Christmas Recap!

Wow, this is going to be a long one and I'm ashamed I'm so far behind. Last year my New Year's resolution was to post once a week. Apparently I'll be repeating that goal yearly. This has been a really busy, fun, fattening, and exciting last month. Ty's mom has been in town and we've been able to spend some good time with her and Grandpa. The week of Christmas Tyler surprised me with this: Well, not this exact one but, the picture I took would not load up! I was shocked. I had no idea. All of a sudden my mother-in-law, father-in-law and his son, and my mom showed up at 8 at night! I thought, "What is Tyler up to?" Next thing I know I'm forced into my bedroom to sit and wait. When I was finally allowed to come out I saw my brother, Dean, my Dad, Ty, and our friend Phil. To be quite honest, I was embarrassed with all the attention but, extremely grateful. Apparently Phil pretty much carried the piano into my Dad's trailer himself. Ty said we should have just strapped the thing to his back and it would have worked just as well! It was such a good surprise. London saw it the next morning and her and Madden pounded on it all day. London asked me, "How did Santa get that in his bag?" I said, "He has a really big bag!" She paused and said, "Not THAT big, MOM!" I just laughed and didn't say any more! She also calls the Piano the "Play Plano." Christmas Eve day was spent at the gym, then the movies to see "Tangled" (thanks to grandma and grandpa Whipple), and then we headed up to my grandparents. Already, we were tired but, London was so excited to see Santa. I think she was preoccupied the entire day focusing on that. We got way too many presents and ate way too much food. There was a program by grandma and of course, a talent show. I'm still kind of bugged all of the men wussed out of doing ANYTHING! Santa came and scared Madden and Gabe to death. London, however, was very pleased to be on his lap! By the time we left Madden was out for the count and London was still wired over the arrival of Santa! We told her a passing plane in the sky was Santa's sleigh. We said he goes so fast that his sleigh looks like it's on fire! She had an amazed look on her face and said, "Santa's sleigh looks just like an airplane!"...Yeeesss, it does, doesn't it? We spent the night at my parents. We say every year that we won't do it again, but this year my parents' don't have one "Santa Believer" in the house. Therefore, we had to go and share in the fun! Our kids were up at 4:30 a.m.!!!! London was so excited she woke up Madden, then Ty and I got up, THEN my parents got up to take London. She got in bed with them and Madden got in bed with us. None of us slept. Finally we got up around 6:00. The kids were wired. Madden played with Papa's golf clubs until we finally went downstairs. London received a bike for Christmas. She was so happy. Unfortunately, she could not ride the bike and look up at the same time. So she'd run into the cabinets and tip over because she was trying to watch her feet pedal. I was pleased to receive a sewing machine from my parents and a white side table for the family room. Yes, I am wearing a plaid, flannel nightgown! What's it to ya! After a quick jog with Madeline and breakfast with my family we headed down to Grandma's to see Ty's family! By this point, London was so exhausted and moody as was her little brother. I finally rocked Madden to sleep and put him in the other room on a couch. London got a bike helmet and kneed pads from G and G Whipple for Christmas and Madden got some sound books. They loved them!We usually play games and stuff Christmas Day night, but Tyler was so exhausted we headed home around 7:00 p.m. and went straight to bed! What a day! That in a nutshell was our Christmas day!

Thanksgiving, Family, and The Zoo!

