Christmas 2011 (I Believe in Santa)

 Christmas was splendid this year. Simply splendid. I being anxious for the festivities to start got up at 6:30 thinking the kids would be up by then anyway. So, I put on some make up and they were still fast asleep by about 7 when Derek woke up, which is when the kids usually wake up. So, Derek made bacon and hot cocoa and I put some cinnamon rolls in the oven. The kids were still asleep, so we waited on the couch. The stinkers were still asleep by 7:30, so we crawled back into bed. They didn't wake up until about 8 o'clock. It was wonderful, but I wish I would have known so I could have slept in! It was perfect though and seeing Kael and Eden's faces when they saw their Santa Claus presents was priceless. Each year Christmas becomes more and more magical. Kael got a train from Santa Claus and Eden a doll and stroller. Then we of course overdid it and spoiled them rotten with a bunch of other stuff that could in no way out shine what Santa brought. Kael played with his new train for a solid 3 days during every waking moment. His eyes would light up. Sometimes he would fix something, but most of the time he would get down low and just watch the train speed along. He has been sleeping with the main train that has a light on it every night since in his bed. Eden has slept with her new doll every night. She gathers all of her dolls and puts them all in her stroller to push them around. She feeds them crackers and puts her sippy cup next to them. It is magical to see the happiness in their eyes. I hope to remember these special moments always. These two munchkins bring Derek and I so much joy.

This is what Santa left the kiddos Christmas Eve late at night.

And yes, the tree is completely dead... Not from lack of effort to keep it alive however.

 Kael focusing on his train. (You can tell because his tongue is hanging out.) And Eden playing with her doll.

Even though this picture is blurry I am totally in love with it. Kael is so busy all the time, and the picture just fits him. I love seeing him playing with his train and this moment is just very Kaelish...

 Kael is a very emotional child. When he gets upset and sad he lets you know. Usually he will stick out his bottom lip as far out as it will go and say, "Kael sad Mom." However, when he gets very excited about something he just cannot contain his happiness. He runs up to me and says, "Mom, need hug and kiss!" Then, jumps to hug me and pulls my face down to his and kisses my cheek. This was one of those moments. Ignore my crazy face, but the kid just needed a kiss. He was so happy and overcome with joy, and he wanted to show his gratitude. He is an amazing, sweet, kind, fun, and loving boy. I will always cherish those kisses that he just needs to give me. I hope they come for a long time yet.

And, Eden is just Eden. She was too busy eating, drinking and being merry to know much of what was going on. She did love opening presents this year. She is finally getting it down. I'm certain by her birthday in March she will be a professional present opener now. I think the food and her toys were her favorite part about Christmas. She got to eat all day long, and loved every minute. She loved walking out to see her new baby doll and stroller. She new it was for her and went right to it and started holding her new baby. She is so precious and I'm so glad she is mine.

Christmas was just splendid. I can't wait until next year!

Gingerbread House

Last year we started a new tradition to make gingerbread houses every year. We kind of blew it this year and weren't very prepared. So, we made up some frosting and used graham crackers and any treats we could find in the house. It turns out I had more sugar in my house than I thought. It was a good excuse to get rid of it. I think the tradition is still going to hold because even though we only made one house and it fell immediately, we still had a blast making it as a family.

 Graham crackers, cream cheese frosting, jolly ranchers, gummy bears, green sprinkles, candy canes.

 And this is what happens when you just have too much fun. A week at Grandma and Grandpa's and a week with Dad home = too much fun = exhausted! She was busy eating her lunch and so I went on the computer. It got quiet and this is how I found her. She had been whining for a bit and I couldn't figure out why. She was afraid to finish getting off the chair by herself and needed help and then just got too tired and fell asleep.

Temple Lights December 23, 2011

We tried taking the kids to see the temple lights last year, but failed miserably. It was really crowded and we had no idea where to park and it was late already for the kids so we ended up just driving around the temple.

We still didn't know where to park this year, but we decided no matter what we were going. It turned out amazing! The kids loved the lights. We would have taken pictures like this first one all night, but it seemed people were in the Christmas spirit. Whenever we tried to take a picture by ourselves someone would walk up and say get in the picture and take our picture for us. This happened about 3 times. We couldn't help but smile and walk on feeling so happy and wanting to do the same. We found a couple of families and took pictures for them. It was awesome seeing people so friendly, Christlike, and full of love!

Our pictures aren't the best, but they captured the moments I want to remember.

