Oh Christmas tree!

We headed out for an adventure this Sunday to find the perfect Christmas tree. The adventure was had, but the tree not so much! When I was younger my parents use to drag us up to the mountains every year to find our tree and take our family Christmas card. The pictures usually said it all, my brother and I freezing and being brats. Parents usually not speaking at this point because my mom just drug my dad half way up the mountain on foot to find the "perfect" tree. On that note we decided to create the same tradition in our family. Eric is a "woods person" at heart so I knew he would have a good time. Eric's interpretation of the day is much different then mine. He had himself an adventure trucking out into the snow, climbing the mighty mountain in our SUV and chopping down our ever so ugly Christmas tree! Mean while I was in the car with two screaming children sweating in puddles because we all had on 87 layers of clothes, trying to change poopy diapers in about a one foot space. Nursing Nolan with breast milk spraying all over the place. Carter got himself a new shiner because he insisted on playing on the floor and ran into the back seat heater. We managed to get out of the car for a couple minutes so we could snap a few happy shots out in the snow and pick out world's worst tree. I had picked a giant beautiful bushy tree, the only problem was that when Eric cut it down it had about three other trees next to it, giving the illusion that it was full! He comes marching back to the car with a giant man grin because he had just defeated the tree with his saw, only to find a very disappointed wife. I decided to accept our tree and try to make it lovely with decorations at home. All and all we had a great day with the family and I imagine we will make it back there again next year!

Seriously?!

When it rains, it pours! So our water heater decided to go belly up this weekend. The pilot light in it has been going out every other day this last week, which means no hot water! Come to find out there was a giant recall on our water heater a couple years ago. Fantastic! Then Eric called the company to ask about getting parts for it on Saturday. "Sure no problem we will overnight air it to you on Monday!" Lovely no hot water until Tuesday. So last night I boiled 4 pots of water three times each to fill a bath for myself and the boys. Eric braved the cold shower but I said no way! Can't wait for Tuesday!

Look what I did. . .

Yep mommy, all by myself, I managed to pull out every last wipe onto the kitchen floor. So proud!

Christmas is here. . .

This weekend we went to the lighting of the bridge in downtown Sumner. It was pretty cold and wet outside but we managed. Poor Carter hated the fireworks and cried the entire time, not a big fan of the loud noise. I love seeing everything decorated for Christmas, lights and all. Afterwards we went to dinner with the Goldsmiths and Oney's. We realized before we got there with just three families we had a party of 12, and all boys under the age of three. Poor Tiff, Jen and I were the only girls. We defiantly will be trying every trick in the book to get a girl someday. I cannot be out numbered like this for the rest of my life! All six of the children did great at dinner and at the end Jen gave all of the kiddos suckers. Carter has never had a sucker before (considering Halloween this year was his first piece of candy) so he enjoyed it to say the least. I sat back and watched him stick it to his face, his hand and all over his clothes. I tell you with a toddler and a baby you learn to let some things go. Life is messy but like a sucker, stick with whats good!

Thanksgiving

We had a large crowd for Thanksgiving this year. Two new babies on each side, our families just keep getting bigger. My mom and I prepared a fabulous Thanksgiving feast with additional sides and dessert from the fam. We had a 23 pound turkey this year! You usually only prepare a turkey once maybe twice a year so sometimes you forget what you did in years past. Every year my mom and I wonder what we did the year before but somehow it always works out. Although this year our turkey was so big it didn't fit in the turkey bag. We cook our bird in a bag to keep in the moisture but this bird was to big. All and all it was a fun day. I love having people over and now we get to do it again next weekend because someone is turning two!

Snow Day!

I had my first day back at work last Monday and then we got hit with a giant snow storm. So the next two days of school were cancelled and on snow days the only thing to do is bake and stay warm. Tomorrow will be my first full week back but only half days until January. I am still hoping we win the lottery so that I can stay home with the boys. Cross your fingers!

We went to cousin Harper's baptism last weekend so the boys dressed in their Sunday best. We had bunch with the whole fam over at Erin and Ben's afterwards. Carter has been practicing his steps so we tried a couple over there. Grandma and Grandpa got to see him take a few big steps! Pretty exciting.

Went out to lunch to celebrate Grandma Carol's birthday. Everyone was out of town on her b-day so we celebrated a little late. Uncle Josh was practicing with Charlie on how to juggle two babies in a restaurant. I asked if they wanted to take them for a spin but they declined. I think they were scared!

Halloween!

The day finally came. I have had their costumes for over a month and have been waiting for this day to come. Poor kiddos were probably sick of their costumes because I put them on them every other day! So on Sunday we got them all snug in their costumes and headed to Enumclaw to do some trick or treating. Trick or treating in the neighborhood seemed like a lot of work with the stroller so downtown was perfect. Everyone got to see their costumes and no one had to get out of the stroller. We should have entered a costume contest some where, I don't know how many times I heard "oh how perfect, a monkey and a banana"! We came back to the house where Eric seemed to have a contest of his own, eating as much candy as possible and then we celebrated my mom's birthday. My dad was out of town on business and brother came down with the brown bottle flu (too much of the fun stuff the night before)so it was just us. I made some yummy chicken marsala and green beans (my new favorite veggie!) We had a little wine while Carter made us laugh with all of his sounds and Eric made us laugh with how much he could eat. Carter got to have his first piece of candy, he enjoyed it, which makes me nervous if his appetite for chocolate is anything like his father's!