I decided to celebrate Chinese New Year for FHE on the 23rd. Emily absolutely loves orange chicken and ham fried rice and was SO excited. We moved the table and chairs away and sat on blankets and pillows to eat dinner (under some chinese lanterns of course).
I googled some chinese new year games and ideas to do after dinner. One of them was to play rock, paper, scissors while sitting on the stairs. When someone wins they get to move up a step and whoever reaches the top first wins. So Jeff & Emily played a few rounds winning skittles at the end. Jacob was a bit young to understand but he still had fun playing along.
At the end of the night the kids got to do a treasure hunt. I had all the clues in 'fortune cookies'. The prize at the end was a red chinese envelope with money in it (apparently another new year tradition). The kids were really cute and it was a lot of fun to do. Maybe next time I can plan far enough in advance that we could dig out all of Jeff's China souvenirs that are in storage.
We had Jeff's guitar out and the kids both wanted a turn playing. I keep begging Jeff to pick it up and learn to play again. He argues he doesn't have time. Maybe one day I'll have a good rebuttal. In the meantime I think all three of them looked really cute strumming those strings.
Jeff cleaned our carpets on the 21st and Jacob had to take a turn helping.
My sister-in-law asked if I'd take a few pictures of her cute new baby Molly. The kids seemed more than happy to 'help' one day as I was experimenting with the light in different parts of the house at different times during the day.
One of the final products. Molly is SUCH a cute baby! Every time I see this picture I just want to snuggle her and smother her in kisses.
Kids will often say some pretty funny things. I've tried to keep track of all the great things Emily has said over the past 3 years. There are several that I have missed just because I couldn't write them down right away, but for the most part I think I've done a pretty great job. I hope I can continue to catch them since the frequency of her saying such things is diminishing. But there will always be some classics that we'll never forget. A little bit ago we added a new one to that list. On Thanksgiving we showed Emily this picture:
Emily: "Did dad do it?"
Jeff and Me: "Uh.... ummm .... uh.... do what?"
Emily: "Take the picture?"
Jeff: "Oh!! No. No. The doctor took the picture."
Christmas Eve Jacob was a bit more cranky than usual so Jeff looked at his ears and thought they looked infected. Of course it would be a weekend AND a holiday. We decided to call a neighbor who's an emergency doctor (cause a sick 2 year old on Christmas is considered an emergency right?). He confirmed that there was an infection and gave us a prescription. Christmas morning Jacob woke up a lot happier ... because his ear drum had ruptured ... again. Jacob had six ear infections in 2011 and his ear drum burst three times. New Years day we followed up with our pediatrician who concurred with our thoughts that tubes would probably be a good thing and referred us to an ENT. The following Thursday we met with the ENT who also agreed and Tuesday morning (Jan 10th) we found ourselves at Primary Children's Hospital getting ready for surgery. Jacob loved all the toys in the waiting rooms but hated the socks and name bracelet. In fact he tore the bracelet off his wrist and ankle so they finally had to tape it to his back.
Surgery went well and Jacob's recovery has gone well also. Just walking into his recovery 'room' and seeing him lay there in that little bed made me all teary. I don't know how those parents that have kids with serious health problems do it. I'm grateful for my little boy's healthy body and how smart and strong he is. His speech has been delayed and we're already seeing some improvement since his surgery. Hopefully it will continue to get better and we can have more and more communication and less and less fits.
My little sister came into town on the 14th of December. We're glad Lisa & Spencer were able to be here for Christmas and we're especially glad that Lisa was able to be here for 3 whole weeks! Once Spencer left to head back to New Hampshire, Lisa rotated through all of our houses. We got to have Lisa stay with us at the very end of her trip. Emily & Jacob were SO SO excited for her to come. Emily kept asking when Lisa would be here and saying she was trying to be patient but just didn't know how much longer she could wait. Lisa is such a great aunt and just adores all of her nieces and nephews (and they all adore her back). It was fun to get to spend so much time with her - especially one on one. Lisa & I haven't had that in a long time. Lisa's due with her first baby in about 5 weeks. While she was here in town we did LOTS of shopping and sewing to try and get her ready for her little boy. As much as Lisa loves living in her small town, she definitely misses having stores closer than two hours away. We ended up staying up way too late almost every night, reminiscing, talking, laughing hysterically, and trying to figure out her sewing projects together. I loved every minute of it and wish so bad that she didn't live so far away. Thanks for everything Lisa - including the discounted pants! - we can't wait to see you and your little guy this summer!
Our New Year's Eve day basically consisted of Junie B. and the Utes. We had a nice relaxing morning and then my parents and brothers came over for crepes and to watch the U bowl game. It was an intense and exciting game and we were thrilled with the outcome. Emily spent the majority of her morning and the game reading. We're SO proud of her and how well she's doing. I love how much she enjoys reading and what a good example she's setting for Jacob.
We really had a low key night. We played a couple games and the kids got to do a scavenger hunt. Jacob was able to participate a lot more this year and Emily was able to read the clues all by herself. They laughed and were so excited as they ran all over the house. The hunt finished with a gift under their pillows - new books. We've gotten both books at the library before - multiple times - so they were both thrilled with what they got. Jacob immediately lifted up his shirt and tickled his belly button.
