Happy 5 months Baby Boy!!

I really cannot believe it has been 5 months already since I gave birth to this precious little boy! Time is going by too fast! He has totally stolen my heart. Austin is so sweet and is getting so big. He is now rolling over from his back to his tummy and yesterday rolled from his tummy to his back. We are enjoying all his smiles and giggles, especially the giggles he gets from his big brother Hayden making him laugh. I swear Hayden can just walk by him and Austin lights up with excitement. Hayden loves to cuddle him and give him kisses all the time. It's so funny because we always say "awhh" when he kisses him and if we don't, Hayden makes sure to look at us and say it. He always wants to make sure we see him being sweet to Austin. Austin is sleeping pretty well, taking 2 long naps a day (for the most part) and sleeping from about 8-9pm until 6-7am. Every now and again he throws us for a loop and gets up to feed in the middle of the night but it's very rare. He still really enjoys being held all the time but has taken to the jumperoo so that gives us a nice break if we need to get something done. He now has that jumping motion so when you hold him that's all he does is bounce. We have started to give him some 1st foods mixed with rice cereal at lunchtime and he is enjoying that. So far he has tried pears, apples, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Still hasn't totally mastered keeping it in his mouth but he's getting better and chews and swallows most of it. He seems to be happier during the day getting that extra bit of food. Anyways, we are loving every moment with the boys and can't wait for Christmas to get here!

Christmas Cookies

So I always make sugar cookies a few times throughout Christmas time and I decided that I would add Hayden into the mix and make it a tradition to start letting him help in one of those cookie baking times. He was very excited about getting up on the counter and getting in the "mix" of things. So it actually wasn't as messy as I thought it was gonna be. He cut out all the cookies with the cookie cutters for me and then once they cooled I gave him his own little bowls of frosting and some sprinkles to decorate. He absolutely loves frosting and sprinkles. I don't know what it is with kids and sprinkles (I hate sprinkles), but for Hayden, the more sprinkles the better! He would put some on and then pick them off and eat them and put more on. It was funny. Hayden also has a weird thing where if he doesn't know what it is, he won't eat it! So I made the frosting and wanted to give him the beater. There was no way he was gonna lick it. So I had to place some frosting in his mouth first and once he got the taste of it, he loved it! He kept trying to dip it back in the frosting to get more (Don't worry these were our personal cookies and not ones that I have given out). All in all it was a good, fun experience that we will continue to have every year. I love having kids because you get to start all your own holiday traditions with them!

Christmas Tree Fun

So I haven't blogged for a while so now I'll add a few! First off is our tree! We went up like we always do in the mountains to chop our own tree but there was NO SNOW!!! I don't remember there ever being no snow in all the years I've been going to get a tree in the snow. So it was as fun as it usually is but Hayden enjoyed riding in the back of the truck with Benny and the guys while in search for the perfect tree. Putting up the tree is more fun now that Hayden is interested in it. He was so excited when Ryan brought it in and got down and wanted to help with everything! He really was into putting the ornaments on and was very focused and serious as he placed them on the tree. It was so fun to watch! He was not very happy however, when there was no more ornaments left to put on. So he turned to taking them off and then putting them back on. An everyday fight with him since we put it up. Oh well it keeps him busy. There are no presents under our tree yet. Hayden thinks every time he sees a gift that he has to open it so we'll be waiting for "Santa" to place them under there Christmas Eve after he goes to bed. :)

Helping Daddy get the tree in the stand
Placing the ornaments on the tree

Our finished product!!

Not so much the outcome I was hoping for, but it was fun...

So the beaver game didn't end up how we all had hoped and thought, but it was fun. None of us even had tickets but we set up a tailgate and all ended up getting in anyways! It was so much fun hanging out with friends and family and having some great food and drinks. And nothing is better than tailgating, but tailgating when the sun is shining is even better! I can't wait for next season, we are for sure getting season tickets again cause I've missed the whole atmosphere and fun we had last year going to all the games. Civil war is just such a fun time! Here are some photos of a little bit of our fun...

My little beaver fan dressed for the day
Best friend and I having some yummy homemade Kahlua and coffee. (Don't mind her duck attire, she's a confused fan ha ha)

The hubby and I

What a bunch of cute girls!

Some of the peeps at our tailgate

Rivalry Love

Hello Gene Simmons...

This picture is so funny!! We are convinced that Austin has a tongue like Gene Simmons. He can stick out to just about the end of his chin. He loves to play with his tongue so it's always sticking out. He is just too funny!!

4 months old already!

My little love bug is 4 months old!!! He is getting to be so big and so much fun. One of the things he is finally doing is sleeping from about 8-9pmish until 7:30! It feels so great to get such a good nights sleep. Hayden is finally sleeping in his own bed too so I've also been getting to sleep without getting a foot in the face here and there. Now to just keep both the boys in their beds and life will be great! Back to Austin, he is still not rolling over yet but he gets about half way. He's not too fond of tummy time! Something he is taking the liking to is spitting. It is super funny cause he will imitate you doing it as well. He's also starting to chew on his fingers and drool quite a bit so it's bib time for him! We are just having so much fun with him as he's getting to such a fun age where he really loves to interact with you. Hayden loves to make him smile and giggles every time he gets him to. It's so cute!! Everyday is a play date for Austin with us watching Ellie. I love to watch him look at her and smile. Pretty soon he'll be really interacting with her. We'll be in trouble when they are both crawling around!! :) I can't wait though to see it. Life is going great right now and I am getting excited for the holidays!! It's such a special time of year when you have kids of your own. We look forward to spending lots of time with the family these next few months. Here's some super cute pics of the boys...

