bina baby.

6 months.
Where did the time go? Doesn't everyone say that?

Two teeth.
Rolling.
Wormin'.
Mommy loving.
Happiest little thing on the planet.

Not loving solids.
Best thighs in the house.
Biggest smile.
Finally sleeping at night.
Still hates to be cold.

Loves naps snuggled up to someone.
Hair is getting close to being able to put little pony tails in it.
Will only take a pacifier under 2 circumstances, sleep and carseat.
Laughs at Devin.
Looks like Savannah.

Totally madly in love.

Stats coming soon.

highlights.

Since I could obviously talk about Christmas/December for another month, I decided I would do a highlight post of some things that definitely deserve mention.

The kids picked out presents for each other this year. I loved that Bina got maracas from Devin. The hit was the xylophone for Devin, and the girls played tea party with the new little set. On Christmas Eve morning we woke up and had a warm up for Christmas. I had wrapped all the presents and left them under the "kid" tree. Super fun, and they were proud of everything they had picked out.

Since we don't have a lot of people to buy for at Christmas, we picked out a family that we thought needed a little extra love this year. It reminded me so much of my childhood when people would do nice things for our family, because we didn't have much. It left Paul and I feeling so appreciative of everything we have, and looking to serve more. It makes you have the best feeling.

I can't even count how many batches of cookies we made, and I even branched out of my normal M&M cookies to make peanut butter. Devin is a pro in the kitchen with me, and even helped decorate plates of goodies. I think I need to start doing plates year round. The kids fight over who gets to take them to the door, and now when we make any goodies Devin says "thwese for our fwriends?".

BFF was here for Christmas. We got to see each other briefly, and my kids put on a show for the 30 minutes we were at the yogurt shop.

Kim took Bina's pictures, and I can't wait to see them. I loved watching Bean be wide-eyed and love getting the attention from Kim. Also, Bina turned 6 months old...I know, say whaaa!?? {Post coming soon!}

Grandma Sell from Wisconsin hand delivered presents for the kids. Savannah wanted to talk about the play she was practicing for, and Devin wanted to be crazy...shocking.

We went to our ward Christmas party, it has been a decade since the last time we went. Wowza.

Aaand now we are all caught up, I think.

Polar Express Round 2.

The first time we did the Polar Express in our car, Paul had to work. The kids had been begging to do it again. So, when Paul said he had some errands to run, I piled the kids in the car and called it the Polar Express. After the kids realized this wasn't just about seeing lights, and Paul realized his Polar Express wasn't as cool as mine...things changed.

We like a good competition around here.

Paul quickly had the funniest conductor voice ever, and was asking the kids who had the better Polar Express. He was trying so hard, but since I am the one telling the story...my lights were so much better. Even if Savannah was trying to save his feelings by telling him it was a tie. Whatevs Savannah, we know my lights were better.

I will admit Paul had much better treats, because he took the kids for pancakes and hot chocolate at IHOP afterwards. I already said I will have to really up my game next year, and now it is official.

PS Thank you Krystal for gifting us the Polar Express soundtrack, we definitely are going to get lots of use out of it.

bowling.

We normally go to the movies for our Christmas day activity, but this year we couldn't find a movie that was family friendly that we haven't already seen. We were kind of bummed about it. Paul decided that we needed to do something, and called to see if the bowling alley would be open. Sure enough, it was.

We arrived to an empty parking lot, and wondered if they were really open. Oh yes they were, we were just the only people crazy enough to come early on a Christmas day.  It was actually really nice to have the bowling alley to ourselves, because Devin was a wild man.

Devin not only tried to kick the bowling ball down the lane, he tried walking down the lane, and even somehow managed to throw the bowling ball down the wrong lane unintentionally. He likes to keep thing interesting.

We ordered food from the snack bar, played games in the arcade, and decided this was more fun for the kids than a movie. Oh, and one little one decided to take a Christmas nap.

Call me crazy, but I am one of those people that has to get out of the house everyday...even on Christmas day. I think we will just add it to our Christmas day festitivies, and go to the bowling alley after our Christmas movie.

more christmas.

We took multiple trips to Santa for Devin. The first was a total bust, because he would not make eye contact with Santa. By the third time...he was happy, and excited to repeat that he wanted SPIDER-MAN for Christmas. Devin wasn't specific, he just wanted a Spiderman. He never changed his mind, or added to his wants.

Our friends Dwaine and Lynda came over, and when they asked him what he wanted he jumped up and down, and yelled "SPIDER-MAN!". We really do have the best friends, because the next week when we went to visit them...he unwrapped a Spider-Man blanket, and a big Spider-Man too! He was so excited, and has slept with those things ever since.

Santa brought more Spider-Man stuff for Devin, but can you guess what he liked more? All of Sabrina's stuff. I have spent more hours protecting her toys than you can imagine. The punching bag that Santa brought for Bina is a favorite for everyone. I can only imagine how much the cool factor would go up if I actually added the batteries to it. Eh, maybe in 6 months I will get around to it.

{waiting at the top of the stairs Christmas morning}

While all the kids were playing, unwrapping, and all smiles I couldn't help but feel so blessed that this is my life. This little family of mine makes me incredibly happy. I love that Christmas for us is all new traditions, and that Paul will play along with some of my crazy ideas {ahem, Polar Express part. 2}. I couldn't have planned this year out any better, and my only hope is that I can repeat it all next year.

christmas miracles.

This Christmas season was one of my favorite. It was low key, and filled with lots of family time and service. I hope to repeat it again next year, and was slightly sad to see it all end.

