Christmas 2009

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas...we did! Thank you to all our family & friends that helped make it special!

Here we are in our Christmas pj's!

A quick picture before church last Sunday...it was COLD (Texas cold...not Idaho/Washington/Utah cold)

I LOVE Zach in these pj's! Thanks Aunt Stephanie (Garry)!

Our Tree

My beautiful candy canes...bread dough filled with raspberry filling...just wish I'd added the yeast & water so that they would have actually risen. That's what I get for trying to bake with an incredible head-cold (I discovered my yeast with water in it's bowl by the sink AFTER I got all done shaping the bread)!

Our gingerbread houses (Cayden's on the left, Tyler's, mine, and Addy's in the middle, and Shaylee's is on the right)

The kids trying out their new wagon!

Cayden loves his new Indiana Jones Wii game!

Santa brought Shaylee this beautiful art set with drawers and a built-in easel! The first thing she painted with it was the Earth.

My new track suit & running shoes - this pic was taken around 7 a.m. with no make-up so be kind...) Normally Tyler & I try not to spend much money at all on eachother but this year we gave eachother a bigger budget...I can't believe how perfect Tyler did (I got him a watch and made him a Notre Dame blanket that I promised to make like 2 years ago!?) !

Tyler opening his watch

Tyler's blanket that I made - I made it out of jersey fabric...the main part is a rib knit which is SO stretchy so it was a PAIN to sew a double layer...but I think it turned out good and Tyler loves it!

PJ's from Grandma/Grandpa Sanderson & Nicole

One of Shaylee's gifts from the Grandparents & Nicole, too!

She loved her "baby" doll...unfortunately the other pic of her holding it turned out too blurry to post

One of Addy's Santa gifts...unfortunately she can't reach the pedals, but she still likes it!

Things that have made me smile so far today:

*I love you's from Tyler on:
the Event Reminder Alarm of my cell phone
the bathroom mirror
the white-board in the kitchen
the screensaver of our computer
the passenger side van window
the rear van window
& a heart on the passenger side mirror

*Shaylee trying her best to be patient while helping Cayden get some cereal for breakfast

*Cayden's graham cracker "gingerbread house" that he made in school today

*Addisyn giving Zachary big, snot-running-down-the-nose kisses

*Zachary's laugh

Craft Projects & Recent Pics

Since Zachary was born, I try to avoid going to the store that often, even though shopping (or in my case usually just window shopping!) is something I love! It just gets a little crazy juggling the the baby & toddler...especially in the smaller carts that they have at my favorite stores...Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and Hancock Fabrics! Anyway...I also gave up naps about a month ago because I REALLY needed time for a creative outlet (even more than I needed sleep!?)...which right now is mainly sewing. Here are some recent pics I've taken, and projects I've completed! It feels good to start accomplishing projects that I've bookmarked on the internet! I'm the QUEEN of bookmarking projects...I have a "to make" list that would take me about 10 life times to finish!! I never used to take photos of projects I've made but I'm thinking of starting another blog just for my crafts...so that I can put links to the tutorials I used. Not only then can people have easy access to the projects they like on my blog, but I can have easy access to the tutorials so that I can make the same projects again in the future if I wish!!

Babylegs...I'd never heard of them til recently, and I found a free tutorial to make them out of knee socks...much cheaper!!!

I bought some fleece to make a blanket for someone's new baby...the birdies on the fabric were SO cute that I HAD to make Addy some pj's out of the extra!

Addy fell asleep standing on this sterilite container...what a funny girl! Oh and luckily she only sucks her thumb when she sleeps!

Shaylee is a great helper!

Here's a table runner I made for my mom from another free tutorial (using freezer paper as a stencil...her table is longer than mine so it looks like a funny length here on my table! (I purposely made it so it wouldn't hang over the edges of her table)

Here are some corduroy pants I made the same way as her fleece birdy pj's (I used some of her other pants as a pattern...you don't even have to cut them)! The material was half off & it only took 1/2 yard so they only cost $1.50 to make...pretty economical I'd say!

Some people call these baby tents...it's basically a recieving blanket with ties on it! I used cotton on the outside & brown fleece on the inside...& I couldn't help adding cute jumbo ric rac on the outside! I cut my fabric to be 38 inches square. This keeps baby Zach nice & warm...now he doesn't wake up as much when we have to run to multiple stores in the cold air!

Here's me and my new accessory. No not the baby...the scarf (although he's even cuter than the scarf)! I used a free tutorial..it's just 4 inch squares sewn together...it's jersey knit (t-shirt fabric)! It's so soft & not TOO warm so it's perfect for people who feel like they are choking when they wear turtlenecks or scarves!!

This is the back of Addy's new Paper Doll Dress!

Don't you lOVE the pockets?? I bought this pattern from lilblueboo for only $6...you can find a link to her blog on the right side of my blog. She's also wearing the babylegs I made her since it's starting to get cold outside!

My mom sent the kids these beautiful church outfits! How did I end up with such cute kids??

Last but not least...here's the Zach Attack! I just love his little smiles, & when I kiss him he turns his head & tries to eat my face! As tiring as it is to have babies...I'm so sad that they grow up so fast!

Birthdays, a Blessing, and recent pics!

A lot has happened since I last wrote a post! Cayden's 5th birthday was in September, a week after Zachary was born. Since I wasn't really up for doing a party at that point...he was given the option to get $20 instead of a party (my mom gave us that option, too when we were younger)...and luckily he chose the money! Of course he spent it on little superhero figures...he can't seem to get enough of those! Cayden can make the most incredible drawings! He mainly draws superheros, but the other day I found a picture he'd drawn of Santa going down a chimney! He can write his name (and spell it out loud from memory) by himself now. He has a best friend at school and lately they get in trouble for talking too much...my son??!! A couple of his friends already have girlfriends (they are in PRE-K) so I always ask Cayden if he has one...he always says "NO!" I love you Cayden!

Zachary was blessed on November 1st! My mom sent the absolute cutest tuxedo blessing outfit and it fit just right for the special day! It's such a blessing to see my husband bless our babies!

Shaylee also recently had a birthday...she turned 9 earlier this month! I can't believe that I have already been Shaylee's mom for 6 years! Shaylee is an interesting mix of a tom boy and girly girl. Blue is her favorite color...she doesn't care that much for pink or purple. She likes to wear skirts, but plays dirty and rough while outside. She is a hard girl to figure out. She is already very self-conscious. I hope that someday I'll be able to make her understand that no matter what she wears, she is a very beautiful girl (she doesn't listen to me). We've been through ups and downs together and I just hope that as she continues to get older, that we'll grow even closer and that she'll learn to believe me! I love you Shaylee!

Addy eating a cupcake

Addy, Zachary, and Shaylee

Playing outside

I think they love the Fall!

Addy riding her "new" toy...it's new to her atleast!

Shaylee, Emma, and Willow...for her B-day she had her two best friends over for a long play-date!

You've gotta love that smile!! I love how after I feed him, he just smiles up at me and studies my face for a long time.

Yes that blanket is as soft as it looks!

Right after Sacrament Meeting the day of Zach's blessing

Group shot of those who were there...oh and Brother Huff (family friend) snuck in there (on the far left), too!

Cayden & his Spider cake...he thought it was pretty awesome :-)

Trunk or Treat at the church

Video of Zachary at 6 1/2 weeks old

Finally, more pictures!

Here are some photos! It's crazy having babies 18 months apart and it's much harder for me to find the time to post on here! I'll try to be better!

Clark Kent, a Ladybug,(costume not finished) and Miley Cyrus