Chritmas 2014

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.

I just love it.

Ever since I can remember, I have always had a giddiness when Christmas time comes around. And it wasn't ever really about the presents for me when I was younger (yes, I loved getting presents), but it's the season I love.

 

Twinkle lights.

Decorating the tree.

Christmas music always playing.

Cookies.

Pictures with Santa.

Christmas cards.

Family traditions.

Christmas movies.

 

It's all magical to me.

And now that I have kids, I love it even more.

I get sad when Christmas day is ending because that means the season is over and we have another 11 months until it comes again.

 

Here are some pictures of our Christmas Season.

 

Santa

 

I was super sad that we didn't have any tears this year, but Livve's pouty lip almost made up for it.

 

Baby's First Christmas Photo Shoot

 

Looking at Christmas Lights

 

 Christmas Eve

 

 Christmas Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be honest, Christmas Day was pretty crazy!

Jack woke up in an awful mood because he had stayed up so late on Christmas Eve at my parents.

He wanted nothing to do with his presents at first.

And his Strider bike that Santa brought was making him cry?

 

We were supposed to have dinner with Jason's parents, but they were sick, so instead of staying with my family, we decided to just go home and have a quiet evening since our kids were over Christmas. Ha.

 

Still my favorite, and it was a season to remember as Livvie's first Christmas.

Father's Day :: 2013

Like Mother's Day, we split our time between Jason's parents and mine.

Again, what a blessing to be so close to our families.

The day was quiet mellow and there wasn't a lot to document.

But, I wanted to make sure to get some generation pictures with both sides of the family.

We started with lunch at Jason's parents.
 

I think Jason looks like his dad.

Jason does not think so.

 

We ended the day with dinner at my sisters with my family.
 

Lately, most people have been saying that Jack looks like Jason.

I've always thought he looks like me (especially as a baby).

But, more so, ever since Jack was a newborn, Jason and I have thought he looked like my dad.
I posted the above picture on Instagram and Facebook on Sunday, and finally people see it.
 

Jack is a mini-Jimmy!

  So glad I was able to get pictures of all my favorite guys together.

It was a perfectly mellow Father's Day.

A 'First' Mother's Day

All day, I kept getting, "It's your first Mother's Day."

And while it was according to the holiday, I kept thinking about how it's my 235th day as a mother.

While it was a wonderful day of feeling loved and appreciated (and loving on my own momma and mother-in-law), it is even more wonderful being a mother every day.

I feel so blessed to have the privilidge of raising Jack.

Ever since I was a little girl, all I wanted was to be a mother.

I feel like I'm doing exactly what I was meant to do.

And, I love it.

Yes, there are days that are difficult and challenging, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Here are some pitures of our Mother's Day Weekend.

On Satruday, we headed to the beach for some family time since we would be with our own mother's on Sunday. (These pics were super bright, so I put a filter on them to try and tone them down).

 

Jack was very intrigued with the sand, but wasn't so sure exactly how he felt about it.

 

I woke up to these on Sunday.

My favorite.

After church,we headed to Jason's parents for a Mother's Day brunch with his family.

His grandparents came down for the Sacramento area, so it was great to celebrate with them as well.

My sister hosted our family and her husband's family that evening for a bbq.

My mom and Jack.

The kids went swimming since we had such warm weather this weekend.

Jack enjoyed watching them.

Until he got splashed...

Great weekend.

Feeling so blessed to have so much family close by to celebrate with.

Hope all you mommas had a great day of feeling cherished for all you do and that you cherish all the days you have with your kiddos.

Cousin Lovin'

Living close to family is such a blessing.

We are pretty spoiled in that we all live about 5 minutes away from each other.

I love that we can all get together for every holiday, including the little ones like Mother's/Father's Day, 4th of July, and birthdays.

I love that my parents can be a part of their grand-kids lives and that my mom can watch Jack while I work.

I love that I can watch my nieces and nephews grow-up.

Specifically, though, I love that my sisters and my kids will know each other well.

 

We were never really close to our cousins growing up, as most of them lived a few hours away.

We always had fun when we got together a few times a year, but there is nothing like being a part of each others daily lives.

Jason grew up side by side with one of his cousins, and they are such close friends to this day.

I want that for my kids, too.

I'm so excited for Jack (and his future siblings) to grow up with his (their)  cousins.

I love that they currently see each other at least three times a week while my mom watches all of them when my sister and I are at work.

My nieces love Jack so much, and it is adorable to watch them interact with him.

Even though they see him all the time, they still get so excited to play with him.

I snapped these pictures of Kate and Jack playing the other day.

Seriously, so cute.

She was tickling him and calling him "Jack-y" as she always does.

Claire loves, loves, loves Jack.

I dropped off Jack about an hour later than usual yesterday, and when I walked in she came running up saying, "What took you so long! I've been waiting for Jack."

And the brother cousins are starting to figure out who each other are.

I pray that they remain close friends as they grow older.

Not everyone gets a cousin who is six weeks apart.

So thankful to capture these pictures on just a normal day.