Holiday Fun!

Monday the 15th was Pat's last day off of work before Christmas so we decided to do some holiday activites. In the morning we went to my mom's school and saw Santa. We had been practicing all week! Sawyer hopped right up on his knee and told him he was a good boy and he wanted a big spike for Christmas. Then Thatcher climbed up there and basically just stared at Santa! He didn't know what to think! I asked Thatcher if he liked Santa and all he said was "Ya, candy!" All he knew was Santa had given him a candy cane! Later that night we decided to go to Zoolights. We had been watching the weather channel all day, because it was supposed to rain. It rained on us almost the entire way to the zoo. But when we got there, it was dry, and there was practically no one there. We were able to walk around without any crowds and enjoy all the Christmas music. Sawyer's favorite part was talking to Jengo the big giraffe. Thatcher's favorite part of Zoolights was the music in motion show where the trees dance!! I wish Pat had more time off during the holiday season so were are able to do more things with the boys, but hopefully (cross your fingers!) this will be his last Christmas as a retail manager. I can not believe Christmas is already next week!! I am most excited this year, not for what I will be getting, but to see the boys faces when they wake up Christmas morning and see what Santa has brought them!!

Sawyer and Santa

Thatcher and Santa

Thatcher munchin' on some kettle corn

Sawyer talking to Jengo

The music in motion. This was way better than last year!!

Pat posing with his friend the orangutan.

Such a tired boy in the car on the way home.

My Big Boy!!!

This morning I took Thatcher for his 2 year old check up. I can not believe how big he is getting. He is 35 inches tall (75%) and weighs 30 lbs (60%). I asked the doctor if it is true that you can double their height when they are 2 and that is how tall they will be. She said yes, and she expects Thatcher to be 5'11" or 6'! So apparently I will have two tall boys! She also asked some basic questions assessing his development, like does he take clothes off, can you understand him half the time when he talks and if he is putting 2 words together. I said he puts like 3 words together. And she said that he talks very well and most 2 year olds do not talk this well. Then it was time for his shots. I was dreading this part. I told Thatcher that he would get two little pokes and then he could have a lollipop. So the nurse told him there would be a little poke and he said ok. So she gave him the first shot and he says "Owww" in his cute little voice. Then she gives him the second shot and he says "pop" because it was time for his lollipop. I was so proud of him... no tears! He is such a big boy!

One thing Thatcher is doing lately that is driving me crazy is confusing his colors. He knows all the names of the colors but he does not know the color itself, except for yellow. So when he is eating dinner he wants a green spoon. So I will give him a green spoon and he says No, not purple, green!! It is so frustrating and so cute at the same time!

Special Zoo Day!!

Yes, we went on another trip to the zoo! This trip to the zoo was extra special because we met my friend Janee' there. Janee' was my BFF all through grade school and we even were able to stay in contact when I moved to Mesa for high school. We lost touch when she went to college. I was able to track her down with the power of Facebook. Oh how I love Facebook!! I called her and we talked for almost 2 hours catching up on the past 7 years. She lives on the other side of Phoenix so we decided to meet at the zoo. We had a ton of fun walking around with our kids. She has an adorable 8 month old little boy. It was a little cold when we got there, but before we knew it we were taking off the boys jackets to enjoy the weather. Sawyer with his friends the baboons. They were sitting right on the glass!!

Thatcher riding a cow in the new Little People Discovery Zone in the Children's Zoo.

We were walking over by the turtles and this peacock was just walking around! He just jumped on this rock and right over the fence to see the turtles himself!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning I woke up with the worst chest cold. But, being a mom, I woke up and made sticky buns because it was a special day. We tried to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, but the kids were not really that interested. So, they helped me make some pies to take over to my parents house. (Pat wants me to tell you that he helped too!) After Thatcher woke up from his nap, we packed up the family (including Kasey), and headed to my parents. As we were pulling into the driveway, I noticed a cloud that looked exactly like a turkey!! Of course I had to take a picture. Pat's Grandma Mary was also able to join us for our Thanksgiving dinner. We are thankful for so many things this year. We have 2 wonderful, healthy boys, great family and terrific friends. Now, I can not wait until Christmas!!

