{2012} Year in Review

Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we?

January

-I talked about our military life

-We found out baby #2 was a GIRL!

-I talked about how bittersweet it was to be leaving NC and heading home to CA

February

-We made our big cross-country road trip. NC to OK, OK TO NV, NV to CA, Randoms. 

-I hit the halfway mark in my pregnancy

March

-My second nephew, Samuel, was born

-I talked about some of my prayer requests for my pregnancy and natural labor/delivery

April

-I posted this recipe for the most delicious(ly sinful) Salted Caramel Butter Bars

-We took a day trip to the city

-We took our first swim of the year

May

-We took a trip to the Oakland Zoo

-I was thrown a beautiful baby shower

-We went to a Giants baseball game

June

-Jax turned 3 and he had a race car birthday party

-I showed y'all Lexi's nursery

-My in-laws came to visit and we went cherry picking

July

-Lexi was born! And I talked about her birth story

-I talked about life as a mom of two

-We took our first trip to Fresno as a family of 4

August

-Jax started preschool

-Lexi turned 1 month old and started smiling

-The sibling love made my heart explode

September

-We took a trip to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

-I talked about the things I said I would never do as a mom

October

-We had some Halloween fun at the zoo with our best friends

-I kept it real about motherhood

November

-Lexi turned 4 months old and hit a bunch of milestones

-I talked about the things that I'm thankful for
-I did a guest post about mommyhood over at Through Clouded Glass
-Jax turned 3 and a half

December
-We took ridiculously cute family pictures

-We went to Disneyland and had an amazing time

-We had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by all of our family


WE HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED OVER THIS PAST YEAR.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR YOUR NEVER-ENDING LOVE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY LOVELY BLOGGY FRIENDS!!

Christmas 2012

We had a lovely start to our Christmas weekend. We drove down to Fresno on Saturday and did lunch and presents with my mom's side of the family.

 Here's Lexi with my Grandma Carol

And having fun with Nana (my mom)

Jax loved opening presents, of course!

Lexi loved her taggy ball that she got from Grandma Carol

This was the first time in probably at least 5 years that we were able to get everyone together at once. My grandma has been blessed with 4 kids (plus spouses), 8 grandkids (plus spouses), and 4 great-grandkids (so far ;) ). It was great to have all 24 of us together at once!

The next day we ended up staying home from church because Jax has a nasty cough. By the end of that day, Lexi was starting to get sick too. 

On Christmas Eve day, we met Danielle over at Mary's house so that I could see my girls and Jax could see his buddies. I didn't take any pictures, but we had a great time. Mary got bagels and coffee from Panera and the boys had a blast playing outside and making giant messes. We shouldn't have expected anything less! 

Christmas morning was very low key. It was just the four of us, my brother and my parents. Our whole day was overshadowed by the fact that Lexi was progressively getting sicker and had developed a fever and a nasty cough. I didn't open a single present because I was holding her the whole time. 

Jax, however, couldn't wait to open his. I mean, what kid can?

He was THRILLED that Nana and Boppa got him this pirate ship he's been asking for. It's pretty much the only thing he wanted. 

For presents that come from us, we follow the saying "one thing you want, one thing you need, one thing you wear, and one thing you read". This hat and gloves was Jax's "one thing you need" so that we can go to the snow soon!

This goofiness was a stocking stuffer. He loves twisty straws so this was the ultimate!

My dad's parents, one of his sisters, and my cousin came over for presents and an early dinner. We had lots of yummy food and, as is tradition in our family, prime rib for dinner and chocolate roll for dessert. Yum and yum. 

This was how Lexi spent the day. Poor baby girl!

We had intended to stay until Wednesday, but since our kiddos were sick, we ended up driving home Christmas night. Lexi was a mess and I had to sit in the back, squished between two car seats, the whole way home. 

It was nice to be home, but I have spent the last two days holding Lexi and nursing her practically non-stop. She's been sleeping in our bed each night and waking up every two hours. So much for the sleep training that was pretty much accomplished before Christmas! 

Please pray that my sweet girl gets better soon.

And hopefully next year's holidays will be a little more joyful!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours

Preschool Christmas

Jax's preschool had a Christmas program last weekend and it was such a blast! Each class did a performance at a different time, so you could go just to see your kid's class. They also had the classrooms beautifully decorated and set up for different activities. There were multiple crafts, cookie decorating, hot chocolate, and even a band singing Christmas songs. 

Of course the best part was watching Jax's class sing a few songs. Getting a bunch of 3-year-olds to sing and do hand motions is something like herding cattle. It was ridiculously adorable. And made even better because Jax had a speaking line in it. 

"And this will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger"

Luke 2:12

 (No, she didn't actually have any... just in case you were judging me ;) )

Insta-Randoms

My heart is still so heavy for the lives lost in Connecticut. I am grieving for the mommies and daddies who will be without their babies this Christmas. I have been hugging my babies extra tight this week, reminding myself that although they may frustrate me, I praise God that they are still here with me. They can be called Home at any time and each day is a gift. 

I am thankful for this beautiful girl who is starting to sit up on her own... although she only lasts about 2 seconds. 

And this handsome boy who had a speaking line in his preschool Christmas program.

This was Lexi watching the football game in our hotel room at Disneyland.

She also helped us drive home ;)

And she's trying so hard to roll onto her tummy.

Ryan got a hand-me-down trampoline from a coworker and Jax is obsessed! 

PS-the helmet was because he was riding his bike... although it may not be a bad idea since the trampoline doesn't have a net

This sibling love is undeniable. It makes my heart so very happy!

Christmas goodie-making in full swing. Gingerbread men, fudge, and toffee. Nom nom!

There has also been lots of baby food making

Hey, beautiful girl!

Jax and his friend Aiden. I took them to our neighborhood park last week. This was the only time Jax was happy. He spent the rest of the time crying because because Aiden "wasn't letting him be the leader". My kid is bossy, y'all!

And this pretty thing wore her first real dress to church on Sunday. It's such a pain to put her in dresses since she's so little, but I have a few that I wanted to get at least one use out of. Her Christmas one is SO cute!

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies : Hey, that's Pin-tastic

Today I'm linking up with AP over at I Love You More Than Carrots.

It's an attempt to get all us Pinterest-y people to actually do some of the things we have pinned. I honestly feel like I'm pretty good at looking through my pins and doing some of them. Yesterday I made these Chocolate Peppermint Cookies and they are out-of-this-world yummy! I did a little recipe adjusting so mine are actually triple chocolate... because you really can't ever have too much!

First off, you must find these guys in the store... but ideally your husband will grab the "chips" version and not the whole, individually wrapped ones. 

And this is where I went crazy. I added white chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips to the recipe. I wanted more chocolate and a little less mint (but don't worry, there's still plenty of mint flavor)

The dough is VERY stiff, so you'll need to roll the cookies into balls and the flatten them with your hand. Make them pretty flat because they won't expand much. 

And VOILA... delicous pepperminty, chocolatey goodness.

I might have eaten three four within hours of making them. 

Here's the recipe...

1 1/2 sticks butter, softened

2/3 C sugar

2/3 C brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla 

2 1/2 C flour

1/2 C cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 C Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips

3/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 C white chocolate chips

Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add dry ingredients and mix well. (My mixer was struggling by the end of this). Use a spoon or spatula to stir in chips. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop cookies, then roll into balls. Put on a cookie sheet then flatten well with the palm of your hand.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!