Our Easter

Our Easter celebration was wonderful. The day prior the weather was rainy and gloomy so I was a bit nervous that we would have to have an indoor egg hunt but thankfully the weather let up and it was beautiful outside. In the morning we got the kiddos ready and we headed out for church. We decided to try and make it to the 8am Mass and with two kids we now know that that is pretty much impossible for us, we showed up around 8:20ish. Not too bad. We really haven’t taken the kids with us to Mass lately only because there is no children’s center for them to go to and no cry room for us to sit in. Luckily we had only one meltdown from Nicolas but that we were happy with that. He was an angel aside from that little episode. I do have to say that I wanted to gobble up my children because they looked so adorable.

 

On the way home we told Nicolas the Easter bunny came to our house while we were at church, so when we got home I ran inside to set out their Easter baskets so they would be the first thing Nicolas would see. Sure enough he ran right to his and he kept saying, “WOW momma, look at that!” Priceless!

 

He really liked his new Jake toothbrush!

Of course with Raegan she didn’t know what the heck was going on but I got pictures of her with her basket just for memories.

 

 

My mother-in-law cooked everything for our lunch/dinner and I was so thankful to be able to relax and play with the kids.

 

 

After we were done devouring our delicious meal, Ryan and I went and hid eggs in our backyard and by hid I mean we just scattered most of them in our outrageously long grass so they were hidden without much effort. Others we did have a little fun with, like putting them in his Tonka trucks and in the grape vines along the side fence.

 

 

 

 

We even had Raegan find a few…

 

 

 

 

 

Having children around the holiday’s is always much more fun as the years go by.

 

Nicolas was really excited to find out what was in his plastic eggs.
Goldfish, stickers, change, and fruit snacks.

 

The Easter bunny

The morning we went to see the Easter bunny, Nicolas was so excited. He was singing in the car and everything. "Eeeeaster buuuunnny, Eeeeeaster buuunny!" It was pretty much the cutest! We were happy that he was looking forward to taking his picture with this oversized animal. This, and because it was Raegan's first Easter, we as parents were excited too.

We arrive at the mall, stand in line, wave to the bunny, and wait our turn. As we were walking up, Nicolas lost it! I sat him down next to the bunny and it was meltdown city. He stayed sitting next to this figurine that was now holding his sister probably just mortified because I had walked away. But there he sat. And when I said, "Nicolas say cheese..." a few times, he did just that...

Once the picture was snapped we grabbed our babies but before we walked away Nicolas gave the bunny a high-five. Because that's what you do when you're scared of something, right? You high-five them, or in this case the bunny. Raegan, of course was as sweet as sugar although I wish the bunny was more considerate to keep her dress down.

Whatever, I got my picture.

Easter is kind of a big deal!

I would have to say that my second (because Christmas is number one!) favorite holiday is EASTER!!! And I couldn't wait to put up some décor! This year we are hosting Easter for family and I couldn't be more excited! I am sooooo looking forward to an egg hunt in our backyard. And the kids' Easter outfits! The Easter baskets (which are almost finished by the way!) Ahhhhh! Easter is just so exciting! Especially with kids! Here is some décor we have up in our home to celebrate this wonderful holiday! I can't promise more won't be added!

The chalkboard helps add a little "umph" to it all!

I cannot wait to get this years' Easter picture with BOTH kids!

Cheap little felt banner that I probably could have made but "ain't nobody got time fo dat!" and it was only $2!

Had to have these little tin bunnies. Blue and pink to represent my boy and girl, of course!

I love these blocks. Nicolas keeps pointing them and saying "prrrrring!" HA!

I love this little block set!

 

[most decorations were purchased from this good ol' store called Target, have you heard of it?]

And lastly,

for your viewing pleasure! I know, she's too cute for words!



Valentines Day!

The outfits..(for the kids, that is)

Most Eligible Bachelor..umm over this momma's dead body!
He's thinking "really mom, this early in the morning? can't you see I'm trying to watch Octonauts?



 

Front- Little Cupid
Darling, I know!

 

Back- those angel wings? just precious!

Our traditions..

 

Ever since our first Valentine's day we've eaten at Panda Express, (short version- my then boyfriend didn't make reservations at a restaurant so we ended up eating at Panda and we were the only ones in the place aside from the workers. We've eaten there ever since!)

 

 

Our newest tradition (starting this year actually) for the kids will be that they each will get a movie and we will have a Valentine's Day movie night. This year since Raegan is still a baby, Nicolas got to open both of them.

 

And he also got to choose which one we watched.

 

He chose Tangled. One of my favorites!

 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

 



Our new year celebration

For the last four years I'd say, we rang in the new year by staying home and enjoying each other's company..some years we watched the ball drop and others we watched movies or when we waited for 2010 to arrive I made our wedding favors! (I'm fully aware of how big of party animals we are!)

This year we did non other than stay in. It dawned on me as I was doing my friend's hair for her night on the town, I want to spend all our new year celebrations at home with our kids and who ever else would like to join us. Why? Because I never want to not be able to kiss my children at midnight and wish them a Happy New Year!

