Open...

Jack learned how to say 'open' a day or so before Christmas and when he walked out on Christmas morning he went right over to a gift and said 'open.' He had fun opening the first few gifts but after a while he was done and just wanted to play! I think you can hear him saying 'open' in this video.

Merry Christmas...

We had a wonderful Christmas with lots of great family/friends time!! I wasnt sure about doing Christmas morning with just the 3 of us but it was really nice and I am glad we were able to do so much with Clays family the rest of the week! Our week, although almost ruined by the snow, consisted of a Grandchildren's Christmas Party, Adult Christmas Party (which I of course didnt get pictures of but it was so nice to be all together without worrying about our kids), Christmas Eve dinner with our friends, Christmas Day at the Warren's and Brown's, and talking to Clays brother, Cameron, on his mission in Argentina and my family!

Grandchildren's Christmas Party

Clay's mom always sets up everything so nice...each kid had their own place with a teddy bear waiting for them! The food was delicious!

Grandpa getting into the holiday spirit :)

Jack and Jane playing a little Christmas music for us

Gma and Gpa Warren got Jack a wagon and he LOVES it! He sits and plays in it all the time and we even go for short rides in our tiny apartment!!

Christmas Eve/Morning

Clay did not approve of how I had arranged the gifts under the tree so he had to fix them...he did do a very nice job!

Clay requested that we have my sister's cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Thanks Kelly for helping me out...they were really yummy!!!

Jack got a new table and chairs for Christmas and loves playing with his cars at the table!

Playing in the snow

We had to go out and play in the snow of course...it was actually pretty deep so Jack couldnt really walk in it but he liked being outside...he didnt want to help me make a snowman so we just threw snowballs at dads window while he was working (from home).

He also figured out he could eat the snow...oh dear. No, he is not getting ready to throw the snowball in this picture...he is just helping himself to a little treat...it is fresh snow at least.

Court...

So this is my 5th post in 2 days, but I guess a lot has been happening lately.

Awhile ago (in September; Brandon and Lindsey you should remember this, since you were here when it happened!!!) I was heading home from a doctors appointment and was pulled over. The officer ticketed me for speeding in a school zone (apparently the tickets double in school zones...not cool). I hadnt seen the sign flashing I guess and was going 36mph (it is normally 35mph when the sign isnt flashing). Anyways, I was so upset that I had missed the sign that a couple of days later I drove by at the same time I had gotten my ticket and the sign was not flashing. It was during the week so that was confusing. I thought I should try and drive by on the same day of the week, so the next Monday I drove by again at the same time and the sign was AGAIN not flashing. I was starting to think it wasnt really flashing when he pulled me over. My friend and Clay seemed to think I should contest the ticket so I did (I probably would have payed it just to get it over with). I had totally planned on just sending in a written statement because I did not want to go to court...just the thought of it made me start to sweat. But I was finally convinced that it would be ok and yesterday I had my court date.

With 'all' of the snow, Clay ended up working from home yesterday and so he was able to come with me for support which was so nice! After the first couple of people went up I was starting to feel like I could present a good case and was really not too nervous. The Judge had been reading the officers statements and then swearing in the contestants (is that what they are called) after which they could plead their case and he would make a decision. Well I get up there and sit down and the first thing he says to me is that since I have had no tickets in the past I am eligible to pay $175 and will be on probation for 6 months. If I dont get any tickets within that time the ticket is completely erased. Well, to be honest that is really what I was hoping for and since my tickets was over $300, the fine didnt seem so bad. So instead of asking to contest the ticket I just said OK and off I went (he took me off guard by not first reading the officers statement and hearing my case). I guess I didnt have to wait too long in the courtroom and it is pretty much all taken care of now, but I will never know if I did the right thing or not. Should I have pleaded my case?? Did I take the easy way out?? Oh well, whats done is done. I am glad it is over with and I can now enjoy my Christmas!

Stockings...