I didn't have high hopes when the season all started with having THE Santa talk with Savannah. She cried, and was devastated...but the days followed were story after story that kids at school were telling people. I was beyond grateful that my gut told me to talk to her. Then something really fantastic and strange happened, even after the talk...she still believed. It made things really magical.

Our kids don't make lists, and when they sat on Santa's lap they only asked for one toy each. Savannah wanted a Webkinz, and Devin wanted Spiderman. It made things really easy and fun for Santa.

When I started looking for Savannah's present I realized all my go-to places didn't sell Webkinz anymore. So, since we already had the Santa talk, I just told her that I couldn't find it...and what else did she want. Well, she didn't want anything else, so I just picked up a Lalaloopsy doll...and hoped for the best. Not even a day later Nicole told me that they had Webkinz at Seagull Book, and Paul and I buzzed down there to see. We walked in to find $2.99 Webkinz, and lots of them. Oh gosh, this was going to be the surprise of all surprises. This for me was when the magic of the season really started.

We ended up going to sit on Santa's lap two days before Christmas, and she randomly said she wanted a Lalaloopsy doll. I almost burst inside with excitement. This girl was going to freak out when she not only was going to get the Webkinz, but the doll too. I don't think she really thought she was getting either, but didn't lose hope. I had already told her that Santa's sleigh was filled, and it might be too late for a change of mind.

Her and I had lots of little talks about if you believe, you will receive what you want the most, and if she really wanted to keep believing in Santa it was okay. Santa is like magic and just may very well find a Webkinz, even if Mommy couldn't. I think her little heart just couldn't help but hope for Santa to be real so that she could get that one toy.

I shed a little tear when I was putting out all the toys Christmas Eve, and I placed that pink poodle Webkinz by her pile. I added a note from Santa that was printed from Treat that said that he was glad she still believed.

You would never know I had the Santa talk with Savannah just a few weeks before. The magic in our house is very much still alive, and it was just one of the things this year that made it special for us.

2012 aka The Roller Coaster.

Who knew after I wrote my year end review for 2011 we would have the biggest shock eva. A baby, we were having a baby this year. Oh, 2012 you had us on the biggest roller coaster all year, and we can only hope 2013 is something more along the lines of the lazy river instead of a roller coaster.

We didn't go on any big vacations, unless you count multiple trips to Twin Falls, Idaho something to brag about. Oh, and that quick trip to Rexberg to see Bear World.

I can honestly say the Summer of 2012 will go down in the books for one of the most memorable for me. I have never played so hard with my kids, and that felt good.

Savannah {age 8} - Savannah decided to be baptized a member of the LDS church, and now is really good at pointing out when her parents are being sinners. She has advanced to a high blue belt in Tae Kwon Do, and hated most of the journey getting there. She is excellent at making Devin mad, and blaming him for everything...I guess what an oldest sibling is good for. :)

Savannah wants a singing career, a dancing career, and could spend hours doing both. She joined Girl Scouts this year, and it took her a few meetings before she realized they didn't just sell cookies.

Devin {age almost 3} - Well, Devi's biggest moment was potty training, I definitely was more excited for this event than he was, I am sure. We started this year wondering when he would ever really learn to talk, and we finished it wishing he would give us a moment of silence every once in awhile. He definitely perfected the art of pitching the biggest tantrums, and we are hoping those are going to start getting far and few between.

Devin is the child that is proud when he eats a booger, likes being the center of attention, and jumping from high places. If you wonder if there is ever a dull moment in our house, I will tell you, there is not.

Sabrina {age 6 months} - Of course it was a pretty big year for our baby, how do you top being born!? She showed us how strong she was by enduring, and then even decided being in utero wasn't so bad...and showed up a week after her due date.

Sabrina has learned to hold her head up, roll over, eat, smile, put up with her siblings, did I mention eat already? She has delicious thighs, gorgeous eyes, and is really good at getting what she wants.

Paul {age 34} - I think this year was probably in the top 5 most stressful years for Paul. He was working 7 days a week for most of my pregnancy, had a wife that had to quit working to keep a baby from coming early, bought a car, had lots of business opportunities, made a new friend {hi, Steve!}, been in 4 car accidents, and somehow managed to come out of 2012 okay.

He still is a movie junkie, bakery addict, and lover of sports. The San Fransisco Giants pulled out another World Series win, and he is still ridin' high from it. We are still holding out hope that the San Fransisco Niners decide to win the Super Bowl, because wouldn't that be amazing?!

Evonne {age 31} - Hey, I grew a baby this year. I didn't start exercising like I hoped, maybe 2013 will be the year...or not...making no promises. In those first few weeks of having 3 kids, I wondered if I would make it. Guess who made it? This girl did.

After 15 years of working, I finally got my wish of being a stay at home Mommy granted. Boy has it been a change for me. Everyday is a new adventure, a different challenge, and sometimes I wonder if I am going insane. I tried to be Wonder Woman, and when I fell short...I settled on just being me. It has worked out much better.

{Don't you love Devin's face, he clearly didn't get a good nap this day!}

 

It is amazing that a year can hold so many miracles and happiness for us, and yet be one of the hardest that we have lived through. With all the stress, it really has only made us a stronger family unit...and for that I can say I am thankful.

We came into 2012 a family of 4, wondering if everything was really going to work out...and we came out a family of 5. This year wasn't perfect, but we somehow managed to work out all the kinks.

I love a new year, like I love Mondays. A fresh start, a clean slate. We have plans for this new year, I am sure some will work out and some won't.

Thanks for being around these parts for another year. We love the support and friendships that we have.

Happy 2013!!


Year end review 2011.
Year end review 2010.