Aaron and Megan's "Actual Birthday" Party

Ok, so I guess it's about time I posted pictures of the kids' birthdays since it was over a month ago! Sorry for the delay. This was a little party we had at home with just us on their birthday. Aaron's cake was a little rocket and Megan's cake was a little monkey face. They were so cute, but for some reason I didn't get a before picture. Aaron was pretty neat about his eating, but Megan on the other hand...

Don't you just love one year birthdays! The only time we willingly let the kids get THIS messy!

My "Little Man"

So, I guess I'm double sentimental lately since both my kids' birthdays are coming up. One month from yesterday Aaron will be turning 4 years old. Still can't believe how quickly the time has gone! He was "my little man" from the first moment I saw him. He has brought us so much joy and laughter and every day is something new with him! I was so worried about how he would feel about having a little sister to share our attention with, but he has been so wonderful with her. He does have his jeaulous moments, but for the most part he loves his "baby Megan"! She adores him too, by the way! So, here's to my first-born baby, who is growing all too fast!

From this: I think he's about 2 years old here

To this: Just shy of being 4 years old
From this: about 2 years old

To this: almost 4

He's such a wonderful big brother!

My "baby" girl!

From this: 2 months old

To this today: 11 months old

I know I'm going to get even more so as the next month goes along, but I've already started getting sentimental about my baby turning a year old! I know I was the same way with Aaron, but I'm right there again with Megan! I'm just so thankful for God giving me the two wonderful children that he has given me!

Her stats: She weighs about 16 pounds, according to our home scale,
Not really sure how tall she is,
She has finally learned how to crawl,
She was pulling up and kind of cruising even before she was crawling,
She has four teeth,
She LOVES to eat,
She adores her big brother and her Daddy,
and she gets more adorable with each passing day!

January in California

First of all, I want to apologize for all the people who live in climates that are SO cold right now. I honestly don't mean to rub it in that it's been gorgeous here lately. I just think these pictures are adorable and wanted to share them.

Evidently Fall comes in December and January in California. When we got home from Wyoming I looked outside our front window and noticed a bunch of lovely colored leaves on the ground. Since we don't get much of a Fall around here I thought I'd take advantage and get some pictures. They turned out pretty good!

Aaron just loves driving his truck around in our front courtyard.

It was so nice Aaron decided to relax a bit in the grass. So funny!

This was the best picture I could get of the two of them. Lately it's like pulling teeth to get a good picture of them together!

Megan LOVED the leaves! Of course she tried to eat them, but luckily didn't ingest any of them! Was pretty enamored with how they felt.

Love this picture! Believe it or not, it's a self portrait!

I had to steal Aaron's ball for a minute in order to get this picture with him! It was worth it!

Again, can you believe it's January here?

Hope you all enjoyed, and I hope for your sakes, that Spring comes sooner than later for you!

Christmas in Pictures - a little late!

This past December we were fortunate (I guess, only because it was SO cold while we were there) enough to be able to go back to WY for Christmas and to see all of our family! My awesomely sweet husband, and adorable son, did go ahead and put up our Christmas tree and a few other decorations while I was in the hospital with Megan. Was the sweetest surprise to come home to! We left a week after Megan had gotten out of the hospital!

While in Wyoming we...

got to visit Great Grandma Gwynn, aka Gramma GG,
got to see grandma,
got matching jammies,

got to read with Gramma GG,

did I mention it was cold there?

got to see Grandpa Nate (who Aaron lovingly calls Grandpa Ate),

did I mention it was COLD outside? Like in the negatives cold!

got to see Great Grandma Benson (and Bib the cat),

got to see Nana (sorry Nana, this is the best picture I got of you while we were there),

got to make gingerbread houses with Papa and cousins,

got to see Aunt Melisa (and Uncle Tabor, not pictured),

got to see cousins (who all got matching jammies for Christmas, but didn't really want to pose for pictures in them),

got to see Papa and Zoe the puppy (who Aaron played with almost constantly),

got to see Grandma Kris (who made an awesome breakfast for us as we were leaving the state),

got to see other cousins who we hadn't seen in over a year and hadn't even met the littlest man yet,

got to see Uncle JD and Aunt Heidi (for the first time for Megan),

got to see Grandpa Benson,

did I mention it was COLD ther? :)

overall we had a wonderful time and got to see lots of other people who weren't pictured, but were glad to get back home, where it was MUCH warmer!

Merry belated Christmas 2008!