2016 in Review

January: I started student teaching, Taylor got a raise at work, and we bought our 2014 Dodge Journey.

February: We found out we were pregnant, but we didn't announce it on social media until April. We paid off all of our debt besides our house and our car.

Picture from Taylor's birthday.

March: Hudson had a lot of fun dying eggs and going on an egg hunt. Easter post found here

April: I finished student teaching and earned my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Special Education and became a certified teacher. We attended Taylor's twin brother's wedding in Utah.

May: Taylor's little brother, Nathan, came home from his mission and got to meet Hudson for the first time.

June: We took Hudson on his first camping trip. Hudson turned 18 months old andstarted going to nursery at church.

July: We refinished the wood floors in our house, and the 4th of July was tons of fun. We finally decided on the name Ella for our new addition to the family.

August: Summer activities were in full swing. Unfortunately, Taylor's Grandpa Keith passed away in August, and we attended his funeral in Bancroft.

September: We took a day trip to Yellowstone, and we went on a camping trip over labor day weekend.

October: October was easily our most exciting month of the year with the birth of Ella, my parents' visiting us, and Ella's blessing. Hudson trick or treated for the first time.

 

November: Ella celebrated her first Thanksgiving.

December: Hudson turned two, and we enjoyed a snow filled Christmas. A full post on Christmas can be found here.

Christmas 2016

We began our Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve just as my family has always done with family home evening. 

We read the story of Jesus's birth in Luke 2 and then read Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Hudson ran around like a mad man the whole time, but Ella was a great listener.

In my family we always got to open Christmas pajamas on Christmas, but Ella and Hudson have been wearing theirs all month long.

I had to get a picture of the two of them in their Christmas jammies.

Ella's jammies are actually Hudson's from when he was a baby.

Next year they will have matching ones for sure. 

I can't help but include this outtake. 

Getting a picture of these two is no small task.

Hudson was just trying to hug her face.

In true Christmas fashion Hudson woke up earlier than normal (although thankfully only slightly earlier) at 7. Purely coincidental since he had no idea that anything was going on haha.

Everything all set up and waiting for the kids to wake up.

We had church at 9, so we opened stockings and their presents from Santa before church and then headed out in the blizzard we were having. (We got 10 inches of snow the night of Christmas Eve and Christmas day)

Hudson was in the absolute worst of moods, so this was the best picture that we could get.

There was no chance of getting a picture of him and Ella in their dress clothes considering his mood, but I had to get at least one of Ella.

After church we opened the rest of the presents. 

Hudson loved opening the gifts, and he even helped us open ours.

I made homemade cinnamon rolls for the first time. 

Cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning are another tradition in my family. Although, my mom has stopped making them herself since discovering rhodes haha.

I made the dough before church, so it had time to rise while we were gone. 

I was surprised at how big it got.

I don't mean to brag, but the cinnamon rolls turned out so good. I was quite proud of myself.

Taylor's parents and Nathan ventured through the blizzard to celebrate Christmas with us and have dinner with us. I made turkey, funeral potatoes, gravy, pretzel salad, cheesecake, pumpkin pie (frozen that I cooked haha), and some Christmas treats. Taylor's mom made creamed peas.

Taylor's parents bought this bike for Hudson, clothes for Ella, and money for Taylor and I. 

It was great to spend Christmas in our home with family around.

I'm going to include what we got as presents this year because Taylor and I have been trying to remember what we've given each other for every Christmas we've been together and can't remember. 

I got Taylor tickets to see Nitro Circus in June, personal grooming kit for his facial hair, and new hair clippers. He got me a new fitbit, a comfy blanket, and a new water bottle. Hudson got a little table, a Mickey Mouse train, and some wooden cars. He got a bike from his Lloyd grandparents and a season pass to the zoo and an animal from his Thomas grandparents. Ella got a ride on/push elephant toy, new bottles, and some other practical things. She got clothes from her Lloyd grandparents and a sound machine and baby doll from her Thomas grandparents.

It was a  great Christmas, and I can't wait for next year when Hudson is even more aware of Santa and things.

Hudson's "Oh Two-dles" Birthday Party

I thought about not doing a party for Hudson this year because everyone is so busy around the holidays, but then I reminded myself that that will never change since his birthday will always be just 5 days before Christmas. He is obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, so we figured what better theme than "Oh Two-dles."

What's a party without an invitation?

Trying to get a picture of Hudson in his special shirt was no easy task.

I kept things pretty simple for his party because life with two kids is no joke haha, and it's always busy with the holidays so close. I couldn't help but make a few decorations for his party.  

The front door

I made this banner as well as the garland below.

My sister asked if she could make a cake for his party.

It turned out so stinking cute!

Hudson kept sneaking the letters off of it. 

We were left with even less than this by the time we ate the cake. 

Hudson got a Mickey couch from his Grandma and Grandpa Lloyd, a sit n' spin from my parents, a trampoline from Taylor and I, nerf guns and hot wheels tracks from his Aunt Bekah, and some construction cars from his Uncle Jordan's family. He also got a book from his great grandparents and some hot wheels and clothes from his great great grandparents.

It's hard to believe that our sweet little baby boy is now an energetic and crazy 2 year old!