Christmas Party

Porter busted out the cotton candy machine today.

Laun and I went to Ruby River for his Christmas work party for IFA. We took our desserts to go and shared them with our kids at home.

We got a flan since Clayton loves them and is such a great babysitter. At the work party Laun won a nice sweater and I got a dutch oven.

Carter sleeping under the Christmas tree with all the wooden nativity pieces scattered near his noggin.

Geography Bee

Over 400 eighth graders were tested to see if they qualified to be in the school geography bee and today 28 students competed, so even making it into the bee was a great accomplishment. Porter wanted to watch, so I pulled him out of his classes. And Carter came too, thankfully he slept in his stroller for over half of the event.

It finally got down to the last two students and Clayton was one of them!

Clayton got 2nd place overall! I think I need to get this boy onto Jeopardy!

Third, Second and First place- all the top 3 got prizes.

I’m so proud of this young man. He is so smart. I knew before the bee started that he’d do well, he just stays so calm and doesn’t seem to let his nerves get to him, plus he has a great memory. One year he got 2nd place in a school spelling bee, and after today’s bee he was like what is up with me getting 2nd place.

I took him out for lunch at Culver’s for his favorite mushroom swiss hamburger and a shake.

When he got home Carter cuddled right up to him and fell asleep. I’m not only proud of my son for being bright, I’m even more proud that he’s a wonderful big brother.

snuggles, Santa & home

Carter has the pukes, poor kid, so he is extra cuddly. He adores Clayton and got in some cuddles before big brother headed to school. 

He snuggled before nap time.

He learned how to climb out of his play pen today. It should annoy me, but it’s kind of darling. Plus, anytime he can physically do a new task I get very relieved and grateful.

He loves wearing Clayton’s Santa hat around.

He cuddles again, after climbing out of his play pen. It’s time for a toddler bed, I’d rather he get out of bed than climb and fall one time.

Marlee’s class had a special visitor yesterday, Santa Clause! I’m thankful for the mom who organized it and then sent home a picture for her.

Laun got back from his trip tonight. The kids always love finding out what treats he got them.

Marlee was all about the peeps and huge symphony bar and Carter got a cute stuffed Sven from the Frozen movie.

I’m glad to have him home, life isn’t the same without him.

cold outside

Merry Christmas from Marlee…love her artwork:

Carter loves my screen saver. He’s always grabbing my phone and saying “daddy” and sometimes he’ll even give the picture of Laun kisses. This picture was taken awhile back before one of Carter’s hip surgeries. I think it was the one I was too sick to go to so Laun had to take him by himself.

Tonight I took Carter to the doctor for some spots in his mouth, turns out it was just canker sores. Poor baby is so tired, he fell asleep on the floor at the doctor’s office (don’t even want to think about the germs he’s getting). Last night was Clayton’s concert and tonight the doctors, the kid just wants to go to bed. Thankfully, even though Laun is out of town, Clayton watched his siblings, so I didn’t have to drag them all out. Clayton is a huge help when Laun travels for work.

winter concert

Clayton played the french horn in tonight’s concert. They played Christmas songs and sounded great.

santa & sleep

Santa visit at the mall-

Carter loved playing catch with Santa, but did not like sitting on his lap. Sweetest and most interactive Santa I’ve ever met.

I made a Costco run and Carter slept in the cart the entire time…he doesn’t even know we were at Costco! Luckily, I keep blankets in my Tahoe, so he had something to lay on.

futsal

Clayton’s team won both their futsal games today and it was so fun to watch! Clayton scored 2 goals today, 1 in each game. Go T!

lunch dates

We tried out a new teriyaki place for lunch. It was good, minus Carter sitting on the table, throwing food and spilling lemonade on me.

Carter loved the noodles.

Carter loves time with daddy, playing bucking bronco.

those faces

Carter gets so excited when we pick up Marlee (Nana-what he calls her) from school. We made a Costco run and they were like a dream in the store. They were so happy and well behaved, I could hardly believe it. Maybe we are at Costco so often that it feels like a second home to them;)

I love Carter’s farm animal obsession. Here he is holding a cow and horse and looking so cute I can hardly stand it.

tree

We got our Christmas tree up and decorated. Marlee was delighted to put the star on top. The kids like talking about all their ornaments throughout the years as they decorate. They get ornaments every Christmas Eve to represent things they’ve done that year and when they grow up they can take them. Carter is pretty into all the lights, but doesn’t appreciate that some ornaments are out of his reach.

Then I headed to book club, first time I’ve ever gone. We read the awesome book, Seeking Persephone by my cousin Sarah Eden, good read.

life with Carter…

He loves books-

Some books don’t make it through his love, like those poor I Spy pages torn out. He also loves playing with farm animals and this barn.

He loves smoothies and sharing food with his parents.

He’s into stuff, like my eye liner and toothbrush, nice.

it is up

We cut down out tree when we went to Show Low for Thanksgiving and tonight we finally got it put up. I like that we have a little Arizona with us for Christmas.

Marlee was excited to put the star on.

And show Carter the lighted tree.

My mom made a tree skirt for me out of the same material as our stockings.

The kids liked decorating the tree and talking about all their ornaments they’ve gotten over the years.

I wish I would’ve gotten a picture of my stocking holder and stockings, but you can see it in the left corner. Laun took a piece of wood and put nails in it and the stockings have the initial of our first name (which Larette embroidered them for me and then my mom sewed them together). I’m happy they are done, since I cut the stockings out a long time ago.

It’s looking like Christmas! And then I headed out to my first book club with some ladies in the ward. We read Seeking Persephone, which my cousin Sarah Eden wrote, so that was fun.