Resolutions.

I don't make resolutions too often. It's not that I don't believe in them, it's just that I've never really been big on them. I feel differently this year looking ahead. I feel that so much has changed this year and as I look forward to the new year I would like to make some goals for myself and my family. 

2010 has been exciting, stressful, life changing, fun-filled and challenging. 

In 2010...

Ethan played in the snow for the first time. 

We went on our first camping trip as a family.

I quit my job to become a full time stay at home mom.

We spent a day at Disneyland for the first time together. 

Brett took a new position at work.

Ethan turned 2 and his personality has grown beyond words. 

We welcomed Jacob into our lives. 

Before my own eyes my baby was no longer a baby anymore, but a big brother. 

We've slept very little.

I've watched my boys love one another. 

I fell in love with a tiny baby smile and giggle all over again. 

2010 has not been easy for me. While there have been many wonderful things that have taken place, obviously, it's also been a hard one. So I'm looking forward to 2011.

In 2011...

I want to eat better for myself and my family.

Take life less seriously.

Get Ethan potty trained. (This will have to happen. He has no choice.)

Go on a mini-vacation with Brett, alone, no kids. 

Learn more about the pictures I am taking and how to edit them.

Read more.

Step outside my comfort zone and try something totally different and new. 

Communicate better with Brett. 

Go to church.

Make lasting memories as a family of four. 

So long 2010, it was a year of great change and growth, and now it's time to jump into 2011 with enthusiasm and excitement.

Happy New Year!

Close-ups.

Yesterday Ethan was acting silly.

And Jacob was "dancing" in his bouncer. 

In this last picture I love the way Jacob is looking at Ethan. 

I hope he always loves him as much as he does today, and visa versa.

Christmas Festivities.

I've been so busy this Christmas season. 

I thought I'd share some pictures to get caught up on what we were doing over the past couple of weeks.

We prepared for Christmas by painting,

baking,

making gingerbread houses,

playing in the rain,

and being super cute.

Christmas Eve was spent at my parent's house. We ate a ton, drank a bit and enjoyed time spent with family.

We started our Christmas morning by singing happy birthday to Jesus and opening gifts from Santa. 

By the time we were done opening gifts our living room looked like this.

Then we played outside until Brett's family came over to celebrate Christmas. 

It was our first time having Christmas at our house and it was great. 

We opened gifts, ate good food and the kids had a blast playing together. The bouncer was a hit!

I was even lucky enough to get a picture of all the Lewis kids looking at the camera at the same time. 

Christmas was so fun this year because of Ethan. He was so excited about Santa and his reindeer, all his new presents, spending time with his family and going to parties. I can't even imagine how fun next year will be.

Cutest Kids I Know.

My mom wanted a picture of her four grandkids for her Christmas card.

She picked one where they were all smiling.

I would have picked this one. 

 Merry Christmas!

Tiny Hands.

I seriously could eat up his little fingers.

Christmas at Our House.

Christmas this year is going to be at our house.

It's a first for us.

We usually go to my in-laws house Christmas day but they had major water damage happen to their condo and to make a long story short, they have no home for a couple of months. Yikes!

So Christmas will be celebrated at our house this year. 

I'm pretty excited because I love having people in the house, we love to cook and the biggest bonus of all, I don't have to pack up the kids and go anywhere. Woop, woop!!

This week I plan on baking a ton, cooking, wrapping, listening to Christmas music, and spending an obscene amount of time with my family. 

So while we prepare to celebrate at our house I thought I'd share how we decorate to get in the festive spirit.

The last little ornament is my new favorite. As a new tradition, I plan on making at least one ornament a year with my kids, as long as they will let me. 

 

What are your Christmas plans this year? 

Have you started any new traditions?

And just because he's way too cute...

You Know.

You know you're a stay at home of two small children when...

*you can't remember the last time you washed your hair.

 

*you can't remember the last time you shaved your legs.

 

*it's noon and you haven't brushed your teeth.

 

*most of your clothes have spit up stains on them.

 

*you constantly are in a swaying motion as if you are holding a child 24/7.

 

*you're still in your jammies and it's time for bed.

 

*you say "jammies".

 

*you haven't talked to an adult all day.

 

*you can't go to the bathroom in peace.

 

*you know every Disney movie by heart.

 

*you realize at 2pm that you never ate lunch, and come to think of it, breakfast too.

 

*you've done 7 loads of laundry in 2 days and yet the hamper is still full.

 

*your sink is filled with sippy cups, bottles and...wine glasses, lots of them.

It's a glamorous job. 

Ok, well maybe not, but it's one I wouldn't trade for the world.

Around Here...

We've been kind of lazy and home quite a bit which has been nice.

The boys haven't been feeling the greatest, they both have runny noses and Ethan has a good little cough happening. Then Brett had some kind of 24 hour bug, so we've been home. Luckily I have been pretty healthy but I'm tired. I've had 3 days with little sleep and it's starting to get to me a little, but I'm hopeful that tonight will be better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

So since we've been home we've been...

hanging out in our PJ's,

baking,

cooking,

doing tummy time,

watching movies,

decorating,

and loving each other.

The Boys Room.

It's finally done! 

It has taken forever to get the boys room finished. Ethan finally decided to start sleeping in his "big boy" bed about a month ago so we were able to put the crib back together and get it ready for Jacob. Hopefully Jacob will start sleeping better through the night so he can actually sleep it.

Here is the finished product.

 

I love it!

And big thanks to my sister Amy for the lovely artwork.