the docks

This is probably the last of my Christmas-y posts :(

Last night we got to go to lake Coeur d'Alene and walk around the boardwalk. The Christmas lights are SO beautiful there. I slowed the entire group down with all of my picture taking. The boys weren't as into it as I was ;) In fact, Steve didn't even really want his picture taken. Something about being around his brothers. Or something.

"You know," he said, "I'm really a good sport about this stuff."

It's true; he is. :)

Anyway, I'm sad that Christmas is over, but I'm happy people keep their lights up until after New Years!

Tomorrow for New Years Eve we're going ice skating! Which is one of my favorite things to do!! We'll see if it is as fun with a baby who can't even walk yet......;)

And here are some pictures of Cole with his Grandpa Brent which I took last week. Aren't they cute?

Cole gets a lot of attention around here. I'm so grateful to have such wonderful in-laws!

Sisters Christmas video

We've kind of posted our sisters Christmas video everywhere already, but I thought I should put it on my blog too! Doing this video together was one of the funnest things we've done as sisters I think :)

And I was blown away with Jake's mad skills. He seemed to put it all together with such ease, although I'm sure it's not as easy as it looks!

Merry Christmas from us!! :)

Best Christmas EVER!!

This Christmas has been planned for the past year! We were so lucky to be able to be together as a family for Christmas this year. Will's family, (Marie's in-laws) were so generous to let us spend the holiday weekend at their lake house here in Washington.

We had a blast. Not only was the house we stayed in absolutely amazing (indoor pool!!), but it was so fun to see my mom and dad, brothers and sisters again after a very long time. I hadn't seen my brothers since my wedding!

We got some cute pictures of the grandparents with their FIVE grandchilden. Craziness.

We ate nutella for breakfast and lunch everyday (well, at least I did).

My mom and my sisters made the most wonderful meals every night and I even helped make Jesus' birthday cake! :)

My favorite, though, was how Cole wasn't really all that interested in the toys he got from Santa (bath toys and a mini foam football). He thought that the box full of packing peanuts from someone's else gift was much more interesting!! That's what he played with/in allllll morning! I guess Santa will know for next year ;)

It was so sad when our little weekend ended and we had to say goodbye to my mom, dad, Christian, Lissie and Bryant. *tear* I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! :)

Happy first birthday, Cole!

Today was Cole's actual first birthday!

And as promised, here are pictures from his second first birthday party :)

Gran Yvonne and Uncle Ben made those adorable cupcakes; they're circus animals (animal crackers) in their cages! I thought they were clever!

Cole especially liked the accordion that Gran Yvonne played for him as we sang him Happy Birthday. He would dance to the music which was completely adorable :)

The minute we gave him that cupcake to eat though, he started bawling. AGAIN! hahaha. I have no idea what the deal was. I think he didn't like the sticky frosting?! Or something. Anyway, he didn't even have a nibble of that cupcake. 

He got quite a bit of attention though. All. day. long. ;)

I know all moms say this, but I really can't believe that it's been an entire year already! It's been such a wonderful year. Probably the best of my entire life. Cole brings so much happiness to our lives. We are so thankful for him. It was so fun to celebrate his one year of life and birth today. For the second time ;)

Happy Birthday munchkin! We love you so much!

And here are the two birthday videos!

Cole's first birthday party!!

We had SOO much fun today at Cole's birthday party! Thanks to everyone that came!

I took about a million pictures. Yep. Just about.

And here they are! This isn't all of them, but I thought this would be enough. For now :)

It was so fun to watch Cole destroy that cupcake. He ate hardly any of it. He didn't really know what to do with it since it was the first time I'd ever given him anything like that to eat. So he played with it a bit, while everyone watched...and when he FINALLY took that first little nibble, his audience cheered and clapped for him! The sudden noise scared him, so he started bawling. haha. Classic.

He also didn't crack a smile once. I think all the newness was throwing him off!

After "eating" his cupcake, we opened presents!!

When he pulled the little foam basketball out of the gift bag from his mom&dad, he got all wide-eyed and held it up in the air! He was so excited to get a ball! It was adorable :)

My friend Alise made that adorable tie for him and my friend Meredith made that adorable hoodie! Thank you to everyone who got him presents! It was so sweet of you guys :)

Now, we are off to Washington on Monday, and Tuesday is Cole's actual birthday...and I have a feeling there will be another party while we are there. So, more birthday pictures to come!! 

Let it snow

It was thunder and lightning alll day yesterday so I don't think it will snow any time soon here!

That is why I am totally counting on Washington being covered in snow when we get there next week and you better believe that I will take lots of pictures of it!! :)

I made these snow globes and I LOVE them! Remember when I was asking what I should do with all my jars? Well, I saw these Christmas tree jars all over Pinterest and in REAL LIFE at Anthropologie, which is where everyone seems to have gotten the idea from. Aren't they cute? :)

Anyway, we are less than a day away from Cole's big birthday bash!! Getting excited over here. I still have a million things to do so I better get crackin'. I'm sure I will be back tomorrow with loooots of pictures!