Christmas 2013...Dylan's 1st!

At the beginning of December I read a mommy blog about how to have a stress-free and relaxing Christmas season.  The gist of her post was basically to DO LESS....less crafts, less baking, less activities, less shopping.  She suggested that we just spend time with our kids by doing nothing but spending time.  And the more I read the more I thought....does this mom really have kids?!  Or better yet, small boys?  But I was fascinated by this idea and thought I would give it a try. 

Well, I made it about 3 days before I just gave into the frenzy of Merry Rushmas!  I mean, if you have kids it's almost impossible to do less.  And if you know my kids you know they need constant entertainment so I purposefully plan things to keep them busy and happy.  But, honestly, I love everything about Christmas....everything that this blogger said to do less of are all the things I enjoy.  I'm a happy mommy when I take my kids somewhere festive, visit Santa or cook and bake for my family.  Isn't that what its all about anyway...doing what you love with the people you love.

I think being busy at Christmas is unavoidable.  And as a parent you sort of expect to fight the crowds at Toys R Us and stay up all night on Christmas Eve wrapping presents.  Christian and I are exhausted right now but it was an amazing Christmas so it was worth it.  The boys were giddy every day waiting for Santa and because it was Dylan's first, we wanted to make it even more special. So needless to say, we did a lot and had a lot of fun!  We all thought it was the best Christmas we've had so far!  I really wanted to post everything separately but just never had the time.  So here are ALL of our holiday photos in one post.  Sorry there are so many pictures but I hope you enjoy them.  We're off to Chicago tomorrow to celebrate with Christian's family so this will b e my last post of 2013...what a year it's been!  See you all in 2014.  Happy New Year!

We started off the season by decorating, of course.  As you can see I finally filled all the spaces on my PEACE stocking holder!  The final piece to the puzzle, little miss Dylan, has completed our family in such a special way...

 

 

Jack LOVES Christmas.  And not just the parties and presents...he really gets into the spirit of it.  He is like me in so many ways because Christmas is my absolute favorite time of the year too.  He helps me decorate every year and I love that time with him.  We let him put the star on top of the tree...

 



 

 

A visit to Santa!  I think the kids did a great job taking their picture.  No tears or running away!  Dylan is wearing a hand-made dress from my friend Temre...isn't it gorgeous!  And the boys look so dapper in their bow ties.  I love these kids...

 

We finally broke down and drank the Elf on a Shelf cool-aid.  They should call him "Just another PITA thing that parents have to remember to do during Christmas.  But Jack really enjoyed it so I guess Willie the Elf will have to stay for a while...

 

 

 

Before things got too hectic, we snuck in a date night holiday dinner with our friends at Roy's.  It was delish and such a fun night...

 



Jack's friend Luca had all the boys from school over for a brunch and cookie decorating party the night after our dinner date.  It was so cool to have all the boys together and Jack really loves these guys.  We have so much fun when all the families get together...

Is there something on my face?!

Christmas wouldn't be complete without a trip to see the lights...

We decided to get crafty this year and make a few gifts at Color Me Mine.  Note to self....its not so fun making pottery with 3 kids under 5!  It was very chaotic for me and Christian but the kids had fun...

And this is the final result!  Isn't it adorable?!

 

 

And this is what it looks like now!  I loved it so much that I selfishly decided I would display it for a few days before we gave it away.  But it fell and broke along with my heart!  Sorry Gigi!  We owe you a present!!

 



 

 

But I just couldn't stay sad for long when I had this face smiling at me.  She's so delicious I just want to eat her with a spoon!

 





 

 

We had a rare, very cold day here last week - it was in the 50s!  Brrrr!  But I thought it would be a great opportunity to break out the adorable hat that Dylan will probably wear very little in sunny SoCal.  She doesn't seem to like it very much...

That same rainy day we decided to bake our holiday treats to give to the boy's teachers and some friends.  Baking is my favorite part of the holidays so I was in heaven.  Jack was such a great helper.  I can't say the same for Gavin....but he was a good taste tester!  So when I was icing the cookies I asked the boys to get me the frosting.  They came back with these Frosty the snowmen.  Too cute!

My sous chef!

Caught red-handed!

Jack had a holiday performance at school.  The kids learned and sang about 8 songs for us.  It was hilarious!  They all sing with such gusto!

 

 

Dylan was not impressed...



 

 

 

Me and my Frosty...

 



Jack and his best buds...

His teachers, Ms. Stacy and Ms. Kyoko.  We LOVE them!!

 

Christmas service at Saddleback was amazing!  We didn't get pictures of if but Jack thought the reindeer topiary was pretty cool...

 

 

The Sandoval family celebration at Grandpa Mikes.  Her are all the great-grand kids...minus the two that are on the way next spring...

I love that my grandma Molly has been able to meet my children.  I wish they could have met my mom's mother Flo...she was the greatest!

All the first-cousins...

Dillie getting a lift from Grandpa Mike...

Christmas Eve!  We celebrated with my siblings and the Jordan Family.  It was such a relaxing and fun night...

We tried to get a picture of Dylan, Marseille and Amelie since they all looked adorable in their dresses.  But as you can see, Dylan wasn't having it!

