Christmas 2015

Christmas in Dubois was a blast! It was wonderful being with family! We started the trip off by starting one of our favorite traditions....making tamales. Those who've never participated in the tamale making process...it is just that...A LOOONG PROCESS, but the results are beyond delicious! I really enjoy the times that I get to do it with my mom, can't wait till Eliza is old enough to help...have 3 generations of women cooking.
It was wonderful to have my Papa Don there. This was our first Christmas without our sweet Yaya, I know it was especially rough on Papa Don so Im glad he was surrounded by family to support him. I loved watching him with our kids.
Papa Don lives in Southern California, so sadly we dont get to see him as much as I would like. I grew up always spending time with him and my Yaya- we would spend a lot of our summers and  most holidays with them. I have special relationship with my Papa Don and knew I always wanted my kids to share the same joy I did growing up. So to see the kids play with him and enjoy him for the two weeks we were together was the best Christmas present ever!
Our kiddos got waaaay to spoiled. They of course LOVED every minute of it. Its so fun that Luke is now old enough where the magic of Santa and Christmas is starting to make sense for him. He was so excited that Santa brought him exactly what he wanted- a Treasure Truck. Eliza, was just shy of 18 months so she's still a little young for it, but still loved all her gifts.

Road Trippin'

My parents who live about 6 hrs away were finally in Wyoming for the first time in 3 years for Christmas in 2015, so of course we decided to drive out to Dubois and spend it with them and my Papa Don. 

There were a few things that had to be accomplished before heading out for our Christmas vacation... number one, was a must for Kevin...seeing the newest Star Wars movie...on opening day of course ;) I will say I was actually very impressed with the movie- and Im not a Star Wars or sci-fi fan. 

Next on the check list, packing. Packing with a toddler always comes with its challenges- everything i put in a suitcase, Eliza will take out- or put random things in it when Im not looking. We also had the challenge of fitting all the gifts, suitcases, 2 dogs ( ours and my parents that we were pet sitting) and all four our selves into the car...Kevin should go the olympics for packing. 

We finally were off to Grandmas house, traveling thru Wyoming is one of my favorite things. You can truly see the beauty of God all around you.

 

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Since being out in Wyoming, away from most of our family; we've been able to start some Christmas traditions of our own.

Our first tradition of the Christmas season is the tree. The weekend after Thanksgiving we get a Christmas tree. Kevin was a trooper this Christmas. We weren't planning on even being home for Christmas, but still kept with our tradition of getting a Christmas tree AND even put the lights up on the house. I loved having the house feel like Christmas even though we weren't home on the actually day.

One of the best parts of Luke being in school (preschool, but school) is all the fun 1st things he gets to experience at school. The preschool hosts an annual Christmas program that all the students participate in by singing songs, dancing,  and playing little instruments. Now, those who know Luke- a stage, a microphone, and a spotlight....the kid was in HIS element! It was so fun watching these kiddos ages 2-5  sing and dance their little hearts out! Of course Luke had to get out of line with his other classmates and sing directly into the microphone.

Catch Up...Fall 2015

I really need to start scheduling in "blogging time." I started this blog in hopes that it would be more of journaling experience since I stink at writing in a journal-well, I'm 0 for 0! So now its almost 3 months into a new year and I haven't even finished off last year-none the less began on the excitement of 2016!
To begin our speedy trip thru the end of 2015- we'll start with my favorite time of year-FALL! I love everything about fall- the changing of the colors, the crisp air, the smell of spices, pumpkin pie, and of course its the beginning of all the major holidays.

Fall in Laramie, WY is GORGEOUS and the fall of 2015 held up to its standards. The kids and I enjoyed going the park and embracing the beauty of this town.

The kids got to enjoy an awesome Halloween in 2015. I was trying to be "that" mom and have a cute family theme for our costumes...to sum it up, I failed. Luke was sober excited to dress up as Batman-so Kevin WAS going to be Robin, Eliza-Catwoman, and myself- Poison Ivy. Well, do you know how hard it is trying to find a Robin costume for a 6' 3" tall man? Or a Poison Ivy costume that isn't made for a Kim Kardashian wannabe body type?  So by the time I finally figured everything out, we went to buy Lukes batman costume and they were OUT-of course, right? So, plan B happened..."Ok, Luke...all of these costumes are your size...pick one."
Luke ended up being a Storm Trooper, something he knew was from Star Wars-but had no idea what it was. Eliza was our cute little kitten.
Laramie does a wonderful thing for Halloween, a downtown trick-or-treat. I love this because its too FREEZING at night to take the littles house to house, as well as we aren't too big on the candy thing so the kids (for now, Im sure as they get older this will change) get just enough to enjoy but not enough to get too big of a sugar high. Luke also loves seeing all the different costumes that are roaming down town.  As for actual Halloween night-I did accomplish a "beingthat mom" moment of making a halloween themed dinner and the kids- especially Eliza- got soon excited to pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters.

With Fall, also is one of my favorite holidays-Thanksgiving. I love that Thanksgiving is the ONE major holiday that its not gimmicky. Theres no gift buying, stressing out  about seeing out cards, or making it all commercial like all the other holidays have become. Thanksgiving is solely about reflection. Reflecting on family, blessings, and showing gratitude...ok and maybe a little bit about eating yummy food until your fat pants even get tight ; )
I love cooking for Thanksgiving- mostly because I'm not alone in the process. I didn't marry a huge sports fan (sorry for those that did), thus Kevin isn't watching football like most men on Thanksgiving-he's in the kitchen with me. I love that our kiddos can see us working together in the kitchen (luckily, kevin loves to cook so it doesn't just happen on Thanksgiving).
We usually stay here in Laramie for Thanksgiving since the weather in Novemeber in Laramie is a little unpredictable. For 2015 Thanksgiving we decided to invite our friends from church, The Olers.
The Oler family are from Canada and are here in Laramie for school- like the rest of us ; ) I was so excited to give the Oler family their first American Thanksgiving with all of our families traditional dishes. It was a wonderful night of food, friends, and focusing on our blessings.

Adventure is Out There....

For Labor Day we decided we wanted to get away- but where to? We tossed around going to Omaha, NE or to the Black Hills to see Mt. Rushmore. Then jokingly, Kevin said lets go to Arizona. So, just for fun I looked up flights- $44/person!?! LETS GO! We hurried up to pack us all, got a steel on a hotel and rental car- it was meant to be! We decided to go on Thursday at 10:30 am and our flight left at 8:55 pm. I let my sister in law, Danielle we were on our way and not to tell the rest of Kevin's family so we could surprise them. It was a great surprise!
We had a great weekend filled with family, heat, yummy food, and hitting up our favorite spots we used to go to when we dated and were newly married. Labor Day weekend was also the anniversary of our engagement, so we went to lunch at JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa- where we had our wedding reception. We try to go back overtime we're in town, but this was the first time we've taken the kids.
We've always said we wanted to be more adventurous and spontaneous and it was perfect that we were blessed to make it work!

Luke First Day of Preschool

I can't believe my little man is in preschool! He loved his fist day, I believe he was the only kid that cried when it was time to go home! His teacher is amazed at how he knows the names of car brands and can name them correctly from the window that looks out to the parking lot, he makes his Dad and Grandma proud ; )
As of day one of preschool Luke wants to be a Policeman.

Best Be Watchin' Out...

Kevin and I made a trip down to Ft. Collins with my parents and stopped at a shooting range.  It was a lot of fun for the four of us to go shooting, something Kevin and I haven't done together since we had the kiddos. Don't mess with us!