Christmas 2013

Christmas was so nice! It was at my house this year which made it extra special for me. My kids were able to sleep in their own house and wake up to explore under their own Christmas tree. Cameron's parents and Andy stayed with us. It worked out really well - since we had Andy in Liberty's bed, she bunked on a blow up in our room. It was really fun - she woke up in the morning kinda having a bad dream, came in our bed, we said Merry Christmas, and she snuggled us and wanted to go tell Merry Christmas to Grandma/Grandpa and Andy. It was on her way to Andy's room that she noticed the gifts:) Liberty got some FROZEN gifts and many calico critters. She truly loved every gift - from her sleeping bag from Grandma to her boogie board writing pad from Andy - there was not a single "dud" gift. Henry was ADORABLE when he woke up - he crawled over to his first gift and thought it was the coolest dang thing he had ever seen! He got a DJ billy beats, jumbo animals, and a little people airplane, and musical instruments among many other things. We had great meals together and went to San Tan the day after Christmas. Only thing that could have been better was Cameron got the flu on Christmas day. He spent the next day in bed, and I was surprised at how fast he bounced back considering it was a serious flu illness. He was recovered in time for our Saturday Christmas at the Wheeler's in Fountain Hills where we had a big prime rib lunch and opened more gifts (calico critter house! and car ramps and rocket ships!) We were happy to get to see all our family and spend some quality time together. I tried hard this year to teach Liberty that Santa Clause is really St. Nicholas who was a generous man who wanted to be like Jesus and help others. We talked a lot about why we thank people for gifts because that meant they were thinking of us and wanted to show their love with a gift. I think we were all feeling the love this Christmas.

Flagstaff - Sledding and North Pole Experience.

This album is of our 2 nights in Flagstaff before Christmas. We went sledding and also went to the North Pole! The album has a ton of videos because my camera was not working in the north pole:)

Hot Air Balloon festival

This was a fun free event.

Henry's First Birthday Party!

Party time.

Our mellow boy didn't want anything to do with his cupcake.  I predicted as much.

Henry is 1 year old!!

Henry is 1 year old!

He's an angel baby.

His favorite things:

• talking on a play phone
• dancing/singing with Elmo Rocks.
• Wrestling on a bed with Liberty
• Bottles - he doesn't do sippy cups as well as Liberty did at this age.
• Sounds - dog, cow, LION!, panting dog, airplane, car
• Foods - loves beans and tortilla soup (shredded chicken) and stick pretzles
• He really only signs "all done" - he prefers to squawk at us.
• Words - will say mama, dada if you really force him to - but he can totally say water (wawa!) and ball (ba!)
• First steps walking on 12/16 a bit after his birthday.  I write this on new years eve and he's taken 4 steps, stopped and taken 2 more - but then he collapses in a fit of giggles and prefers to be the fastest crawler we know.
• 7 teeth
• WEIGHS - 21.6 pounds LENGTH - 31.5 inches.
• Sleeps 7-7am, naps 9:30-11 and 1:30-3.

This album is video heavy - and they aren't that great and I can't figure out how to only post the best stuff....so for anyone other than Grandma, I'd just watch the first video because it's SUPER SUPER CUTE!

Henry is 11 months! MESSY EATER

I forgot to do a photoshoot of Henry at 11 months - but I took these pictures of him eating some beans!

Fall Festival & HALLOWEEN

Wow I'm behind on the blog so I'm back dating some of this and will keep the captions short and sweet.  Each year Liberty's preschool has a Fall Festival with games and a singing performance, etc.  She was dressed up as a blue ballerina.  We also went to Vertuccio farms with our neighbor friends The Gates. Henry was dressed a UA Wildcat but was sick on Halloween night so he didn't go trick or treating.

Henry is 10 months old!

Henry at 10 months old:

- MY FAVORITE - he gives KISSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Cutest thing ever, I will get it on film if it kills me.
- crawls "for real"
- cruises furniture
- can walk with the radio flyer push wagon
- finally chilling it with putting absolutely everything in his mouth
- obsessed with remotes
- yelling when he wants something
- loving the outside swing
- LOVES playing the piano - he can reach it while standing.
- interested in everything that is not a toy (closing doors, soup cans, the monitor, cords)
- finger foods galore - chipotle, beans, salasa, bananas, rasberries, green beans, mixed veggies, steamed broccoli, shredded chicken, pasta.....still hates "puffs" though.  Loves stick pretzles.
- snuggles my shoulder before nap time
- touch and go with waving/clapping/mama - these days he's into singing, barking/panting like a dog, imitating any sound you make.
- JUST started using any useful sign-language like "more" "all done" (10/17/2013)
- THE WORST during diaper changes - rolls, refuses to cooperate.
- Liberty is obsessed with caressing his cold feet and taking care of any toe jam he may have. weirdo. lovable weirdo.
- sleeps 7-7, naps 9-10:30 and 1-3
- won't sit still for photoshoots anymore.......

Wyatt Family Reunion in Maryland

I don't have the energy to write about this amazing trip - or to edit down the 200+ pictures.  It was very very special - to ride on an airplane across the country with both kiddos, to vacation with super-grandparents, to meet so many extended family members, to sightsee in Washington DC and Frederick MD...I've been a Wyatt for 8 years and a part of this family for 12 years...to say I love them is a huge understatement.  It was a great reunion and some nice quality time making Wyatt memories at the family farm.  Bonus - I got to see MY mom's only 3 cousins - so I got in a mini Wheeler/Brodar/Winter reunion too!

Air Show with Wyatts

We met up with the Wyatts in Sedona to go to the family day at the airport - air and car show!  It was so much fun and gorgeous up there as always.

Daddy Date Night

Liberty's preschool hosts a Daddy Date Night every year where the kids preform, they do a craft together, build something, do some playdough....etc - Liberty loves this night out so much she always asks to extend it by going out to dinner with daddy too - to where else - CHIPOTLE!