Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas!

May you be blessed this holiday season and never forget that Jesus Christ was born on this special day!

♥

the Newgards

Santa Baby!

Oh, yeah! My kids love Santa!

Not even a wimper from either one of them for their Santa pics! In fact, my darling daughter even muttered, "Meey Smismas" (Merry Christmas) to our favorite friend in red...and gave him a giant hug! I was thrilled... And happy to announce their 'nice list' status!

***
This afternoon we bundled up and went for a family walk...
...And miss Avery rode her bike.
I have one more night of work tonight and then get to enjoy CHRISTMAS with my favorites! You can bet your buns that I can't wait for 7:30 am tomorrow morning when I get to clock off and enjoy 8 days with my family!

A Christmas "Tiff-bit"

I just finished wrapping ALL the presents!

Normally I don't really enjoy the wrapping...I'm more of a shopping lover and would prefer someone else wrap the gifts I buy...but this year, strangely, I've truly enjoyed wrapping my gifts.

So, as I was doing this...lovingly folding the corners up with tape, tying pretty ribbon on everything, and writing out little tags...something dawned on me....

...the words "Love, Mommy and Daddy".

Something struck a cord in my heart and I felt a little lump in my throat. I think the reason I have been enjoying every last little bit of Christmas this year is that my little ones are enjoying every last little bit of Christmas.

There's excitement in the little things...the music, the lights, the traditions and memories...they LOVE. IT. ALL.

And so, I am really soaking this in. Gifting all of my love to them so that Christmas time is a special time and a treasured memory for when they're all grown up....

So that "Love, Mommy and Daddy" means much more than pretty paper, ribbons, and toys....so that it means love in its finest and sweetest form.

Play

Should I admit that I'm still in my jammies? Should I mention I haven't brushed my hair or my teeth yet today?

Sure.

Because we are having a really good day.

Music's on, we're playing, toys are everywhere, and I'm soaking in these precious moments.

These are the special times.

10 Days & Counting!

I'm getting pretty excited for Christmas! As you read in my last post, we've been reeeeally busy getting ready for the holidays...and I took lots and lots of pictures to document all of our fun. Enjoy!

The hubby and I at Zoolights on Friday night. I can't remember the last time we had a cute picture taken of just the 2 of us!

All 4 of us...it was cold but we stayed warm and bundled!

Cara and I at Zoolights! Unbeknownst to us, we have the same brown jacket which we both wore...
♥

...and Avery and Taylor have the exact same snow suit so they were matching as well!

♥

Matt and Cara Grube...they are CUTE!

***

Saturday was the big Christmas cocktail work party hosted by myself and Bethany over here... it was FUN! Everyone came in their holiday best and we ate, drank, and danced the night away! My friend Suzanne provided hours of the best dance music, so a big THANK YOU to her!

It was one of the lastest nights I've had in a loooong time! I think the last of the guests left at 3:30 am!!!!

All the ladies looking gorgeous!

Kory and I....2 cute pictures in one weekend? Unbelievable!

***

Sunday we woke up, I cleaned the house from the party, and we headed off to pick up the kids at my mom and dad's house. They did awesome over there which made me super happy! I had totally de-kidded the house for the party and felt really sad looking around and not seeing all their stuff, so big hugs and kisses were in order as soon as we walked in the door to pick them up. After some primping we headed off for professional family photos in Tacoma...they should be darling...can't WAIT to see them! Then, after naps for 3/4 of us (can you guess who did not nap??) we headed off to my friend Stefanie's for a lovely get-together with our Bible study gals and their families. It was snowing and festive and cozy and fun to be together!

AND, Avery got to play with Case again...he is too darn cute!

Avery and Case enjoying the falling snow and Christmas lights at Stefanie's house.

***

I spent all of Monday morning making Christmas sugar cookies with Avery and Jackson...actually it was fun dirty-ing up the kitchen in the name of good ol' Christmas tradition...

...And we spent the evening at the Riggs' place decorating them. This is the 3rd year in a row we've gotten together to do this with them...this is the 1st year that Avery and Caitlyn participated. They were so funny with the sprinkles! I think at least 3 jars of sprinkles got totally emptied on a few of the cookies.

Such focus it takes to sprinkle cookies...
...and more ended up on sticky fingers, in mouths, and on the floors than on some of the cookies.

♥

***

And other than that, we've been enjoying togetherness, playtime....

...and WILD hair!

So Excited

Yay! The weekend is here!

I'm so excited...we literally have something planned for every minute of the next three days.

Here's a little rundown of the weekend's big events...pictures to follow on {hopefully} Monday!

