Christmas Morning

I couldn't wait for Christmas morning!  I was so excited to watch Mackenzie and Collin as they walked into the living room to see all the presents that Santa had left for them.  I was excited to watch their faces light up and not quite know what to do with themselves.  That's exactly what happened and I have it all on video, unfortunately I didn't capture too many pictures, but here's a few.

Mackenzie finally digging into her stocking.  We never could get Collin interested in his...thus no picture.

Mackenzie with her Barbie Pet Vet Station.  This is the one thing that she wanted Santa to bring her, however there was no way, no how that she was ever ever going to tell him that or even get near him.  She told me to do it for her.  But she did say that Santa could come to her house to drop off the presents, but she didn't want to see him.  Funny girl!  And about the Pet Vet Station...she has been using all her headbands as stethoscopes (putting them upside down in her ears) to be a doctor and give a check-up to all her stuffed animals daily.  So when she saw this whole set-up on tv, she was quite excited to have an entire doctor station set-up to check all her pets.  She loves it!

The new craft table so they can quit coloring on my floors and walls.

This is my only picture of Collin on Christmas morning.  He loves balls and basketball, so this was a perfect toy.  When he realized he couldn't reach the balls, he ran to his room for a step stool so that he could play and this is where he spent a good part of his morning.

Temple Square

One thing I love about Christmas time are the magical lights at Temple Square.  They are absolutely beautiful!  We made a quick visit with the kids all bundled up so that I could get out and see the giant red tree that I love.  Even though it was short (due to Collin's impatience these days), it was still amazing.  Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so these are the only decent pictures that I took with my cell phone.

And as for me...

Collin busted our old computer a few weeks ago and we finally got our new one yesterday.  So I'm just catching up on blogging...

So as for me...I'm doing great.  My recovery is going well, no more drains, no more meds, and less and less pain each day.  Although I have realized that my body is sucking quite a big of energy out of me to heal, thus I am so dead tired by around noon or 2 pm each day, so I've been trying to get a nap in with some success.

Other than that, I'm just mentally preparing myself to start chemotherapy.  I'm starting mid-December...actually 2 weeks from tomorrow and it will run through April 1st as long as I can keep my immune system strong. 

I think I'm ready for this, as much as I can be.  I'm looking forward to April so that I can think about other things in life besides drs appts, being sick, healing, losing my hair, etc.  I really hope the doctors are right and the worst is already behind me.

Our Gingerbread House

I bought a gingerbread house kit thinking it would be a fun family activity sometime during December.  Mackenzie begged and begged to put it together, so we already made it and it is already gone.  It certainly was an adult project, with Mackenzie and Collin contributing by eating the candy so that we had less work ahead of us to put on the house.  Mackenzie continued to tell me how beautiful it was and what a great job I was doing.  It made her day to watch me make this house for her, and I quite enjoyed making it.

It did look better than this, but they already ate the icicles off the house before I even got the camera out.  I have to say those were some yummy icicles!

Collin turns 2!

Collin turned 2 finally the day before Thanksgiving.  It seems that I've been looking forward to this day forever, hoping that he'd grow out of his tantrums and I might be able to reason with him since that's when the lightbulb seemed to turn on for Mackenzie.  Well the birthday came and went and I have to say that nothing has changed.  Not much reasoning ability and still plenty of tantrums to get his way.  He had a fun birthday anyways.

The cute birthday boy!

The cake I slaved 5 hours over.  Totally worth it, he's only 2 once and in love with McQueen!

Trying to blow those candles out.

His new toys and they were a hit!

A few things about Collin as a 2 year old now:

*Did I mention he throws tantrums...a lot!

*He's the ultimate climber and jumper

*He's absolutely in love with his Lightning McQueen pjs and digs them out of the dirty clothes any chance he gets.

*He's obsessed with fire.  He was upset when he blew out the candles on his cake and there was no more fire.

*He LOVES to push Mackenzie's buttons!  He's most successful by using his high-pitched scream right in her face.

*He's so lovable... loves hugs, kisses, and squeezes.

*He loves to read books, color, play blocks, play in the car...do the regular 2 year old things (so unlike Mackenzie).

*He says 'Uh' in front of every word he says in a very dramatic way...you'd have to hear it.  It's his vocal signature and everyone knows who's talking when they hear the 'Uh' start.

We love this kid!  He's so cute and brings so much joy (along with a little frustration at times) into our lives.  We are so greatful to have him, even if he is in the Terrible 2 stage right now. :)  Happy Birthday Collin!