Always has his tongue sticking out!!

He has the biggest blue eyes that I am in love with!

Austin loves his big brother
Hayden loves his baby brother...so precious!!

He's just too cute...

I took this today with my phone and just couldn't resist posting it! He is just getting so big so fast and is such a happy little boy. He looks bald in this picture, however he is not. :) And his hand looks a bit funky cause he moved it as I shot the pic. It's amazing to me still how he looks nothing like Hayden. Anyways, just wanted to show you just how cute he is getting! I can't believe he will be 4 months in 3 days!

Happy 1st Birthday Colton!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Mr. Colton!!! We cannot believe a year has already went by. We miss you lots and hope your day is super special!

Oh and I forgot to mention...

Austin is trying to roll over and has started grabbing for toys!! He's getting so big! That's all. :)

Very long overdue I know...

Ok so I've been soo super busy lately and haven't had a chance to do any updating so this post is gonna be large!! We've been up to a lot lately, starting with welcoming my brother's ship home from the Persian Gulf. After 7 long months, we welcomed it (along with hundreds of other eager family and friends) at the Everett Naval Base on October 12th. It was extremely exciting seeing the ship come in with all the sailors lining the edge in their dress blues. Very emotional not only for yourself but to see other waiting for their moms, dads, husbands, etc. filled with excitement. Our family got interviewed by the news and that was exciting as well. We waited for hours down on the pier for Justin to arrive and step off the ship but it was well worth it! Since Justin was home that meant we got to also see our nephew Colton for a week and the boys had such a blast together! Their first day included trouble as you can see in the pics! Hayden and Colton are truly two peas in a pod. While he was here with us we took a trip over the mountain to Crooked River and hit up the pumpkin patch over there. It was definitely the best one I've ever seen complete with pumpkin patch, hay ship fort, corn maze, pumpkin cannons, zoo train, pony rides, petting zoo, feeding horses, hay rides, and lots of vendors with yummy food! It was a blast. We also celebrated Colton's 1st Birthday a couple weeks early with a party for him. He absolutely loved his cake!! He had it all over his face and it was so funny watching him dig in. It was fun to be able to celebrate with him since we don't see him much with him living so far away. We enjoyed our time with him and can't wait to see him again! Once we were back home we hit up the local pumpkin patch we always go to as well and got 4 pumpkins that we carved. Hayden got his hands dirty pulling out the guts to the pumpkin. Last year he wouldn't even get close to it! Another reason for our busyness is we have taken in watching our friends little sweet girl Ellie 4 days a week. Her and Austin are just over 2 months apart and are having lots of fun having stare downs and smiling at each other. It actually has turned out to be quite easy watching her and having my boys. She is such a little sweetheart and so easy. It's kind of nice having another girl around! Other news includes Austin turning 3 months on the 15th. He's just getting so big and so fun!! He's very observant of all that's going on around him now days and loves to be talked too. I seriously cannot get enough of his laughing and talking! He has finally started to sleep all night as well so that has been a great change!! I recently got the boys pictures taken and I will post them on here as soon as I scan them onto the computer. It was quite a challenge getting Hayden to cooperate (as it always is getting pictures taken with him) but they turned out really cute. So our life has been pretty full lately but I'm loving every second of it. I couldn't be happier than I am having 3 perfect men to share my every day with!! Here are some pics from what I've told you about...

Waiting for Justin's ship to arrive

Ship has pulled in finally and all the guys are on the edge.

The moment my brother was waiting for, to hold his son!! Colton fell asleep just before Justin got off.

Nothing but trouble together!!

My big sweet boy!

Colton loving his 1st Birthday cake!!

Opening presents with daddy and cousin Hayden helping of course!

Papa with all his grandboys camping out in Grandma's living room

Daddy and Hayden at Central Oregon Pumpkin Patch in the hay maze

The slide in the middle of the corn maze

The boys getting a ride in wagon

Hayden picking out the perfect pumpkin

Austin's got his picked!

My brother and nephew, my kids, and I

Austin and Ellie playing

Grandpa's Pumpkin Patch back at home and our perfect little family

Helping get the "guts" out

My cute little sweet Austin!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Hayden!!!

Wow! 3 years ago today right now (9am) I was getting ready to head to the hospital because my water had broke! I cannot believe that my baby Hayden (well not a baby anymore) is 3 years old today!! Ryan and I have never felt so much love since having Hayden and Austin. Hayden is getting so big! Most people think he is a 4 yr. old because of how tall he is. So to celebrate Hayden's birthday we had a party this last Sunday with some close friends and family and had the greatest time. It was really exciting because the last 2 years Hayden had no interest in opening his presents and this year he was trying to open before his guests even arrived! He was very excited about them all. One of his gifts from Ryan, Austin, and I was a power wheels quad. He LOVED it!!! It was so funny to watch his reaction. By the end of the night he was maneuvering it perfectly. We also did a pinata at his party. He was fascinated by it! Every swing either he or his friends took he would turn to everyone and say "wow." We all cracked up at him! The party was a success and I know Hayden appreciated it all. So thank you to all who came and celebrated! Here are a few pics from the party:

Playing in his bounce house with Josh
His "wow" reaction to hitting the pinata!
I'm pretty sure this was a "I'm cool" move
Riding his quad for the first time