Christmas time

I can't believe Christmas is upon us already. I feel like we just graduated from Physical Therapy School, (and yes I mean we!), and moved from Iowa to Nevada. I guess time flies when you are busy working and trying to buy a house.



I'm so excited for Christmas this year! The boys are at an age where they both like to open presents and they enjoy what they get...even if it's just the box! I'm excited to see their faces Christmas morning when they see their presents under the tree, and the ones we are setting up in the living room! I know Drew will be so excited that he won't know where to start, and I'm sure Preston will stand and stare at it all, taking it all in.

I'm bummed that I have to work Christmas Eve, one of the holidays that I was assigned to work. I so want to be there to put the presents under the tree and to fill the stockings. Doug said he'd wait to do it for when I come home. I won't be there to make cookies with Drew so that Santa doesn't go without his sweets. I won't be there to watch them open their pajamas from Grandma Stacey and Grandpa Todd.

I just hope the kids are still asleep when I come home Christmas morning, that way Doug and I can put things up together. And you can bet I'll be there with the camera taking in these precious moments!

Longest day ever

I'm still trying to recover from our hectic day yesterday. And when I say hectic, I mean a day I never want to have again.

It started off by me and the kids going to the health department clinic here in town to for immunizations. Our Pediatrician's office can't do immunizations, or so I was told, and so we had to go to the clinic for those. We were the second people in line, which was nice, but we were still there about an hour and fifteen minutes before they finally saw us.

Drew was first. He received three shots and the flu mist. He did really well on the mist, but once the shots came, that was the end. He hasn't cried like that in such a long time. But the nurse was nice and gave him a couple suckers and a Capri Sun. After that, she let him watch me get my shot. I can't have the mist because of my asthma, so I got to have the shot.

Preston's turn was next, and thanks to the lady at the front desk for taking Drew so I could handle Preston because P got 8 shots. That's right...8. They told me that because of his age, they can't combine any of the immunizations, so they had to do them all separate. He got poked twice in each limb. I had to bear hug him for the arm shots and put one leg at a time between mine so he couldn't move them. Preston started to cry in his third shot. And then he just screamed. The nurse kept commenting on how good I was doing, but it was hard not to stay focused since Preston had so many shots coming his way.

After that, we headed to Walmart for some basic needs...bread, toilet paper, etc. We get to the check out line and Doug calls, "Court, I'm on my way to Overton, and have a flat tire. I need you." Seriously!! For those of you who don't know, Overton is about 30 minutes from Mesquite. Luckily he didn't get that far. And by the time we got there, he had the spare on. So we traded cars and loaded all our stuff into his and headed for home to put groceries away.

Once the cold groceries were put in the fridge, we headed to Big O to fix the flat. We got there at about 10:30, and found out they couldn't fix the flat. So, we had to buy a new tire. As I'm trying to keep the kids in the little sitting area, they guy keeps coming back in to tell me things. Needless to say, two hours, two tires, one Alignment, and $300+ later, we finally left.

By that time, the kids were starving and tired, so it was a quick trip to McDonald's and home to bed. I seriously never want to experience yesterday again. The only good that came of it was finding out that the Sellers finally signed all their paperwork, and the inspector will be at the house at 9:00 this morning! Finally!!

Christmas song

Heard this song on the radio, and now me and the boys have been dancing around to it at least three times a day! Hope you enjoy!

Dear Santa...

This year I really want a Skids and Mudflap Transformer ice cream truck, a Polar Express Train, an Optimus Prime....etc.

I took the kids to see Santa last week in St. George. Drew was so excited to see him he could hardly stand it. Preston did surprisingly well. He just stared at Santa and his white beard! That is, until Santa kissed his cheek and all that hair touched his face. The look on his face was like, "What in the heck is that?" and "Please don't do that again!" Preston isn't used to facial hair! No one in our family has any!

The boys had a great time! I just hope Drew doesn't get disappointed when Santa can't bring everything he wants.

