Random Moments in December

December was so busy and as I was pulling photos and videos together from Christmas I came across a few gems of little moments from the month worth sharing...

Preston playing with his balloons after the party. He would get tanlged in them and think it was so fun!

 Preston at his friend Leala's birthday party. They are just a few days apart. She got a really cool drumset (not from her parents, of course) and Preston loved it. They decide to make a little band - Preston on the drums and Leala on the guitar. It was pretty cute to watch!

The cheese ball we made to take to a Christmas party.

Time to Think

I can't stop thinking about this sweet family in our ward. Almost two weeks ago my friend lost her husband, Jared Johansen, unexpectedly and inexplicably in the middle of the night. He was a healthy 27 year old who leaves behind his wife, 17 month old daughter and another daughter due in January.

I should mention that Jared was also the oldest son of my current bishop. He and his wife have been living with his parents for the last year as he was preparing to go to law school in the Fall.  The outpouring of concern and love from members in our ward has been amazing.

It's at times like these that you really come to think about what you believe and grow a deeper appreciation for what you currently have. I have been humbled by the faith this family has shown despite their immense trial and feeling of loss. The memorial service was beautiful and very uplifting.

I am thankful to know that families can be together forever, that Christ lived and died so that we might return to live with our Father in Heaven again. It's easy to live in the moment and forget our ultimate purpose in life. I have learned to cherish those you love because you never know how long they will be with you.

Jared's cousin has written a beautiful tribute and reflection on her blog of her experience with his passing. Check it out here: http://benandcamille.blogspot.com/2011/12/forever-changed.html

Temple Lights

Friday night our ward had a get together at the temple to see the lights, watch the live nativity, and have hot chocolate and donuts. It was a fun little outing.

Zoo for turning 2!

On Preston's birthday we went to the Zoo - just Preston and me! It was so fun. We just got a zoo pass for the year and this was our first time using it. Originally I was just going to do errands on Preston's birthday but the morning of decided we should do something fun instead. It was a beautiful day and perfect for the zoo. We took a picnic lunch and spent time exploring together. Periodically I would break out and sing "Happy Birthday" to Preston and every time he would start giggling.

He loved watching the elephants, especially because there was one close to the fence that was eating grass with its trunk. He also loved the warthog that another kid kept calling "Pumba". Preston started mimicking the other kid saying "Pumba" as well. Randomly to this day Preston will start talking about Pumba and it's been a few days since we went. On Sunday he even started talking about the pumpkin that had been in the warthog's area. I had totally forgotten about it until he mentioned it.

I love it when Preston talks about outings days after the event because then I know he really had fun!

A tunnel to view the Meerkats. Preston was scared to go in until a few other kids ran in and then he followed right away.

Preston attempting to open his gifts without permission and before Daddy got home. I ran down to grab his new car out of the car and was gone only a minute. When I came back up he had climbed on the chair and had already started ripping the package open. I couldn't believe it. He had THE biggest smile on his face.

Deck the Halls

We finally got into the Christmas season a bit and put Christmas lights on our balcony. Preston has been enamored with the lights around our neighborhood that he sees at night. We taught him to say, "Ooohhh. Aaahhh. Wow!" whenever he sees them. It's pretty darn funny.

Vroom. Vroom. Birthday Party.

Vroom. Vroom. Preston turns two in just two days. Last weekend we had a car birthday party for him with just a few friends. It was the perfect size for his age!

Back in October I had seen a cute idea for a car birthday party on pinterest. Since Preston LOVES cars (what boy doesn't?) we thought it was perfect for him. Nate and I really enjoyed brainstorming and creating things for Preston's party. Each child received a car as a party favor that they could drive around the roads made out of masking tape and yellow duct tape. There were various stations they could stop at such as a car wash, gas station, home, drive-in movie where Cars 2 was playing and a racetrack. I think the racetrack was the biggest hit! It was well worth the money spent on our splurge purchase! The racetrack was a blow up ball pit with a track around the outside where the balls could roll back down into the pit. The kids played with it the longest by far.

We had a small lunch and of course cupcakes. Preston was so excited for his party. There were many times over the course of the month that Preston heard "not until your party" or "that's for your party". I think it all helped build the anticipation for him. He was especially excited for the cupcakes since he helped me make them the day before. And, to my suprise he knew exactly what to do with the candles on his cupcake. He blew them out before I even had a chance to tell him to. Smart boy!

All the time and effort put into creating his party was well worth it. Preston was so hyper after the event that we knew he had fun and every once in awhile in the days following I would hear him talking about it, mostly in his crib when he should have been taking a nap. He would be saying "Happy birthday to you."

We sure love this little guy and can't believe it's already been two years!

Family Pictures

A few weeks ago we asked a very talented friend in our ward to snap a few photos. We just wanted some updated ones of the entire family and expected it to be a quick thing. However, our friend totally surprised us and went way beyond our expectations doing a full on photo session. We ended up with some great photos! Thanks, Cassidy!