• Tonight: Pizza, coffee and Zoolights tonight with the Grube family! We have about 150lbs of winter clothes piled in the back of the 4-Runner ready for us to don to go look at lights in the 20 degree temps forcasted for this evening! Then, if the kids are up to it, hot cocoa and toddies (for the adults) back at our place!!!
• Saturday: a kids Christmas party at Kory's work, then Avery and Jax get to spend their first night {without Kory and I} at my parent's house. I am hosting my work Christmas party in the evening...a Christmas cocktail party which should be very fun! This will be mine and Kory's first night alone in our house since having babies...surely we hope another baby does not transpire from this.... hehehehe.

• Sunday: Family photos with the amazing photographer that did my sister's senior pictures this year. I am SO excited to get these done! I bought new outfits for us all and the kids, especially, should be absolutely darling! Then 2 more Christmas parties for the rest of the afternoon...my Bible study girls' families in the earlier afternoon, and then the adult party for Kory's work. Somewhere in the middle of this I am going to attempt to bake sugar cookies for our annual cookie decorating extravaganza with the Riggs family we have planned for Monday afternoon!

The rest of the week will be filled with shopping, mailing, wrapping, and loving on my kids who I haven't seen much this week due to long work hours. {I miss them terribly!} And maybe a craft night at my friend, Anne's, beautiful home!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season so far and know that I am praying blessings over your Christmas and New Year!

Always remember the reason for the season!

xoxo

Our cheeks are nice and rosy!

Loving this COLD winter weather!

It's dry, the sun's been out, and we can see our breath when we're outside. What better way to spend an afternoon than bundling up and going for a walk?

And maybe I'm biased, but my kids look darling in hats!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Giving Thanks

I have a lot to give thanks for.

I'm thankful to be married to an amazing guy, to have two incredible little people to care for, and for a God we can worship freely. I'm thankful for the roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in at night, a loving and supportive family, friends I can call for anything, a job to go to, a dog to walk, and my health. This Thanksgiving, and always, I am thankful for these blessings.

I am thankful, truly, for this amazing life...

*

I didn't take many pictures this Thanksgiving, but enjoy the ones I got.

This is my new niece, Ellie. She's Jamie's new golden doodle (golden retriever/poodle mix) and is so super sweet! It was fun meeting her and remembering what having a puppy is like...glad it's Jamie doing the puppy potty training and not me! (However I'm potty training a 2-year-old...not sure which is harder...)

After Thanksgiving dinner, and after I found out I didn't have to go into work until 11pm, Kory took the kidlets home for bed and I stayed at my parent's house till it was time for me to leave. We watched a cheesy Christmas movie and ate popcorn...and we 3 snuggled like this for at least an hour....love my sisters!

And this last Sunday we got our home all Christmas'd up. It looks gorgeous in here and I'm loving that I get to have Christmas up for a whole month! Avery was a huge help with the ornaments on the tree... right now everything is "Missmas" (Christmas) to her!

...and Jackson was a huge help with all the lights...

***
This past weekend, with the murders of 4 police officers in our area, I was reminded of how each day should never be taken for granted and we should be thankful EVERY day for what we have. I cannot wrap my head around the malicious acts that happened Sunday morning, nor can I comprehend the hate that so visibly lives in our world. Today my prayers are with the souls of those officers, their families, their friends, and their comrades in service. I pray that justice be served and that peace can be found in such ugly and horrific circumstances.

I am THANKFUL...

...I couldn't ask for a better story.

Happy Thanksgiving!

from our family to yours!

Playing Dress-up

I was picking up Avery's room today and putting laundry away when I had to just stop and watch her as she twirled around with her pretty tutu and flower head band on.

When did she go from a roly-poly little babe to a little girl playing dress-up?

My heart feels a little achy as I wish I could just stop time...

Avery's 2nd 'Burtday' Party!

This year the theme was Hello Kitty...Avery seems to really like her and I also think she's pretty darn cute! The entire day was fun and went off without a hitch...the best part about it was watching how much fun she had with all of her best buddies.

Some of the details:

Hello Kitty balloon holder my mom picked up.

My mom and I made these cupcakes...it was the first time I have ever used fondant. They turned out awesome, however, fondant doesn't taste very good...Avery was the only kid to eat the kitty face!

Party bags.

I seriously could not have done any of this without one of my besties, my mom. She was such an amazing little worker bee in my kitchen getting ready for the festivities!

So, a BIG hug goes out to my mama!!!!

Enjoying the spread...Cheetos puffs were the party favorite. I regret not buying 2 bags!

Opening presents...we had a pretty full house but this picture doesn't show everyone.

Is it just me or is there something really sentimental about all of the people you love singing your daughter the happy birthday song? I might've gotten a little choked up again...