After putting the kids down Jeff and I watched a bit of a movie and fell asleep about midnight. As we were getting the kids ready for bed I thought back ten years ago and how our night would have just been starting at 8:30pm. My how time changes!
Christmas Eve morning we always go to breakfast with my family. It's a low key thing and nice to see my siblings for a little bit on Christmas Eve.
We spent the day relaxing and playing with the kids. Then we had a yummy ham and potato dinner at Gma Newman's, played chimes, and watched The Santa Clause before heading home. Because we had church the next morning we bathed the kids before opening their Christmas Eve presents - new Pj's.
Emily has pretty much outgrown all of her pajamas so she got two new pairs. Jacob L.O.V.E.D. his new spider man pajamas and immediately started to put them on. Then we wrote a letter to sent and set it out with his cookies and milk and went to bed.
With having church at 9am and our kids usually sleeping till 8am we knew there was no way we were going to fit Christmas in before church. So we left blankets and a note for Santa asking him to cover everything so there was no peeking the next morning. The kids were REALLY good about waiting but were still so excited. That was the fastest morning we've ever had. I think we were almost 10 minutes early to church. After coming home and changing out of our church clothes the kids got to go in and see all their loot.
After playing around with Santa's presents for a while we decided to open up gifts from each other.
After a few hours of playing and cleaning up, Jeff siblings that were in town came over. We ate yummy crepes and then opened cousin presents. The kids got to play for a little bit before we all had to fit in naps and get ready for our evening festivities.
Christmas night we had dinner at my parents with all of my siblings. With 11 grandkids running around and 12 adults it was loud, crazy, and so much fun. With a present for everyone from my mom & dad and cousin and siblings exchanges there was no room left around the tree. All of the little kids were so excited to see all those presents and couldn't wait to open them.
Emily and Jacob's haul for 2011
Thankfully Jeff was able to score Monday the 26th off work so we just got to play with the kids all day. That night we had dinner and visited with all of the Johnsons.
It's hard to believe the Christmas season has already come and gone. It's such a fun and nostalgic time of year. It was so great to watch the excitement on Jacob and Emily's faces through everything we did. Christmas is one of those times where it's just so much better when you have kids to share it with. I'm grateful we were able to celebrate with so much of our family and for how blessed we truly are. I'm especially grateful for my beautiful kids and that I get to be their mother!
(having popcorn with our new popper and playing our new game from Santa)
Even with my months of prep work December was still crazy. Right after finishing the festival tree I came home and decorated two more. Emily and Jacob were thrilled to have their own tree again and be able to decorate it themselves. I usually try to supervise the placement a little but with it being my third tree I really didn't have as much energy. Which was probably good since Jacob ended up redecorating it just about every day. For our anniversary Jeff gave me another set to my nativity. I just love it and it's always the last thing I take down every year. It took a little bit before I had all of my Christmas decorations up but we finally got it all. We also got all our shopping, wrapping, mailing, baking, and delivering done before Christmas too.
On the 16th we had the Snow family party. I ended up visiting all night and never pulled out the camera so there are no pictures to document. That night my mom gave everyone some of my Grandma Snow's paintings. This first one was always one of my favorites and I'm excited to find a frame and put up once we get a house. The second picture was done in my grandma's later years when she had Parkinsons. I love that she still tried to do what she enjoyed even though it was difficult. I think this was the only seascape she ever did.
Sunday the 18th was the Newman Party. We gathered at my uncle's clubhouse again and played lots of wallyball, had a delicious ham and turkey dinner, and sang Happy Birthday to all the December birthdays. It was my younger brother Matthew's birthday that day. He turned 19 and will be leaving for the Leeds, England mission March 1st.
We had our traditional pinata for all the kids. I grew up with this tradition and just love it. It made it all the way through all the great grandkids this year. Emily was able to do a bit of damage before handing it off to her older cousins (pictured below).
Emily & Jacob got to open their presents from Great Gma & Gpa Newman. Jacob got a saw to go with his tool set and Emily got Beast to play with her Belle Barbie.
My grandparents with all of their great grandkids - minus those in utero. (Can you believe that all but 3 are from my family?)
Santa came to visit Jeff's work on the 21st so we made a stop to see the big guy. Jacob was excited to see him but turned out to only love him from afar. When we tried to put him on Santa's lap he immediately slid off and wouldn't go close unless I was with him. Being shy and also unable to really talk Jacob didn't request anything for Christmas. Emily on the other hand had no problem telling Santa she wanted to be surprised this year.
That night we did a date night with my parents and all of my siblings. We gathered at my parents house and had dinner, told stories, laughed, and played games. I think everyone said at one point that we needed to get together without kids more often. It was so nice to actually be able to carry on a conversation without being interrupted or worry about whose hitting who. And we all LOVED that Lisa & Spencer were in town to join us too!
Friday the 23rd we gathered at my mom's once again - this time with the kids. After a quick lunch the kids got to decorate sugar cookies. This is another favorite tradition that I always loved doing as a kid. Of course there was plenty of snacking on the bowls of treats between decorating (which is why we served lunch first!).
