An Anaheim Christmas!

I was hoping to have more pictures than this to post, these two pictures reflect little Christmas in them. I do think, however, it does reflect the wonderful blessing of being together as a family. Ty and I were so grateful to be able to be with family around this special time of year, and we are so grateful for their examples, for their love, and for the good people they all are.

Ugle Christmas Sweaters!

Last year for Christmas I gave Ty a Christmas sweater. Not just any Christmas sweater, the flashiest and ugliest I have ever seen. It was just meant to be a funny joke, but then it became the inspiration behind this year's Christmas party...

Everyone (almost) came in an ugly Christmas sweater. I actually found a giant ball ornament with ugly sweaters painted on it perfect! Ty and Andy, the two in front, beat everyone by a landslide, but it was still a tie. So we had them strut their stuff catwalk-style for the tie-breaker. Ty won, I am not surprised, and now this funky ornament is now a family heirloom.

This holiday has been so insane and busy, but every party has been worth it. Being with friends and family is a huge part of the Christmas holiday, and I am grateful for every chance we get to spend with such wonderful people.

New addition to the Carlson home!

We have a new beautiful, boxy tv. It gives us 4x as many channels as our old one, and the giant universal remote we gave Bryce for Christmas last year, is working perfectly since the tv didn't come with one. We are so thrilled for our new addition. This tv did come with another one, we were strongly encouraged to take as well... so if anyone is needing a tv...

This is very exciting news! We have had tv trouble ever since we got married. A few people knew we needed a tv when we first got married, so somehow we ended up with three that did not work. We were the lucky people chosen to get rid of other people's junk. Yeah! Actually it was really frustrated... anyway, we finally got on craigs-list and found ourselves a nice boxy tv for $25, got home, popped in our first movie a few days later and ten minutes into the movie, it shuts off. Yup, just like that, and it would not turn on again until the next day. It was very temperamental. we kinda gave up on tv hunting and just dealt with the dumb thing. When it came time to move, we almost didn't take it with us, but did anyway. Plugged it in, and for over 2 years, it worked flawlessly.

Go figure. We decided it was a good decision to bring it with us after all. Then about two months ago it started shutting off again. We began to beat the darn thing (when Bryce was not watching... we didn't want him to think beating televisions was normal). We tried all kinds of things... it would always shut off during "The amazing race" - I love that show. We finally started talking about getting a new tv, but quickly put that idea out of our heads since we just finished our beautiful kitchen (I just realized I still haven't posted pictures... oops. Sorry, and that for sure won't happen until the new year, life is too crazy!) anyway, after the kitchen project, we decided it was time to stop spending money for a while...

... to wrap this story up, someone was asking me about our tv, and a nearby ear-hustler piped in that they had a tv they were dying to get rid of... So now we have a new box, that is perfect and we plan on buying a new tv in... well, maybe never. Thanks Marsha.

Breakfast with Santa!

Okay, so right here you are seeing "breakfast with Ty", but Santa was there, and we did take a quick picture with him, though it had to be quick, for Bryce's sake. My favorite moment of the morning, was finding out our Santa was Jewish! Don't know if anyone else finds that amusing, but I think it's great! Here's Bryce and me with our good friends Melissa and Allison. I always like going to different functions with Ty, so I can meet and visit with the people he works with... but it was really nice having a good friend and familiar face there at the party. Melissa is such a wonderful person, it's always nice having her around.

...And here's the after party... with our own little Santa!

And then came bedtime.

Teach them to lock doors...

... Yesterday while decorating the house for Christmas, Bryce and I headed upstairs to retrieve a box. I came down, but he didn't come with me. Not a big concern, normally... until I went back up to check on him and discovered he had locked himself inside our bedroom. The kind of locked door that requires a key for reentry. At first it was funny... Bryce was even laughing. But after a credit card and then a spatula, we quickly realized we had no way in. Bryce's laughter quickly turned to tears. It was really sad trying to explain to him we were doing our best to get him out. Ty borrowed the neighbors extension ladder (they still don't know about that, I'll make sure I thank them soon), he removed the screen and climbed through the window. Before opening the door so I could hold my little boy and tell him everything was okay, Ty made sure to teach him how to unlock the door. I realize locking it was an accident, but now when those accidents happen, he can get himself out before the tears come out.

Today, he went to Nursery...