A Visit Down South

My parents (The Heatons) bought a house in Hurricane, Utah this month and it was time for a visit, so I packed up the kids and we went down to help them move in. Derek had finals and then a huge service project in St. George, so we decided to meet up when he was done. This trip was so much fun. I don't think I was much help to my parents, but the kids sure had a blast spending a week with Grandma and Grandpa Heaton. Whenever my Dad wasn't working Kael became his shadow. Kael wanted to do EVERYTHING that Grandpa was doing, and he did. Eden took a while to warm up to them, but as soon as they brought out the food, it didn't take her long to start showing her cute personality. 

My Dad had a business meeting here in Salt Lake on the 13th and when he was done we got to take him to the zoo. He grew up in Salt Lake and hadn't been to Hogle Zoo in well maybe 30 years. It sure has changed a lot, and we had fun. The monkey's were so active! We are frequent zoo attendants, almost once a week, and I have never seen them so friendly. They jumped up to the window at Eden (gave me a heart attack), and started waving to her. Kael soon came over and they were all chatting up a storm to each other. It was amazing. After the zoo we took the kids to McDonald's for dinner and to wear the kids out before the long drive down south. It worked like a charm. The kids were exhausted and fell asleep on the drive. 

One of the days we were getting the last load of stuff of my parent's and my Dad took us to the playground of death as we like to call it. It did have the coolest tire swing that took us up in the air like 10 feet I'm guessing, and of course it made me motion sick. Ugh. BUT, Kael loved it. He is such a thrill seeker. It was freezing cold so we didn't stay long.

 The playground of DEATH!

 Another day my parent's took us to the Washington Rec Center. This was my first time going and it was AMAZING! The kids absolutely love the water and I loved being able to take them swimming in the winter. They had amazing water slides for kids of all ages, buckets of water pouring down on you, and all kinds of water stuff going on. Kael went on the big slide a couple of times, and Eden was begging to go, but you have to be 3 to go down it. Of course I forgot to bring MY swimming suit, so I went to Sears and bought some exercise shorts and was going to wear a shirt. Of course I even forgot to bring THAT with me when we actually went, so I went back to Sears and bought it AGAIN. Oops. Sometimes my brain just gets rattled... I'm so glad I didn't miss it though. I love seeing these kids have so much fun.

 Grandpa and Kael on the small water slide.

I also got to meet up with my friend Ashley (Gafa) Higbee from High School. I love being able to see old friends! Our kids got to play at McDonald's while we played catch up. Of course I forgot to bring my camera. Darn. Her two little twin girls are so cute. They just turned 2 and are close to Eden in age.

 Grandpa, Grandma, Kael, and Eden

I was NOT leaving their house without a picture with them and the kids. I don't think I have one with all of them together. This was the best I could get with the two crazy kids.

On Monday the 19th we were able to go to dinner with Derek's service project group. His group was with his buddies in med school with him Stuart Curtis and Patrick Bell. Patrick was able to bring his family with them. We love these families. They are awesome Medical School families and we are glad we have them with us through this awesome journey called medical school! 

On our last night Tuesday the 20th we were able to meet up with some of Derek's old high school friends (Charlie Hale and Tim Thorley) and their families. It seems like time is going by so fast. It was fun to catch up and see old friends.

This trip was so much fun, but we also loved being able to be home for Christmas!

Thanks for a fun trip Mom and Dad! Until next time!

Eden is 21 Months

Dear Eden,

My sweet baby girl, you are another month older and growing up too fast. You are still super short, but you should be as tall as a giant with how much you eat. I don't think you ever stop. You love love love eating and Grandma and Grandpa Heaton have found the way to your heart. FOOD.

I love to sit by you because every once in a while you just start singing some random tune. You sing to yourself or your baby dolls. You love love love your baby dolls. You now hold them and wrap them in blankets. You feed them crackers and give them your sippy cup to have a drink. You take such good care of your dolls. You are the sweetest most loving little girl. You love to take care of things. It is adorable.

You have been a lot less of a stinker since your teeth have come through. But, you still are opinionated and let us know it. You get mad at bed time lately because you just don't want to go to bed. After screaming at us for a while you finally decide you are tired enough to go to sleep, but not without letting us know you are mad at us.

You love to swim just as much as Kael. I didn't think anyone would like swimming as much as Kael, but I was wrong. You love it just as much if not more. You were too busy swimming to even look at me. You wanted to go down the big slide like Kael. You are as much of a thrill seeker as Kael too. I love your fun personality.

You loved visiting Grandma and Grandpa Heaton. It took you a little while to warm up to them and you just wanted Mom, but it sure didn't take you long until they gave you a some food and every once in a while some treats and then you fell in love. As soon as Dad got to Grandma and Grandpa's we soon learned who you love most though, Dad!

You are an amazing little girl. Mom, Dad and Kael all love you so very much! Thanks for being a part of our family. I'm excited to see your cute face tomorrow on Christmas.

I love you bug!
Love,
Mom

Tis The Season

New favorite things that Kael has said.

