"I'm Three!"

   This past year Kyle got invited to enough birthday parties to make him realize that a) parties are fun b) the birthday boy/girl gets to blow out candles and c) he couldn't wait until his own! Knowing the candle would be the highlight for him was music to this craft-phobic mother's ears. We had a small, low-key party that left me feeling satisfied. The kids were good, Kyle felt special and the stress was minimal.

  We actually had to switch parks last minute because they were cleaning the ramadas at the park we had planned. My sincere apologies go out to the family I forgot to call!!!! That's my head these days.

We had pin-the-tail on Bullseye:

We ate pizza from the Pizza Planet, Kyle's favorite ambrosia salad and juice.

 When the kids arrived the first thing I had them do was assemble their Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head bags.

My favorite one was Emmie's (she's sitting next to Kyle). She wanted a mustache on her Mrs. Potato Head. Ha!

What good use is an empty bag? Enter the pinata. We did not want to pay $20 for a pinata. Luckily Tim found a store near his school that specializes in pinatas. I was sad to know this cute guy wouldn't be with us long.

I made this big so you could see Kyle's smile. Who wouldn't love an excuse to hit something?

LOVE that she matches the pinata! hah! She came dressed as a cute cowgirl.

The kids even got a second round. The pinata was with us for much longer than I expected.

Then Tim came in and did some damage. 

What I called the, "You Have Been Chosen," cupcakes.

When blowing out the candle is the biggest deal to you, it's pretty upsetting when the kid next to you blows it out instead. haha! This happened last year too. Poor Kyle. The crying face hasn't changed!

 

As you can see below, with the wind it took some work to get the candles lit again. I was really nervous it wasn't going to happen.

But it did and my big 3 year old was back to being happy again.

Poor Nolan Bear was very tired. Nothing was amusing to him.

So he helped himself to some tissue paper.

Kyle got spoiled by all his friends, grandparents and cousins. Thank you to everyone! He loved the phone calls and cards. I think the only thing he missed was his friend Hugh. He told most of my family members that, "Hugh is in UT," when they asked about his party. We ended the night at his personal favorite, Chick-fil-A. I love my big boy Kyle. It was so fun to have a day where he felt so special.

Sigh.

I don't deal with stress well. Well, I don't think I freak out too much, but the problem is that food becomes my BFF when I'm stressed. Once again, really wishing I were a runner and that a  "good run" would make me feel better. Instead I scour the pantry, empty my purses and diaper bag and create "treats" when I can't find them. The leftover pinata filling? Check. Marshmallows? Check. Frosting and graham crackers? Check.

As you may notice, I'm desperate for anything sweet.

  It's horrible because I know that I'm doing it, but it's hard to stop! Wow, I really am sounding like an addict. I guess my point is, if you notice me ballooning over the next month and then again as we approach May, you'll know why. And please, don't offer the poor girl dessert.

  We're getting our house ready to sell, Nolan has decided to be anti-sleep (four incoming teeth- probably part of the problem) and Kyle asks me every morning, "Where we going today Mom?" He 98% of the time doesn't nap and that just down right breaks my heart. This is going to be a year of change for our little Ray family.

  We really are enjoying life now, and maybe that's part of the problem. In just a few months we will be out of our comfort zone and in the "real world." Packing up our belongings, Tim taking the bar, finding a job, etc. It'll be great!

For now I've got to go run.... to the kitchen.


Some recent photo booth favorites:

 Caught in the act!

Dear Kyle,

  You are the first to call me, "Mama."

 

It was after your delivery that my life would forever be changed. 

You have made me laugh, cry, laugh, cry and laugh again. 

