Gift Exchange

Yesterday we did our annual gift exchange with Leah and Sarah.  The kids were so cute picking out gifts for each other and have been looking forward to this day for a while now. 

 

Sarah got to go first...Josh got her a baby doll...

 

 

Josh got a police car lego set, he was really excited and put the 100+ piece thing together so fast! 



 

All Tyce has asked for for Christmas this year has been a "Mickey Mouse Christmas Santa movie."  That's exactly what he got...

 

Jackson got a construction lego set and loved it...

 

Leah and Sarah opening their doctor kit from Tyce...

 Showing off their presents...

It was cute watching them be excited not only about opening their own presents but also watching their friends open gifts that they had picked out for them.  I started a new tradition in our family where, before you open a present from someone, you have to say something you like about them.  It was cute listening to what they said about each other.  My favorite was Tyce saying, "I love that Sarah plays with me allll day."  We're so grateful for their friendship...and here's to hoping one of them ends up married!  :)

Saturday Fun

Saturday morning we headed to the church for our ward Christmas party.  The boys were excited to see Santa again...

 There were games and activities for the kids but mine, of course, chose to color the whole time...

Parker and I were Mary and Joseph in the Nativity...



 The boys were shepherds, cutest shepherds ever...

After the party we drove to the Manassas train station to Ride the Train with Santa...

 They were so excited to be on "daddy's train" (this is what Parker takes to work every day)...

 Santa stopped to talk to each child on the very long and very crowded train...

After the train ride we left the kids home with a babysitter and headed out for some Christmas shopping!  It was a fun day! 

Christmas Tree and Santa

Sunday evening we decorated the Christmas tree...

 

 Today after school we headed to the mall (or, as Tyce calls it, The North Pole) to see Santa!

Jackson asked for punching gloves to punch Josh, Josh asked for a remote control dinosaur, and Tyce asked for a Mickey Mouse Santa Christmas movie.  Oh boy I hope we don't have disappointed boys Christmas morning because Santa may have other plans!!!

I love this time of the year, especially with young ones in the home.  Looking forward to my parents coming in 2 weeks!!!  Yay!!!

Jenn Goes to Biloxi and New Orleans

Thursday afternoon I flew out to visit my friend Tara.  She's living there for a year and we thought it'd be a great chance to get together and for me to see a different part of the country!  I'd never been down south except for Florida so I was excited!  Oh and did I mention I had no kids?!  I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty excited for some alone time. 

 

Here I am when Traci dropped me off at the airport, I did get teary eyed saying goodbye to my boys...

 

Ok, so I fell in love with this kid in about 10 minutes.  This is Sawyer, Tara's 2 month old boy, and he is precious.  Pictures don't do him justice.  He is so cute and SO mild mannered!  He never cries, just chills, coos, and smiles. 

 Tara and I....best friends for 25 years...

The Biloxi Beach is about two blocks from their house, it was gorgeous.  We sat on beach chairs, buried our toes in the sand, chatted, and life was great...

Saturday morning they took me to a YUMMY donut shop (and by yummy I mean line out the door at opening time yummy) in Gulfport.  We took them to a park to eat so the kids could run around...

 Then I had to say goodbye to his precious guy, so sad...

Saturday afternoon Tara and I headed to New Orleans for the night!  Last time the two of us were alone in a big city was when we were 14 and went to DC (little did I know I'd end up living there!) and her dad left us alone all day...needless to say we got very lost and he got very worried.  Anyways, we did great and had fun... 

After touring around we went out to a yummy dinner and then headed to the hotel.  We felt like old fogies, all we wanted to do was hot tub, play games, eat snacks, and go to bed early.  So that's what we did!  It ended up being a hilarious night though, I was crying laughing and I haven't done that in a long time!  Tara never ceases to entertain me.  We have been friends for so long (our parents all went to high school together) and yet have only ever lived in the same state for two years.  Whenever we see each other it's as if no time has passed.  She knows me in ways no one else does and for her unconditional loving friendship I am so grateful.  Thanks for a fantastic weekend Tara!  T.P.  :)

Oh, by the way, my flight left at 6am on Sunday, I flew to Denver (yes opposite direction), sat there for 2.5 hours, then finally flew home where I was greeted by the cutest boys ever!  I was happy to be home but sure enjoyed the break! 

While Mommy Was Gone

While I was gone in Biloxi/New Orleans the boys seemed to keep busy and were fully entertained!  Here are some pics from when I was gone...

 

Daddy had them all weekend and did a great job (but he sure was exhausted by Sunday afternoon when they came to get me!)

 

 He gave them money for the rides at the mall that I ALWAYS say no to, such a softie!

 

 They went to the Christmas parade..

 They climbed up the tree to get a better view...

 

And this is, of course, what happened to Jack when he was climbing down...

They went to McDonalds for dinner and Josh went up by himself and asked for another cheeseburger, apparently they thought he was so cute that they also gave him a bag of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies...

 Poor Tycee got a scratch on his tummy...

 Cute Josh wrote this for me..

 They went shopping at Toys R Us to give daddy an idea of what they want for Christmas...

Tyce picked this out for me and told me he bought it for me, and a blue one...we'll see what I get on Christmas morning...

They had movie night...

 

And they picked out our Christmas tree!  It's beautiful and I LOVE that it's REAL!

 

Wonderful Traci watched Tyce Thursday and Friday, apparently he had fun on the carousel at the mall...

 She also had the twins after school until 5...

Here the little ones are waiting for the twins at the bus stop, I love how they're all carrying their babies...

As you can see, they were going going going the whole time and didn't seem to miss me too much!  Huge thanks to Parker, Traci, and Jadeh (our neighbor girl who babysat them from 5-8 on Thursday and Friday) for taking such good care of my boys so I could go have fun and get a break!!!

Next post...my trip!!!