Eden was screaming after her nap in the corner and nothing would make her happy. I had to put her down and just let her get it all out. Kael came out and said, "Eden's sad." So, I said, "Yes, go make Eden happy, ok." So, Kael walks over to Eden as she is screaming and says, "Eden be HAPPY!", then as the screaming continues he looks over at me and says, "Mom. Eden is STINKER!".

I must say that a lot. It was super funny. All I could say was, "yes Kael she is..."

40 Months

Dearest Kael,

Oh how I love you being 3! You have so much personality I don't know what to do some days... You are a very emotional child. You literally wear them on your shirt. When you are sad, you now come and announce it to the world. When you are happy, you get so overwhelmed you run up to me and say, "Mom, need a KISS/HUG!" Meaning you need to kiss or hug me now because you are so so happy. You love to play with play dough still. You love your dinosaurs still and cars. I let you ride the train at the zoo with Dad one day and you are now obsessed with trains. So much in fact that when I asked you what toy you want Santa Clause to bring you thought for a minute and said, "Train Mom". Clear and matter of fact. I never put the idea in your head. I don't even know how you came up with it. I'm still not sure if you mean you literally want a huge train like at the zoo, or if you want a toy one. Sorry kid, but no matter what a toy train will have to do. I don't think a real one will fit in Santa's bag. After telling people you want a train for Christmas you then go on to tell everyone that Eden wants a doll. It is the cutest. You think of Eden a lot. Every night after we say prayers and read scriptures Eden tells you night night and then you and Eden have to hug and you give her a kiss on her cheek. It melts my heart every time.

You have loved getting the house decorated for Christmas. Your stocking is hung. You wrote a letter to Santa and drew him a picture. We have spent so much time coloring pictures to hang on the window. You helped us decorate the tree and put up lights. You have helped me make a chain to count down the days until Christmas. We have glued and glittered a pine cone to make it look like a Christmas tree. We have colored snow flakes and hung them on a hanger in your room. You love the snow and I think this may be your favorite time of year. I'm running out of ideas to keep you busy in this cold weather. I'm hoping a huge snow storm comes in soon so we can make more snowmen and angels and build forts and have snow ball fights and sled. You love to play in the snow.

You don't really like taking a bath very much anymore. I have to come up with crazy unique ideas to get you in the tub. You love having water balloons in the tub. Not just any balloon, but usually ginormous ones. We got some glow sticks last month and you are obsessed with them. These are just a few of your favorite bath things and if I don't come up with something you refuse to get in.

You have been saying some of the funniest things the last month. I've finally taken to writing them down so I don't forget!

I love you so much bud! You are an amazing little gentleman and I just want to squish you all day long!
Stay amazing because that is what you are!
Love,
Mom

Kael's funny stories:

Kael put all three missing batteries in the fire alarm and it started screeching super loud at Eden and me. Kael then proceeded to yell over the alarm, “I fixed it Mom!!!” He was really proud of himself, and then I of course had to break his heart and take out the batteries so I could have some sanity in my life.

(Kael gets sick)

Kael had a sore throat for a couple of days. I started feeling bad for the kid when he started asking for medicine to make it feel better. A few weeks earlier Kael had been throwing up and we tried to teach him to throw up in a bowl. By the end I think he threw up once in the bowl. When his throat started hurting the only thing he could relate it to was being sick throwing up. He started to tell us that his stomach hurt and he needed a bowl. So, as he is telling me he needs a bowl, he jumps out of bed and runs to the kitchen to get a bowl. I was so terrified he was going to throw up, but I should have realized what was going on. I had some antiseptic throat spray to numb his throat. The next night the same thing happened and he kept saying he needed medicine. So I told him I’d spray his throat. He didn’t like it the first day I did it, so he said no thanks and went to bed. Then, all of a sudden he ran out of his room and said, “Mom, need the spray! My throat hurts!” So, the kid was super tough and let me do it! He is such a tough kid! He also got a little addicted to the cherry cough drops. Those things are like candy and I loved them as a kid too…

Lately, Kael has been asking Derek...........

“What are you doing Dad? What are you doing Dad? What are you doing Dad?"

Kael is starting to say his own prayers. After watching Cars 2 one night this was his prayer:

"Thankful for scriptures, Mater, Francesco, Lightning Mcqueen, dad, dad, dad, eden, mom, jesus, jesus, outside, bike."

Kael loved ice skating! So much in fact that he kept telling Derek this..........

"More skating Dad, More skating Dad, More skating Dad, More skating Dad, More skating Dad!"

