Glendale glitters

So (and yes, I know you are not suppose to start a sentence with so), the town next to ours, Glendale, holds this fabulous Christmas/holiday event every year. We have lived here for going on seven years and every single year I have talked about how much I want to go and how fun it sounds. And every single year, we don't go. I don't know why. We always plan to, but then the holidays get so busy and we just never have. Since the fabulous little shop where we did our Santa pictures is involved in this event, and we needed to stop by the shop anyway to pick up our pictures, we decided this year we were going no matter what.

And I'm so happy we did. It was like Christmas wrapped in cheer wrapped in Christmas Carols. You just had to ignore the pushy crowds, the vendors smoking cigarettes while trying to sell light up toys to children (I know, I was like what!!!!) and the overall craziness of the event. But seriously, all the secondary stuff aside, it was pretty cool. We went early and so for the most part we missed the crowd. It had just started getting crowded when we left and I was very glad we had gone when we did. I'm not joking about the vendor smoking the cigarettes.... but hey, it makes a good story, right?

It something I want to make an annual event and we will for sure be going next time. L and L2 were both entranced with the lights and the noises and the sights and the people, and it made my heart happy to see them so innocently into the whole thing.

Glendale Glitters.... and yes, it really did! They did a wonderful job with all the lights!

Bad filter on a few of these pics! Sorry, it was hard all the competing lights!

Is there anything sweeter in the world then a Daddy loving on his child? How lucky are my boys to have a dad who loves doing these kind of thing with them!

We will be definitely be adding this one to the Christmas to do list for future years!

Santa

You all know how much I love Christmas, and one of my favorite parts since having my boys has been taking them to see Santa. But, I'll be honest, I have a bit of a love hate relationship with it. I love the idea of taking them to see Santa. I love the memories they'll have, I love how excited L is now that he is a little older,  and what family is complete without a yearly picture of the kiddos on Santa's lap?

But there are also a few things I've hated the last few years. I hate that we have to go to the middle of the mall and wait in a line for almost an hour. I hate The stupid little "Santa's helpers" who freak out if you so much as a pull out a cell phone or camera anywhere in their vicinity. I mean seriously, last year they wouldn't even let us take a picture with my cell phone while we were standing in line! I hate that the kids only get about 60 seconds with Santa until they are shoved off. For us, this means that the pictures are always of the kids crying because it's a little scary to go sit on some strange mans lap and they have no time to get comfortable. And lastly, I hate that you have to pay something like $30.00 for the above mentioned picture of your kid crying.

That last paragraph probably make me sound like a scrooge... but don't get me wrong.... I still do love Santa visits, I just wish they could be a little different. A little friendlier, and jollier, and, well.......... merrier.

This year I got my wish time like one thousand.

A friend of mine mentioned that a local baby store near her moms store was doing Santa visits on two different night in December and that if we wanted to check it our her mom's store was giving out coupons so that you could get a free picture. So, we figured why not? If it ended up being a bust we would still have plenty of time to go see good old mall Santa.

But it was most certainly not a bust.

When we first got there we were pretty much the only people and L got very shy. I decided to go take him into the store for awhile to get him more comfortable. (Super cute store, by the way. If your in the Phoenix/Glendale area with kids check out healthy baby happy earth) Well, Santa saw that he was a little wary so he came in the store to introduce himself and try to get him to warm up a bit. And I kid you not, he then spent about 15 minutes talking to him; asking him his favorite color and his favorite food and questions about L2. It was amazing and it totally made L feel better. Then we did pictures and they had no problem with me snapping some cell phone pics as well. And one of the best things? The people who put on this Santa give ALL the money they make to charity. ALL OF IT. It ended up being free for us since we had the coupons, but they were selling some cute little stuffed dogs with that money also going to charity so I bought the boys a few of those.

I just can't get over what an amazing experience it was, for the whole family. I was literally almost in tears by the end because I was so happy. Please, if your in this area, support local business and charity and go see Santa at Healthy Baby Happy earth..... his next (and last) appearance is going to be December 18th from 5-8!

November

Wow.... I cannot believe November is almost over and we are done with Thanksgiving! I swear, I blinked, and this month was suddenly over! I had a lot going on this month and I did a fair amount of traveling, so it felt like I was gone more than I was here sometimes!

At the beginning of the month my best friend got married in beautiful (and freezing) Lake Tahoe. I made a quick solo trip and left S home with the boys. The wedding was on a boat so it was an adult only party and with the cost of plane tickets and because I was the "quasi" maid of honor (because of some extenuating circumstances they decided not to have a wedding party) it was easier for me to just go alone. I missed my boys but it was a wonderful trip and it was actually pretty fun to have no one but myself (and the bride) to worry about for three days!

So pretty....... so cold!!!!!

The beautiful bride and groom.... this photo warms my heart... you can just feel their love for each other!

For Thanksgiving we loaded up the car and headed out to S's parents house. It was a fun trip, but six hours in a car with a three year old and one year old is never fun! They did pretty good though. For Thanksgiving day we actually ended up going to S's aunts house, where I took a total of about five pictures! I majorely failed on my photographer duties!

L and his Uncle... I love this picture!

