December 2016

We started the month out with a grand opening of Aldi here in town. I didn't think it would be a big deal, so we got there around 8:15ish (it opened at 8) and there was a huge line! Apparently the line started around 6:30 or 7. I decided to run another errand first and come back. We saw Grandma McConnell standing in line as we left the parking lot. When we came back about 30 minutes later it was a little shorter. We probably only waited 10-15 minutes to get inside and Grandma was still there so we shopped with her. We had a $5 off $20 purchase that day, and we left with 4 more of those plus a reusable shopping bag. I like the store. I just hate dragging both kids grocery shopping to just one store, let alone more. (They have really good deals on some stuff, but other things I prefer to get at another store, and even then they don't carry everything I shop for. So no matter what if I got at Aldi, I still have to go to another store too.)

After that adventurous morning, we went to the park in the afternoon. We were actually there with Carly & Ryan, but I didn't get any pictures with them.

She loves dressing up with accessories. Too bad it never gets cold enough down here to need a hat. We only have them from our trips to Utah. But she really loves putting them on. And the mittens. Lol.

Wearing my boots. She looked adorable, wrong feet and all! Haha.

In case you haven't noticed, I can't get enough of these two. No shame in the millions and millions of pictures I have. Just kidding, it's only in the thousands...

Singing "Under the Sea"

She also really loves putting on her jacket. Probably because it normally means we're going somewhere. And she's holding a Frozen themed vitamin bottle. She'll walk around with it all day long. So obsessed. Jacob says I enable her. Since I was the one who bought the Frozen vitamins in the first place... I can't deny that.

I need an emoji keyboard for my laptop. This is where I would use the heart eye emoji.

Sometimes smoothies get messy. I'm totally wearing off on her though, because if she makes a mess she freaks out until I clean it up for her. I'm not that upset though, especially if it means less mess in the future... Just saying...

And then one day she wanted my socks and my boots. Lol.

Kayla got this cute elephant lovey at the baby shower for her, and then my sister's mother inlaw embroidered her name on it for me. I really liked the keepsake, so I made sure to do the same thing for Wilson. But since he was still a newborn, it would just sit in the far corner of his crib. One day Kayla insisted that he cuddle his elephant like her and the rest is history. Lol. But really... ever since then, since he's bigger now, I give it to him when I put him down in the crib. He cuddles it, and strokes it, and eats it, and that's what really helps him fall asleep.

And it's really cute when he cuddles it.

My little helper in the kitchen

She really just wants to sit by me so she can have lick the paddle when I'm done. Smart kid ;) Haha.

So we call these cookies "those cookies" around here. They're amazing. Seriously here's the recipe. You're welcome ;) Jacob insisted I make a double batch one day (who could deny that??) and this happened. Jacob's brother Michael and his wife Kiya brought us the spoon from Jordan when they came back after living there. I always used it with caution, but I thought it would be a good, sturdy spoon to mix this huge batch. As soon as I put it in the bowl to start mixing, it snapped in half. It made me so sad!!

Kayla was so happy to be cuddling/sharing a blanket with her daddy. He had actually already fallen asleep. I thought it was funny that they were just hanging out, cuddling with their sleeping Dad. Lol.

And this little sneak kept trying to steal cookies. It was so cute though, so I let her have one (even though she did plenty of taste testing already)

This pose cracks me up!! Haha.

My cute babies <3

I'm trying to make an effort to bring out the nice camera every once in a while to get pictures of the kids.

My sister had ACL surgery, so we went up to help out for a week. Kayla was not even mad about playing with her cousins toys all week. Especially the frozen ones.

She also really enjoyed playing with this hot wheels track.

As always, this cute boy was so good and SO happy. We sure love him :)

What a goob. I always worry when I can't see her. She was playing in my sister's room with her cousin, while everyone else was in the living room. I kept walking in to check on her, but I decided I needed to let my guard down and not helicopter her. Not but a few minutes after I took this and left the room, Alyssa came out with a book saying Kayla had scribbled all in it. Awesome. So I went back to helicoptering her the rest of the week.

