Christmas

This Christmas was so fun with a little person who loves toys, wrapping paper, and bows. Nate liked to joke that I was almost as excited as a little kid......what can I say, I was excited because for the first time I think I got everyone the perfect gift and was so excited to see their faces.

Our first Christmas celebration was on December 18th with Matt, Angeline, Emma, Tal, Aunt Donna, Julie, and Denny. Since Matt and Angeline's family were going to Utah for Christmas we had dinner, a little devotional, and exchanged presents with them the Sunday before they left. The funniest reaction to the gifts exchanged was Tal. Grandpa Coleman had gotten him an electric train for around the tree which was too big to wrap. He brought it out and Tal was like, "Who is that for?" Grandpa asked, "Who do you think?" Tal said, "Uncle Nate?" Grandpa followed it up with a "Nope, it is for you." Tal responded "Me." The kid was so excited he could not contain himself....he proceeded to pull all the different pieces out of the box and tell us what they were.

That following Friday, December 23rd, I was responsible for getting Julie out of the house while her Christmas present, a baby grand piano got delivered. I drug Julie to Costco, lunch, and Best Buy before finally taking her home. At the time she didn't seem to be too happy I was dragging her all over St. Louis but once she got home and figured out why she wasn't too upset any more. After Nate and I saw her piano we headed back to our house. I walked in the front door and was greeted by Julie's old piano sitting in my dinning room. I was so shocked. Denny had arranged for the people who delivered Julie's new piano to take their old one to my house for my Christmas present. I was so excited!! I have wanted a piano for ages and the fact that I play for the primary and don't have one was difficult sometimes, I obviously didn't practice as much as I should have. So Nate and Denny had fooled me too....I had to get Julie out so I would be gone too. Those tricky boys :)

Christmas Eve we had a musical devotional at our church. Followed by dinner and discussion of the Savior's Birth with Denny, Julie, and Aunt Donna. And of course we had to open our Christmas Eve presents of pajamas!

Christmas Day was a little crazy but so fun. We got up, got ready, and headed to church. Then we came home, changed into comfy clothes, and opened presents. Tanner got so excited when he would get thru the paper and see a toy sticking out. We were then joined by Denny and Julie for brunch. Then we relaxed for a little bit and prepared for dinner with Denny, Julie and the Harris Family at our house. Later that evening Nate and I were talking and we believed that everyone had had a fantastic Christmas. Everyone's gifts to us were so thoughtful and such surprises that we felt it was one of the best Christmas' ever!!

Trying to wrangle Tanner for pictures in his Christmas clothes.

You can hear him now, "No I will not pose for a dumb picture mom."

Dad trying to show him out it is done. This is the best photo I got with my little uncooperative boy. Can you see my piano peeking out from behind them?? :)

Looks like Tanner was a very good boy this year!

All the Cars Movies....yay!

And the most favorite present.....The Fisher-Price Barn!

Nate could not get it out of the packaging fast enough.

My Piano....just finished recovering the bench in this cool olive green geometric fabric. Sorry the quality is poor, I took it with my phone.

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season too!!

Birthday Boy

I cannot believe that my son Tanner is a year old. It seems just like yesterday I was complaining about swollen ankles, or sitting up in the middle of the night watching snow fall as I fed and rocked my little baby. Tanner may still be little, he is barely pushing 19 lbs, but he isn't a baby any more.

A Little About 1 Year Old Tanner:

~He has been walking since Thanksgiving and that has evolved into running.

~He still loves his toys or anything mom and dad enjoy playing with.

~He loves his cousins especially Tal and wants to be apart of anything he does.

~He is very interested in anything new or different.

~He loves his puppy....he even pets him so gently.

~He is Binkie Free as of December 27th!

~Still loves his Mr. Frog blanket and Mr. Lion we got for when Mr. Frog was in the wash but that has back fired to a love and need for both blankets. Oops :0 

~Loves storytime and books, especially The Very Hungry Caterpiller and Tractors (A Touch and Feel story).

~He is obsessed with shoes, women's shoes, men's shoes, shinny shoes, dirty shoes, and most of all his shoes. Any shoes left out he picks up and carries all around the house and proceeds to show them to you.

For his birthday we had a little party with family based on The Very Hungry Caterpiller. Tanner was overwhelmed by the presents and couldn't focus beyond the toy he had just opened to open another present. Luckily Emma and Tal were more than willing to help out. We finished the night with cake, shaped like a caterpillar. Tanner wanted help eating it   once he was done playing in the icing.

Tal pushing Tanner in his walking cart.

Party Space

Caterpiller Cake

Who's ready for some cake?? :)

The Aftermath

My little man has brought so much joy to my life in the last year and I am so excited to watch him grow and change in the years to come.

Thanksgiving

This year we flew to Utah for Thanksgiving. Yes, I took my camera and carried it thru security to not take any pictures. I am awful.....but trying to be better. While in Utah we had Thanksgiving with the Thornley Family, went to see the lights on Temple Square, saw the Utes play football, had brunch with the Christensen Family, did a little early Christmas shopping, took family pictures, and just spent down time playing with Tanner.

Halloween

For Halloween we were super heroes!! Sir Charles was Batman and Nate was his fearless side kick Robin. I was the infamous and strong Wonder Woman and Tanner was Superman, perhaps more like SuperBaby! Excuse all of the tired faces.....we took pictures post trick or treating so everyone was tired and cold.

A Surprise Party

At the end of October Angeline turned 30!! So we had to throw a surprise party complete with chocolate cake (since her husband and kids won't eat chocolate), presents, friends, food, and games. I feel so blessed to have Angeline as sister in-law and best friend.....Happy Birthday Angeline!!

A Special Visit

At the beginning of October my sister Camille came out to visit. It was so much fun spending time with her and letting her get to spend time with Tanner without having to compete with everyone. She even helped me finish up my Halloween costume. While she was here we went to the park one day and the pumpkin patch another to pick out pumpkins. It was so hard to see her leave but comforting to know we were going to get to see everyone at Thanksgiving when we went out to Utah.

He didn't like the slide and so he was pouting.

Loved the steering wheel....big surprise :)

Drive Drive Drive.....Vroom Vroom

Telling Camille how he doesn't like the slide.

Happy to be at the bottom of the slide.

Funny Faces :)

Happy Boy!!

With Aunt Camille, trying to be brave going down the slide.

Can't go to the park and not hit the swings.

Hiding in the swing.

The Pumpkin Patch we go to is the same one that Nate went to growing up. It is so fun to run around the pumpkins and find just the right one. While Camille was here all Tanner wanted to do was to let Camille walk him around and around and around.....so here they are walking and walking and walking. Camille was such a great sport.

Picking the right sized pumpkin.

Playing in the dirt.....such a boy.

Walking with Aunt Camille

The Family at the Pumpkin Patch....thanks for taking the pic Camille :)

First Haircut

Tanner had his first haircut at the end of September. The poor kid's hair was so long he couldn't see out and had some mullet action going on in the back. Tanner did a really good job sitting still for his haircut.  He didn't cry at all until the clipper came out to trim around his ears. The trimmers seemed to startle him a lot. I think he was so good because he was so excited to be driving the golf cart :) He loves anything that reminds him of things mommy or daddy do....like driving!