I think that's everything I need to post about since I'm shamefully behind. The day before Thanksgiving, my mom called to say that we should have a little get together to play games. I thought, "Okay, this is always fun. Let's do it!" She also mentioned under her breath that she had a surprise. I assumed this meant she made me some chocolate temptation or that my birthday present had arrived. So, we arrived at the "party" with all of my siblings. Dean and Mary with their kids, Mom and Dad, Mandy and Trent and their little boy, Libs and Maddie, Danny and Emily and Sam, and....Monica. Oh yeah, did I mention my surprise was Monica!!!! Her and Madeline kept it a secret that she was coming. I guess it was snowing and Mad told mom and dad that she had to pick up a friend from the airport. They DID NOT want her to drive in that weather, so mom went with her. I guess she was tearfully surprised to see Monica there! Everybody was shocked to see her. Except Madden played with the vacuum the entire time she was here. It was so fun to have her. Of course, we missed Brad as he spent Thanksgiving in Cali. I'm pretty sure we went to my parents' every night to see her. Fortunately, they had enough food for us to mooch on for dinner as well! Thanksgiving was too much! I gained two pounds, Tyler gained five pounds, and his work out buddy at the gym....16 pounds! We have not gotten over that! In addition to our gluttonous weekend, we were able to put up our Christmas decorations. London was so excited that she bounced around the house during the entire process. She is such a crack up. Our kids are growing so fast. The other day London was begging for wet wipes. She's slightly OCD and I know that she hates any tacky feeling on her palm. I told her absolutely no more wet wipes and shut the bathroom door on her because I had to go! A second later I yelled, "LONDON!!! WHY IS THE TOILET SEAT STICKY!?!" She calmly stated, "I was trying to tell you. I need a wet wipe because Madden grabbed a banana and wiped it on the toilet seat." I felt thoroughly chastised and laughed at the whole thing! Her and Madden are still best friends and usually partners in crime. I have had to take all of the ornaments off the bottom of the tree because Madden tears them off, and London will rearrange them! Both kids are in a jumping phase. They'll say, "One, two, three, JUMP!" London will actually get off the ground whereas Madden does a full squat and stands quickly up. It's so anti-climatic but, hilarious. Tyler's mom and step-dad are in town from England so Grandma and Grandpa Barnes took everyone to the zoo! I had no idea they did lights and Christmas decorations. I believe they even had Santa there but, there was a 45 min wait. No Thanks! You can't tell, but there's a reindeer in the background of this next pic. London was so excited the entire time. Her and I were running every which way trying to get in everything we could. Ty had a good time playing with his cousin's kids as well as all the other kids! He's such a child! At the beginning, Madden was kind of grumpy. He'd eaten an entire kid's meal so you'd think he would be happy. Nope, he was kind of stoic and mopey. I even gave him a kiss, and he ignored me. Once we got into the park his eyes went huge! He even tried to grab the lights and bite them! We saw snakes, crocodiles, a reindeer, bugs, etc. But, the best were the tigers! There were four of them circling around this bridge. At one point a tiger went right up to the glass where Tyler was holding Madden. It steamed up immediately and terrified little Madden and me! I'm pretty sure that Tiger saw Madden as a snack! The zoo was a fun time. Here I leave you with a video of our jumping children. Enjoy!

Time Flies

Wow, my kids are growing right before my eyes. (FYI, this whole post's pictures are basically of Madden playing with the vacuum.) I can't even say how hilarious, joyful, and humbling being a parent can be. London is full of her new words and observances. She laughed hysterically the other day by herself. Tyler and I were totally confused and asked what she was laughing at. She said, "Madden's bum is tangley!" We were again confused until Ty said, "Do you mean Madden's bum is dangley?" She laughed and laughed. I guess she's discovered differences in boys and girls but, apparently those differences are identified as "bums." We could not quit laughing. Madden is getting to be such a little boy. I took him to his fifteen month check up and his weight was in the 50th percentile, height in the 70th and his head.....96th! I had no idea he had such a huge head. I was totally shocked because the last check-up his head was in the 40th. I guess they change really fast. My birthday was yesterday and I had a fabulous day. London and Ty woke me up with a handwritten card from London. He told me later that it was the biggest test of patience! I received some lovely smelling perfume, a purse, a quilt, a chandelier for London's room, socks, a shirt, and shopping spree! Oh, and Dean gave me peanut-butter bars. See! Could that day not be better. After the gym, I took the kids to my Mom's where Madden gave kisses aplenty and played with the vacuum (His new favorite toy. He IS obsessed.) Ty and I went to Harry Potter to enjoy some one-on-one time. It was so fun! He let me shop after the movie and the next thing I knew, it was 7:30 p.m. and my sweet husband hadn't said a word about my excessive shopping! We ended up skipping dinner to go get our kids and my parents. I guess Mandy and Trent had been waiting to wish my "Happy Birthday" but, I took so long shopping! At least they played with my camera! Sweet Gabe and Madden were playing like they were best buds. I'm hoping I'll do better on updating the Thanksgiving festivities! I hope you all remember the most important things in your life and are grateful for every single blessing you have! Happy Thanksgiving!