Thatcher enjoying his first olive. He must have ate atleast 10!!

Kasey begging for food!



We made sugar cookies and I thought it would be fun to make a turkey cookie out of Sawyer's hand. He was so excited to show everyone, but even more excited to eat it!!

Littler Family Day at the Zoo!

Today was the First Annual Littler Family Day at the Zoo! We had a great time. Pat and I went with the kids and some of my other family members with children the same age also joined us. My parents, cousin Stuart and his family, Aunt Patti, and cousin Julie with her family were able to come. The kids loved looking at the animals with Mima, Papa and all their cousins!! We definitely saw some stuff we will be laughing about for years! (Stuart-you know what I am talking about!) Hopefully we will be able to do this every year!

I think this is the boys favorite part whenever we go to the zoo, feeding the ducks.


While we were feeding the ducks, a large crane came along.


Papa with his little buddy looking at the zebra.

Sometimes, you have to take time to smell the flowers!

November in Arizona

One of the things that I love about living in Arizona is the weather. It is the middle of November, Thanksgiving is next week, and the boys were able play outside today wearing shorts!! It was 85 degrees!! I love Arizona.

Four

We were playing outside today and Sawyer is swinging

away on the glider and he says to me, "Mommy, I so happy I four."

We are so happy too Sawyer!

Thatcher Turns 2!!

On November 17th, my baby turned 2!! I can not believe how fast the time goes by. Thatcher is such a great little boy. He is such a joy to be around. He is talking really well and you can actually carry on a conversation with him. For his birthday we took him to his favorite restaurant, Organ Stop Pizza. It is a pizza place that has this big organ and play all kinds of music. The snowbirds all flock there!! Thatcher loves the music!! After dinner we went over to my parents house for some cake. Thatcher helped me make his cake earlier that morning and he was so excited about it. For his birthday Thatcher got some blocks, clipo blocks and a Christmas book that plays music. I don't know if he actually understood that yesterday was a special day, but I know he had a great day!! I love you Thatcher!!

The large organ at Organ Stop Pizza.

Thatcher pointing to the organ.

Mima and Papa

Pat and Sawyer

Pat with his Grandma Mary.

Pat and I with the birthday boy!!

Thatcher showing his Papa the cake!!

Blowing out the candles!!

New shoes

Most kids, you have to fight with them to put on their shoes. My kids love to put their shoes on. Thatcher will wake up in the morning and ask you to put his shoes on! Yesterday both Sawyer and Thatcher got new shoes, Converse. And boy were they excited! They just look like such little men. I can not get over how grown-up Thatcher looks lately. My little baby is definitely growing into a little boy. We also can not believe how big Sawyer's feet are. He is already wearing a size 12! We say he is like a puppy and he will grow into his feet!!

Sleepy Boy

Thatcher has always been a great sleeper. When it is time to go to bed or even take a nap, you just lay him in his crib, turn out the light and he is out. It always amazes people how easily he goes down. On Halloween (of all days), Thatcher decided that he no longer needed a nap. He refused to take a nap the next day as well. He had went to bed late on Saturday so Sunday he slept in so I didn't even try to put him down for nap time. Sunday night he was super fussy so I put him to bed at 7:30. He did not wake up until 10 the next morning!! So obviously a nap was out of the question. So this morning I thought I would try my luck and I woke him up at 9. At 12:30 I told him it was time to take a nap, and he looks at me and says, "No, Nap!" But I tried anyways, and after about 2 minutes of protest he proceeded to take a nice long 2 1/2 hour nap. Thank goodness for that. I just wasn't ready for no naps yet!!