Layla's Birthday

Wow, I can't believe Layla is 3. Didn't we just celebrate her birthday?! I didn't realize until today how FAST last year went. :(

Since we stayed home for Xmas this year, we also got to celebrate L's bday at home. It was so much FUN to have her friends over to play.

 We started the party off right by jumping in the bounce house. It was a huge hit!

After eating pizza we busted out some hot air balloon cookies for the kids to decorate. They had so much fun decorating (and eating) the cookies with icing and sprinkles. I'm pretty sure every single one of our friends hates me for the sugar high I sent their kids home with. LOL

After working hard on the cookies it was time to sing "happy birthday". As usual Layla didn't care for all the attention. She was fine during the song but as soon as it was time to blow out the candle (which we've practiced) she didn't want to do it. So Mommy and Daddy helped her out.

She did eat the icing this year! 

We basically hung out at home all day after her party.

Then opened gifts! She was so excited to get another playhouse from Gma and Gpa "U"

Opening presents can be a little exhausting.

She got a birthday Barbie from Aunt Nicole and Uncle Ben. 

And Hungry Hungry Hippo from Uncle Brock and Aunt Jessie. 

And one of her favorite gifts, a Tinker Bell doll! Good job Aunt Ash and Uncle Eric! 

Tonight at dinner she had another cupcake. That makes 3 cupcakes, icing, a cookie and a chicken nugget as her meals today. Here is a video of the aftermath. She couldn't even form a legitimate sentence.

Layla had such a great day. I'm so glad we could have her friends over, thanks to everyone that came today and made Layla's 3rd birthday a day we won't forget! ;o)

PS- I think Layla has every toy known to man. On Christmas night she started pouting before bed and told Bryan she was upset because "she didn't get a TV for her room". So heads up for next year everyone. LOL! Just kidding, she's not getting a TV in her room for a loooooong time.

Santa House

Our visit to the Santa house has never been successful. It's official- Layla hates the fat man in a red coat. So we decided to go after Christmas to avoid the long lines. What a GREAT idea! As a recap, here are our pics from last year: http://bartonblabs.blogspot.com/2011/12/santa-house-visit.html.

And here we are this year! We actually got a GREAT picture!!

Christmas celebrations

We had a MUCH different Christmas then we had last year. First of all, we have a healthy baby boy to celebrate (as opposed to the miscarriage that we dealt with last year). Next we stayed home and Santa came to our house. I have to admit, it was probably the best Christmas I've ever had. No rushing around or traveling...just sitting in our PJs all day and opening presents. It was awesome.

Of course it helps that some of our families were able to make it up here to help us celebrate. First up were the Bartons!

Thanks for coming Grandma and Grandpa Barton! Sorry I didn't get very many pictures.

This next picture looked MUCH different in my head. I pictured the kids in their PJs Christmas Eve night, smiling sweetly and excited about the next morning. It turned out that we needed to do this picture quickly because Layla was near meltdown (what's new?). Her hair is a mess, she wouldn't get her finger out of her nose and she didn't really want to hold Jack. THIS is a typical moment in our house:

Next up was Christmas day with my Mom, Bob, Grandma and Grandpa "Bawk Bawk".

Bryan is nervous because this doesn't have a roll bar. LOL

Layla and Jack's big gift from us was a bounce house. I see LOTS of basement time in our future! 

I really didn't do well (again) with the pictures. I feel bad but at least we have lots of great memories!

Jack's Newborn Pics Part 2

I finally got a chance to take a few shots of the kids together. It was a challenge, almost worse than I thought...I'm beginning to think it might be easier and less stressful to just pay someone else to take them (maybe SOMEONE would listen a little better). Hopefully it will get easier as I recover and can move around a little faster.

Here are Jack's first set of pictures. And here are the kids together:

Vistiors, more visitors and a snowman!

I can't believe Jack is almost 3 weeks old! These last few weeks have just absolutely flown by. My Grandma and Grandpa Tanzyus (aka "Lucky" and "Bawk Bawk") were our visitors last week. They were such a big help and we were really happy to have them!

Jack also got his first real bath this week. Layla loved helping with it...she is the BEST big sister.

Friday our good friends came over for a quick play date and to meet Jack. They were even sweet enough to bring us a meal and a few gifts for the kids. Layla was really excited to see her BFF...it has been TOO long!

Uncle Clint and Aunt Ralie came to visit us on Friday and Grandma and Grandpa left Saturday morning. We got snow this weekend too! Here's a picture of Daddy and Layla building the 2nd snowman of the year:

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of Ralie and Clint with the kids. :( Sorry guys!! (Ralie- we forgot to practice my Moby too!! Dang!) but we had LOTS of fun with them, we have the BEST family and friends in the world.

Daddy is home this week. The kids and I are SO excited to spend some time with Daddy. :) Then I'm on my own for a few days, Bartons are coming back again and then my family for Christmas. Can you believe how CRAZY spoiled we've been with help and visitors? I'm not going to know what to do in January when things get quiet...I am SO thankful for all the help and company these last few weeks.

Jack's Newborn Pics

I tried to get a start on Jack's newborn pictures yesterday. I think getting newborn pics with this child is going to be impossible. He is awake ALL morning and does not appreciate being naked and messed with. Dang! I did get a couple of good shots during this "session". Hopefully he'll cooperate a bit more when it's time to get pictures with big sis.

I feel the need to explain the hat. Jack is named after "Jack Skeleton" from my favorite movie of all time, The Nightmare Before Christmas. Bryan hates this, but I love Jack's character so much. He's curious, has a big heart and does science experiments in his attic. Jack is such a strong name and I think it is perfect for our strong (BIG) boy.

He looks like a 3 month old here. So much for "newborn" pictures...our baby boy is huge. I can not get over how big he is even after almost 2 weeks. No complaining here though...he likes to sleep at night. :)

I can't wait to take more of Jack and Layla. I'm just a bit nervous how THAT session is going to go...having two kids is going to make me a better photographer for SURE. 

Snow!

We got SNOW last weekend! Layla was SO excited, she's been waiting for snow for such a long time. She couldn't wait to get outside and play with Daddy. Here she is all bundled up:

Look at that face! 

The snowmen they built. Daddy's on the left and Layla has her arm around hers. ;o)

A few days later we learned that much like ice cream, snowmen melt. She didn't care as much as I thought she would, but can't wait to build a new one!