White Christmas in Utah

I just LOVE the Christmas season! The smells, the cold air, the Christmas lights, baking, gatherings with family and friends, gift giving, reminders to serve, etc. I love everything about it! We were particularly excited this year because it's the first time that we've had a child old enough to 'get it' and really have a lot of fun with Christmas.

We knew that a tree in the living room wouldn't last 5 seconds with Bran-man so we decided to just put our little Cougar tree up in their room. Nolan was SO excited to put up the Christmas tree and lights! 

And these two look particularly precious sleeping in the glow of Christmas lights ♥ 

We tried this felt tree, but it only lasted about 2 minutes (no lie). Nolan was getting frustrated that each ornament he put up Branson immediately tore down. And while I was trying to help Nolan deal with that B just decided to rip the whole tree down. Soooo...that was the quick end to that haha. Maybe next year.

Beautiful snow

Making a Christmas countdown chain with our sweet friend Shannon! Nolan loved being in charge of ripping off a chain each day and was pretty diligent in reminding us.

We wrote a letter to Santa! Nolan dictated, I wrote. I hear that many children are constantly changing their minds about what they want to ask Santa for. Not our Nolan. For two months leading up to Christmas he never waivered - it was always Star Wars blasters (although the number of blasters varied from 4 to 10 ☺). He also thought he knew what Branson would like hehe.

 

 This is our third year making gingerbread houses with the Shelby's and Farr's and I'm loving the tradition!

Watching our Las Vegas family open up our gifts since we weren't together this year.

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 Christmas at Gm and Gp Bailey's house

One night we went to Texas Roadhouse with Gm and Gp, Aunt Brianna, and her boyfriend Brady. N and B loved playing with the jukebox.

I picked this little tent up for the boys to take to Jeanni's house. Of course we couldn't wait to try it out so up it went!

  

Nolan even talked these two into getting in there with him!

Nolan was a riot looking at all of the presents. He re-arranged the gifts so that all of the ones with Star Wars wrapping were together and in front. He also took on the task of taking all of the gifts out of the box that Gm and Gp Mathews sent up and as he was doing it he kept saying things like, "this is going to be a little bit tricky," and "oh my gosh, this is a big one!" and "I think this one should go right here." It was adorable!

B pretty much just wandered around bumping into things and looking for remotes ☺

Christmas Eve

We let them each open one gift on Christmas Eve (as per tradition on both sides of the family). Although we're still trying to hash out which gift we should have them open? New pj's? The gift from cousins? We'll see. This year they chose the gifts from Aunt Mallory.

I'm pretty sure this look of Nolan's means Branson was touching him while he was trying to open a gift and he was telling him to "get off BRANson!"

  

  

As we were opening gifts Gm Bailey came in and announced that it had started snowing!! I was worried that my first opportunity for a 'White Christmas' wouldn't actually be white since we've had a lack of snow this year. But Utah came through for me!

This is perhaps the most perfect photo I will ever take ♥

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 I guess those boys can't have been too bad this year because Santa came!!

There were so many gifts that I think the ones Santa brought got dwarfed a bit haha. We'll have to work on that. I should say though that they amount of gifts in this pic is a bit of an illusion because Gm and Gp Bailey wrapped 3 huge boxes and put them in front of the tree to keep Branson from getting to the ornaments haha. 

Two perfect little boys nestled in their beds while visions of sugar plums dance in their heads ♥

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Christmas morning

The girls in our matching pj's

One of Nolan's favorite gifts (from Uncle BJ of course!)

GG Hunt got this for the boys and it was a huge hit with both of them!

One of the gifts I was most excited to give this year was this water color painting of the house Justin grew up in in Woodinville. I gave one to Justin and one to Gm and Gp Bailey. I think they liked it!

The last present Nolan opened was one from Santa to our family and he really came through. There were not one, but FOUR blasters inside! He was so excited and we've been having a lot of fun with them!