You are independent. You want to do things "All my byself!"
You love an audience. I love hearing you say, "Hey Mama, watch me!"
You are happiest when playing with friends.
You are sensitive to how I and others around you are feeling. You will ask, "Mama, you sad?" or, "You smiling at me?"
You love to be outside. Riding your bike and kicking the soccer ball make you so happy.
You don't like to share with Nolan, but you do like when he laughs at you.
You love soda just like your dad and it embarrasses me how often you ask for it.
You memorize books quickly so that you can read the same one over and over to us for over a month at a time.
You sing off tune, "You've Got a Friend in Me," and even hum parts. I think the next instrument you want is a ukelele.
You like to dress comfortably, just like your mom. It took some convincing to get you to wear jeans, and now that you think they make you extra fast we had to buy another pair.
You rarely talk quietly. The only time you are willing to whisper is sometimes when I'm nursing Nolan at night and the lights are dim.
You can often be found copying anything your dad is doing.
You wear your Cardinals hat all the time and like to try on different hats at the hats store.
You are really good at puzzles and love everything Toy Story.
You love being with your cousins.
You bite your nails so much and I'm worried this habit will be hard to break. Please stop soon!
You always want a berry smoothie and hot dog when we go to Costco.
You are very into routines.
You like to participate in and have Family Home Evening.
You remember the smallest details.
You usually always want to say the prayer over dinner and you always start by saying, "Ready guys?!"
You like Miini-wheats for breakfast, only eat the frosting off of donuts, and still won't eat PB&J or macaroni and cheese.
You can't wait for your birthday party. You told me you would have, "a Toy Story burfday party, and blow out the candle and it'll be fun!"

Well my little monster, your birthday has finally come. I hope your 3rd birthday is better than your first:

And that it's everything you've been anticipating (which has been a lot, for a long time!)

I love you.

Love,

Mom

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas Miracle

During sacrament meeting on Sunday Kyle wanted to hold Nolan.

Whaaaat?

Granted, Nolan is over six months old, but this was the first time Kyle ever wanted to hold him. We were trying to stay reverent but went ahead and let Kyle do it. How could I not?? Kyle was giggling as Nolan grabbed at him and pulled at him. Tim and I kept giving each other the look that said, "What in the world is going on? Is this really happening?" He did it again tonight so I grabbed my phone.

Oh that just makes my heart so happy! All I can think about sometimes is this day:

And Kyle saying, "No! No want it! No thank you!" as he met his brother for the first time :).

This video shows Nolan Bear making his new noise of the day, specifically at the end:

I cut his hair on Sunday just on the top in an effort to be able to spike it up in the front. I don't think I like it! Not only is it terribly uneven, but Nolan was born with a part in his hair and that's the way I always picture him in my head. Maybe it'll just take time.

I've been meaning to do a six-month post on Nolan, but time is quickly escaping me these days. Before I forget-- At his six month appointment he was an ounce shy of 23 lbs. and 28.5 inches long.

We love this little guy, and his big brother too!

Plump Like Santa

It's almost Sunday! I'm so excited because that means this week is almost over with! Wohoo! Yes, our week was that bad. Sick kiddos, Dad studying for finals, exhausted Mama- we seem to always have these experiences around finals time. Poor TRay has to deal with it all and keep his mind focused on finals. Kyle has cried for Tim the past three days with statements like, "I want my Dada! I want my Dada every time!," "Mama, I call Dada and tell him he has to come home now," "Dada has to study at home? Dada study in Nolan's room?" He can't wait for some time with Tim-- me neither!
 
 A highlight was on Friday when the kids were temporarily recovered, we went to see Santa! Nolan loved it and Kyle was just excited to see his friend named Kyle, whom he lovingly calls, "Two Kyles." Seriously, he'll ask, "Where'd Two Kyles go?"

 That was as close as Kyle got. He yelled that he wanted a spider for Christmas (thanks cousin Sadie for planting the idea) and then ran off to be with Two Kyles.

Ok, have you seen anything cuter?

These were taken within an hour of getting his six months shots. Hence why the bottom half of his clothes are missing. I just couldn't bring myself to squeeze those thighs into his pants and worry I'd hurt them. He's the best baby!
  Thanks to my friend Liz for quickly snapping the photos. Liz recently moved here from AZ (instant bond) and has a photography business. Check her out!

Here's to a better week filled with more holiday spirit and less whining and kleenexes!