Jenn, Stacy and I all tried to help our little kids while Lisa & my Mom frosted. (I don't know what we're going to do when Lisa has her own kids to worry about!). Chris & Matthew even came out and decorated a few cookies with us.
I can't believe Christmas is almost here! At this point I guess it's pretty much ready or not, here it comes!
Our little man is two! It's amazing how fast the time has gone. We celebrated with family and close friends on Sunday the 11th. Since it was my anniversary and I didn't think everyone would want Jacob's favorite (Macaroni and Cheese or blueberries) we went with my favorite - Cafe Rio. After dinner I decided to skip the cake and just have ice cream sundaes. Jacob is a true Holbrook and L.O.V.E.S. ice cream and doesn't really care for cake. Leading up to his birthday Emily and I sang to Jacob sever times. He grinned through the whole song every time. We also practiced blowing out candles and he did it first try every time... till it was showtime.
Everyone was very generous with gifts and Jacob loved opening everything. He got a lot of favorites (Spiderman, dinosaurs, and Cars). Thank you everyone!
Monday the 12th was Jacob's actual birthday. Once daddy got home Jacob opened his present from Emily - a tool box and drill. He was so excited to have tools like daddy. He kept pointing to his drill and saying, "dada, dada."
Then Jeff and I gave Jacob a Cars trike. He smiled a lot and couldn't wait to get on. After a couple unsuccessful attempts at pedaling he climbed off and told his sister to get on. He then pushed her around the family room with just as big of a smile. After a couple of turns around the room Emily got off and pushed Jacob around.
Then we were off to Red Robin for dinner. Emily got to choose where since Jacob couldn't tell us. Of course he seemed thrilled by it. He got to eat macaroni and cheese with a ginormous spoon (you'd think they'd have something smaller for kids???). The waitress even brought out some mud pie for all of us to enjoy.
After dinner we headed to nickel cade to let the kids play around. Jacob loved the rides the most, then hucking the skee balls all over the room, then shooting baskets. I think Jeff and Emily got more out of playing their but Jacob did seem to enjoy the sucker he got with his tickets.
I have had so many cute, random pictures of Jacob over the past 2 or 3 months and with all the events we have going on I just haven't had the chance to post them. In September he realized he could climb out of his crib (and of course he'd do it on a day that Jeff and I were going overnight and my sister was watching him). So a few days later we dug the toddler bed out of storage. Jacob was SO excited to have a bed like his sister and immediately took to it. Over the past couple months there has thankfully only been a few times when he won't stay in it. Of course I think the Spiderman and Cars bedding have helped a ton.
Jacob just adores his big sister and does EVERYTHING she does. Emily gets tired of us telling her to be a good example because he's ALWAYS watching. Anything she plays, he plays too. Anything movement she makes, he does too. Any sound she makes, he does too. He is learning a lot from her - both good and bad. He loves to help and usually tries to help Emily with her chores. He still doesn't say a whole lot but has quickly picked up on what he hears Emily say to him - "No!" and "Mine!" Jacob is often a baby, a dog, or whatever Emily's imagination dreams up. At times I am the 'Grandma' and have to watch Jacob and a baby while Emily runs an errand. He just follows her along anywhere.
One day I was doing laundry and came out to find Jacob wearing his Spiderman backpack and just laying on the floor playing. I couldn't help but grab the camera and start taking pictures. Jacob, like Emily, is so good at entertaining himself. I love the little bit of time I can have to get things done and that I don't have to entertain him all the time. I also love watching what he comes up with to play and what entertains him. He has started doing a lot more imaginative play and I love seeing his development. He is always have his cars run into each other and saying, "beep, beep!" He cooks in their kitchen all the time and brings me 'food' to eat. I also find Jacob just sitting on his bed looking at books quite a bit too. I usually end up joining him and he somehow always ropes me into 'one more'. I quite often find him with a baby. He is very good at putting them to sleep with a pillow and blanket or wrapping her up in a blanket or feeding her a bottle. He is so sweet with them and will kiss the babies too. Of course he is a boy and sometimes after a few minutes I see the baby go sailing across the room too. He does love babies though and whenever we are with someone who has a baby he always wants to hold and take care of it.
Right after Jacob's birthday Jeff decided to lower the seat on his trike so it was a bit easier for Jacob to pedal. Since Jacob had just gotten some tools, Jeff pulled out his drill to do the work and Jacob was right alongside him helping. It was fun to see the two 'work' together. Jacob just loves it when Daddy's home and he wants to be just like him. He loves running around and chasing dad or being chased him. He likes to read books with daddy, sit on his lap at dinner, and they both enjoy playing dinosaurs and cars. I just love watching my two boys together and I'm so glad I have them.
Emily and I were gone one night and Jeff needed to shave. So he brought Jacob along and 'taught' him how. So on the 13th Emily and I were home when Jeff went to shave and I knew I needed to get some pictures. Jacob was really excited to be big like his daddy and shave and loved every minute.
We sure love our active, playful, smart and sweet little guy - dramatic fits and all!
