What could be better?

Is there anything better than playing on the swing set with Grandpa?

Yes....finding someone to rake up all the leaves around the swingset.

Anyone???

Sweet Dreams

What is it about taking pictures of sleeping babies and children?


Really what is it about taking pictures of anything sleeping? Why is it so fun? I have taken pictures of Steve sleeping may times and every time I do, I chuckle. Why??? Hmmm...

While you ponder that, I will share with you a few pictures of Matty napping.
Lately he has been putting his hands behind his head to sleep, which I think is hilarious.



Can't you just eat him up!!!!

I cannot wait to show him these when he is a teenager. He will say, "Why would you take pictures of me sleeping?" And I will say, "I don't know. I think it is cute."

To which he will roll his eyes and wonder why he has such a crazy mother.

I can't wait!!

Go Broncos!!! Or not

New Years weekend was filled with a lot of relaxation and getting things done. Except for Sunday, Sunday was a day we will surely never forget.

Steve got the thrill of his life and got a field pass from our realtor and good friend for the Broncos game. That means he was on the field for 1 hour before the game watching the players practice. He spoke with one of our best defensive players, Dawkins, for about 30 seconds and he got some high fives from some other players. Steve will definitely never forget this once in a life time opportunity, being right next to his favorite team while they were getting ready to play a game. After that thrill Steve settled in to his seats and watched the awful game the Broncos played. Apparently, Steve's presence did not help the Broncos at all. But, I can't say much, I was at the game also.

Several of our friends and myself went to the game as well and sat separate from Steve. Not only did we not get field passes, but we also were about 20 rows from being in the last row, furthest from the field. Never the less, it was a fantastic time, even with the embarrassing loss.

In case you are wondering, Matthew stayed home, he has yet to experience his first Broncos game. Though I know it will happen soon and will be just the beginning of his life filled with Denver Broncos football.

Sunday was bittersweet. It was more fun that I could handle, yet was very sad because the Broncos season is now over.

Thank God for a new fresh year. I am very excited and optimistic to see what will happen this year. Even if I know the Broncos will NOT win the super bowl this year.

What is up with the lower lip?

This is not a good picture of either of us, but I am trying to explain to you all what is going on with my son's lower lip. Lately, he has been using for 2 reasons:

1. To make the goofy face like the one above when I am trying to take a picture of him or when I smile at him.

2. To get his way and make me feel guilty.

The 2nd reason is the one that is troubling me the most. He has discovered that when he is upset, sad, or not getting his way he can stick out his quivering little lower lip and make mommy (that's me) melt in to a puddle on the floor.

I wish I could get a picture of this thing he does, because it is so absolutely adorable and so funny!!

Where he learned to do this, I do not know. I stopped doing that when I was 8 years old. It must be an innate talent that all children have- to pout using your lower lip and get your way.

Now before you all think I am an awful mother, know that the lower lip did not work for long. He has done it too much for me to melt in a puddle everytime and once I figure out his "little game" I make sure I win everytime. But it still has become very hard to discipline him or ever be mad at him when he sticks out that lower lip. Oh geez... this kid is smarter than I thought!!!

Dear Matthew

Dear Matthew,

I am thrilled that we were blessed with many, many fun Christmas toys for you to play with. I will always remember the joy in your face when you were opening and playing with all your new toys.

However I would like for you to realize the sacrifice I am making with all these toys. I have been losing sleep and chewing my nails more than ever in the last few days as I think about and stare at the toys taking over my house. I am running out of room and my clean, orderly house has turned in to a disorderly Toys R Us.

You will understand as you grow up that mommy enjoys order and cleanliness. And since having you, mommy has had to bite her lip, take a deep breath, and "just let it be" on numerous occasions because of you and your toys. So...with that said, You are welcome, Matthew.

Oh... and I should also mention; thank you, Matthew, for teaching me patience I never knew I had and for showing me that spending time playing with you, laughing with you, and cuddling with you is more important than my house being clean.

Love,

Mommy

Merry Christmas!!!

What makes a Christmas morning perfect?





Husband and son in their jammies, sitting around the Christmas tree eating breakfast,

Opening a present and finding a toy train,

Having a fire going in your fireplace,

Opening presents sent from your great grandma,

Opening books and immediately reading them,

Opening a present and finding Hulk Hands,

Snow on the mountains,

Being so exhausted from Christmas morning that you fall asleep on your way to Grandma and Grandpa's, with your new toy train in your hand, of course.

Merry Christmas!! I hope your Christmas was all you ever dreamed of.

Santa

It has been a long time since I blogged. I took a little break. Nothing exciting going on or any real reason for the break, I just didn't really feel like blogging :)

I wanted to share my thoughts on Santa Claus. I never thought about Santa Claus so much in my life as I have in the past month or 2. Because I have a child, I began thinking about what my exact position on Santa Claus was, I wanted to find out the exact origin of Santa Claus and as it turned out, there are MANY, MANY stories about the origin. Each website claiming the origin of this jolly, round man was different, some drastically different.

Most all agreed that he was a patron saint who was a very good saint and did good things for children. This was the only common thread. Many different parts of the world claim him and all claim he did different good things. All in all, he wasn't a bad man and his origins are not evil or bad in any way.

The problem that I have with Santa Claus is that he has been so commercialized and so saturated in to the American culture that Christmas has become all about Santa Claus. In reality the origin of Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with Santa Claus. This is what bothers me. Christmas is Jesus' birthday- end of story. Bringing Santa in to the picture clouds the TRUE meaning of Christmas and makes Christmas all about presents even further, which should not happen.

Also, has anyone truly thought about the fact that parents are flat out lying to their kids? Why is this huge lie, a lie that forces parents to make up fantastic stories about a fake man, so ingrained in to our culture?

I am not putting parents who do the whole "Santa Claus thing" down. Please don't think that, I definitely think the "Santa Claus thing" is kind of fun and exciting and does bring a certain amount of magic to the season. I just think it is a very interesting tradition that Americans have come up with, so interesting that it has caused me to think about it in depth for the last month.

Also, I wanted to apologize in advance to any parents whose kids may be around my son. I am so sorry if he tells them that Santa doesn't exist. I truly don't want to shatter your kids innocence or destroy their Christmas magic. But I am going to do my best to instill that innocence and that magic in to my son using another person named Jesus.

I will get off my soapbox now.

Thank you for listening.