Merry Christmas 2012

 Merry Christmas everyone! It was such a peaceful Christmas season despite the several scary things happening across the country. Our prayers are with all those who are feeling loss this Christmas season.

Here are the boys dressed in their Sunday Suits!

Here is our Christmas card picture! Thank you to everyone who sent us cards this year! We loved them!

Christian's parents came up to visit for the week before Christmas and we had so much fun together! Here is Sandy helping the boys build a gingerbread train!

The boys just ate candy the whole time (by the handfuls) but it turned out grand thanks to Sandy!

We took a day and visited the Children's museum here in Lexington. Our neighbors gave us free visitor passes when we first moved in--it was so thoughtful of them!

We had a hard time getting them to move away from the water table!

The boys LOVED it!! (So did the adults!)

Most afternoons we spent at home reading books and playing games while Austin napped. Sandy was great and brought all sorts of fun new things for the boys to try and love!

Their first night here, Tyson had a preschool Christmas recital. They were so cute!

He gave us a gift at the end--this picture wrapped up. It says, "I want to be Superman and a Daddy when I grow up" He signed his name at the bottom--too cute! I love his little handwriting!

Every night Grandma read them books! (That is one of Austin's new words--he uses it to get out of going to bed because he knows I have a hard time denying him books!)

We had our annual Christmas story reading night and the kids colored Christmas trees while we were waiting for everyone to come! Austin has become quite the colorer--from the moment he learned what a writing utensil could do, the walls, floors, and every piece of paper within sight has been covored. He LOVES it! This is Austin's drawing!

Here is Tyson's drawing! I think they're beautiful! The story night was fun--but we missed all of our San Antonio friends!

It snowed in Kentucky a few days before Christmas and the boys LOVED it! Our whole family was out running around! Austin got cold eventually, but it was so fun chasing the boys around in the snow, throwing snowballs, and catching snowflakes on our tongues. It was magical!

Making tracks in the snow--Tyson thought this was so funny!

Catching snowflakes on their tongues!

Mostly it was just fun being together! Every night Sandy would read books to the boys and they just LOVED being with their Grandma and Grandpa both!

On Thursday, Greg and Sandy rented a minivan and we drove two hours to see the largest cave in the world. It is 392 miles long and estimated to be nearly three times that size. 

We took the historic tour and it was amazing! Here is where they made Salt Peter which helped us arm ourselves in the war of 1812. It was for the cause of freedom yet slaves were doing all of the work. It's so sad we had that double standard.

The very wealthy would take tours through the cave and if they tipped the tour guide enough they could have their names written on the walls with smoke. It was so interesting to see the names and dates of people clear back in the 1800's!

I told Christian he could not let go of whichever kid's hand he had--even for a second! It was actually very safe. There were wide passages and the dropoffs were covered--thank heaven!

The cave has an enormous drop off that one of the slaves put two trees down and shimmied across to map out more of the cave. He ended up discovering all sorts of fish species and would sell them to the tourists! During the Great Depression, a safe passage was built across the drop off and helped to feed otherwise starving families.

It really was fascinating! Here we are with the old school grafitti above our heads!

 The line up of our bowling balls!

Christmas Eve morning we went bowling with our church--it was so cute watching Tyson and Austin bowl!  Austin pushed one so slowly, it even went half way down the lane, stopped, and came right back to us!  It was so funny! Sandy was the winner at 135!!

Christmas Eve we had fancy tacos (refried beans glue the soft taco to the outside of the hard taco and then it is filled with whatever you want!)  It is a tradition started by our dear friends, the Garlicks who had us over for Christmas Eve our first Christmas on our own!  Ever since then it has been a tradition of our own!  Thank you Garlicks!

After dinner we acted out the Nativity with Greg reading from Luke.  Tyson kept changing characters since we were short on parts!  He decided Joseph was too boring and would rather ride the donkey as Mary, instead.  (Austin was supposed to be baby Jesus but revolted when we tried to wrap him in the swaddling clothes!)

