Birthday Party #2

My little boy is 2! It's hard to believe how quickly time goes. What's more crazy is that I turned 30!!! We had a get-together with my parents and Garth's mom on Sunday to celebrate Derek and I. I was thrilled at how my #2 pencil turned out. Definitely my best kid cake!

Derek was so funny, he would NOT smile for a picture, he kept furrowing his brows at me. So we sang, he blew out his candles, then we heard sad sobs coming from the other room. Derek's cousin Payton (also two) had been practicing the Happy Birthday song all day and had missed it (dang those diaper changes!).
So we re-lit the candles and Payton sang to Derek. That put a big smile on his face!

I'm not sure how I feel about being 30. Obviously I don't feel any older but I don't like saying it. When I was in college and I met people that were 30, I thought they were pretty old. I'm that person now. . .weird.

I had a great day yesterday. Cami and Julie took me to lunch for my birthday. The best part was NO KIDS! We didn't have to hurry, we didn't have to cut up any food, we didn't nurse any babies while eating, we didn't listen to any whining, and we didn't go to McDonalds (we chose some spicy Thai food, yum!)

McBirthday

Like I metioned before, Derek loves a McDonalds hamburger. So, for his birthday, we had a super classy party at a McDonalds play place.

We ate, the kids played,
Derek opened presents,

then we all had ice cream.
McGrandpa decided to share his with the McBaby.

She loved it!

Happy birthday Derek!

Lesson Learned

Remember this happy kid who got an iPod for his birthday? This is how he looked when he realized said iPod had gone through the washing machine. This was a tough one for me. I felt a little bit responsible since I am the laundry lady in the house but can I really be expected to shove my hands into each and every pair of pants? (eew. . .who knows what I might touch). He knows it is his responsibility to keep track of his stuff and put it away in a safe place. Especially something as important to him as electronics. Still, part of me wanted to run get him a new iPod. Luckily, Garth didn't feel at all guilty or responsible and he told Carter that if he was really that upset, he could count his cash and see if he had enough to get another one. Sure enough, with his recent birthday, he had just the right amount of money. Carter hesitated because it would take ALL of his money but he decided he really missed his iPod and wanted to purchase a new one. So off we went with the superman wallet to Wal-Mart. Carter is thrilled with his new purchase (which is actually better than the original) and I think he learned a valuable lesson.

Log House Lunch

We were so excited to go to our friend's house for lunch this weekend. He built it all himself (with lots of help from his wife) and it is amazing! I stole these pics from their blog during the building process.
Wow! Check out that bar top. I can't believe how talented some people are. It was too funny, when we got there, I noticed our girls were wearing the same polka dot outfits. We had to take some pictures of the "twins." Their daughter Lucy is 2 months old. It is amazing how much they grow in a few short months.

Sitting Pretty

Olivia went in this week for her 6 month appointment (although she is technically 6 1/2 months). She weighed in at 14 pounds 15 ounces (20th percentile)
She measured 25 1/4 inches (25th percentile).
And her big trick this month is sitting up!
I am so lucky with this kid. She is the smiliest baby I have ever been around. She smiles with her whole body! Her eyes light up, she opens her mouth wide, and flaps her arms. It is so cute! We are now entering my favorite baby stage. The one where they can sit up with a toy but still can't go anywhere. Today she sat downstairs with Carter and Syd and played with a toy the whole time I showered, woo-hoo!

BFF's

I know that New Year's was so long ago that some of us have already given up on some resolutions, but Garth just sent me these pics of our New Year's Eve get together with our friends the Youngs.

We met Mark and Cami and their 5 amazing kids when we moved up north, and we became very good friends. Cami was one of my primary counselors, we worked out together, we traded kids each week. . .it was an awesome relationship! Then they moved on us! They live about 45 minutes away now, which isn't too far, we just have to be better planners to get together. They are very happy so we are happy for them but we sure miss them.

Recently, Sydney and I met up with Cami and her youngest Preslie (Syd pronounces it Pres-uh-lie) for lunch. When we were headed home Sydney started bawling and I asked her what was the matter. She told me she just missed Preslie so much. I reminded her that Cami is my friend too and I miss her so we will definitely try to see them often. Sydney responded with "Mom you don't understand. You and Cami are friends, but me and Pres-uh-lie are BEST friends."

We start 'em young

Whenever we are out and about and pass one of these signs. . .

I hear Derek plead from the backseat, "A Burger? A Burger?"

