A Story by CartMann

Merry Christmas to all!

 We had such a fun Christmas this year! We decided to stay with the Philpotts and do Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with them and Grammy and Papa. It was a crazy fun filled day. Here are some pictures.

The big boys in the their new Christmas jammies.

Good morning! It's Christmas!



Yeah! Fishies!



Carter has been having fun telling us where the hands of his new watch are pointing and letting us figure out what time it is.





Jude was so happy with all of his "car cars"

 

We spent the day putting together Legos which made Carter the happiest kid alive. This was not even half of the Legos he received.



After Jude went to bed we played Ninjago

 

Carter won.

 

We had a great Christmas with family and friends and were happy to just be together. We hope you had a great holiday and a fantastic year!

Carter Art Part 4

Carter drew a picture of Christopher with his friends Sparkles and Jack. He then told me he was an elf expert.

Going to the temple

Last night we met up with my Uncle Jim and cousin Elizabeth at the temple to look at the lights. It was raining and cold but they were really pretty. We ended up in the city creek food court and the boys played at the dinosaur playground. It was nice to see my family around the holiday!



The cold tired boys waiting for Trax.



Happy Birthday Jude!

Yesterday my little boy turned 2! I cannot believe how fast these 2 years have gone. Jude brings so much joy and laughter in to our lives and is such a happy little guy. We are so grateful for him and the blessing he has been to our family.

Happy Birthday Dude!!

Meeting Santa

These pictures go backwards but I am too lazy to move them:



Carter and Jude with their cousins at our ward party




Finally a happy smily picture of Carter with Santa!




I think he was a little shocked to actually be meeting Santa. He even forgot to tell him what he wanted!




Jude wasn't sure what was going on...




Kissing my Santa under the mistletoe




Santa baby!




Jude kissing our little Santa




My friend from California made hats and beards for the boys last year and I absolutely love them! I am so glad Carter likes wearing his now!




My cute little boy all dressed up and finding his nose.



Carter Art Part 3

Carter drew our elf Christopher on a paper plate. This may be the most accurate drawing yet. It's a little sad when you realize your 4 year old is a better drawer than you...

Santa! I know him!!!

Our Santa encounter went much better this year!

Sweet boy

Carter has always been a sweet and very complimentary little boy. I have really tried to teach him to say nice things when he thinks them by always complimenting him and saying nice things about him. Last night while we were snuggling at bed time and I told him "I'm just going to roll over." He quickly responded with "But Mom, I can't see your cute face!" Just melted my heart! He ended up in our bed this morning and I snapped a picture of him snuggling with his daddy. Such a good little boy (most of the time...)

Judela

Jude is at that age where it is hard for him to sit still for a picture. Sunday I was able to snap these beauties and thought I would share. I love my silly little mann!

Fun with friends

As part of our month of giving we've tried to be more available to babysit for anybody who needs it. Our good friends the Van Den Akker's (who watch the boys during the week) were due for a date night so we got to take their kiddos. The boys were thrilled to have Pennie and Owen over and I loved getting some girl time with Pennie! All in all the kids were great but I'm pretty sure they all wore each other out!

And this is proof... Carter during primary the next day. Not sure how he didn't fall off his chair!

It's like looking into a mirror, only not.



This photo has sort of a time travelish quality to it...



Carter Art Part 2



Carter drew his favorite planet



This is Carter and Dave in a dark cave using a flashlight. They found a cat.



On the first day of December

We are back to one of our favorite traditions with our month of giving. We won't be posting all of them since we like to keep some of them anonymous but here is the first. Homemade maple bars!!!

Trimming the tree

Last night we finally put up the Christmas tree. Carter was so excited and couldn't wait one more minute!

Carter with my angel ornament. This ornament was given to me by my preschool best friend in 1988. I hang it every year and it makes me smile. I recently connected with her on facebook so it is fun to tag her in the picture when I post it. This year I let Carter hang it.



My traditional first ornament. Every year when we were little we would dig through the ornaments while my mom put the lights on the tree. This was ALWAYS the first ornament I would put on the tree. When I got married and moved out I found one on Ebay and my mom gave it to me for Christmas. I later revealed that I switched them when she wasn't looking...



Carter was most excited about putting the star on the tree. Even before the lights and the ornaments were up he kept asking about it. We let him do it this year.



Carter's section of the tree. Eventually I will even it out but for now it stays like this...



We got out the nativity for the kids and Carter started playing with it. This picture made me smile as it shows that he knows what Christmas is really about.



Little boys

I got to see my 2 smallest nephews while in California and I loved it. It helped with not being with my little ones.



Me and Calvin




Me and Miles




Crazy Auntie!




This little boy was very happy to have me home to snuggle!



An unusual Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving I took a trip to California to be with my fauxrents since Nancy's dad had passed away the week before. It was my first time ever taking a trip without either Dave or the boys so of course I was worried. Plus I knew I would miss them on Thanksgiving and miss all the new traditions we have with the Philpotts. It turned out ok, even though I didn't get pumpkin roll or play charades, and we all had a fun holiday.



Dinner at the Philpotts




Charades at the Philpotts




Dinner with Fauxpa...




Grandma Sylvest licking the beaters




With the Fauxrents.

 It just proves we have so much to be thankful for.