Thanksgiving in Portland

For Thanksgiving this year we headed to Portland to celebrate Thanksgiving with my brother's family and my parents, who also drove into town. My brother's oldest son, Tyson, was going to be baptized the Saturday after Thanksgiving so we decided to travel there for the holiday. Since I am singing with the Temple Hill Choir we had to be back for a performance that Saturday night so we missed the baptism but it was so fun to be with family, even if it was a short trip!

Preston had so much fun with his cousins. With three boys in my brother's family there were tons of boy toys in the house and Preston just couldn't get enough of them. He played and played and played. I guess we don't have cool toys like that at out house because our toys don't entertain him nearly as long.

We arrived in Portland early Wednesday morning and made a quick stop at VooDoo Donuts to check it out. It's kind of a cool, local joint with crazy donut concoctions. I wished I could have just a bite of each type of donut to try them all out. Definitely a place to check out again just to try a different flavor!

I always kick myself for not taking more photos. We spent Wednesday and Thursday just hanging out, watching movies and playing games, and of course enjoying a delicious turkey dinner.

Friday we braved the crowds and went to the mall for a bit before heading to Mt. Hood to ride the "Polar Express" train. What a fun event for the kids! They got to see Santa, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, and even take a bell home.

We loved spending a few short days with the family!

Playing with Dad and showing off one of the cool toys he found

Playing Angry Birds

Outside the "choo choo tracks" before the Polar Express ride

On the "Polar Express" train

Chatting with one of the leves on the train

Getting his bell from Santa

Giving Thanks...

For the last few years during the month of November we have tried daily to write something we are thankful for. This year we didn't do as well as we have in the past - I guess we were a bit preoccupied and busy but here are the few things we came up with.

Nate - Thankful for...

• fragrant swiss cheese
• cell phones to contact family
• our ability to take care of ourselves
• afternoon naps
• Jaime giving up her career for motherhood
• a good job that lets me take care of my family
• Jaime's artistic ability
• Jaime's lists
• Jaime cooking dinner
• Preston's laughs

Jaime - Thankful for...

• hot chocolate to warm me up
• family walks - they're relaxing and a great time to talk
• Preston being a good boy today as we ran LOTS of errands (H&M, Michaels, Office Depot, Big5)
• the legacy I have of strong ancestors in the church. "Steadfast and Immovable"
• technology that allows us to video chat with Jessica's family when they live so far away
• beautiful, warm weather to play at the park
• finally catching the mouse in our house and thankful for the tip of swiss cheese from my dad
• a dishwasher
• an active boy who enjoys his Gymboree class
• a supportive husband who lets me take time to sing in the Temple Hill Choir
• a concerned husband who wants to make my life easier

Preston - Thankful for...

• a Daddy who reads to him
• my lawnmower and pushing it to the park
• juice
• my choo-choo
• daddy putting syrup on my french toast

Halloween Trick or Treating

For breakfast on Halloween we made special "Boo" pancakes. Preston was being silly for the camera and I didn't get a single shot where he wasn't being goofy.

Halloween night we met up with some friends to go trick or treating in their neighborhood. It was a lot fo fun. Preston, still remembering the excitement from the Stake Trunk or Treat, was loving every second. He would go to the door holding out his bag, then say "Thank You" when he received some candy. After that he would turn around and start running to the next house often shouting, "More!" excitedly. He kept leaving his friends in the dust. Nate and I thought we would only hit five houses or so but we ended up going for over an hour since the kids were having so much fun!

The crew trick or treating on Halloween

From earlier in the week when the kids wore their costumes to Music Makers

I think it's safe to say our month of October was super busy and also full of fun.

Trunk or Treat

Our stake has a Halloween Trunk or Treat that is unreal! They have been doing it for years and estimate that they get over 1,000 people each year. It is a carnival theme with music, lights, games, etc. Last year was our first year and we were blown away by how amazing it was. You have to see it to believe it! I should have taken pictures of the carnival games or even better video just to show how amazing it is. All the signs for the activities have lights and moving parts.

After the carnival the kids all go outside to the parking lot where people are ready to pass out candy, most in front of fully decked out cars. Nate was a little nervous to pass out candy again this year because he felt intimidated by all the decorated cars. We didn't decorate ours at all. Preston, despite all the flurry of kids, really had a lot of fun and started getting the trick or treating fever.

Posing with his friends - Owen and Wyatt

Preston also loved his fireman costume! He was pretty cute if I do say so myself. I made it when I was in Boise using yellow and silver duct tape. I think because we talked about the costume so much and kept trying it on that he knew it was something special and being saved for a special occassion.  

Carving Pumpkins

This month has been full of fun festivities leading up to Halloween! We had our neighbors come over and carve pumpkins with us. It was way more fun to carve with friends than I think it would have been if we did it on our own. Preston wasn't too sure about the slimy stuff in the middle. He didn't like touching it.