Ornery Oration

Derek is starting to get interested in praying. He loves to remind us to say prayers before Carter leaves for school. . . when he sees Carter getting his back pack on, he kneels down and says "Hen Fader." So the other night at dinner, Garth asked him if he wanted to say the prayer and he very enthusiastically nodded his head. So the prayer went like this.

Garth: Heavenly Father

Derek (shaking his head): No Hen Fader.

Garth: Thank you for the food.

Derek (still shaking his head): No food.

Garth: Thank you for our family.

Derek (more shaking) No family.

Garth: In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Derek (with a big smile on his face): Men!

Christmas at Home (Neither Big nor White)

We rushed home from Big White in time to go to the Frederickson Christmas Eve celebration at my mom's house. The kids were sporting outfits that Theresa got them for Christmas (somehow I didn't get a picture of Derek in his cute sweater vest). Sydney was in love with her skirt! Theresa actually made it for her and it was gorgeous. She walked around swaying her hips because it had a great flow to it!

This is Syd with Addie and Eliza (second cousins).

And these are all the girls that were there that night. Eight girls from 5 families. It is so fun to have cousins close!

Kim's daughter Brooklyn was supposed to be baby Jesus but she was too busy nursing to care about her big debut so Olivia filled in. I think she was the biggest baby Jesus ever.

Carter and Derek were both Shepherds this year but Derek preferred sitting with Grandpa Doug.

Syd is lucky that out of all those girls, none really care what part they play. I think this was her third year in a row to be Mary.

After the cousins leave, my siblings, parents and I exchange gifts. It is a little chaotic but lots of fun.

Carter was so excited to get this electronic Wheel of Fortune game. It gets played every day at our house. Garth and I even play sometimes when the kids go to bed!

Christmas morning this year was the most relaxed it has been since we have been married. Nobody came over, we didn't go anywhere, we just stayed home and enjoyed opening and playing with new toys. We never even took our pajamas off all day!

Derek loves his new train set. Geo trax are the way to go for this age. Easy to put together, easy to operate, lots of fun.

Santa brought Carter this cool car that can drive on the walls and the ceiling. You point a laser on the wall and the car follows it. I was actually surprised that it really worked!

I won this jersey for him on ebay. He LOVES Jerry Rice. It stems from him playing his dads super old Nintendo that has Super Techmo Bowl with all the players from the early 90's. It is hard to believe Olivia is old enough for this new toy! She is growing up so fast.

Sydney was thrilled to get a couple of Moxie Girls. She has been singing the Moxie girl jingle and asking for them for months!

I must say, Garth and I did well for each other this year. We both managed to surprise each other and get something the other really wanted but was not expecting.

I love my new life jacket and can't wait til ski season to see how it feels in the water (it will go great with the new water ski gloves my mom got me as well.)

Garth ALWAYS figures out what I got him but not this year! He was pleasantly surprised with his new Ray Bans.

What a fun Christmas but I am glad that all the stress and chaos is done.

A Big White Christmas

Garth's mom decided to take us to her condo and pay for our skiing for our Christmas again this year. We think that is such an awesome gift!

There is always so much to do up at Big White that we don't always get to everything. This time, Theresa and I took the kids ice skating while the "boys" were out skiing. I didn't think it was worth paying for skates for Derek. . .he just walked around with the bar in his boots until he got kicked off the ice because it was a safety hazard.


Carter got to try hockey skates for the first time. They take some adjusting. In his head, he is a much better skater than what you see. He kept trying to join hockey games with teenagers. This guy was 20ish and was so nice to Carter. He let Carter score on him and would shoot it right at Carter's stick so he was able to stop a lot of s
Sydney loved skating. She tried it once or twice last year here in Spokane but was VERY cautious. She started out with the bar but by the end was brave enough to let it go for a while.

There is something special about this place at night. I love that the skating rink is lined with gorgeous pine trees and the horses for the sleigh rides are just hanging out right next to where you skate.

Of course one of the highlights of the trip for the kids was the present opening. They loved their new jammies! (Derek is cheering for someone opening a present. He was so much fun this Christmas. . .great reactions!)

It is impossible lately to get a good picture of Derek. As soon as he realizes you are taking a picture, he whines "I see it?" and this is the picture I get. He wants to see the picture but he won't wait for you to take it. Very frustrating for both of us.

Olivia was such a good girl at the condo. No real surprise there. She is the smiliest, happiest baby I have ever been around. She tolerates long drives, yippy dogs, and a big brother who loves her!