Holiday Traditions

One of our favorite family traditions that Justin and I started when we were just a family of two is building a gingerbread house together. Over the years we have found that as our family grows and life changes so does the holiday experience...For the better of course.

Here it is almost finished.

Oh no! That's never happened before...

Of course eating it would lead to this...

It's a good thing Hallmark had these great musical houses last year!

(Thanks mom for saving the gingerbread house of 2009. But where were you when our traditional mini Thanksgiving feast we have the night before Thanksgiving went so so badly?)

Crises averted!

Happy Holidays.

SNOW DAY

Jaya finally got to play in the snow!

the apple cup lamp

Come on Cougs...

My dad is really proud of this heirloom Cougar vs Husky lamp. My mom...not so much. It was my grandpas prize purchase years ago, now it's my dads prize inheritance. As in any American home he thinks he's in charge because he brought it home against my moms wishes, but note that it's hidden away in a corner in the basement that will soon be taken over by 3 Christmas trees and many gifts with my name on them(I will of course then shake rattle and roll each until I am certain of their contents, some I may even have to open and close to be sure. It's really an art.). There were discussions for years about where this lamp would actually end up. My dad versus my brother; over who would get it, and my mom versus my sister-in-law; over who wouldn't get it. My dad won and my mom lost.

Cohen was thankful for Jaya's trike last weekend...

Christmas came early

Cohen gets to borrow this great toy from our friend Emma who borrowed it from our other good friends Mckenna and Mason. Kids are so thoughtful that way...Thanks so much Apryl and Jill! It's huge, its like having a new piece of furniture in the living room. It does everything! It has a piano to play with hands and brace yourself this is innovative kid play at its best, another piano to play with FEET! There's even a microphone so it's already been named the karaoke machine. The seat slides back and forth and spins around. I want one! I get really excited when my kids get new toys. I have a harder time sharing with them than they do with me and each other.

Since moms can read their children's minds, I'll share their thoughts about the new toy.

Jaya: Wow! That's huge and new. Everything huge and new around here is usually for Cohen but he's not awake to defend his territory so it's all mine for a while.

Cohen: If I could just get that in my mouth.


Cohen: Hey, Mom's watching you do that. And could you not do that around my new toy 'cuz it's really gross...Thanks.

Jaya: Who cares...



Cohen: If you're not going to stop, I'm not sharing anymore! Mom said I didn't have to!

I bet you didn't know...

There was snow covering the ground and cars this morning at 4am. I knew, thanks to a little person who couldn't tolerate a leaky diaper any longer.It's exciting to know about snow before anybody else. It felt like a surprise just Justin and I shared together and were excited to pass on to Jaya. With hopeful hearts we went back to sleep to dream about the 2 feet of snow we anticipated. When we woke up there was barely a hint of the snow that once was. Jaya wouldn't have believed us if we had told her. I think it's more disappointing to watch it fall and melt in one day than to wake up to it only to have it melt before the day is gone.
I love snow. Doesn't everybody? I know it would be so much better if it would just stay off the roads but I love it anyway. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know. I could never forget our families first winter in Royal when I was in second grade and there was a huge blizzard! There was a TON of snow on the ground and so much blowing in the wind. It took our family 30 minutes to drive 1/4 mile from the high school to our house.

Here's Jaya's first experience playing with snow 2 years agoz. She played just long enough for me to get the picture and then started crying because her hands were too cold. Which was a rare occurance, usually I get the camera after she stops something cute and beg her to do it again unsuccessfully of course. It's hard to be cute on call.
Here's some shots of Jaya last year in the snow. She had a great time trying to walk around in all that. It was even hard for Justin and I.

For You Jessica!

Jessica put some Halloween treats and fun glasses in my cupboard at school for Jaya and Cohen. I forgot they were there, since I rarely use that cupboard. So you can imagine my surprise when I opened that cupboard today and found them among the mess that has accumulated. Then to make things worse I decided to eat a piece of the candy as I walked around the teachers room wearing the glasses...And who do I see? JESSICA! Now, can you imagine my embarrassment? So I brought the glasses home for Jaya today. I'm really sorry, I do appreciate your thoughtfulness Jessica, and so does Jaya. As you can see in the picture, the glasses were a hit. I guess while I am in the Thanking and Apologizing mood, I will post this beautiful pie that I so rudely teased Cynthia about and she kindly made for me. Justin and I both agreed this was the best apple or any flavor pie we had ever had or anyone had ever had. It even looks pretty.

Thank You Cynthia!

And this picture here...I don't know why it made the cut I guess it popped out at me today to remind me to thank my husband for being so wonderful and getting both our children ready in the mornings. Since beans have been done for a while now, I have finally gotten used to having him around to do so much in the mornings. He gets a husband award.

CEREAL!

Cohen turned 6 months and tried cereal for the first time today!

Everybody wanted a turn to feed him.

Then he needed a bath!

Happy Four Months Cohen!

Cohen turns 4 months today and has been inducted into the Hill Family Grandchild Hall of Fame! Thereby earning his song.

Cohen's dancing song;

En Vogue Featuring Salt n Pepper

"Whatta Man"

(If anyone is wondering, Jaya's song is "Mexican Hat Dance" and she is still the best dancer. Devin's is of course "You Can Dance of You Want To".)

I guess the video isn't that great but they can't all be winners now can they?

Of course I chose the short version because the whole song is really long and not to mention dirty, dirty. So, I took the poop out of the Cinnamon Roll and ate the rest. Anybody catch the John Bytheway reference?

