Christmas - Evans Family

This year Christmas was with the Evans family. We switch off families each year which basically means we do the major Christmas traditions with one family rather than bouncing back at forth all day. Luckily both of our families are here so we get to see both of them on Christmas day!

Carson opening his presents at Grandma & Papa's house.
Carson checking out his big gift from Grandma & Papa - a sand table.

The highly anticipated Glow Station! He talked about this thing for at least a month before Christmas. Marci's in-laws spent Christmas in Arizona this year and got this for Carson. It was such a sweet gesture and Carson carried the glow stick around all day as well as slept with it that night.

Why is it that kids always love the cheapest gifts!? He was thrilled with this reindeer that pooped out Sugar Babies. Yes, you read that correctly. Happy as always with his Aunt Marci and Uncle Adam.

Getting his Moon Sand all set up. Moon Sand is just about the coolest thing ever! Dave & Gail got him a sandtable and he spends hours playing outside.

Merry & Bright

We started a new family tradition this year with our gifts. Christmas can get out of control with spending and I read a wonderful idea just after Christmas last year and we decided to go with it! Each family member gets four gifts: a need, a want, a wear and a read. Technically, I guess the kids get five gifts because Santa leaves them one gift too! It was perfect! It really made us think about the gifts we chose and kept spending under control. I love our new tradition.

Christmas Morning

It was fun to set up Christmas once our boys went to bed on Christmas Eve! I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE our stockings. I didn't have a stocking growing up (we used my dad's socks) so it's fun to have these festive stockings! Matt's grandma makes them for us.

Blake and Carson checking out Carson's new race track. I love the little smile on Blake's face.

Blake looking thrilled about Christmas morning! Ha. Matt was thrilled. You can see his present hanging above his head to the right. He got a new TV.

Blake with his basketball/football/baseball combo.

Christmas Eve

Gail had planned an evening of fun for Christmas Eve. Full of games and a white elephant gift exchange. I love spending time with family over the holidays.

If you look closely at the whiteboard you'll notice Carson's "Frosty the Snowman" drawing for our Christmas carol Pictionary game. Carson is reinacting how he drew Frosty's face for us.
Carson got the game Operation in our white elephant exchange. He loved it.

I ended up with this very cool Jamaican hat. Carson loved that too!

Carson being goofy as always. Taking a ride on one of Grandma's reindeer. He and Blake tear these things apart every time we are at their house.

Christmas Eve Tradition

Growing up we always got to open a gift on Christmas Eve - pajamas! It's a tradition that I absolutely loved and have carried on with our family. Here we are Christmas Eve opening our special "Christmas jammies" as Carson would call them. Unfortunately, we didn't get a family picture. Note to self: do that next year!

Tempe Lights

Each year I love seeing the temple lights. Matt on the other hand says "I've already seen them" but is a good sport about coming along. Christmas Eve we headed out and had a great time.

The whole Evans crew!
Just the girls...and Blake.

Aunt Marci and Uncle Adam with their very favorite nephews! Carson was NOT in the mood for pictures. If you said anything about a picture he'd turn his head the other way. Blake complied as long as he could suck on his finger.

Uncle Adam + Carson = Best Buddies

These two kept each other entertained over the holidays.

Blake enjoying the Christmas lights at his level.

Major Bubbles!

Taking a bath at Grandma & Papa's house is always a treat for Carson. She puts in the bubbles and turns on the bathtub jets. Talk about a fun time for a four year old!

Santa Claus

Carson & Blake visiting Santa - December 2009

Carson was very excited to go visit Santa this year. Blake just couldn't get over his white beard - he sat and stared. Carson told Santa he has been a good boy and that he wants a Glow Station and a big boy bike. Santa asked what color bike he wanted, so Carson looked down to think, saw Santa's pants and then said, "Red." It was actually pretty funny because Carson wouldn't look at Santa at all! He spoke to him looking straight ahead.

2nd Annual Woolf Family Hayride

Last year my parents started a fun tradition for our family Christmas party. We go on a horse drawn hayride up and down the streets while caroling. So fun! All of the kids (minus Blake) absolutely love it. Blake pretty much screamed the entire ride. Oh well. Maybe he'll enjoy it next year! Christmas this year is considered the "off" year in our family, so we were short nine grandchildren and ten adults. Thanks Mom and Dad for an evening of fun! Any get together with my family is never dull that's for sure!

Conversations with Carson

I have funny conversations on a daily basis with Carson. My mom asks if I'm writing these things down.