Besides Thanksgiving we just relaxed. The weather was beautiful, S got to catch up with old friends, I got in like THREE solid naps, and we got to spend time with family! I'd say the only downside to the trip was that because of the hour time difference L2 woke up at 5:30 every morning!!!

Riding the bike his Poppa got him!

L2 taking a little horse ride! He thought the houses were great!

And here's a little sneak peek at our Christmas Card Photo shoot.... obviously this is at the end when the kids were getting restless!!!!

Halloween 2012

Happy Halloween!!!

We went all this year and the boys actually got to dress up in TWO costumes. First thing this morning L's best friend came over and we dressed them all up as "ice cream hobos". The Cold Stone Creamery right by our house was doing a costume contest so we figured this would be super cute and it would be a fun treat to go get the kids ice cream. I thought they looked adorable, but I think they were more excited about getting ice cream! Cold Stone is posting the pictures on its facebook page to see who gets the most votes for the contest..... wish us luck!

And because L is totally obsessed with pirates lately (Thanks "Jake and the Neverland Pirates") we dressed him and L2 up as pirates for trick or treating. We tried to find a Jake costume, but unfortunately our Disney store was sold out. But we found "Pirates of the Caribbeans" which was pretty close!

L wasn't totally sure about the headpiece.... but he forgot about it pretty quickly once we got out!

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkins!

Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins! I love how October is the jump start to all the holidays! Even though we live in Phoenix and it's still 90 degrees most days.... October is the time that I pull out the boots and sweaters, start making soup, and start getting really excited for the upcoming holidays! 

This year as a fun activity for the boys we decided to paint baby pumpkins! Both of them had a blast, and even though L2 covered both himself and me in paint it was a really fun time!

Mommy, Daddy, and brother pumpkins!

And of course you can't have Halloween without carving some pumpkins! It's to see how much more L gets into these activities as he gets older each year and how much more he wants to do things himself. I'll be honest.... I love the idea of carving pumpkins.... but it's really not my forte. Regardless though, it is a fun tradition and even though L2 kept trying to eat pumpkin guts I think it's a good memory for both boys!

L2 is thinking.... "that looks yummy! I must eat it!"

My little model boy... 

My somewhat 'distressed' vampire pumpkin....

I think our final product turned out pretty good... although my pumpkin really does look worried about something! Can't wait to put up pictures of the boys in their costumes and trick or treating tomorrow!

L2's first birthday party!

Just wanted to share a few pictures from L2's first birthday party! It was small, just a few friends and S's parents were able to make it out from California, but it was special! Thank you so much to everyone who came and celebrated our little guys first year with us! L2 got lots of great presents.... but he honestly was more taken by all the tissue paper! :)

His new riding scooter (or his 'motorcycle' as L calls it!) Thanks Grandma and Gramps!

He liked the cupcakes!!!

L and his best bud!

And the most handsome big brother in the world!!!

Can't believe L2's first birthday has now come and gone!

L2's first birthday!

Happy First Birthday to my sweet baby boy! Today L2 turned one, and although I know it is super cliche, and every mother says it, I'm going to say it anyway...... where the heck did this last year go? And can my kiddos please slow down and stop growing up so fast!!!!

It seems literally like yesterday that we were in the hospital, bringing this sweet little boy into the world. It has been an amazing year, although not with out trials (as is life, I suppose!) I think being a mommy to two has really tested me and strengthened me, and I am so grateful for all the lessons L2 has taught me over the past year. 

Sweet boy: you are so, so loved. I am amazed everyday by your easy going personality, your big smile and your loveliness. I don't think I have ever met a kid quite as mellow as you, you take everything in stride, whether it is big brothers tantrums (and there are a lot of those these days..... he's three!), and stay in the hospital and surgery, or a mommy who is having an off day. Daddy and I are so incredible grateful for you!

OK, enough of the mushy stuff! We had a pretty mellow birthday. L2 has been fighting of a pretty nasty virus and S had to work, so we pretty much just hung out at home. We did however venture out early this morning for a yummy dunkin' donuts breakfast! L2 really enjoyed his donut, as did his brother (Mommy really enjoyed her coffee!) I think L is a little confused as to why we wouldn't eat donut for breakfast every morning!

We did do a fun afternoon activity of pumpkin painting.... but I will save that for another post! After S got home we had a delicious dinner of homemade nachos and then gave L2 his cupcake and sang him happy birthday. I have to tell you, L was devastated when I told him the cupcake was for his brother and not him.... total meltdown. In my defense, this cupcake was huge and I just figured they could share it after we sang to L2! (That is what they did, but L was still not entirely happy!)

L2 was not super impressed..... can you tell!

He warmed up to the idea once we stopped singing and actually let him start eating!

After cupcakes L2 has a few presents from us to open..... same scenario as the cupcake for L.... he just can't seem to believe that we are celebrating a birthday today and it's not his! He was however excited by the idea of a new toy, whether it was technically for L2 or not, so he "helped" open all the presents and was pretty good!

On Saturday we will have a small party for L2 with a couple of friends and S's parents, but it was nice to just celebrate as a family tonight!

We love you so so so much L2!!!!!

Happy First Birthday!!!!