Tyson, now one of the wise men, spearing us with Frankincense.  He kept asking, "Where's the Myrrh?" (We only had incense and 'gold' ornaments as gifts for the baby!)

Sandy was the angel (she literally was the whole time!)  Thank you!

After the Nativity, we sang some Christmas songs and Greg read the story of "The Magic Skinned Doll" which was a story written by his aunt about a childhood Christmas memory.  It was beautiful.  I loved that it was a true story and Christian's grandpa was mentioned in it as one of the nine children of the widow mother.  It made many a couple of us tear up.  It was beautiful.

 

After that, the boys opened their Christmas pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa Coltrin.  This year, they each got a book as well!  Austin could have cared less about what else was in the box!  He was very excited to read his book!

Aren't they cute?!

Tyson LOVED these pajamas!  He ran all around like he was Superman!

Christmas morning was so much fun!  The boys were SO excited to see a frog tent all set up for them to play in! (Thanks to Greg and Sandy!!  Thank you so much!!)

The entire morning was delightful!  Tyson would pick out presents and bring them to Austin.  It was so cute!  His favorite present was his Superman Pez dispenser!  It came with six pez packets, three of which he gave to Sandy so she would have something to eat on the airplane. He is just the sweetest little boy!

They each got a banana in their stocking so they could eat breakfast before opening presents!  Later, Greg made his famous waffles and we had eggs, bacon, homemade buttermilk syrup and waffles.  It was delicious!

The boys were so good and we were so blessed this year!  I really felt like we were able to feel the true meaning of Christmas as well as have the fun and magic it brings.  Greg and Sandy left at 2:00pm and we missed them the moment they left our house.  We had SO much fun with them!  We love them so much and they are welcome any and everytime they want to come!   

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Happy Birthday Austin!

Austin is the happiest, goofiest, cuddliest boy on the face of the planet! He makes me feel loved and laugh every single day. I love being his mommy and I can't imagine loving him more than I do now--but I know I will.

Austin turned 2 the other day and I could hardly believe it! He is starting to pee in the big boy potty (we'll see if it amounts to anything) and just learned how to climb out (and in) his crib! I stood outside his room the other day and when he ran out, I looked at him and as sternly as I could, I told him to get back in bed. He just took one look at me and ran to give me the biggest hug! I can't stay mad at him! He's just too cute!! He still talks very garbled but he is definitely a talker! He loves to run and share toys with girls. However, he gets very angry when a toy doesn't seem to be working as it should. Tyson could play for hours by himself and Austin can last about 30 seconds. He loves to play with people!

We had two other couples over and Austin came waltzing in wearing Alicia's boots! He was so proud of himself!

Here's his eggless cake! We were out of eggs and had to improvise! Although you may not be able to tell what it is, I think it's an upgrade from last year's Cookie Monster Cake :) (In case you can't tell--it's a truck. Austin LOVES trucks! Before he could say truck whenever one would pass by he would shout, "Oh Oh BUNNY!!" It would crack Tyson up every time :) Now everything is a truck--he loves them!)

So I had just told the speech therapist (who came to check Austin's speech--turns out he's fine) that Austin didn't put things in his mouth anymore. On second thought...

Here are all of his friends on his birthday! It was so fun to have them come!

Blowing out the candles (for a picture)I still can't believe he's two!! Happy birthday Austin! Thanks for brightening up our lives!

The next day we decorated our Christmas tree that we found at a garage sale moments after we decided we weren't going to buy a tree this year since they were so expensive. We felt so lucky to find such a great deal!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Random

Here are some random pictures of things I wanted to remember!

Here is our Thanksgiving Decor--Notice the native american doll in the background--it's the same one my grandma had that went with the pilgrim dolls she made!

These gourds Tyson and Christian bought as a surprise present for me :)

Austin likes to sit on the counter and help me cook--here he is munching on carrots!

I love my boys!

I also love that these two can still play so well together!

Tyson had a worksheet for his preschool class and I gave him a marker, not a pencil to work with and he was very upset that his letters weren't perfect.

I always thought Tyson was all 'Christian' but now I see a little bit of me in him. This letter says, "Dear Ms. Bryn. I like you"--only it has smiley faces above all of the letters! So cute!!

