We love the Holidays!

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year.  We love getting to celebrate the birth of our Savior with our families.  This year we went all the way up to Kendrick where Nate's family lives.  We had such a relaxing and fun time.  The babies traveled well and were big fans of the wrapping paper and bows this year.  

 Grandmas got them all matching pajamas!

 Santa came to Cooper Norman where Nate works.

Babies definitely keep us on our toes during the day and wiped out at night, but they are such a joy.  Celebrating Christmas had so much more meaning for me this year as I pondered the birth of my Savior and the blessings his life, death, and resurrection have granted me.  I am so grateful for eternal families!

New hats!

Cade and Claire were not only so excited to get their first package in the mail just for them, they love their new hats Mama Sue and Papa Terry mailed them.  They fit perfect and will be great for the cold winter months here in Idaho!  I just love them.  (They are still struggling on maintaining a sitting position, even with the help of the bumbo...they are getting there though!)

Thanksgiving Break

I was lucky enough to spend the week with my family in Boise while Nate had to stay behind and work. Our week was eventful, but by eventful I really mean baby busy.... it was not quite as easy to accomplish our to do list of activities this year.

We did manage a baking day and Cade and Claire were our little helpers.  They made sure we had plenty of breaks.  I got to have my very first massage, real massage (it had been a gift from Nate almost a year ago), and I got to go to lunch with some of my friends from high school.  I think the restaurant would have loved to have kicked us out after chatting for at least 2 hours, but it was so great to catch up.  We also made sure to take part in the Black Friday shopping.  Nate and I both scoped out a gift for each other and hit the stores.  We can say that we got what we went for but the real question is... was it worth it?

Our adventures began at 11:30 pm.  After my 3 hour nap I woke up rearing to go. we got in line for a half hour and got our intended purchases and were done about 1 or 1:30.  Now that was perfect, but foolishly we didn't stop there.  We thought we could handle more. So we browsed, ate at Sharis at 2:30 in the morning and then decided to stand in line for who knows what at Sports Authority for 2 hours for a silly gift card that we did get, but 2 hours!  We stood in line for 2 hours for no particular purchase except the mere experience of standing in line with a whole bunch of people doing the same crazy thing as we were. And all the while our children were sleeping at grandmas with their aunt Sarah.  Let's just say it was the day after, sleeplessly caring for the babies, that I was rethinking our decision for an all nighter!!!

 Cade hanging out with his cousin Hudson and Grandma.

 Grandma bought all the grandchildren matching turkey day outfits!

 We had such a good Thanksgiving with family, and I just love Boise, but it was good to be home.  We even got to put up our Christmas tree and decorations for family night.  I just love how cozy a Christmas tree makes our house feel.  I just never want to leave!

Growing like weeds

The babies are growing like weeds and changing everyday!  It has been really fun to witness those changes recently and listen to them coo and giggle and blow bubbles while they play with their toys.  Claire has also discovered her feet and will grab them and then pound them on the ground!

 Today the two of them put a huge smile on both of their parent's faces...

After Nate got home from work we were watching them play and noticed Cade had rolled over and was rolling back and forth.

 Then later that night we were getting them ready for bed and we both walked in the kitchen to get her bottle and Nate walked back to check on Claire and there she was on her stomach, head held high, smiling.  She too had rolled over.  They both rolled over on the same day!  You think they will be competitive with each other?

                           

                                       Before                             After

We also gave Cade his first haircut!  He looks so grown up (especially in person)!  I gave him the haircut so it is not flawless but he looks adorable.  I just can't believe they are five months old this week!

Happy Birthday Nate 11.11.11

Nate's last year in his 20's...

 Nate celebrated his birthday this year by getting the day off from work and hanging out with the family.  Considering Nate is extremely difficult to shop for since he never asks for anything or really gives any hints for that matter...he got a new hat for his collection and an itunes gift card for his new iphone.  (it is hard enough for me to hold off opening presents until the day of his birthday so naturally we opened them first thing in the morning.

 I definitely made him a birthday cake that I'm not proud to say we almost ate the entire thing between the two of us! ...in one day.

The babies watching daddy open his presents!

We got to play all day and in the evening we were lucky enough to get babysitters and Nate and I got to go out to a movie!

Halloween party animals!

There were Halloween festivities all weekend long with the ward party, neighborhood party (which we didn't even make), and actual Halloween day.

For the Halloween party Nate and I too attempted to dress up like we were from the 80s.  I felt like it was the least we could do since we failed to do the usual pumpkin carving, decorating haunted houses etc.  So there you can see my 80s workout gear...I just think I might wear it more often..I mean look how hot that is! I love the 80s!

 Here are our beautiful babies dressed in their skeleton outfits all tuckered out from partying all night!

 Cade with his smarties...

 And Claire trying to break into the starbursts!

They were true party animals at the Ward Halloween party!

On actual Halloween day we went trick or treating at Cooper Normon, the accounting office where daddy works.  Following that we spent some time with my extended family that lives here in Twin Falls and Buhl.  We celebrated some November birthdays and made tin foil dinners.  The babies were so fun to see in their costumes.  We can't wait for next year when we get to take them trick or treating...hard to imagine them walking...

Eichner Outings

This is the snow leopard that stalked Nate at the Boise ZOO.  It was pretty crazy and funny.  Nate even jumped.  The leopard just acted like he was getting a drink and rolled around but you could tell he had his eye on Nate the whole time until suddenly he sprinted toward him and was of course stopped by the glass as he jumped at him...!

Cade wore his lion outfit for the zoo

and Claire and I wore zebra print.

our little animals, Cade's dressed as a monkey and Claire as a giraffe!

We went as a family to the corn maze.  The babies did great and they stayed awake the entire time...usually they sleep through all our outings, but it did only take us about 20 minutes.  Guess that's why they only charge a dollar.

I call this video giggles...

and this one cooing Cade