Lyla Makes Breakfast

Every morning Lyla wakes up and Josh is already off to work and I'm always still asleep. I am not a morning person so I am rarely ever awake before 7/7:30 which is when Lyla usually gets up. She will mill around the house, read books or just lay on the couch for awhile as she slowly wakes up. Eventually she comes and wakes me up or gets in bed with me. One morning she got herself dressed, went downstairs for awhile and then came up and told me she had made breakfast. 

This is what I came downstairs to: A bowl of cereal, milk included, string cheese opened and set by each bowl, and a cup of milk to drink for all 3 of us. (Me, Mac, and herself). It melted my heart and I couldn't believe she did this! She even spilled a little bit of the milk and had wiped most of it up with a towel. Lyla has always thrived off of being independent and can do just about anything by herself if you give her the time and instruction. Although her ability to do all of this wasn't surprising, that she did it all by herself while I was still waking up in bed was the cutest thing. I was so proud of her. 

Although we don't give Mac bottles anymore, he will take one any time if offered to him. Lyla knows he loves his bottle and so she even thought to get him one. What a cutie. 

Ice Skating

We got a coupon to go to the downtown outdoor ice skating rink and decided to go check it out. Lyla did way better than I thought for it being her first time.  

 She started off using this little "ice walker" and got used to being on skates. 

Mac wasn't too sure about it all and didn't like feeling unstable. He was just as happy watching from the sideline than actually skating. I love this picture of him, its his true happy smile instead of his "chheeeese" smile! 

Trying it out with Dad. His little skates were the cutest thing I ever saw. 

 By the end of the night we ditched the walker and Lyla was off skating on her own, with a little help of Mom or Dad's hand. She said she loved it and wanted to go again. 

New Year's Eve

 New Year's Eve we went back up to my parents house and partied it up. Penny's and Wally's family joined us also. It was a great night with tons of food, games and fun. 

 At midnight we went outside with the confetti poppers and pots and pans to make a ruckus and shout Happy New Year. We are excited for this next year filled with a new baby and new house!

Here is the after-party mess. It was a lot of fun! 

20 Weeks Prego w/ #3

We finally found out that it is a BOY! I was supposed to have my ultrasound before Christmas but then they called and said they had some scheduling issues and made me wait until the 27th. I am inpatient as usual and it killed me to wait 2 more weeks than I had to, but it was nice to have Christmas in between to keep me occupied. This pregnancy has been the best of all 3 with not being as sick the first trimester, no infections or acid re-flux so far. I am one happy camper and enjoying the glory days of 2nd trimester. 

Lyla was convinced that we were going to have a girl. I was too for a long time, but not sure of course. But when I walked in the door from the doctor she shouted out

 "MOM! Is it a boy or a girl?!" 

It's a BOY! 

So... it is a girl? 

No, its a boy. 

Are you sure it's not a girl? 

Yep, I'm sure, it's a boy. 

Oh, ok. 

She wasn't super sad or anything, but her reaction was cute. Since telling her it was a boy though she all of a sudden has a "sister" who is her own imaginary sister and we have to do things like pull the chair out at dinner for her, buckle the seat belt in the car, keep the door open so she can come into the house etc. She said her name is Consume? Still not sure what that means or where it is from but I find it funny that since she wasn't getting a sister from me she has created her own :) 

Christmas

 Here is our house all decked out with lights. It looks so much better in person, but had to at least capture what I could. 

Here it is from the main street on the side. 

 We made gingerbread houses with the Onofrios the Saturday before Christmas. Lyla did a great job putting the candy on and decided to add a pool. (the bottom right part with the blue candies for water) :) 

Couldn't get a decent picture of the two of them, but here at the Christmas outfits they got from Grandma Green. 

 The Monday before Christmas (the 23rd) we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Roskelley's. We didn't get there until the evening so we just ate dinner and relaxed. The next morning was Christmas Eve and while waiting for Wally and family to come they got some quality play time in with Grandpa. 

After Wally arrived we put on our snow gear and went sledding for a few hours. Lyla had WAY more fun this time around now that she had her cousins to sled with. She stayed out for quite awhile and laughed and screamed the whole time. 

 Sadie and Lyla going down together. Lyla  idolizes Sadie and always wants to do everything with her. Sadie is such a good sport and is always willing to let Lyla be right there with her. 

 Cute cousins! 

 After sledding we rested and laid around awhile, the kids also played in the basement, and then it was time for turkey dinner. We had a wonderful meal and then did the tradition of "snuffing" the candles out, one of my favorite traditions from when I was little. 

 Then it was time for present opening. We just opened the Christmas Eve pajamas although my kids had always gotten theirs at Disneyland from Grandma Green so they just opened a package also from Grandma Green that had new clothes. 

 Wally went home and we tucked the kids in to bed. They both went to sleep really quick from all the playing they had done all day. Here is the tree with the presents all ready to go for Christmas morning. 

The kids were both pooped and slept until about 8:30! It was great :) Here they are at the top of the stairs waiting for Grandma and Grandpa to join us before they went down to see the presents. 

 Lyla got a new scooter! 

 McKay got a tool bench and immediately went right to work with both screw guns, haha

 Mac was excited to open presents no matter what it was. It was so cute seeing him with such a happy face just soaking it all up. 

 Lyla also was loving it more than ever this year and got lots of her favorite things, including "lips" (chapstick)

 She asked Santa for an Ariel doll with a matching dress. She must have been a good girl this year because that's just what she got. (there is also her Rapunzel doll in her other hand that she got from Uncle Davis)

 Mac had to use his screwdriver on several presents, just for fun, before opening them. It was so cute 

 One of the most popular gifts this year was one we got for both kids, a vacuum. It was continuously pushed around by both of them all day. 

 Mac got a little dog that walks around and barks. He loves dogs and its not quite time to get a real one so this one will have to do for now. 

 After picture! 

 Josh made us some amazing fruit waffles with our waffle maker. They were SO delicious. 

 Later that morning Wally came over and we finished up presents between each other. 

 Wally gave Mom this hilarious Elvis blanket. We all had a good laugh over it. 

 We gave Dad a BBQ and it was a fun big gift that was from all of us

Overall we had a wonderful Christmas with more great memories made. It was the first official Christmas that we had in my parents new house and we fully enjoyed every minute. Can't wait to do it again! 

Temple Square Lights

We continued our yearly tradition of going to Temple Square to see the lights. I love the Christmas feeling downtown and is always fun to see the beautiful lights with the temple in the background. We went with my parents and Aunt Cindy although she is not in the picture because she is taking it. First we had dinner at the Lion House which was delicious and then walked around to see the lights. It was a cold night, but still a lot of fun.