This was his first homework assignment--he cut out the picture, glued it, and wrote everything by himself! It has a bunch of smileys and a 4 and his name--I just didn't want to forget it!!

Thanksgiving 2012

So for Thanksgiving this year, we were blessed to be able to go to Heber for a family reunion on Christian's Dad's side. There were 40 people there and it was so much fun to actually get to know some of Christian's Aunts and Uncles and for Tyson to meet some of his second cousins! I left a few days earlier than Christian and got to spend some time with my family before the reunion began. Christian was so nice to drive an extra 3 hours to drop me off at an airport with a direct flight to Utah and still get back to school on time. He's amazing!

Need I say more?? The boys did amazing on the flight! We were so lucky to get an extra seat which made sleeping so much easier!

Christian's mom was so nice to pick us up from the airport. Then we got to spend time with Grandma Sumsion and Sandy. Austin got to open early birthday presents and Tyson got to put together some new puzzles. It was so fun!

My boys slept very well--which I know is uncommon in new places so I felt extra blessed! I love the gap in his teeth!!

My cousins Cheryl and Linda came to see me and let their kids play! It is always so much fun to see them!

Grandma let us help her in the yard. She is seriously the hardest working Grandma to ever exist. She is amazing and I'm so grateful for the blessing it was to grow up near her and learn so much from both her and Grandpa.

Every night my Grandparents read the scriptures together. I love their example and how it's a priority in their lives. They read side by side in these chairs. I told them I thought that was a good idea and Grandma said, "Well when we were younger we would read in bed, and sometimes we'd fall asleep." I just had to laugh because people really are not that different. My grandparents were just like Christian and me when they were our ages. That realization made me feel close to them :)

Most of the Thanksgivings I remember were shared with these two and I absolutely cherish those memories. I remember sleeping over at their house and helping with the turkey, bread, and cranberry salad. I remember playing games at their house and everyone falling asleep on their couches and extra beds! I remember their centerpieces which I loved (one was a native american with hair that grew longer every year!) It was fun to see them at this time of year!

On Tuesday, Tenille was so kind to come and meet us for breakfast at Magleby's Fresh (best syrup in the WORLD) and afterward walk around with the boys and me. I can't believe I didn't snap a picture with my beautiful sister or with Jake and Sadie who came up and spent some time with us. Jake could make Tyson laugh harder than anyone! It was too cute!

By Wednesday we got to pick up Christian from the airport and head to the cabin. It was amazing! The first day, we went out for a walk. Here is Austin's first taste of snow...

Three snowballs in the face later and he decided he wasn't a big fan :) Poor kid!

His new friend Ella lent him his hat to keep his hands warm and he refused to take it off for the rest of that day! On Thanksgiving, there were a ton of pictures taken but none with my camera. Someday when I get the coveted copies I'll have to post them here. Thanksgiving day was amazing. I wasn't much help since Tyson woke up throwing up in the middle of the night. The poor kid! He has been sick every Thanksgiving of his life (except the first one) Anyway, he and I got to watch a lot of movies as we were trying to keep the germs in one place, so I don't think he minded too much.

On Saturday, I got the 24 hour flu (same thing Tyson had) and ended up sleeping at Aunt Patty's for 4 hours. I was so sad to not be able to see Aunt Laurs or play with the family, but I'm glad nobody else got sick! Christian and the boys still had fun!

By that night, I was feeling much better and we were able to go to Temple Square in Salt Lake and see the lights. If you have never been, it is amazing. I love the peaceful feeling there. I know Christ lives and it was fun to share that testimony with my kids.

This was the temple where Christian and I were married for time and all eternity. It is such a beautiful place because of the special promises we made here. It brings back some awesome memories. This was also where he proposed to me the first time :)

Overall it was a great trip. I'm so grateful to have been able to spend time with Christian's siblings. They really do feel like my own family now and I love them! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I'm so thankful for my Savior, my family, our health, our friends, and for Christian and my two boys. We are very, very blessed! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!