Mike & Mary

Mike and I would like to send all our love to mom and dad (Mike and Mary) for working sooooo soooo hard to give everyone a happy Christmas.  Everyone knows that it can be a very stressful time during the holidays,  and this year many family members were coming and going from their house before and after Christmas day.  With Shaine being sick it also made it difficult for us to stay in one place, but grandma Mary held strong and dealt with all the ins and outs of this crazy and offbeat Christmas.  Although Mike and I had to rush through our dinner to take care of a naked Johnny, and a very sick Shaine the meal was delicious.  We love our beautiful gifts, and we love you more than the world for busting your buns to make every Christmas fun and memorable. 
 
    And Mike...we also want to "remember all the people beneath us".

   For those of you reading this the following quote is not meant to offend anyone, it's just an inside joke between family and friends.  We are all equal in the eyes of God.

This is a great picture of mom and dad...love the smiles!!

Coming down the stairs to see if Santa came to the house!

A New Helmet

Buzz and Woody

Johnny Playing with Buzz and Woody XMAS morning

Christmas 2012 Johnny & Shaine 2yrs.old

Christmas Eve Grandma Lynda, Grandpa Dick, and Auntie Lyndsy came over to spend the Holiday with us.  It was a really nice visit and the kids loved their gifts...more Lego's...yeah!!  Thank you for the wonderful gifts, but more importantly thank you for spending time with all of us for the holidays.  Christmas morning was so much fun for Mike and I to watch the kids open their gifts.  Unfortunately,  later that morning Shaine starting throwing up.  I stayed home with Shaine while Mike and Johnny went to Grandma Mary's and Grandpa Mike's house.  Later that evening Mike picked us up so we can spend some of Christmas day at grandma's house, but that wasn't such a good idea.  Shaine just laid on the couch with absolutely no energy to do anything.  I asked her if she wanted me to open her gifts for her, but she said, "I want Johnny to open my gifts".  So sweet.  Johnny sat next to Shaine while she lay on the couch and opened her gifts.  Such sweethearts.  Love them to death!  Thank you Mike for such a wonderful Christmas morning...I LOVE YOU!!!  I didn't get allot of pictures on Christmas day because of Shaine being sick.

Christmas Eve

Grandma Lynda and Auntie Lyndsy

Blue wanted kisses too!

 

Christmas Morning

 Shaine giving dad a checkup with her new Doc McStuffins medical kit.

Johnny playing with his new play-mat

So handsome

 

Pictures Outside Today!  We finally had some sunshine!

 

 

Shaine finds her elf hanging out inside the closet.

First thing Shaine does in the morning is get her balloon, but low-and-behold there were 2 Elves in the tent playing with her balloon.

Santa's Elves

About 3 years ago (before the kids were born) our neighbor Kelly showed us her little ceramic elf that pops up during the holidays to watch over her son and then report back to Santa.  We thought that was such a clever idea and we might have to try that with our own kids when they are old enough.  Last year I learned from my mother-in-law that there is an actual story about "The Elf on the Shelf" who watches over the children for Santa.  Apparently it has become a big craze and everyone is buying this "Elf on the Shelf".  Well, Mike and still wanted to bring Santa's elves to our house, but we had a better idea for the elves.  My grandmother Corrine Smith...Johnny and Shaine's Great Grandma has been making elves for years.  She owns over 120 elves.  We asked grandma if we could have 2 of her elves...one for each of our kids.  My mom and dad picked out the cutest elves for our kiddos.  Thnak you so much grandma for the elves.  We named the boy Tinsel, and the girl Taffy.  The elves are always popping up in the craziest places and Shaine gets sooooo excited.  Here are some photos of Tinsel and Taffy.

This is Taffy sitting on the Mantle

Tinsle on the bookshelf

 Tinsle on the Lamp

Taffy on the pot rack

 Here they are playing in the Legos

All the way up to the ceiling

Making Cookies

There wasn't allot of decorating going on. 

Children's Museum

With the weather being so cold and wet the kids and I have repeatedly visited the Children's Museum.  My favorite picture is the two of them going down the slide.  Johnny lies down and waits for Shaine to climb on his back, and then down they go!  They started doing this together at one of our favorite playgrounds.  So funny!

Johnny and Shaine Quietly Reading

     I was going about doing my daily cleaning when I realized there was complete silence for about 2 minutes.  The kiddos were quietly sitting inside their tent reading books.  I decided to pop my head in and video tape what they were doing.  This video is quite long...approximately 7 minutes.  Some might find it boring, but most of the long videos I post are specifically for my parents in California who don't get to see their grandchildren.  Love you mom and dad...wish our family could be with you for the Christmas holiday.

Johnny and Shaine Reading Inside their Tent

Shaine singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Letters to Santa

     First, I want to share with everyone that Johnny and Shaine are getting closer to eliminating diapers.  Both kids have been using the potty with no accidents.  Today was the first time we left the house without diapers.  We spent about 45minutes outside playing and riding bikes without any accidents.  As soon as we came inside I tried to get them to use the potty, but both of them said that they didn't have to go, and that they would try later.  I'm crossing my fingers that they will be completely potty trained by 3 which is in 3 months. 
     A couple days ago the kids told me that they wanted to send Santa a Christmas Card.  I said, "Let's send Santa a list of toys that you want for Christmas."  Here's what they asked for...
JOHNNY
1.Strawberries
2.Helicopters
3.Buzz Lightyear
4.Toys
5.Candy

SHAINE
1.Woody
2.A Mousey Guy
3.Chocolate
4.Princess Dress
     I filled out to cards too:  Santa Clause The North Pole, Blitzen LN.
Here are the kids walking to the mail box to send off their X-Mas list.

This looks like snow, but it was from a hail storm.

 Our house and it's Christmas lights.