Cohen has progressed in the last four months from being fed a bottle to holding it on his own.

(Computer savvy people would edit out my hand here and Jaya's stinky feet so the previous statement would be more believable. But embellishing is part of parenting isn't it, everybody thinks their kids are the best. At least I can admit Jaya's feet stink.)

He grabbed it today and it was just the cutest thing ever. Since I don't feed him bottles often, I was sure this was a major milestone that needed documentation.

He likes to lounge in Jaya's bed.

We are convinced he's going to be an Olympic swimmer. He looks so natural in the water. Just not the sun. Anybody see that movie Powder?

He has even been invited to one of Jaya's tea parties. Ok, so he wasn't invited and she ran away upset as soon as I slid his bouncer over. But at least we enjoyed it. He is a very polite guest and even shared his cake with me while Jaya glared from the couch.

Now days we know Cohen has woken from a nap when we hear the toys on the bouncer or swing rather than his grunts and snorts before he becomes upset that his tummy isn't filled to the brim. He's small, but a Mighty Good Man.

I can't post without a shot of Jaya and all her cuteness! Here she is in the playhouse at Ted and Jean's pools with her adorable pal Mollie. Ironic there are two awesome kiddie pools just outside and they opt for the playhouse. Sometimes I wonder if Jaya is really mine. Then I look at her cute little nose that she pulls off way better than I do, and I am sure.

Labor Day Weekend

No more fun in the sun, Summers over and done.If it gets any colder it'll be nothin' but smolder,
No more fun in the sun.

Back to school

Back to volleyball

The US Open has begun

Proud Cougar Fridays followed by

Disappointed Sundays

And

Knight Football

Honestly, it hasn't been nearly as hard as I had feared. I guess I really needed to get out.

So when life leaves you feeling like a discarded Garden Gnome this winter, just remember the days of summer and know they will be back before you know it.

First Cold:(

Cohen is suffering from his first cold. Our poor little man is so miserable. He just wants someone, anyone to cuddle him. Jaya and Justin have also come down with the sickness. So I'm sure it's only a matter of time until I post about my own misery.

(Before the cold.)

(During the cold.)

Is there anything better than a nice, long, warm soak when your sick?

(After the cold picture to come soon.)

Jaya seems to be tolerating it a little better.

3 mONthS AnD 3 yEaRS

Cohen Timothy is 3 months old and Jaya Jacquelyn is 3 years and 4 months old. It's going so FAST!

Cohen celebrated his 3 month milestone by cuddling in every bodies bed.
Your eyes are not deceiving you. Those are Tinkerbell sheets on both beds. Justin has been a really good sport all these years being the only man in the house. I do believe our days of such things are numbered Cohen is getting pretty masculine.

Funny thing about kids...they always end up in somebody elses bed. Why is it that as a child your own bed is a dreadful place but later in life, it's the best place on earth...well, second only to the Disney Parks.
Jaya celebrated Cohen's big day by wearing her favorite princess dress and baking him a cake in her messy kitchen. Honestly I don't know how she finds anything in that pit. But the delicious cuisine that emerges from that mess is so amazing, that I've forbidden myself from complaining about the mess.

For Devin and Rachael

Hey D,
It's your song,

This post if for you,

Get Well Soon!

We Love You!

We can dance if we want to

We can leave your friends behind

Cause your friends don't dance

And if they don't' dance

Well they're no friends of mine

Happy Birthday Rachael! Happy Golden year! You're the best sister-in-law ever. Great picture, that's all I have of you! Good thing I snapped it last week or I would've had to find a straight jacket somewhere and post that for your picture.

All Because Two People Fell In Love

We celebrated my grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary, and my aunt Val's Birthday, they are on the same day.

Val decided after all these years of her parents making such a deal of her birthday and neglecting their anniversary, it was time to return the favor with this embarrassing display of recognition. I didn't even take a picture of what she did in the house and their bedroom. That girl just reeks of class, I love it.

Sixty Wonderful Years. It's funny when you think about the reason were alive, all because two people fell in love.

This is the birthday girl, my aunt Val. Self titled "Rock Star!"

I got the best seat in the house at dinner. Here's "Fanny" and my uncle Brent on my left and...

My cousin Amy and uncle Randy across the table. We had a lot of good laughs. The rule was nobody can sit next to immediate family, so I sent Jaya all the way across the room and I enjoyed myself.
(Open your eyes Amy, it's not so bad.)

My cousins Michelle and Rachel just looked so pretty I had to put them in too. Everybodies all grown up.

Jaya met my cousins kids and had a great time. This is Charity, Madelynn and her Margie whom she had to share for the first time.

This was the lunch scene, I had to take a picture and post it and remember when we all sat at this table. I even reminded everybody of the red kid table we had to sit at for years.

This is Jacob. He is Michelle and Brian's. Jacob and I didn't really hit it off. This is probably the best look he gave me all day. There was just something about me that he decided wasn't OK.

The girls colored for a long time while grandpa supervised. Not just any art is fridge worthy.

This is Michelle, her daughter Madelynn, Jaya and Sadie. These cuties were all born within 2 months of each other. (I think Michelle is a little older. Although her senior pictures would suggest otherwise. Heads up to any unpresent Hart grand kids your senior picture was made fun of without mercy. Sorry, you should have made an appearance. On second thought, it wouldn't have made a difference because even those present were teased.)

Umm...Sorry Grandpa.

We had a really great time with family. It was a curious experience to be with cousins and all our kids rather than being the kids ourselves. It's all come full circle.