Hello December

Hello December! How did this happen so quick. Last week we were eating turkey and making grandma's stuffing. Now we are making Christmas list, shopping, staying cozy inside while it's freezing outside. Christmas is going to be here in no time and I'm excited for it. Wren still doesn't really have any idea what's going on, but she loves seeing lights, dancing to Christmas music, and really hates Santa. Here's to the past couple of weeks (go to my Instagram for more pictures whitneyras) and more to look forward too:

*New couch means extra cuddling under Christmas quilts

*Black Friday was actually really fun when you miss the crowds and go with your twin

*Seeing the lights before it become 0 degrees outside

*Happy St Nick Day

*Cousin night in just a few days

*Yoga and more yoga

*Loving this album and a few songs for my yoga classes

*This bowl..thanks Marta

*Christmas cards (will post soon)

*Christmas parties & traditions

Even though this month is cold, gets super busy and super crazy, it's one of my favorite times and it's so much fun with my little Wrenny baby running around and actually reacting to seeing things for the very first time. 

Happy December

Halloween

Wren did it..she wore her costume 3 times last week and didn't scream once.. I'm a happy mom. Halloween is one of those fun holidays that I look forward to every year. We spent this week with our families, carving pumpkins, roasting hotdogs with grandpa, seeing cousins, eating doughnuts, trick or treating with friends and stuffed our face with white bean chicken chili. It was a good week.

Happy Halloween

Happy 4th of July

4th of July-2013

Friday's & Father's

Happy Friday Happy almost Father's day. 

This past week I've been thinking a lot of how grateful I am for dads. I have a real tender spot for my dad. He's a sensitive guy and when I think of him, I even get teary eyed. He's one of those dads that truly knows how to fix anything and everything. He has brain washed his kids into working hard and not smacking our food while we eat. My life has been pretty great with this guy raising me and caring about me. I sure am blessed to be his daughter and Wren is sure blessed to have him as a grandpa...Speaking of my little Wrenny. This 16 pound babe is a little daddy's girl. She loves her dad and he loves her right back. Words really cannot describe how perfect of a dad Jason is. I told him the other day that he was born to be a dad...and it shows every time they are together. I am a blessed girl..life is just a little sweeter right now and tomorrow this little family of mine is going to fly to Idaho for a little outdoors fun and I'm excited.

Happy Weekend and Happy Birthday Grandma June...I miss you every single day.

Easter & Spring

Wren & I-Easter egg hunt

 Happy Easter Happy blue skies Happy warm weather we've been having. Spring is here and making me happy. I can't wait until the days become warmer, but until then I'm happy with what we are having. Wren has been loving these days too. So curious about everything, so happy to be outside. Being 10 months now she has quite the personality. She's so busy, so happy and she's the best thing about my day. Easter weekend was spent outside, hiking, taking walks, drinking some jamba and finding some Easter eggs. It was the best spending it with family. This week little Wren got croup and much hasn't been going on except me holding and rocking this babe of ours. She's one sick little babes who still smiles in between her coughing and her naps and is only truly happy when we are outside.

Happy Spring

Wren finding her first Easter eggs

At Dad's work watching airplanes fly by

Playing under the blanket 

Oh sweet love

Happy Valentines Day

2012 Recap

My favorite moments of 2012

January-we found out our little babe is a girl

February-turning 30 and celebrating with the best of the best

March-Moab camping trip with my hubby, our friends and my 6 month baby belly

April-celebrating this new little babe with the cutest shower hosted by my sister and my cousin Marta

May-finishing teaching my yoga class and nesting...I was just so excited and ready to meet our babe

June-the first day of June..I became a mom and met my daughter face to face which is one of the greatest moments of my life. 

July-celebrating the 4th with the new babe and family. One of my favorite holidays

August-blessed our little babe had a lot of love and support from both of our families

September-starting to teaching yoga again..mixing my old and new life of being a mom and watching this little one continuing to grow and amaze me every single day 

October-celebrating another year with the hubby

November-Wren's first Thanksgiving..being so thankful for her, for Jas, our families

December-Christmas with the bird..life just got more sweeter

January 1

Happy New Year and Happy 7 months baby Wren! 

A year ago today I was 17 weeks pregnant and just had my gall bladder taken out. Jas and I celebrated that New Years in the hospital..I remember those days were pretty painful and I was terrified that something was going to happen to my little babe. Fast forward a year later this little babe of ours celebrated her first Christmas and New Years being a healthy active little one. I can't wait to see what this year brings and how a year from now I'll look back and see how much this little one has grown has changed. 

I'm hoping this coming year I'll let go of any expectations and be less critical of myself. 

I will snuggle this babe of mine more and maybe not stress so much on doing the dishes and cleaning the apartment. 

I'm hoping 2013 will be a year where we will finally find the perfect home for our little family, with that said I also need to be more content. 

I'm hoping everyday this year I'll be a better mom, but take it day by day and know that I'm learning. I'm overwhelmed with love and appreciation for that hubby of mine not only last year did he hold my hand and helped me with that dang surgery but he is one good dad and an amazing husband to me.

I'm thinking this is going to be a good year. 

