger has and I just want something fresh and new. SOOOoo I am trying to adjust it right now and I am not sure if it is my Mac or blogger or firefox, but I can't change anything right now. Ugh. I would love to have a super cute blog like most of you have, but I have no mulah so how about I ask Santa to gift me a pretty blog?? Sounds good to me!

Oh and as you can see, there is a little preview of our Christmas pictures! More to come, as tonight we are taking Logan AND our doggies to see Santa tonight. SO FUN!

A Pic...or Ten

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B took this pic on Wed night. It was the day I was super sad and Logan decided to go to bed super early so I woke him up in an attempt to feed him and put his pjs on but he was not having it. Instead, he opted to fall asleep on me, something he rarely ever does. My heart melted the moment his little fist clutched at the collar of my shirt (other hand you cannot see) and I just cried with joy. Now this is my new fav pic of us and looking at it makes me so thankful and so happy.

This is one of the two most amazing sunrises we had this week. And yes, we get up that early.

Happy guy on his car! He loves being pushed around on it!

Look at those EYES!!

Sometimes he pushes his car all by himself!

This is the set up for our impromptu photo shoot. I tried to get some pics of Logan in his Santa suite...

The kid does not sit still!

See his pearly white??

Had to keep him happy somehow!

Because there were some tears...

I can't wait to celebrate his first Christmas!