...And he wasn't even sad to see me walk out the door. I was told that later he showed signs of missing me a little. In truth, I am happier he doesn't need me there. It was really nice going to Relief Society, I guess I just hoped for a hint of attachment. But oh, it felt so nice to see the smile on his face when he saw me again. I love my sweet boy. This picture came out a little hazy, but it was the only one I got today.

Bryce is 18 months. I can barely believe it. The last two weeks have brought some sadness, and yet have made me ever-more-so grateful for our fun-loving, crazy-busy, sweet little boy. Thank you Bryce for being my perfect distraction, anytime, anywhere. We love you.

We love your special Bryce language. We love it that our bathroom is never completely in order because it those are your favorite drawers and cupboards. We love it when you jump. Correction... We love watching you try to jump as your arms and booty fly up, but your feet stay stationary. We love the hugs and kisses you give us when you know we are not happy with you and you want to say sorry. We love your love of adventure. We love your new fascination with the clips on your highchair and stroller. I can get five minutes worth of stuff done while you figure those clips out... though I am fully aware those five-minute-moments are limited. We love the way you talk. we are looking forward to the day we can understand you, but currently enjoy, so much, your special language. We love it that you have realized there are comfortable and uncomfortable places to throw a tantrum, and you have started making wiser choices. We love you, "through and through".

Mom?

Can you honestly deny me anything when I look at you like this?

Who Backfired?

Ty went recruiting at BYU again, so once again Bryce and I tagged along to play with Aunt Em. For over a year, Emily has raved about these peach shakes, that literally keep this taco place in business. So we had to try them out. They were enjoyable, though I was expecting something unique about them. I could make the same fabulous shake with a peach, vanilla ice cream, and a bit of milk. Sorry Em. Delicious, but nothing to write home about. Bryce does love ice cream... there were no complaints from him, no sir!
The trip took the entire week, so we were able to spend the weekend with Ty's grandparents in Spanish Fork. We took Bryce to a really fun park that had just opened with a huge play ground and water park. It was really hot, so we were hoping Bryce would enjoy the water. But once he caught sight of the playground, that is the only place he wanted to be.

Don't mess with the glasses. I got them at the dollar store and they are the most comfortable sunglasses I have ever had.

I reserve the right...

...to still post Halloween pictures, even though I am 3 days late. I realize the holiday has come and gone, however I am still seeing Halloween decorations gracing my neighborhood streets, and therefore I feel justified.

This Halloween was fabulous. Bryce made an awesome little mummy. I stitched on strips of torn linen to some sweats, and many people who saw him had to touch the linen to make sure it wasn't toilet paper. We went to A ward party Friday night with trick-or-treating around the building. Bryce didn't totally get it, but he was at least willing to check out why running from door-to-door was so exciting to the bigger kids. Ty won a prize in the chili cook-off, and we got to visit with our old ward members that we don't get to see often enough any more.

Later that night we went down the road to the Singles Branch Halloween party. We are not party crashers, nor do we think we're cool enough that we can go to any party we like and be welcomed with open arms. The truth is, with a kid as cute as Bryce, you can go to just about any party and be welcomed with open arms. We attend the Singles ward now... in case any of you are confused... so we couldn't miss a party thrown by our wonderful Single friends.

Trick-or-Treating. People kept searching their bags to find a sweet and Bryce-friendly treat. I didn't know what they were thinking!? He's not getting any of it anyways. It's all for me, so give me the good stuff. Really now.

My mom and I hosted a brunch for our female relatives in the area. The word "relative" sounds so formal. I love these wonderful women. Though we don't talk every day and are lucky to visit once a month, I cherish them and am so blessed to know them and have them as friends. I didn't get a good picture of all of us... but we all had a good time.

My mom had a Monster-Mash dinner party and this is the fur we found to dress-up the place setting for the Wolf man. It makes a darling hat, don't you think?!?!

I love these two people! Oh so very much!

Surprise Visit!

Jared and Haylie reminded us this weekend how fun it is to be spontaneous. They jumped in their car Thursday night, drove twelve hours from Arizona and showed up on my parent's door step Friday afternoon. Had they not been here, I think it would have been a crazy, busy weekend, but instead it was fun and relaxing. It's always so nice to see them. It was particularly fun to watch Bryce play with his cousins, now that he's a little bit older and able to keep up. Bryce even tried an apple after he watched his cool big cousin Colt try one. He still didn't like it, but at least he tried it. Thanks Colty. Saturday afternoon we ate delicious Thai food then headed out to our local pumpkin patch at Larry's Produce. The rain waited until Sunday to arrive, so there was a perfect crisp feel in the air and it was great way to welcome in the Fall season.
Family pics above, Grandma and baby Josie below.

