Hamilton Happenings

The family spent a week in California from January 14th to the 21st.  Our flight from Boise to LA wasn't till 8pm so we got into LA around 9:30pm local time, grabbed our luggage (two suitcases and three carseat boxes), took a shuttle to enterprise car rental, set up the carseats in our rental car, and then drove an hour to Malibu.  We all got to bed around 12:30 that night.  Being able to stay at Deedee and Papa's Malibu condo makes the trip amazing.  Mckenzie and Channing shared a room where Mckenzie tried out a "real" bed for the first time.  Although she still referred to it as her crib.  Then Isaac was in a pack n play in another room.  Justin and I had the master bedroom.  You can see the ocean and hear the waves from this room.  I love the sound of waves crashing. Day 1 in Malibu we took it easy in the morning.  The kids were so excited to be at the beach house.  Justin took Channing out exploring and ended up at the beach....

It was a white Christmas here in Meridian, Idaho.  On Christmas Eve we went to church for an hour and then came home and let Channing and Mckenzie each open one present.  We made peanut butter blossoms for Santa's cookies.  And we wrote letter's to Santa.  We also watched mormon messages about the birth of Christ.  For a few weeks the kids were earning pieces of straw to put in Jesus's manger.  Each good act or deed equaled a piece of straw placed in the manger.  Then on Christmas Eve we placed Jesus in the manger and talked about how all our acts of kindness created a nice, soft bed for baby Jesus to lay in.  It was a great visual for them.  (I got this idea from my Relief Society last year.) Making cookies. Mckenzie opened a book from the Crawford's.   Channing got a fort building kit from the Crawford's. Letter's the Santa.   These cute kids. Who knew Mckenzie wanted a puppy.... ...

Anyone in the Christmas spirit yet??  I have a love-hate relationship with Christmas.  Growing up I loved Christmas.  What kid wouldn't love presents, cookies, and money from grandparents.  But now that I'm a parent Christmas is much different.  I feel responsible for making Christmas an amazing holiday for my kids!  First off, it can't be all about the presents.  Gotta teach them the true meaning of Christmas.  But you still have to get them presents....  And presents for everyone else in your life.  I'm beginning to understand why some people become hermits and don't associate with anyone.  I bet you'd save a ton of money! For the last 6 months or so I've been keeping a list of toys/games/clothes/etc on my phone when ever the kids show interest in something.  And I mean true interest (or my list would be longer than the bible).  Which meant that making the kids Christmas list wasn't too hard.  The hard part com...

Days are flying by too fast and I cannot seem to keep this blog up to date.  We are already in the month of December!  November went by so fast.  I absolutely loved Thanksgiving with Jeff, Cortney, and Patrick staying at our house and my mom and dad visiting.  We ate some great food.  Cameron made a fantastic turkey in his smoker and all the sides were de-lish!  Some of my favorite moments were taking family pictures then going to chick fil-a for dinner.  Watching the new Spider Man movie with Jeff and Cortney.  Oh, and Jeff bought us all ben and jerry's, yup he's a good brother.  Shopping with my mom, sister, and sis-in-law.  Watching all the cousins play together.  My dad meeting Isaac for the first time.  Going out to breakfast with my mom and dad.  Channing's reaction to seeing Anna and Elsa characters at the Scentsy Commons Christmas lights--he's super bashful and his teenage years are going to be hilarious.  One...

Isaac had his 4 month appointment on Sept 21st.  He was a whopping 20lbs 10oz and 27 3/4 inches long.  Some how he's bigger than Channing was.  I didn't think it was possible to have a 4 month old bigger than Channing but Isaac is an over achiever. Justin and I have been attempting to go out on more dates during the month.  We've been trying for two nights out a month.  Which may not seem like much to most couples but this is way more than what we normally do.  The best is when Grandma Joan and Grandpa Mark come to babysit the kids.  The kids are in heaven!  For our last date Justin and I went shopping at Costco (but forgot a cooler so we didn't get too much) and then had dinner at The Habit.  Yummy burgers and shakes!  Mmm...I'm hungry just thinking about it.  As usual Isaac was along for the ride.  One day we'll be able to go on a date totally kid free. But it's also nice to have some one on one time with Isaac.  As ...