Nephews

Having nephews is great. I have six right now, and I love them all!

I get to show off my pointy tongue,

and act silly around them.

Kyle gets to run around with them,

and act goofy.

Basically nephews are a win no matter how you look at it.

Competition

Kyle and I enjoy competition. Particularly against each other. We take bets on when packages will arrive at the house, we see who can reach home the fastest when we are in separate cars, and have even played the same board game over and over again until the loser becomes the winner. 

So our natural reaction when we see a running track is to see who can run around it the fastest. 

 

It's all in good fun, and I think it would be pretty awesome if our kids had a little competive streak in them.

Avery has always been a pretty fearless girl (unless it involves leaving her at nursery when we go to church) so I thought we were well on our way with her.

When Avery learned how to run (the day after she learned how to walk mind you) her method was a bit unorthodox. Coming from a family where we run for fun, I was curious where she picked it up her "runner arms" from.

Let's just say I wonder no more...

I'm sorry Avery. You better take running tips from your father. I'm thinking of retiring my running cap after seeing this photo.

Christmastime

Like most, we acted out the nativity on Christmas Eve.

Here is Mary riding into Bethlehem on a donkey (with her monkey friend in tow). Avery wouldn't wear the token "blue Mary cloth" on her head, so her winter cap was our substitute.

Sawyer was asleep during the production, but joined us for the after party games. He had worked up a decent bubble beard and could have rocked being a wise man though.

The next morning we woke up to an amazing display of Christmas presents.

And in a flash Christmas was over.

It always goes by too fast!

Playground

There's something about being outside that brings an extra element of fun to life.

Whether it is sliding down the windy slide in the bitter Colorado cold,

or throwing a Frisbee to your dog in the bitter Colorado cold,

or wearing your fuzzy coat in the bitter Colorado cold,

or having sassy ear muffs in the bitter Colorado cold,

or embracing your fiance in the bitter Colorado cold,

or wishing you had gloves in the bitter Colorado cold,

or getting chilled from your short hair in the bitter Colorado cold,

or having the time of your life on a swing (albeit in the bitter Colorado cold.)

3 years

The day after we flew into Colorado we celebrated our 3rd anniversary.

3 years + 2 kids + 1 cross country move = 0 regrets.

Marriage to Kyle is simply the best.

Family

Meet Liam, 2 1/2 years old.

Meet Dash, 2 1/2 years old.

Meet Avery, 1 1/2 years old.

Meet Grey, 3 months old.

Meet Sawyer, 3 months old.

 

And Meet the happy Grandparents who hosted 5 kids under the age of 3 for 2+ weeks.

Mom and Dad, thank you!

Pre-Christmas in Indianapolis

This year we spent 2 1/2 weeks in Colorado for the holidays. Call me paranoid, but I didn't want to parade the fact that we weren't home on this blog. So I took a break.  

BUT my head is back in the game and I am ready to play catch up.

So, to kick off our holidays, Kyle and I spent a night baking Christmas goodies and then delivering them to our friends. It was a blast making Snowball-No-Bake-Cookies, Rudolph and Snowmen Cupcakes, Dark Chocolate Cranberry Pistachio Bark, and Snickerdoodles. Sure that night Avery may have missed her typical bedtime by 4 hours, and we may have listened to the same Christmas CD 3 times, and I may have nursed Sawyer in the car 2 times, but we were 1 happy family because of it.

And although we wouldn't be around Indianapolis to celebrate Christmas, we knew there was no way we could leave without visiting our wonderful zoo to see the Christmas lights.

Kyle and I have yet to have a Christmas tree for our last 3 Christmases, so we have to go somewhere to teach our children about the beauty of Christmas lights.

A perfect beginning to our holidays!