Bryce was obsessed with the horses. If we let him down, he ran straight to 'em.

"Strong Man!"

Bryce loves slides. He didn't need encouraged,

just some additional weight (yours truly) to help with the friction.

Other than the pumpkin patch, this is the only other picture I have, and I had to add it in.

17 months going on 5 years!

We're back in the saddle again! Bryce is the ripe old age of 17 months and he's crazy as ever! He really does think he's five! I just love this little boy! He gets me oh so tired, but he's the sweetest and funniest thing I have ever come across. He loves being outside and getting dirty. I hate that, but it's hard to stop when he's having so much fun. He loves giving people hugs and kisses. Sometimes little girls push him down, but he's yet to be discouraged. He still won't eat whole fruit, but he loves broccoli, asparagus, green beans... Anything green. And as long as he gets to drink his water out of a straw or a lidless cup like a big kid, he gets plenty of fluids. He screams only when he's happy. He laughs like crazy at the animal clips on America's Funniest Home Videos. When he wants you do do something, he'll pull and push your body around until you start moving in the direction he wants to. (I guess it's what you gotta do when your words aren't understood by grown-ups yet.) He loves helping me make the bed, throw things away, sweep the floor, and play in the car while I wash it, or whenever I'll let him. He has no idea he's soon to be a big brother, but I think he's gonna love it! He enjoys talking on the phone, playing with other kids, helping me cook, jumping and climbing, whenever and wherever he can. He loves books and balls and blocks and I suppose and baby-related item that begins with a "B".

Well, there you have it, in a nutshell. Our little man, who makes life so great! Here are a few recent pictures that have made my favorite list, but have never made it on the blog.

Could you believe these pictures where all taken within the last month?! Hot enough to be outside, in a diaper, getting wet, to cold and rainy weather, glove and beanie appropriate.

Borrowing computers...

I love technology... except when it fails you.

I recently... Finally purchased a new phone. One that is (more) reliable and doesn't drop every-other call. One that doesn't pitch a fit, and decide it's tired of answering phone calls and sends every call to voicemail. So I finally picked up on it's hints, retired my pathetic phone to its grave and got a schmancier one. So life was hunky dory great, when our home Internet this past week has decided to throw in the towel as well. Tech support can't seem to help us, over the phone or a personal visit... Life is great isn't it?!?!
Like I said, I love technology. No need to feel sorry for me... I know I am not alone in these frustrations, I just thought I'd take a moment on my borrowed computer and share my thoughts.

I wish to all of you technological bliss.

What do we do when we don't have a kitchen and our house is ripped apart and completely dysfunctional?!?!

I know I sound way dramatic right now, but really, life is tricky with a 16 month old, no kitchen whatsoever... I wash cereal bowls in the bathroom sink, and that is life for the time being. Oh, but one day very soon I will have a beautiful kitchen that is all mine. I did promise months ago that I would post pictures of the process, but I have somewhat recently decided I'd wait until the very end for a Big Reveal (can you tell I love HGTV) and show before and after shots.

So... back to my reason for this post, this is what we do when our life is a bit dysfunctional. We play in the car. Schedule as many play-dates as possible....

And get as dirty as we possibly can in Grandma's backyard... then finished the day off with a bath in the sink! Bryce loves it when I let him get dirty... though as the mother of a boy, I suppose I don't always have a choice.

Yesterday, I came out into the backyard to find Bryce like this:

And like a crazy mom, my first thought is not about how I'm gonna get the kid out, but rather, where the heck is my camera?! I have to say, these are perhaps my new favorite pictures.

This one in particular makes me think I should be a professional photographer.

His head dropped down in discouragement when he realized he was stuck.

Then I helped him out like a good mommy would.

Check out that dirty face! Only to get that dirty everywhere!

You simply can't NOT get dirty when grandma puts you in a filthy wheel barrel.

Thanks Grandma.

And then it was bath time!

I love this kid. And I love having a mom so close with a home we can crash at when we don't have a normal home of our own!