We finally got her so stop crying long enough for a cute pic with mom...

 

 

 

Christmas morning!  I can't believe I got a picture of the boys smiling!  It's a Christmas miracle.  I must have bribed them.  And I have to point out that they only way I could get them to wear a holiday shirt was if it had a Ninja Turtle on it.  I scored with these...

 



 

Jack carefully organizing his loot...

 

 

Gavin was stoked to get Monsters University...

Even Dylan got a few gifts from Santa!  She loves Violet...

And her new Sandra Boynton books...

Spoiled!

 

Christmas brunch at Mimi and Papa's!  Dylan was my greatest gift this year so I had to wrap her in a red bow...

 



 

 

 

 

Cousin Love!

 



 

 QT with Uncle Jess!

 

 

I love this picture of my sissy with her daughter Amelie, who is a spitting image of her!  I'm so jealous that Jen has a kid who looks like her...

 

Sleepy and hungry after a long day of being held and adored...

The next morning Christian made all the boys toys.  I'm not sure who had more fun...him or the boys...

 

 

 

And finally, last, but certainly, not least....my 2nd best gift this year....a new camera from my mom and Joey!  Can I get a Hallelujah Sista!  How many times have I written on my blog about how my camera sucks and that it takes the worst pictures!  Well, those days are over my friends.  Next year the blog will be filled with even more amazing pictures.  I'm absolutely giddy! I can't wait to start using it and blogging away!  Until then...

Dylan is 6 Monthls Old!

Our little Lady D turned half a year on Tuesday!  I cannot believe she's already 6 months old!  But I absolutely love this age so I'm not too sad about her getting older.  Although, I wish she would stay this age for a while because she's so much fun to be around.  She's so silly, playful and active.  And she loves to laugh. It's a side most people don't get to see because she's really only that way at home. When we get around strangers she's very quiet and intense.  That girl can size someone up like nobody else!  She's kind of started to warm up to my mom and some of my friends but for the most part she doesn't like anybody.  Especially our pediatrician.  Dylan really gave her the business at her check up on Tuesday.  I was hoping she would charm Dr. Kozak but all she did was cry - until I held her, of course!

The check up went well and Dylan is really making strides in the motor skill department.  She finally started rolling over about 2 weeks ago - yeah!! She started from back to front which is odd because most kids do it the other way around.  But I'll take it.  So, we've started putting her on her tummy a lot more to get the other side going.  She still hates it but I find that if I leave her there long enough she will eventually flip over.  I know she can do it, I just don't think she wants to do it.  She'd much rather we just pick her up.  So at night when she rolls to her tummy she will scream bloody murder until we go in and turn her over.  Spoiled already!  She's also great at grabbing things and playing with them...her toes are her new favorite target.  And she's way better at entertaining herself now...as long as she can see me she's fine.  But the minute I leave her sight she freaks out. I know this is just a phase so I'm ok with it for now.  And I honestly don't mind being there for her if it makes her feel safe and secure....at least until 6pm, when I can hand her off to daddy!

Her eating has been an interesting journey for us this month. For the first few weeks of the month she really wasn't interested in her bottle so we figured it was time for solid food.  So we gave her the rice cereal and eventually the sweet potatoes which she loved.  But when I tried to introduce carrots, apples and pears she refused to eat them and now won't even eat the sweet potatoes.  So since her 4 month check she only gained 1.5 lbs putting her at 17 lbs....dropping her from 90th percentile to 70th.  But she grew almost 2 inches putting her at 27 1/4 inches and 95th percentile.  She's still bigger for her age but maybe she won't be the porker we all thought she would be.  The doc isn't worried and said she may be one of those babies who skips baby food and goes straight to finger foods - wouldn't that be a hoot.  But she loves her bottle again this week and is getting enough formula so we're going to wait til the new year and try solid food again.  Maybe by then she will be sitting up on her own and can digest the food better.  We'll see.

Besides all that milestone stuff, we've just been enjoying the holiday season with her and the boys.  I mean, she has no idea what's going on, but we just like having her around.  And I love dressing her up in all of the adorable Christmas outfits.  I have had so much shopping for her and can't wait for her to wear everything!  It will all be posted in the upcoming holiday blogs so stay tuned.  I have actually been really bad about taking pictures because my camera hasn't been working properly.  But I did manage to get a few keepers. Here's our sweet cheeks in action...

Ok, so I know this isn't the greatest picture of her but I love it because you can finally see her neck!  It's rarely seen because it's always blocked by her chubby cheeks and neck rolls...

 

 

My poor baby had her first real cold last week.  She was miserable but she managed to smile through the endless boogers and slobber...

Dylan LOVES to read books.  Jack comes in her room when I am putting her to bed and reads to her.  It's beyond sweet...

Apparently, she also likes to eat books...

 

 

Cold chillin' during her photo shoot!  She reminds me of Gavin here with that cute grin. I swear, it takes 25 shots to get one or two gems.  But the outtakes are classic...

 



 

 

 

I should be smiling but instead I'm showing off my new trick...

 



 

 

Happy girl in her new Christmas jammies...

 



Me and my girl!  I am really into big ole bows right now.  I think they make her look really girly and sweet.  She probably hates them but she'd better get used to them...