Oh Christmas Tree

We put our tree up...finally!! I usually put my tree up the day after Thanksgiving. But that didn't get done because, 1. we were out of town, and 2. Doug wouldn't let me. Doug has this new rule, I guess you could call it that, that we must wait until after Preston's birthday in order to put up our Christmas stuff. He doesn't want Preston to feel overshadowed by Christmas. I personally don't think it's a big deal. It's the day after Thanksgiving...what would that possibly do to him?

Anyway, here is a picture of the tree with the lights on. I had to take it without the flash so I could get a nice glow from the lights, so sorry it's a bit blurry.

Drew helped me decorate the tree. Notice how it's all decorated except for the last 2 feet! Yeah, I have a one year old who likes to pick at the tree! Preston has no idea what it is and is so enthralled by it! I love watching him hold the branches and stare up at it!

This is a picture of it with the lights on, but with the flash, you don't get the same effect!

We had a visitor also come and grace us with his presence yesterday. Buddy, our Elf, came yesterday. He didn't come on the first of December because we didn't have our tree up...at least that's what he told Drew in his little note!

Buddy is our communication to Santa. He sits and watches us all day long and then reports back to Santa while we sleep to let him know if we were good or bad that day. Then he comes back the next morning and finds a new spot for the day. Drew loves to talk to Buddy and tell him all the things he wants for Christmas. Sure hope Santa can fulfill this boys wishes!!

On a side note, this is what my boys enjoy doing. For some reason they both love to play in the laundry baskets. In fact, I found Preston in it all by himself, singing to himself. (I love it when he sings to himself)! He can even do Pat ta Cake all by himself, it's the cutest thing ever. But my favorite thing is that both boys must enjoy everything together! Preston thinks Drew is the absolute best!

Some good news...

After a couple of counter offers, we are now under contract for "our house"!! I am so excited! Our broker is doing all he can to get us in by Christmas, but I'm thinking it might happen more along the lines of New Years. Still, I am grateful to be this far on the house! Here is a little preview of what the house looks like...

FRONT:

ENTRY:

LIVING ROOM:

KITCHEN:

DINING:

PANTRY:

MASTER:

BEDROOMS (the other three are pretty much the same):

BACKYARD:

This house is about 1900 sq. feet with 4 beds/2 baths. The only other pictures I didn't put up were the other bathroom and the other two rooms. But the best part is that it has a backyard for the boys! The backyard is not finished at the moment, but it won't take much to get it ready for them to play! I can't wait!!

Birthday Party

Preston's birthday was small but fun. He had no idea what was going on, but that's what made it so great!

Doug came home for lunch and that's when we did presents. Preston had no idea what he was doing! He soon figured out that he was supposed to tear the paper off and then wouldn't stop! But after a while, Drew had to step in and finish the job! What are brothers for right?!

He got lots of things! He got two cars that are a little squishy and make noise! He loved those...played with them for a long time. He got a ball thing that blows air and shoots the balls out. He also got wooden rings that you put onto the stick.

The best part of the whole day was Preston and his cake! When we lit the candle he just stared at it! Then he wanted to touch the flame...so bad! We had Drew blow out the candle because Preston wasn't going to. After that he just stared at the cake! Doug had to finally put Preston's hands in the cake and put his fingers in his mouth! Once he tasted it, that was the end! He was loving the cake!

Can't wait for the next year to come...wonder what it will hold for us!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN!!

Birthday Boy

Today my baby is 1! I can't believe how time flies! It seems like just yesterday we were walking into the OR getting ready to have him.

This year with Preston has been so much fun! He brings so much joy and happiness into our lives! His brother will tell you the same thing! Drew and Preston get along so well...something I was fearing. I wasn't sure if the 3 year gap between them would be a problem, but thankfully they are great friends!

Preston was born at 11:33, (that's what Doug says...I wasn't really paying attention to the time), and weighed in at 10 lbs. 11 oz, and was 21.5 inches long! Yes, he was a monster of a baby!

Preston loves to eat! That is probably one of his favorite things to do! And not just eat from his bottle, he loves to eat regular food! In fact, the other day we went to McDonald's and I had to buy two kids meals. Drew ate 2 chicken nuggets from his, and Preston ate all four plus some fries! Seriously, this kid knows how to put it down!

We are so happy to have Preston in our lives! He makes us all very happy!