as close as it's going to come

to pink!

 It's A{nother} BOY!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS from our family to yours.....

A Birthday Party complete with the easiest, yummiest brownies you've ever had!

We finally were able to get the family together and celebrate Easton's 2nd birthday. I've struggled with the "need" to have a birthday party and the pure "desire" to have one since he didn't choose to be born 2 weeks before Christmas, and as friend who has a December birthday said "December birthdays seem to get forgotten" I thought as simple as it may be, we were going to have a party!

And simple is what I did!

We ordered take-out from a local Mexican Restaurant, had chips and salsa and brownies and ice cream!  

Easton wasn't too sure of the whole thing and luckily he had cousins and an older brother to help him unwrap a few presents.

These brownies are the best! Try some..Today.. They are called Symphony Brownies and the recipe is from Paula Dean. In short, here's what you do.

Buy a prepackaged brownie mix

Buy 3 King Size Symphony Bars {I used toffee and almond}

Line a 9x13 pan with tin-foil

Prepare brownie mix as directed. Pour 1/2 in the lined pan, unwrap symphony bars and place side by side {as one big bar, no need to crumble, or break apart}- pour remaining brownie mix over symphony bars and bake! Mine needed a few extra minutes but that's it. LET COOL COMPLETELY- I'm talking hours! Once cool, take brownies out and flip over and remove tin-foil. Cut into bars.

I've had them with the plain chocolate symphony bars and they were good too. Next time I want to try and Cookies-n-Cream bars. Yummo!

He got exactly what he wanted. A few new cars, a scooter and a new Woody! Happy Birthday little man, we love you!

{Happenings}

{Fat Pants and Bell Shaped Shirts!}

In honor of entering my 3rd trimester last week {yeah} I also entered the box of maternity clothes that I have been faithfully avoiding for the past 24 weeks {sigh}

It became a needed necessity when the only pair of jeans I have that still fit were in the dirty laundry {thanks to a puking child with a bad aim} and I had to go out in public. The pajama pants had to be put away and the elastic waist band pants were my only option. Luckily they were cute- so I didn't feel so humongous in them but still.....THEY HAD AN ELASTIC WAIST BAND and were meant to be worn in public!

Thanks to a few people who headed my call to let me borrow their oh so stylish maternity clothes {I have two bins of maternity clothes....in storage....somewhere I can't get to} {double sigh}


So, here they are! Lots of shirts in the shape of a bell!! Oh, happy day! {I have yet to wear a maternity shirt....they are huge and I'll avoid them at all costs but the pants, those I just couldn't avoid.

{CHRISTMAS CARDS!}

Are done.

Are in the mail.

If you don't get one, it means I didn't have your address. Mail me a Christmas card and I'll mail you one:) {or email me your address and you'll get to see our surprising good Christmas photo on an adorable card that I didn't design {thanks Bri Weir}

No letter. No update. Just a picture.....How's that for simplicity this year!


{FACEBOOK!}

Yes, I caved. I joined Facebook. WHY? Several reasons...

1) Jared wouldn't let me log in under his name and search around. He kept it to himself and told me that if I wanted to know and see about it, I could join myself!

2) Dr. Tuft's wife {other dentist in the office} has a facebook account {she's in her 40's} and told me that I was LITERALLY the only one who didn't have one. Even the relief society president in their ward had a facebook account! Wow, how do you compete with that. I don't....I joined.

3)My friend Tara who had a baby before Thanksgiving was holding her new baby's pictures and information hostage on her facebook account. She basically told me that I was the ONLY one who didn't have an account and if I wanted to see her baby, I'd join.

SO, those are three reasons why I joined! 

Do I get it? NO  

Do I have anything on it? NO 

But am I a facebook member, Oh YES, YES I am!

TWO {2} Years Ago, TODAY........

I sat holding a nameless little boy, and instantly fell in love.....again.

Happy Birthday, Easton!

We have been completely and thoroughly blessed with Easton in our lives. He is a happy boy, great sleeper, pretty good eater and we're pretty sure he loves us too!

A few things about Easton at age {2}:

* loves his blanket{s} and won't sleep without them

*will finally drink WHITE milk

*is his brother's shadow, repeats what he says, does what he does

*always on the move. He's wiggling in his carseat, rolling on the floor or running, ALL the time

*loves to color {only a few times on the wall}

*loves WOODY and BUZZ Lightyear {when playing with others}

*when he plays alone, he plays with trucks

*will almost do anything for a "snack"

*climbs in and out of his crib at his leisure. Wants to be in a big bed.

*loves to be outside, weather doesn't matter.

*says {I love you} several times a day

*insists on getting dressed FIRST THING after waking up in the mornings

*won't wear socks and hates to wear shoes

*LOVES juice

*uses the POTTY at least once a day

*has had a diaper rash for over a year

*has finally outgrown his excema

*loves oranges, yogurt, chicken nuggets, cucumbers, peas, apples and french fries.  

*will hold completely still for haircuts

*usually has a bruise or scrape somewhere on his head

*is a creature of habit. Has to do the same thing at a certain location or there is a freak-out. {example: Costco he has to eat a hotdog, Great Clips he has to sit on a chair and hear his name be called}

Easton, our lives our fuller, our days a little more exciting {and busy} and our hearts are bigger since you've been in our family. We LOVE you more than you'll ever know. 

Happy {2nd} Birthday!

Super Simple Snowflakes

My sister-in-law was sporting was one of these necklaces,

as I browsed the site and then the blog, I ran across this blog.

She had this little craft projects for kids and since it was super simple and super cute {plus super cheap}, I thought I'd give it a try.

Here's the supplies you need.

Step 1: Make a snowflake design out out of the q-tips
Step 2: Dabble glue...don't be shy, use lots of glue {Gibson loved this part}

Step 3: Sprinkle with glitter





Step 4: Wait for them to dry {ours our still drying, I think they need about 48 hours to be completely dry}

When they are done, they should look like THIS! Super cute and Super Simple! {Glue .34, Glitter .98, q-tips, already had. So for less than $1.50 {I think the glitter could have made two) I had two smiling and happy boys and at least 30 minutes of entertainment!}

{helpful hints: if making them with your kids friends, cut out a piece of cardboard for them to be made on, so they can go home with that child and dry, otherwise, they'll have to sit at your house for a few days and dry.}

The Answer to our most commonly asked question

One of us knows and it's not me.....

Jared who's never been good at surprises HAD to know, so we put it in an envelope and he opened it. So he's the only one who knows. He PROMISED me he'd keep it that way at least until Christmas.

I told him to go and buy a new outfit for the baby and when I open it and see the color, I'll know and so will the rest of you!

Aren't surprises fun????

Ah, look how cute

We got our family pictures back and here are a few of my favorites!

Thanksgiving Post is coming.....

in the meantime. My afternoons are gone. Easton has learned how to climb out of his crib. Not only that but he has successfully learned how to open doors. 

I need a moment to mourn the passing of my easy napper, great sleeper and my uninterrupted few hours while Gibson is at preschool but I don't have a few moments.

Said child is now on the counter. Rummaging through a new bag of Hershey's Peanut Butter Cups while saying "mom, me."{mom, look at me}

It's a good thing I purchased that bag an hour ago, it's going to be a long afternoon!