• My Papa Snedigar recently passed away. When I told Carson he very seriously and sweetly asked, "Did he go on a space ship to another planet to meet Jesus?"

• Tonight we have a family Christmas party. I told him we need to hurry and get ready. He asked, "So we can go on a hayride!?" I told him yes and he then said, "Mom, but hay doesn't walk."

Excuse me, mister!

I got Blake out of the tub today, got him lotioned up, diapered and clothed. I went to put his jammies away and I heard Carson yell, "Mama, Blake is back in the tub!" Sure enough he hopped right back in with Carson fully clothed. I couldn't help but laugh. Apparently he wasn't ready to get out. He played again for a bit. Carson helped get him and every inch of his clothes really wet and then we got ready again for the day.

Sick Sunday

The past two Sundays at least one of our boys has been sick, so I've stayed home with them. It has actually been fun to be home with no work, no deadlines, no phone calls, no list of things to do, etc. We were sitting eating lunch and I thought to myself how cute my boys are. I'm sure I'm like most moms who think their kids are pretty darn cute. When it comes down to it...family is everything and I'm sure glad these two are mine!

Happy Birthday, Blake!

Happy Birthday, Blake!

This little boy is so sweet and we are grateful to have him in our family. We are doing cupcakes and ice cream tonight with family to celebrate, so I'll post an actual birthday picture tomorrow.

La Di Da Designs Boutique

You won't want to miss this fabulous boutique! Over 40 vendors with darling stuff!

Thursday {tonight} 6-10 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Mustache Contest

Matt is channeling his inner Paul Teutel Sr. from Orange County Choppers. Today Carson keeps saying, "I hope dad wins his whisker contest at work today." Good luck, Matt! We hope you bring home the prize!

Halloween 2009

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween! I know we sure did. Carson loved his mask for about five mintues and then wanted nothing to do with it. Oh well. At least I got one picture of him!

If you asked Carson what he was going to be for Halloween he'd tell you, "a strong super hero with a lot of muscles."
A quick family shot before we headed off for the Halloween parties. Carson was a super hero and Blake was a dinosaur.

My parent's ward has an annual Halloween party, so all the kids that live here get together so the cousins can trick or treat together. It's always lots of fun! Annie came from California with Cohen this year. After trick or treating we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's house for spider cupcakes (as if the kids didn't already have enough sweets). I think Liza won for best adult costume. She was octo-mom. She had babies strapped all over her body. Hilarious.
Way to be festive, Lize.

Trick or Treat

I look forward to every holiday! It always ends up be a bit overwhelming (I'm sure it's my fault too!) but it's so fun to watch our boys. We made the yearly Halloween rounds. We stopped off at Grandma and Papa's ward Halloween party for dinner and then headed to Grandma and Grandpa's ward Halloween party. Always busy!

Carson eating his cotton candy which he called "rotten candy." So funny.

Carson and Papa fighting with the ever so popular glow swords.

So very Blake

A few weeks ago my friend had a little Halloween bash for the kids! She always goes above and beyond for these events. Carson and Rome were too busy destroying her house, but she did get this cute shot of Blake. This sitting position is SO very Blake!

Blake - 10 1/2 Months

Yesterday was a big day for Blake! His first tooth finally came through and he debuted his walking skills.

Feeling a tad behind.

Ugh. I just browsed through the pictures on my camera and yes, I am offically behind on keeping this blog updated. Oh well. Between work, house, kids, etc. I can't always be on top of things, right? We've had a fun/busy last couple months. You'll just have to take my word for it. Here's an updated picture of each boy. Both pictures make me smile.

This is Blake before getting dressed for church on Sunday. He's been a little cranky lately. In his defense his first tooth finally broke through. Can I get a hallelujah!? He also debuted his walking skills last night. He has taken a step here and there, but last night I got it on video! He will be cruisin' around and getting into everything in no time. Time for cabinet locks!
Carson has had a rough few days. He scraped up his neck and back the other day AND burned his hand on our panini press. Is it just my child or does every three/almost four year old never want to wear clothes? He was sporting the above ensemble (if we can call it that) the other day. I asked him, "Why are you dressed like that?" His reponse,"My father taught me." Oh, of course. That's Carson's response for everything. I'm positive Matt didn't teach him to run around in his undies and put Batman pajamas on his head. He definitely wins points for making me laugh. Back to Carson scraping his neck and back. How'd he do that? Well, he climbed up on the kitchen counter and was trying to get some chocolate. He'll tell you this whole story. I hope he learned his lesson.