Pancakes using the new Darth Vader pancake maker from Gm and Gp Mathews. He was pretty excited! 

3 boys just having a good time with the new track Gp Bailey got

Picks from Jeanni's house.

Christmas this year was sure a fun one! Now I've got the blues knowing I have to wait 12 months for the next one :(

The big O-N-E for Branson

Happy happy birthday to our sweet Branson Michael! Our little family changed for the better when you joined us one year ago. Our hearts grew more than we could have imagined and your brother now has to figure out how to share haha. 

If I had to look back and summarize your first year into a few words the first thing to come to my mind would be into everything. Even though you were immobile for the first half of your life, it's still true. When I think of you, I think of the crazy kid that's into everything. From the moment you could crawl you wanted to keep up with your big brother and it didn't take long for you to start walking at 11 months. You do pretty well, but are still getting the hang of it though, which means you walk around like a drunken sailor most of the time. I really don't think it's possible to keep you safe at the moment. You are always stepping on precarious toys or other items in order to reach a little higher, dropping heavy items dangerously close to your own feet, and bumping your head on anything and everything. Your poor little noggin has had so many bumps and bruises already that I'm getting nervous to take you in public ☺. Like we always say, it's a good thing you're cute! And cute you are. I could kiss those chubby cheeks all day long! (I also love kissing your adorable little feet which makes your dad laugh ☺).

You love food, but aren't shy or subtle about letting us know your preferences. You love baths and balls and cars and remotes. Oh remotes, you will do whatever it takes to get one in your hands. And if you're fussy, all we have to do is throw you in the bath and you're good to go (although you're always trying to stand in the tub, of course). You also love books, which is kind of a problem because we have a lot of non-board books that you always seem to get your hands on. You hoard binkys and often have one in your mouth and one in each hand. You have the biggest, cutest smile that stops me in my tracks. It especially melts our hearts that you seem to smile the biggest when we walk into a room after being gone for awhile.You know how to give high fives, but don't give them out too often. Your favorite game is to alternately yell with daddy to see who can yell the loudest. In case you are wondering, you always win. You also do this hilarious deep growl which makes us laugh every time. We haven't cut your hair yet, but I think it's getting close to time for your first one. You are independent and don't seem to care at all if mom is around or not. You are finally learning how to actually lay down in our bed and snuggle in the morning after you wake up. You see, snuggle time is important to us because your dad and I don't actually want to get up and out of bed to play at the same time you do little man. Oh, and I think you are determined to keep me from experiencing Sunday School or Relief Society for the next 6 months #countingdownthedaysuntilnursery.

We love you so much Bran-man and have a hard time remembering what our life was like without you. It's like you've always been there. You have helped to grow our family and our hearts and we only hope we can help you to realize your fullest potential.

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The only time you are still. Also, how is this comfortable?

  

You love trying to go up the slide.

Ice cream is definitely one of your favorites.

I was at Granky's house over Thanksgiving weekend when I noticed this magnet on his fridge. I asked him about it and he said he forgot he even had it as it was probably purchased on a trip to Branson, Missouri decades ago! He couldn't have guessed then that he'd have a great-grandson named Branson! So he gifted it to the most special Branson in his life 😊 I'm sure our Bran-man will treasure it ❤ Plus, it will probably be the only novelty item he'll ever find in his life with his name on it haha.

Oey, this right here is why you have so many bumps and bruises.

 Always with the remotes. You even know to point it at the TV!

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For your birthday we went to Red Robin with Gm and Gp Bailey where you had lots of fries, broccoli, and a shake.

Then back home for gifts! You were best at opening the ones in bags with paper tissue to pull out, and Nolan was happy to help you with the others ☺

Birthday cake!

Aaaaaand you're done haha

My amazing friends, Sara and Lis brought you and your brother birthday cupcakes (including numbered candles) and gifts! A cute orange triceratops plush for you and a Star Wars book for Nolan. How sweet are they?!

Happy Birthday sweet boy!!