So our evening went as such.. The day was like any other, we both had a full days work and once I got home I did my friend's hair. My husband got home and I gave him his early anniversary gift (more on that later) we decided to get take out (Mexican) for dinner. Nicolas was a little rambunctious so I decided to go get the food instead of sending my husband and took Nicolas with me. We got back and my mom and brother came over. We ate, hung out and watched some good old TV. After a while my family left and it was just us. We put Nicolas to bed around 9:30pm and Raegan followed about a half hour later. Ryan and I started to watch a movie that was playing on TV and when I came back from the kitchen after getting a glass of wine, my husband was fast asleep! I could believe it because for us it was a regular day, we worked and went about our normal weekday routine. 10:30pm hits and we become zombies pretty much. I watched the movie for a bit (you know to drink my glass of wine I had just poured) and once I was finished we turned everything off and went to lay in bed. My husband fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow like every other night. I started watching Friends because I really did want to stay up until midnight so I could wake him up and kiss him. I drifted off to sleep and was woken up by fireworks going off, I checked my phone and it was 12:05am. I woke up my husband and we shared yet another New Years kiss. Then I got up to kiss my kids and whisper happy new year to them although they were happily dreaming. As I laid back in bed my heart was happy to start off this year with my absolute favorite people in the whole world!

Our Christmas Story

This Christmas was wonderful! We were busy busy busy. Every year we have certain family traditions that we do. First, sometime before Christmas, usually the weekend before or on Christmas Eve morning, we have breakfast with my husband's Tutu (grandma in Hawaiian) and family.

Me and Raegan with our cousin Alicia and her son Juellz
 who is almost a month younger than Raegan.

 

Christmas Eve we go to Ryan's Papa's house for his famous Chili dinner. (Unfortunately I slacked big time in not taking any pictures of this year's get together! I'm kicking myself for it too!)

 

Christmas day was spent at our house. We adopted this tradition last year. Since having kids, my husband and I agreed that it's such a hassle to have "Christmas morning" then get ready, then lug everything to and from both my parent's house and his parent's house. Just seemed like a lot of running around for just one day. So instead we invited anyone and everyone who wanted to come over to join in our Christmas morning. This invitation includes breakfast and this year I lucked out and my father in law cooked for me. Here's just a glimpse into what our Christmas day looked like.

Before family arrived, Nicolas opened a few gifts to keep him occupied.
 Daddy helped him put his new Jake puzzle together.

 

Uncle Mark got both kids new piggy banks.
 (Nicolas previously had this same pig, however, he dropped that one)

 

 

Raegan's bank is zebra stripped with a pink bow on one ear.
Perfect for this little fashionista!

Once sister went down for a nap, Nicolas tore into his abundant amount of gifts.
This kid is so spoiled. No, I guess just loved an awful lot!

When Raegan woke up she had a new saucer waiting for her.
As well as some new dolls to play with that included Daisy duck and Minnie mouse!

After we ate, opened presents, and visited with family,
the rest of the day was spent PLAYING!

Later in the day, we attempted a family picture.
This was the best of the many we took. Not bad.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Countdown..

Today I was looking around at my desk and realized that I'm going to miss all these Christmas decorations. (If you haven't figured yet, Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday).

When I get into the office I immediately (if I'm not running late and don't have to check in patients that beat me to the punch) change my countdown sign.

I'm honestly somewhat going to miss all the goodies we get around this time of the year.

I love looking out my window into our waiting room and seeing our beautiful tree! So pretty!

Santa watches all the patients to see who is being naughty and who is being nice..

I raid the mail for Christmas cards we get from other offices and companies we work with. We get some really pretty ones like this one we got from our #1 interpreting company!

Christmas really is the best time of the year!

Christmas through the years

It's hard to believe that this will mark the 7th Christmas that I've celebrated with my husband. This will also mark my 3rd Christmas as a mom and the 1st Christmas for our daughter. I absolutely love Christmas and all the joy and happiness it brings. (I couldn't find anything prior to 2009 *sad face*)

2009 with my "then" boyfriend

2010 Nicolas' first and our first as husband and wife



2011 Nicolas' second Christmas and last as an only child



2012 Raegan's first and Nicolas' third Christmas
 (obviously we will take a family one Christmas day
but I wanted to get a picture of the two of them in front of the tree
as soon as I finished decorating it)

 I am so looking forward to celebrating the holidays with these people forever and ever!

Santa Baby

Well this seems like more of the appropriate time to display my kids' picture with Santa seeing as we took pictures with him back in November! Yes we were waaaay ahead of the game due to the fact that he is an Uncle to my MIL boyfriend. We got the "hook up" haha. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to get pictures with Santa as a tradition (I thought of it as kind of creepy) but my MIL took Nicolas last year and the picture turned out so sweet even though he was crying his eyes out. So this year how could I not get one with the two babies?

This is what the end result was...

I'm pretty happy with it! They held this little gathering for family only at their house. So in an essence we were like VIP. Only kidding. But I must admit that this beats the mall crowds and the never-ending waiting in line.

Disclosure: Yes my don has both a candy cane and a carrot in his hand. Whatever he needed to remain calm and not go crazy on Santa. After the picture, he was no longer interested in the food. Thank goodness because it was nearing nap time and sugar was the last thing he needed.

Gobble Gobble 2012

I have always gotten excited for major holidays. And now that I'm a mom, I get even more excited for them. What's even better? When it's a first! This year was Nicolas' THIRD (wow) Thanksgiving and Raegan's first. Because we already had an early dinner with my side of the family, the actual day was spent at my mother-in-law's house. We had a great time to match our great dinner. I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

The kids did a little playing before dinner..

Raegan enjoyed her Thanksgiving "dinner" before we enjoyed ours 

The beautiful table my MIL set

She was ready to watch us inhale our food!

As you can see he enjoyed his plate

He was so stuffed that he immediately laid on the floor to play

Momma and her princess

And..Momma and her prince

This little girl always always falls asleep when daddy holds her

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!