Our confused child

Poor Lincoln. He has been very confused lately. He thinks his name is Spencer. We ask him who everyone's name is in our family and he gets everyone right but he calls himself, "Penth" which is Lincolnese for Spencer. It doesn't end there, both boys have little stuffed animals they got while in the NICU after they were born. They sleep with them every night. Lincoln has a rhinoceros name "Lyle" and Spencer has giraffe named"Gus" but lately Lincoln thinks his rhino is named "Gus". Maybe "Spencer" and "Gus" are just easier to say...who knows!!!

Vacation and Birthday

This past week my in-laws came down from Northern California to stay in Newport Beach. They were kind enough to invite us to stay with them and pretend we were far, far away. We had a great time and are already having withdrawals. Thank you so much Nonni and Bobpa!!!

Our first full day was spent at Disneyland. Joey has been busy at work and Saturday was the only full day he could spend with us so we headed to the "Happiest Place on Earth".

The kids loved the putting green at the resort...do we have a Tiger Woods on our hands, ummmm, no!

The view from our villa.


Joey had to leave at 3am one morning to be in LA by 5am (being a lawyer stinks) and billed 8 hours by noon so he snuck back to the resort to swim with the kids for a bit.

Nonni and Bobpa swimming with the kids.
Joey turned the big 2-8 while we were with his parents!!!! Unfortunately he had to work on his birthday so we got a little cake in between conference calls. He is working from home this weekend so I plan on making a yummy meal and a dessert of his choice to make-up for all the fun I had while his parents were here and he was slaving away. You are a great husband and father and I'm so lucky to call you mine! Glub you!

Welcoming 2009

Hi All-

So it's been a few weeks since I've posted. We had a great holiday but it was very strange. Joey and I have been in school since we got married 5 1/2 years ago and this year was the first year that we didn't have a 2 or 3 week break for Christmas and New Year's. We had our great holidays and then Joey was back to work, poor guy is working on a big case right now, in fact, last night he came to bed at 3:30am and was up at 6:30am to go back to the office! We have to get used to this real life stuff.

I'm very excited for 2009. We had a great 2008. Here are some highlights from our year:
Joey graduated from law school and passed the California bar.
We moved to Orange County, CA. I am now a Real Housewife of Orange County...yeah right!
We became homeowners.
Hayden turned 4!
The boys are crazy, rambunctious, and absolutely wonderful. They will be 2 in Feb. 2009.
Joey got called to be in the Elders Quorum Presidency.
I got called to the Young Women's Presidency.

My goal for the next year is to enjoy life a little more. My kids will only be kids for a short time and I want to remember every age and stage. I love them more and more each day! I also am going to simplify my life. Last year I had more hobbies that I knew what to do with and I was okay at most of them but not great at any. I want to focus on 1 or 2 hobbies and become really good at something.

Happy 2009!!!

Christmas Morning

Here are the kids this morning. They were so excited about Santa!




Hayden asked Santa for a Belle dress and he delivered!

The boys each got a riding toy. We bought them from a neighbor who never used them. Spencer thinks the Mickey one is his and they fight over it constantly. We saw it coming, seeing they both love Mickey Mouse. This will help them learn to share!


It was such a perfect morning. We took time with each present and opened it, took it out of the box and let the kids play with their toys. So often you go from toy to toy and they forget what they have received but this way, they really got to enjoy everything. We ate cinnamon rolls for breakfast, had a leftovers (ham, potatoes, peas, rolls) lunch, played, played and played, and the kids watched their new movie, "Cars" and ate popcorn, it must be Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Here are the kiddos on Christmas Eve. Joey humored me and let me get the kids dressed in their Christmas outfits and I took pictures. More to come from Christmas Day, but this post is for the grandparents!

Traditions

I love Christmas traditions. They remind me of my childhood and I love thinking that my kids will cherish these times in our home. Here are some of our Christmas traditions...new and old.

1. Build a gingerbread house. We did this when I was growing up and I love doing it with my kids.



2. Hang the Christmas cards we receive on our front door. This started in our apartment in Los Angeles and has carried with us. Our door is almost full, we may have to start using other doors in our house.



3. Read the boots (it doesn't have a name) story on Christmas Eve. Joey brought this tradition to our marriage. When we aren't with his family for Christmas they call us when they read it and we listen from wherever we are and it always makes me cry.

4. Get PJ's from Santa. Joey and I both got new PJ's from Santa growing up. I remember waking up when it was still dark outside on Christmas morning and seeing my new pajamas next to my bed. I would change as fast as I could into the new PJ's and run to my siblings rooms to wake them up. I'm the youngest so I was the annoying little sister that woke everyone up.

5. Open one present on Christmas Eve. Again, we both brought this tradition to our marriage. In my family, we would usually open our sibling exchange gift on Christmas Eve.



6. Ham, peas, scalloped potatoes and crescent rolls. This is a must have for Joey on Christmas Eve, and then we have the leftovers on Christmas Day.

7. This year I'm attempting to make homemade cinnamon rolls for Christmas Day morning. This may or may not be a new tradition, depending on how they turn out!

8. In our stake they do a live nativity, and it was the such a beautiful reminder of the true meaning of this season. This is going to be an annual tradition for our family.

9. On Christmas Eve we watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", read from the Bible, then put the kiddos off to bed. After the little ones are snug in their beds, Joey and I watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and now that we have a fireplace we will get to watch our Christmas movies by the crackling fire with some hot cocoa!



What are some of your favorite traditions??

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Living in Southern California is wonderful! However, I do miss the cold nights by the fire with some homemade hot chocolate. The past week it has been pretty chilly and perfect for hot chocolate...there is even snow on the mountains in the distance. It is perfect for Christmastime!