Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

Dear Charlie,

This year we got to celebrate Christmas THREE times.  Once at home, again at Grammy and Pa's, and then again at Nana and Papa's.

A couple of weeks before Christmas, we decorated our tree.

A few days before Christmas, you opened up your presents from Dad and me.  I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning putting together this work bench for you.  You love playing with Daddy's tools more than anything, so I thought it was time for you to have your own tools.

Then we went to Grammy and Pa's house.  We took a trip down Christmas Card Lane.

We played in the backyard with your cousins.

On Christmas eve, we opened presents.

Then we went to Nana and Papa's house.  Nana had all of you kids, and some of the adults re-enact the Nativity. Since we had more children than there were costumes, we had to improvise a bit.  You did a great job as the giraffe who worshipped the baby Jesus.

Nana also asked Santa to pay us a special visit so that we could have our matching Christmas jammies.

Christmas morning was pretty crazy with all of you kids tearing open your presents, so I didn't get any pictures.  We did have a wonderful time celebrating Christ's birthday with our family.

Love,
Mom

Rainy Day

Dear Charlie,

When I was a teenager and lived in beautiful San Diego, I used to always dream of living in Seattle because I knew that it rained all the time there and I love the rain.  Now that I’m older . . . I still love the rain!  I don’t really want to live in Seattle anymore, but whenever it rains here in Yuma my heart flutters a little and I want to go outside and dance in the rain.

I waited to take you outside until after the rain had stopped so that we could splash in the puddles.  Watching you and Ella giggle from puddle to puddle is one of my favorite memories.  If ever I’m feeling gloomy, I just need to look at these pictures because they always make me smile.

     

 

Thanks for making rainy days special in a whole new way.

Love,

Mom

Halloween 2013

Dear Charlie,

This year, Ella decided she wanted to be Phineas for halloween.  I wanted you kids to have a themed halloween, so I decided to have you dress up as Ferb and Lily dress up as Perry the Platypus.  Grammy made your pants for you, and I bought some green spray to put in your hair.  You were on board with dressing up as Ferb until it came time to spray your hair green.  I guess that stuff is pretty cold when it comes out, and you were not happy about it.  Daddy had to hold you still while I sprayed your head all over.  It was a struggle, but totally worth it.  You are the sweetest brother any kid could ever ask for, just like Ferb. 

Happy halloween Charlie!

Love,

Mom

Birthday Bash Take Two!

Dear Charlie,

I have a lot of catching up to do, so the next few posts will be brief.

Since Dad was in Texas during your birthday, we waited to have a big party when he got back into town.  On October 3rd, we celebrated your birthday and Ella’s birthday in Valley Center.  Nana and Papa have some friends there who own a little petting zoo and horseback riding place.  Their home was so picturesque.

Your favorite thing to do at the party was hold the chickens.  The only bribe to get you away from the chickens was to tell you that we would be opening presents and eating cake.

   

It was so fun to have your cousins Reese, Everett, Lynlee, Lyla, and Alex at the party too. 

I know we have only celebrated two birthdays with you, but this one was definitely my favorite so far.  I love you my big two year old!

 

Love,

Mom