So my friend, Natalie, made some adorable stockings and so I decided that since I cant seem to find any that I just love (that arent really expensive) I should attempt to make my own. I had totally planned on making some like hers but then I found this free pattern on Amy Butler's website. I was starting to get worried that I wouldnt have them made in time for Christmas but after the first one it went really fast. Clay, of course, noticed that they are really plain but I really like them. The fabric trim on the outside is also the lining on the inside. I chose all different fabrics in red and greens so that I could easily add more in the future. Maybe next year I will embroider names on the front and get around to the tree skirt that I wanted to make as well.

Snow day...

Well, while it may be normal for the rest of the country...the snow is pretty unusual out here in the Northwest (or so I think). I am hoping that this is about all we get, although the weather isnt looking good for tonight. Anyways, on Thursday Jack and I decided to enjoy the snow for a little bit. There wasnt much on the ground when we went out in the morning but by that night there was definitely a lot more and so Clay took Jack out again when he finally made it home from work. People dont seem as equipped to deal with the weather out here and so schools have been closed with just a little snow fall...it is kind of funny coming from the midwest where they dont close down for anything it seems! And we only had one hour of church last Sunday because it was supposed to snow that night (which it didnt). Plus, I was so upset because I always record Ellen and it was taken over on Thursday because they had continuous weather and traffic reports from about 7am-1pm...seriously???? Oh well! We are enjoying the snow for now!

Getting ready to run around in the snow :)

This was actually taken in the morning so it wasnt this dark but I love this picture of him. And I think it is so funny that this hat he is wearing is actually Clays. Yes, that is right, my son has a big head...no big surprise there I guess.

Good thing we had our rain boots because I dont think it is worth it to buy snow boots out here!

Looking excited about something...probably the big blowup snowman across the big lawn that he wanted to go after.

Ok it really was dark out when Clay took him out but he really wanted to. You probably cant see very well but they were having fun...Clay needs to invest in some rain boots apparently.

Jack was having so much fun with his dad he screamed when he had to come in. You can also see that there is more snow on the ground now!

Blastoff...

Jack has started to really like Little Einsteins (probably thanks to his cousin, Tyler) and has started 'singing' along with the opening song. Of course he didnt do a great job when I was recording it and he was also distracted because I gave him his rocket, but you get the point. We do 'blastoff' with his rocket and you can see him do that in the video (although I am pretty sure he just says, 'b'). The sound may need to be turned up to hear him singing to the music on the tv.

Classic...

This is such a classic face from Jack. I dont know how well you can tell from these pictures. He just looks at you like, 'yes, can I help you??'

Clay took this video of Jack...he apparently had a lot to say. CaCa is his duck...he refers to animals by the sounds they make, but only says the first syllable of every word so naturally a duck goes from quack quack to caca. There you have it.

The 'mop' and Santa...

So after several failed attempts at getting my hair cut this week I finally got in on Friday and she chopped off all of my hair. The last hair cut I had was really bad and I was trying to grow it out in hopes of it looking somewhat decent but it just wasnt working so I decided it was time to get it fixed. Well, I guess this new hairdresser thought I needed to just start over from the very beginning! I mean she even pulled out the razor at the end to trim up the back which I am pretty sure has never happened before. I am getting used to it and starting to like it but wow...talk about a change...I know I am pregnant but I wasnt exactly going for such a change!!! This should also show you how pregnant I am getting...it may not look like it but I am already feeling big...probably because I can barely carry Jack around anymore (especially when he is throwing his mean little tantrums...welcome to the toddler years I guess!!).

He is learning how to smile for the camera...he is so big...everyone always comments that he is practically as big as me now...yes, it does appear that way I guess!

This was so exciting!!! Santa and the firemen/police men came to our apartment complex today and were handing out candy canes and presents to all of the kids. They had a fire truck and several police cars with all of their lights flashing and music playing! It was FREEZING but Jack was in heaven with the vehicles...we had to go back out until all of the cars were gone before he would come back in the house...did I mention it was freezing. He just stood there watching in awe...he wears his excitement right on his sleeve you could say! My friend, Janette, happened to be outside as well with her camera and snapped these pictures for us...thanks for planning ahead for us!!! As you can tell Jack was not so sure what to think about Santa but at least he didnt run away...I think he just wanted to watch the fire truck.

