Christmas in July

This year (I am speaking in present tense so pretend it is December 2008) we went to the Idaho Falls Museum with my parents and sister's family to see all the gingerbread houses and the nativities. I highly recommend that everyone go to it next year. It was soo cool. I took a ton of pictures, but I already had a ton for this post so I will post them later.

Gavyn clung to my dad the whole time. He is such a grandpa's boy!


Here is my mom and Bryce. I LOVE this picture!

Curtis looking somewhat annoyed that I am taking his picture!

ScArY mE!

This is how Gavyn walked through the museum.

I had to show this one nativity ornament. This was made out of paper. Isn't it amazing!

We let the kids go play in the playroom for a while since they had been walking so much. Here is Cayden, Cameron, and Andrew.

Bryce, Rachael, and Gavyn

Gavyn, Andrew, and Bryce

Cameron and Cayden

Later on in the week we went to Grandpa Bruce's house for a Christmas party.

Here is daddy with Gavyn and Bryce.

My sister Kari with Dustin and KC

Grandma, Katie, and Kali

Grandpa Bruce and Corbin

Cayden, Gavyn, and Mommy

Christmas morning was so much fun. The kids woke us up just before 4 AM, but we made them wait until 6:30 to open presents. My parents came over to the house and then they opened their presents. They came out of their rooms to find new bikes. The boys were as happy as could be!

Next, we went over to nana and pappy's house to open presents.

After that we went over to my parents house for Christmas dinner. We ate, opened more presents, and then the dad's pulled the kids on sleds down the street.

Here's daddy pulling the sled with...

Gavyn and Bryce!

My brothers Ashley and Jason decided to race each other.

Cameron and Cayden played in the back yard for a while.

Here was the family smart enough to stay inside. Aunt Jennifer with Rachael.

Nana Smith

Aunt Kim and Abigail

Aunt Jamie showing off her favorite present :)

Uncle Tyler, Aunt Desi, and Abigail

Uncle James and his Mountain Dew

Then, the kids realized I was taking their picture and the snowballs came at me. So I had to show them up.

But, they won!

After the snowball fight all the guys loaded up in the truck and went around shoveling people's driveways. They do this every year. My dad has about 12-13 people that he shovels out around town every time it snows. He gets up early in the morning and them comes home from work to do it again. Growing up we used to help him and I loved it. My kids are already starting to get into the whole shoveling thing themselves and I am so glad!

Overall, we had a great Christmas and went away loving each other even more!

Gavyn's Birthday - still catching up!

On December 20, 2008 my baby turned

I cannot believe is he already 4! It gives me such mixed emotions to have my baby growing up!

Gavyn has always been a tough kid. He started out a little early and because he was premie no one was allowed to hold him for a while. They were able to keep him in the nursery, but they had one nurse assigned to him at all times. Gavyn was able to come home with us after a week. He was 5 lbs 9 oz and absolutely gorgeous! Gavyn was a hard baby at first because of his craniosynostosis. He had his first surgery, a craniotomy, at 2 months old and as soon as he came out of surgery he was a new baby. He know longer had the headaches and things that had made him so cranky earlier. He slept all night long from the time he came home from the hospital for at least 8 hours every night. He would just smile constantly and he loved being snuggled.

Gavyn is still much the same today. He is a tough little cookie who sometimes causes headaches, but he always sleeps through the night and he is always smiling and ready to give you a snuggle!

Gavyn is an awesome kid! He has got a lot of energy and is quite mischevious. He always knows how to get to his brothers, but likely his older brothers are very patient with him. Gavyn loves his family so much and is always trying to make us smile by doing something silly. He is a happy kid and you can't kelp but be happy when you are around him.

Gavyn is also extremely strongheaded. We are hoping that this comes in handy later on in life, but for now it can be so frustrating. He is independant and always wants to do things on his own. This has taught me so much patience because he will get things done his way, but it always takes longer.

Gavyn loves being outside. He will go to all the neighbor's houses and get their kids outside to play with them as well. Luckily, he has only gone down to the end of the street once. Gavyn loves sports and riding his bike. He also is a kid who just likes to play alone sometimes. Gavyn has always been great at just entertaining himself and he is just happy playing with his trucks and trailors.

Gavyn is a great cleaner. I never have to ask him for help, he will just do it. His favorite thing to do right now is to mow the lawn with his daddy. Curtis will be on the riding lawn mower and Gavyn will follow him around with his little push mower. He will stay out there helping for over an hour until the job is done. Whenever Curtis is out digging, Gavyn is out digging with him. We got him a set of little tools and gardening things so he can be out helping.

I love Gavyn so much and we are so lucky to have him as part of our family!

Here he is opening presents.

My kids all love getting clothes.

Gavyn's face says it all!

Modeling his new outfit...

...and now on his scooter.

After opening presents Gavyn decided he wanted to go see the live nativity at Jensen's Grove. We invited nana and grandpa Smith, Uncle James, Aunt Jennifer, Andrew, Cameron, and Rachael.

Here is a group picture minus Jennifer who is taking the photo and Curtis who is off getting up more hot chocolate. It was soooo cold, but we were the first in line so we didn't have to wait too long.

Gavyn is so dang cute!

Cameron and Cayden.

My Mom and Dad aka Nana and Grandpa Smith

Rachael and Bryce. These two just love each other so much. They are hugging in almost every picture I have of them.

Cayden, Cameron, and Gavyn

Bryce, Cayden, and Gavyn. I love how much these little boys love each other!

My dad sat by Gavyn, Andrew, and Bryce on the sleigh ride.

Mom, me, Jennifer, Rachael, and James were on the other side. I just realized this is probably the only photo I have of my with my mom and sister.

Aunt Jennifer with Gavyn



Nana with Bryce. This picture is a little blurry, but it was so cute I had to post it.

Cameron and Cayden got to ride up in front and help guide the horses. They had such a blast! Thanks Brother Humphrey's for letting them ride with you!

After the live nativity we went to nana and grandpa's house for some cake. Somehow with everything going on I forgot the cake, but luckily my mom backed me up!

I think he likes it~

The kids had a great day and Gavyn had a great birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY G-MAN! WE LOVE YOU!