The day before we left I had run to Target and I lost my Fitbit. I'm pretty positive in was in the parking lot. I remember hearing something fall as I picked Wilson's carseat up out of the cart to put him in the truck, and I looked back and didn't see anything. It wasn't until I got back to her house that I realized it was gone. I went back and it was no where to be found, and no one had turned one in. I was so sad. And ready to buy a new one. There happened to be a really good sale going on. (The charge + cost less than the charge did when I got mine a year and a half ago) So she offered to get me one as a thank you for helping out. I was really reluctant, I have serious money issues, it's hard for me to let other people spend any money on me. I'm weird, I know. But I finally obliged because she wanted to thank me, and I was just gonna go out and buy it anyways if I didn't let her. But anywho, I have a fitbit again ...and now I'm back to struggling with working out ;P 

Wilson has started to really notice and like the tv. He'll twist and turn to look at it. I thought it was funny/cute.

Cute girl! She loves to play the piano, and sit like a big kid, and play with princesses, and line up her toys, and read books. Basically a single picture with many of her favorites.

Everyone's favorite time of the day is when Daddy comes home, hands down!!

Wilson's favorite person is Kayla. He's always thrilled to see her.

Wilson enjoyed when I finally got the bumbo out for him.

But I think Kayla was most excited. Lol.

One of my not so favorite Kayla activities is when she dumps the entire toy box. But then she does something cute like this and all is forgiven. Plus if you look closely, you can see her crazy hair from the static electricity. Haha.

She's gotten really good at stacking toys. I was super impressed to see her make this stack.

Kayla kept doing this and Wilson was not a fan.

Finally on Christmas Eve she got curious enough to try to open a present. I'm impressed, since they had been under the tree for a few weeks by then. But she really didn't understand the whole unwrapping thing until after Christmas morning anyways. But let me tell you... 3 christmases plus her birthday (3 different present sessions for that, too) all within a month, she's got it down now ;)

Christmas Eve we unwrapped pajamas and a movie (The Santa Clause). And then Jacob's parents came over to watch it with us. I tried out popcorn in my instant pot (not a fan, I'll have to keep browsing ways to do it because both times I've tried only 1/3-1/2 of the kernels pop) and then we had some eggnog and the kids went to bed.

Christmas morning I was the first one up and had to wake everyone else up. Jacob was the last one up and I wanted to hurry up and get a picture before Wilson got mad and wanted to be fed (The kid is so happy, unless he's hungry. He means business when he's hungry), so this is what we got ^ Haha.

Kayla was most excited about the teddy graham cup from her stocking. Lol.

Sweet babies on Christmas morning :)

We choose to play with the kids and show them how to use their presents rather than showering and putting effort into getting ready. Hot mess mistake for church, but you live and learn... So here's our crazy Christmas Sunday pic. The kids had fun going to Grandma and Papa McConnell's ward. (We really love living so close to them!)

My niece and nephew had also gotten fitbits when I was in Dallas a few weeks earlier and they had just found out that you can send messages. This was this sweetest little message I got from my niece :)

Cyber Monday we got a nice box set of the hardback Harry Potter books. I had never read them. But don't worry, I have now ;) Jacob and I went through and each read them all, followed by a movie marathon. I caught Kayla and Jacob reading together one day.

Kayla helped me decorate our presents for the Ruske Christmas exchange.

Cute, happy boy!!

Kayla never falls asleep on us. That's how we knew she really wasn't feeling well. She pretty much slept on and off for 2 days straight.

Even baby Wilson got sick.

They sure were both happy, despite not feeling well.

Kayla ended up having acute bronchitis. Wilson had similar symptoms, but fortunately wasn't as bad as she was.

I made the mistake of telling Kayla that we were going to Grandma Ruske's house hours before it was actually time to go. So she stood by her bedroom door crying (there's a safety thing on the door knob so she can't open it) because she wanted to get her shoes and go bye bye.

We did a Christmas exchange with my family on New Years Eve. Pretty much like white elephant, but with the idea that you're giving a gift you would actually want. It was fun. Then we did fireworks. Wilson even came outside in Papa Ruske's arms to join in on the fun.

Kayla really enjoyed herself. She did sparklers and some flaming sword, plus lots of the popping rocks.

All of the cousins had fun!

We managed to get a picture before the Seckingers left, but we had already missed Stephen, Angela, and Bella.

And now for some random videos that fit somewhere in all these pictures but I don't feel like moving them all around :P

Just some cute baby talk.

Kayla loves Sesame Street. ESPECIALLY when Elmo is on. If she hears this come on, she'll come running to clap and sing. She likes when The Count sings the number of the day, too.

She was making Woody and Jessie kiss. I was trying so hard not to crack up. It also scares me. Lol.