Happy January 1st

Merry Christmas

I can't believe tomorrow is Christmas. Weren't we just celebrating Halloween? It is has come quickly and we have been busy...busy with family parties, wrapping presents, quilt binding, watching my little babes scooting all over the place. It's true the holidays are much more fun with my little one around even if she has no clue what's going on. I was telling Jas as we were driving home from Fountain Green yesterday how I can't wait to really start more traditions with my little babe...and see her excitement as we get ready for Christmas. 
This time of year is really a great time. It's snowing out side as I'm typing this, the babes asleep dreaming of something sweet with the simple smile on her face. It's a perfect Christmas eve morning and I love spending this time of year with family, seeing friends and watching my little family grow. I'm so blessed. 

So to one grateful girl to the next..Merry Christmas

so many thanks

There are so many things that I'm thankful for. These two are my happiness and the loves of my life. 

I cannot picture my life without them and am blessed every single day for how they impact my life.

Thanksgiving was a great day and was so pretty (look at that blue sky). 

Before we did any food making or traveling down to our mom's we went on a walk with our little bird. Just the three of us.

It was one of those good mornings with my family which gets me thinking how grateful I am for everything.

We had a great Thanksgiving (more pictures to come) with our families which I am so grateful for. It was a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Steel Cut for the soul

Ever since we went to Tulie Bakery on that wintery morning... Jas and I have been dreaming of steel cut oatmeal and have taken upon ourselves to recreate this breakfast daily. We are now a huge fan of John McCann Steel Cut's and I have this meal everyday..sometimes twice a day. It's the best. Last night Jas and I ate some oats and started watching Lord of the Rings, it takes us a few weeks to get through all 3 since we are both exhausted and fall asleep half way through (jas made it 30 minutes in). Wren woke up as I was getting ready for yoga. She was way to happy for being so early and I envy that quality. It's hard not to smile at this happy babe so ready for the day. I left her with the sleepy dad and taught my only 2 classes this week. I spent the day at Abby's telling Nick, Jake & Sam stories and looking at fabric with Abby (she is one talented little lady.. more on that later). Wren is still asleep from her afternoon nap and when she wakes up I'm sure going to snuggle that little babes.

Tomorrow I'm preparing our stuffing which always reminds me of my Grandma DeSpain and I'll make another pan special for my dad (less carrots he says). I will also try and tackle homemade pie..crust, filling the works. Wish me luck since the pro at pie crust will be flying all day... Lets just say I'm a little nervous. 

Can't wait to spend Thanksgiving with my family and knowing this is Wren's first.. holidays are more fun with little kiddos even if the babes only 5 months and has no clue what's going on.

Happy Almost Thanksgiving

Halloween

Mel as cute Dorothy, Wren, Abby, & Dracula Jake 

Pumpkins for each kiddos

We had a Halloween party over at my moms last night which was so much fun. We roasted hot dogs, ate doughnuts, apple and dip, cider and carved pumpkins. The little kids had so much fun. 

Thanks mom & dad it was a blast!

Sam, Dracula & the Lion

Dylan as the Lion

Roasting hotdogs 

Minnie Mouse & Grandma

Carving pumpkins

Wren & Dylan

Gramps & Wrenny
Happy Halloween!

Carnival

Abby & Jake

Last week my sister Abby hosted a carnival for the little kiddos in our family. It was a hit and the kids had so much fun. Abby has the cutest house and spent so much time and energy for this party. Her and Marta pulled it off and I can't wait to do again next year...(ps..go to here and here for more pictures, I'm the nerd that forgot her camera so thank you Marta for sending these to me.)

Here's what we did:

Food/Treats:
Tomato basil soup with mini grilled cheese
crackers & cheese
Cotton candy & caramel popcorn (because every carnival has to have cotton candy)
Yummy trail mix
Apples & dip
Frankenstein pudding
mummy juice box
Apple Cider with cinnamon sticks

Stations/Activities:
Pumpkin balloon dart game..which I couldn't do without the hubby a big thanks to Jas 
(again go here and see how to do here)
Cookie decorating..mom made some amazing sugar cookies
Wrap the mummy
Plinko & Bean bag toss
Tattoos & counting the candy jar game
A carnival also needs a scary story which our Aunt Marty always does best.

It was so much fun being with our family and seeing the little kiddos have so much fun.

Happy Carnival

Wren & Seth

Mummy juicbox

Abby putting the last finishing touches before the party begins

Climbing in the Unitas

Wren & I-watching the boys climb

Cozy Wren, Jas & Jp

Jas climbing

Little Miss Wren

Dad & the babes

By 7 pm she was done climbing..she had been so patient with us
Happy Labor Day

4th

Jake, Wren & Sam

Aunt Abby with baby Wren

Wren & Sam love each other
Happy 4th of July

Easter Egg Hunt & a rock climb

Easter egg hunt
little nephews
a lot of candy
brunch with the family
oatmeal apple sauce muffins
a rock climb
lunch with friends
errands with the hubby
birthday dinner for Lee
bean & cheese burrito
sleeping in
warm sunny day
baby's heart beat & a few kicks

Happy Easter Sunday

Christmas

Hopefully everyone had a good holiday. Mine was filled with a new apartment, a new camera, date night, family parties, little kids, baking, snuggling, playing games, and enjoying the holiday season with family & friends. 
                                              Here's some proof of a very Merry Christmas.

Me & the hubby

Sam

Dylan

Rasmussen fruit tree

baby Henry with Uncle Jas

Christmas morning at my mom's

omelet king
I look forward to this breakfast every year