Santa ~ 2010

We went to see Santa Claus this past weekend, and everything went as expected:

~ Noah didn't really talk to him, although he did show him a picture of what he wanted for Christmas {a John Deere Loader that he can drive around}.
~ Leah wanted nothing to do with him. Maybe she'll warm up to him by next year...we'll see.
~ Isaac could have cared less, and was the only one who would sit on Santa's lap.

Here's our traditional Santa picture from this year...

After seeing Santa, we walked around and went in one of the best toy stores...it really got me excited for Christmas seeing all of the children running around playing with all of the toys. I'm sure our house will be full with that excitement come Saturday morning....only FOUR more days!! We're excited!

Here our Santa pictures from 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Noah's Preschool Christmas Program

Tonight was a great night. Tonight was my FIRST borns FIRST Christmas Program!

I've been looking forward to this event for a long time, and it was wonderful.

Noah's been practicing the songs for the program every day, and it is the cutest thing in the world to watch. He'll sing his songs anytime, anywhere...playing, eating, reading, in the tubby, etc... I have just loved sneaking in on him and listing to him :).

Well, tonight was the *big* night, where all of his practicing was going to pay off...and it DID! I was so, SO, proud of him...he knew every word to every song, and he knew every action as well. I had NO idea to what was going to be in the actual program because he wouldn't tell me...he said that it was a secret!

Well, I was glad to be surprised tonight and watch my precious little boy perform for the very first time in front of so many people. It was a night that I will never forget. It really was a great night!

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer...
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
What a stud! Just look at him...he's so handsome :).
And this was the best song of all...Jingle Bells! The boys {there are 5 in his class, and like 10 girls} wore these sunglasses and acted hip by folding their arms...rapper style! Then, when the time came, they would say "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way" *really* loud and in a low voice...it was SO cute and so funny. I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard...it was GREAT! I have a video and I'm going to try and post it soon...it's worth watching :).
Leah had a great time watching Noah, and she especially liked all of the goodies at the end of the performance.
And I can't forget this cute little guy...Isaac was SO good too! He had fun blowing raspberries the entire time...the evidence is all over his face. Now, not only does he drool a ton, but he blows raspberries as well. Lovely.
Thanks to all of Noah's grandmas and grandpas that came to watch...I know that it meant a lot to him to have you there :). He told me so!

Temple Square ~ 2010

I love going to see the lights at Temple Square. Our trip there is usually very quick, but it is SO worth it! We picked Doug up from work last night and headed straight over so that we could see everything before it got *too* cold. The children were all bundled up and I *think* that they had a fun time. Noah asked to go inside a few times because he was cold, but that's to be expected. I hope that we can keep this tradition alive in our family and go to see the lights every year!

My precious boys...man, oh man, I love them :).
Us. I love the forced smiles from Noah and Leah. I'm not surprised!
Leah loved sitting in the stroller all bundled up. She was so, so good when we first started walking around...and then...it happened...THE TANTRUM that came out of nowhere! Leah suddenly decided that she didn't want her coat on, yet she said that she was cold, yet she wouldn't put her coat on...ya...I don't get it either! Then she didn't want to be in the stroller, then she did, then she didn't, etc... Thankfully this all happened when we were leaving! Needless to say, it took us *forever* to get to the car. Seriously, girl, you're really good at adding a little spice to everything :).
So, SO, beautiful!!

Christmas Tree ~ 2010

We put up our Chrismtas tree on Thanksgiving morning this year. It seemed like the perfect thing to do while we were watching the parade. And the best thing about decorating the tree this year was all of the help from our little Spiderman and cute little Fairy! Fun times!

Noah and Leah were SO excited when it was *finally* time to start putting the ornaments on the tree.
Noah with his FIRST CHRISTMAS ornament.

Leah decided to put all of her ornaments on one branch. And, notice how all of the ornaments that she chose to hang were the *girly* ones. Typical.
Then Isaac decided to wake up and help us :). He's such a happy little guy when he wakes up...love it!

The finished product.
Man, oh man, I seriously love this time of year! And I LOVE having the tree lit up all...day...long! It's the BEST!

Getting ready to crawl?

Isaac surprised us this past week with his new trick...he gets up on his hands and knees in the crawling position! Whenever he is on his belly, he scoots his little knees up and pushes himself up...and he holds it for a pretty good amount of time...he's a pretty strong little guy. Who new that something like this would be so exciting to a mom and dad...oh boy, is it ever! We get so excited and clap our hands when he does it, and he just grins from ear to ear by our excitement...it's really so cute to watch. Although this is exciting, I sure hope that he doesn't actually crawl any time soon...I don't think I'm ready for that!

The Dentist {Leah}

Today was Leah's very first visit to the dentist. I had an appointment for Noah, and I thought, why not just take Leah too! So, that's what I did, and I was VERY nervous to how Leah was going to act. I didn't think that she would be "bad", but I was just so unsure to how she was really going to react when other people were looking in her mouth...you just never know with Leah.

I think that having Noah there with as well made her feel more comfortable. She was able to watch Noah do everything, and, by the way, Noah did SO well! I am so, SO, proud of him and how well behaved he was today at the dentist...he is really growing up so fast and is starting to act older. Love it!

Anyway, Leah didn't want to get an x-ray, which was fine, and she was a bit hesitant to lay down in the chair...but she did it. The thing with Leah is that she really is totally fine with doing something new, she just has to act like a little stinker...JUST TO ACT LIKE IT! Just to get a reaction! I tell you...that girl...oh boy! So, after being all hesitant, she finally sat there and watched the Princess movie while they cleaned her teeth and counted them to make sure they were all there :). Afterwards, she got a bracelet, which made everything worth it for her! She was as happy as can be to be sporting a darling little bracelet. I'm proud of her...she surprised me, like she always does :).

So...the results for Leah are:
~ NO CAVITITES! Woot, woot!
~ She has very pretty and white and shiny teeth! Woot, woot!!
~ And the downside...her teeth are just as jammed together as Noah's, so she is definitely going to have to have braces someday. She can thank Doug and I later for that one. We all saw it coming!

Leah watching the movie while they cleaned her teeth. **Thank goodness** they have movies for the kids to watch at the dentist...I wish they had stuff like that when I was a kid!!
Check out those pearly whites! Love that smile!
And...check out her new bracelet...I'm pretty sure she'll be wearing it every day {until she looses it!}.
I can't forget about my Noah. It seems like just yesterday that I was taking him for his first visit to the dentist {see here}. He did SO well today and no cavitites for him either! WOOT WOOT!!!

Thanksgiving ~ 2010

We spent Thanksgiving with Doug's family this year. Doug's sister, Suzi, and her family made the trek from California to spend the week with us...so everyone in Doug's family were together this holiday. It really was a wonderful day, full of relaxing, eating, and spending time with the ones that we love! I am so thankful for FAMILY...I am so blessed to have married into such a wonderful family! Thank you, all, for a wonderful, *wonderful*, day!

The Smith Family
The Smith Grandkids
Us...Leah, of course, didn't want anything to do with taking a family pic. I just keep telling myself that she's 2!
Enjoying dinner :). It was SO good!
Connor and Noah...they had a blast playing together!