Santa was very nice and jolly!!

O Christmas Tree...

This past Saturday we went to get our Christmas Tree. We went to a nice tree farm by our house where we (Clay) could cut it down ourselves. Jack did really well while we searched for the perfect tree, but did not feel like wearing his coat and since it was warm enough he walked around in his sweatshirt, hat and gloves instead! When we got our tree home it wouldnt fit in the tree base so Clay had to cut off the bottom a little and then trim some of the branches off as well. By the time he was done he was real disappointed with the tree...I on the other hand thought it looked great! We also had problems getting the star to stand straight on the top and so he cut off the limb that was sticking up...even after that he ended up breaking the star, and so until I could find a new tree topper we had a stubly looking tree. I love it and think it is the perfect size for our small apartment!

Searching for the perfect tree...it looks a lot darker out than it really was.

I love this shot of Jack watching Clay cut the tree down.

Clay annoyed that I asked him to look at me!

Getting our tree on the roof while Jack enjoys his candy cane!

The finished product!!!!

Pictures Galore...

These are the 'few' pictures that go with my last post about Thanksgiving!! I seriously could post a ton more...these are mostly of Jack (and Clay it seems)...but I just dont know how to narrow them all down I guess!

Tyler, Jack, and David playing at the little table so happily!!!

This is Lyndsay's hat but I happen to think it looks real good on Clay (ok it looks so much better on Lyndsay)...he looks like a newsie!!!!

Clay, PJ, Steve, TJ, and Jonah at our family photo shoot...what a handsome group of men. Too bad we didnt think to do this with all of the girls...what were we thinking???

Jack loved playing with this little motorized car that he could actually work himself...although he didnt quite get how to turn with the handles so we would have to go bail him out when he got stuck or started heading for the road. I love this one of Clay too!!!

Clay being 'helpful???'

The kids enjoying their popcicles out in the garage...with all of the fun toys of course!

I thought this was so cute of Jonathan and Jack!! Notice the trains in Jacks hand.

This is about as close as Jack got to Santa...maybe next year!

The fun mall toys he would rather play on then get his picture taken with Santa...

He got Percy (along with a DVD of Thomas and Friends) for Christmas from his Aunt Lyndsay and Uncle Jonah...good purchase!!!! He loves it and carries him around everywhere!

These are the pajamas Aunt Kelly made for all of the kids...I love them!!!! I thought this was a great picture...so much personality! David does not want to sit there, Tyler is just playing with his rocket (I made one for him, David and Jack), Jonathan about to fall off the couch, Madison smiling at something funny, Brynn playing with Dylan, Jared smiling nicely for the camera, and Jack with his trains!!!!

These are the dolls I made for Madison and Brynn. Do you see the resemblence??

The checkers board I made for Jared...thanks to my friend, Jenna, for figuring out how to do it all!!!!!!!

Jack going up the stairs to one of the slides at Pump It Up.

Lots of climbing involved!!

David and Jack at Pump It Up...taking a break from all of the climbing/sliding.

Attempting to ride the horse at Chuck E Cheeses

This is where we finally found Jack after losing him...way up at the top of this!

Clay and PJ having fun with the arcade games.

Dylan and Clay...look at how cute that baby is...guess we will be getting used to a lot of this in just a few months!

Jack's Thanksgiving dinner!!!

The adults digging in to our feast!!!

More popcicles in the garage!! I dont think Jack actually ate more than one popcicle the whole trip...but he sure loved being out in the freezing garage with the toys and the popcicles melting all over himself.

Jared and Tyler browsing the web with Uncle Clay!

Our Jeopardy Powerpoint game that was a blast!

The winning team and their root beer prize!!!

Jack playing in the water at the children's museum.

Jack and Jared sending golf balls through the different pipes/holes and seeing where they end up!