Lately, Kael's toys have been acting a little out of line. So, what does Kael do? He has started putting his toys in time out. He stepped on his dinosaur that was on the floor and seemed to hurt his foot. He proceeded to say, "No no dinosaur, TIME OUT! No hurt Kael." And put the dinosaur on his time out chair. The same thing happened with Lightning McQueen, and a few other toys... Most recently a car tonight.

Kael gets a little confused with all of the snow things. He thinks everything is a snowman. A snowflake is a snowman, snow outside is a snowman, ice, why that's a snowman!

And LAST.

Kael is my biggest helper. After I brought in the groceries I decided to start the kids lunch and I thought I'd put away the groceries once the kids were buckled in eating. I didn't really look, being spaced out and getting lunch ready. When I turned around Kael said, "Mom, I put away the groceries." Literally every can, box, fruit, vegetable, frozen food, etc. was in my refrigerator.

He is such a helpful little boy. Thanks bud!

Next Up: Ice Skating!

 I have been wanting to go ice skating for sooo long. Deep down inside a dark secret of mine is that I want to be an olympic ice skater. It's true. Ok not really, but how cool would it be to be so graceful on the ice?! To be able to turn and spin and do a dance really?! I want to do that. And I think it'd be cool if my kids could do that. My next thing to cross off my wish list is to take my kids. This was so much  fun (and more work) to do!  Talk about dreams coming true. Eden and Kael were not so much into it at first. It's hard, how could something hard be fun? I picked Eden up and we skated as I held her. Yes, we got in trouble and I put her down, but I think that was the ice breaker she needed. All of a sudden she loved it. The cool air on her face and gliding. I held her arms and she would move her feet. Sometimes she would kind of march others, she would just glide her feet. Kael wanted everyone to watch him go. By the end, I could hold just one hand and he would put the other on the wall. He was so proud of himself! I want to do this again sometime.

 I was shocked they actually had skates in Eden's size. They were the smallest they had too! Aren't they cute?

Our Thanksgiving Weekend So Far

This has been an amazing couple of days. I have loved having Derek home without homework and school and any other obligations other than just being with us and having fun! We get him home for 5 whole days just to ourselves! To start out Eden had to be super cute of course.

 We made some yummy mississippi mud pie for our Thanksgiving treat at home. We celebrated Thanksgiving with Derek's family and ate so much yummy food and just expanded our stomachs! Then, we came home and crashed because the kids didn't nap that day. Kael was so sad to leave. He kept saying, "one more Grammy's house" over and over.

 This was Derek getting to spend some quality time with the kids while I got stuff ready to go for Thanksgiving. The kids love their Dad so much and these moments seem rare lately that they get him all to themselves. They built all kinds of animals out of the play dough. Kael would demand something and Derek whipped it right up. I believe there was an elephant, horse, turtle, snails, dog, cobra snake, zeebra, and some others I can't remember.

Pictures from my phone, July to present.

Outside is the best here at the village.  You are never short on friends. Eden loves to play with Sidnie and Jacey! Eden is so brave and will go down the slide by herself now. She loves p

 Kael and Eden are such good buds even though Eden looks a little terrified here.

 Playing at the neighbors house, Eden and Kael can entertain themselves so well...

 BOWLING! We had a free bowling day for the student housing and we couldn't pass it up. Kael and Eden had a blast and so did Derek and I. I haven't bowled with bumbers up since I was a kid. I didn't do much better than usual. I forgot the camera of course so all the pictures are with my cell phone and didn't turn out great. But, we sure had fun! This is a definite must do again. We were pretty exhausted after one round though because helping two kids is like having 2 turns each!

 Eden's goblin face. This is a "say cheese Eden" face.

 The kids really were having fun, Kael just gets spaced out like his Mom sometimes... Should I admit that?

 Kael's hair at its longest. This was right before I cut it back at the end of July. His hair takes forever to grow... I am excited for his hair to get long again. I miss his curls so much. 

 I think this was in September. We went to a get together with some medical student families and we put the kids in their Utah shirts because I think it was the homecoming football game day.

 Eden and Jacey hugging outside. They really are good buds. When we are outside Eden walks to Jacey's door to see if she will play and Jacey has come to our door too. It is pretty cute!

 Eden and Miller. These two are pretty cute. I totally love it when Eden plays with him because he is such a sweet boy.

 The swings. The kids have an obsession with the swings now that they learned how to do it on their stomachs. It is awesome! Less pushing for me and they have a blast!

 Kael and Eden were sticking their arms out like superman at the same time. It's hard to catch that on a phone.

 Kael playing with his favorite dinosaurs. His imagination goes wild with these guys. I love seeing how he thinks things should be. He is so creative!

Sometimes we just have to go to another courtyard to try out some different playground equipment. The kids love going in the tunnels.

 An Eden goblin face. She loves being on the big kid swings like Kael.