my monkey...

After Rylie's dance recital (post to come), Grandma Kay helped Bode into Grandpa Smith's boots. Check out those grins. Bode is such a happy, fun loving boy. He is into EVERYTHING, but such a sweet guy. He loves to give kisses and then run. He loves breakfast and is beyond happy in morning. He can't wait to get out of the crib. He loves to do whatever Rylie is doing. You should see this guy dance! Bode loves being outside, no matter the weather. I had to block both trees into corners to keep the little guy from tipping them over and destroying them. I replace the ornaments he can reach each day.

and trying to get downstairs as fast as he can.

busted!!

LOVE YOU, little MONKEY!

Seeing santa...

Oh the joy of seeing santa, Rylie was so excited to tell him her list... a dress up box, princess and the frog, snowwhite with pink dress and white on the shoulders, lipstick, and makeup and then she says that is all. Bode did great sitting on his lap until I turned around to get the camera and it was all done. But he sat there long enough for me to snap to a picture.

Our Christmas countdown, we got the idea from Curious George!

Gingerbread cookies...

Tis the Season for baking! Rylie and Bode both love Gingerbread cookies. They eat them up at Grandma Smith's house. Why not bake them? They turned out pretty good if you can stand the smell of Molasses, it made me a bit queezy. The kids eat them up though.

These two best of buds enjoyed putting a few decorations on them. Rylie and Hannah

And this guy is showing off how eats Chili, what a mess. Bode can say "cheese" and smile at the camera with his nose wrinkled.

Clarification, in my last post I said this household or something like that loves the snow. My husband wants me to clarify that he is not involved in the love snow statements and can't wait tell its a 100 degrees again. The end.

where is our snow going?

I am so bummed, we just went for a walk in 40 degree weather. I like the degrees, it is very nice outside, but so sad the snow is melting. My lawn is showing and I want more and more snow... Here we are having SNOW much fun!!

Bode's sleigh ride around the neighborhood

OH the joy of eating fresh snow... check out my little santa.
Rylie making tracks in the snow.

For FIVE years I have been asking MIKE to put lights on the house. In fact we bought the lights the first year we were in our home. Well each year there was excuses why it wasn't going to happen. Well this year, RYLIE says in her very nice voice "Daddy - please please, please, please make our house a princess house" Well show can't give into that, so this year folks, we have a PRINCESS house!

Getting the old Christmas Tree...

This has to be my favorite (okay one of my favorite) tradition. We all bundle up warm and cozy, this year it required snow shoes, and head up Strawberry canyon to find the perfect trees. Yes, two tree's!! This year we pulled the kids in the sleigh for awhile and then let them play while Mike found the perfect trees. He did an awesome job and we love them. They are decorated and we are loving the scent you can only get with a real tree. Bring on the holidays...

The Sugan Plum Fairy Tea party..

I was too slow to get tickets for the Nutcracker, so we did the Sugar Plum Fairy tea Party instead. It was fun to spend the afternoon with Rylie. We had dessert with punch and meet all the dancers. Rylie was in awe. It was fun to dress her all up in her Christmas Dress. Then we went and bought the movie Nutcracker starring Barbie. That was all a three year old needs anyway. I had fun just being with her and not chasing Bode for two seconds.

Christmas Pj's

I usually do Christmas Eve jammies, but this year someone else beat me too it. Instead I saw these jammies and thought how fun to let Bode and Rylie match. When we came home from Thanksgiving Dinner (which by the way was fun and delicious), they had been left at our house. Rylie was freaking out that one of santa's helpers or elves had left them. Oh how fun!!! I was trying to get a picture of the two of them the next morning and this is as good as it gets trying to get Bode to pose. Did you notice that rylie's feet are showing??? the jammies were footed jammies that I thought she wouldn't mind, she wears socks to bed sometimes. Well the instant they were on and zipped up, she had a meltdown over her feet stuck. As crafty as I am, I didn't want to cut off Rudolph so I cut the bottoms off and she is much happier.

Adorable, as Rylie would say.