After the formalities (food, presents, cake...) some serious playtime took place. The kids thought the stairs were fun and at one point all of them (minus the babies) were climbing up and sliding down and laughing hysterically while the parents all nervously watched...

After the party...she had on her tutu from Bre, was carrying her new Barbie and all of her balloons, put on her new rubber Hello Kitty boots, and was headed for the stairs!
*********

These following photos were done by our friend Casey...he takes awesome pictures.


This girl loves blowing out candles.

Make a wish, sweet girl!

Kisses from the party girl...my most favorite little 2 year old ever!

Avery Turns 2, and Our Weekend in Review...

Well? She did it! She turned 2!

And such a fun time for us all...I'm going to call this the terrific two's as not to jinx myself. As a friend of mine said to me on facebook, there will be times ahead when she will drive me bananas, but really this is SUCH a great time of life...I'm going to have to agree since all of the 3 days that she's been 2 have super fun!

We started Friday morning off (just Avery, Jackson and I) with warm cinnamon rolls complete with birthday candles and the "Happy Birthday" song (sung about 20 times). Like we did on my birthday in September, I relit the candles over and over and over again so she could blow them out. So fun! Her favorite thing about the cinnamon rolls was the warm, gooey middles and hers had a perfect hole in it by the time she was done eating!

Kory, who had been hunting in Montana for the 9 days leading up to Avery's birthday, made it home by 11 am! We were all so excited to have him home so early to spend the special day with us! The kiddos were SO happy to see him, full beard and all! After a lunch of corndogs (Avery's latest lunchtime fave), we all ended up taking naps and then NaNa (my mom) came over with more birthday surprises for Avery.

When everyone was up from their naps we all, including NaNa, headed to Red Robin for dinner where we partied with balloons and an icecream sundae for all!

Here's Jackson tasting ice cream for the first time...need I say, he LOVED it.

After dinner we headed home for some presents. The winning fave? This purse... complete with her own cell phone! (Ah, a girl after my own heart!!)

...and runner up may be this Strider bike. Kory's been talking about getting her this for months now... She wouldn't put the purse down long enough to really play much with the bike, but she gave it a whirl...

...and so did her daddy....

Jackson helped open presents. He also shred the wrapping paper into a billion little pieces. It's okay because he is super cute!

***

Saturday we did absolutely nothing but hang out together.

It was really nice!
***

And Sunday... Avery and Jackson went to my parent's house to play while Kory and I went to the Seahawks game vs. the Detroit Lions. I'm not a huge football fan, but I had a lot of fun and hope to go to more!!! It was my first time at Qwest field, and actually, my first live Seahawks game EVER! (I honestly don't know how I've lived here my whole life and have never been to a hawks game yet....)

We went with my friend Kimberly and her husband Brandon. Her and I both had #8 Hasselbeck jerseys on. :)

Kory's a Lions fan but don't hold it against him cuz he's super cute, too.

She's 2!

She's the one who made me a mommy.

My firstborn,

my baby girl...

and now she's my 2 year old!

I will never forget that moment they placed her on my chest after hours of labor...that moment when she and I were the only ones in the room, meeting for the first time. I'll never forget watching her sleep on her daddy's chest, nor will I ever get enough of watching her hang out with him. I'll never get enough of hearing that sweet voice and laughing over her pronunciation of a new learned word. I will always cherish the twinkle I see in Jackson's eyes when she is around and I'll expect that she will continue to make me smile every single day. I will always be in awe of how my love can grow daily, hourly, even minute by minute for this girl and how my whole life, my whole being and all that I am will forever be for her and her brother.

She's my best girl...

and she's 2. I can't believe it!

Happy birthday, sweet Avery Jeanne.

Today, and always, I hope you can have your cake and eat it too!

My Favorite Kind of Bubbly

BFF's

Today some of our best gals (Cara and Taylor) came and met us for playtime and a picnic at the park. The forecast called for 63 degrees and mostly sunny, so we had to hop on the opportunity to burn some toddler energy out of doors. I think the weatherman might have mistaken the temperature because we froze all the way through lunch...but we still had fun, as always!

The thing about Avery is that she likes to be very sure-footed. (Kory says that's what is going to make her a kick-a$$ climber someday.) But this sure-footedness also makes her a little scared sometimes. Today, however, she climbed right up to the big slide and went down over, and over, and over all by her little self. Check out the static-y hair.

Cutie patootie Taylor...she has static-y hair too!

Um, melt my heart! Such good little friends!

Oh my cuteness and funny faces.

Leading the way.


Holding hands to cross the street. (Or rather, the not-busy parking lot while being fully supervised by their moms...)

The end.

(Well, until next time!)