Christmas day 2012

Preface: Its been a while since I've blogged and I am feeling like I have big time writers brain block. Although my body is in South Jordan I think my mind and spirit are still soaking up the warm sun in Orlando. Sorry if this post bores you to tears.  

We had a wonderful Christmas together with our little family of three. We did also get to spend some great quality time with family members that live close by, so grateful for them!, on Christmas eve and Christmas day.

Christmas morning I walked down the stairs with Caleb in arm, as soon as I put him down on the ground he made a beeline to his Thomas the train engine that was going in circles on its track. Thomas kept Caleb very content and continues to do so whenever he plays with him. By the final present Caleb really got the hang of unwrapping the presents, that the toy was underneath the paper. He received just the right amount of toys I think, or maybe we did a few more than were needed...oh well! We are really starting to understand what toys Caleb enjoys playing with so it was pretty fun to shop for him this year. His favorites...cars of all sizes and shapes, tools (real and fake), and duplo legos. Justin and I kept things scaled down for each other this year since we knew we were going to Orlando a week after Christmas.

Although Justin only got Christmas day off of work, he was able to work from home the majority of the week of Christmas. We loved having him home with us, even if we had to stare at the back of his head as he worked at the computer. :-)

Us before church, the Sunday before Christmas

We also made a special book online for Caleb, we were able to put in all the family members names on the pages so Caleb knows how much he is loved!

The aftermath...thank goodness we have a completely empty front room to destroy with presents and wrapping paper ;-) -I am dying to decorate and furnish this room!

And then we have this cutie right after his bath. He loves his baths and especially when Dad bathes him-Justin takes his time and lets Caleb play with his toys for quite a while.

Christmas, part one

We have officially celebrated our first Christmas eve and Christmas day for December! I love that our Decembers now include two Christmas celebrations (well this is only the second year but I hope its a new tradition!). My parents came out this last week to be with us and my sister's family. Although we say "we are not shopping the entire time!" we, yet again, ended up shopping each day away it seemed like. My parents don't have an "off" switch when it comes to buying for the grandkids. They sure get spoiled with Nana and Pawpaw around. Caleb has a new wardrobe, an awesome red wagon, legos galore, hot wheels and Justin and I got some much needed new clothes! Amidst all the shopping we did squeeze in a trip to Chuck E Cheese, Temple Square lights & City creek (to see Santa), a movie, baking and of course our awesome 'Christmas eve' party.

Needless to say it is far too quiet in our home now and Caleb is having serious Nana and Pawpaw withdrawals. Especially pawpaw, Caleb gave him more kisses than I have ever gotten! Maybe it has something to do with the mustache...

Now its on to Christmas, part two. Still lots of baking that needs to happen but all the shopping is pretty much wrapped up. We hope you are all having a merry wonderful time and enjoying the Christmas spirit!

Caleb loves to point at everything these days

Nana (the original Emma) and Emma

Pawpaw and silly man Matt

The "stare"

the 'Christmas eve' spread

Matt helping Caleb look at the camera

Caleb making a silly face

And Caleb siting on Santa's lap. Not a huge fan... when it came time to take pictures with all three of the kiddos Caleb had really had enough.

Thanksgiving / twenytwelve

We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with Justin's sister Amanda (& her family) and her in-laws again this year, this is our third year joining their family for Thanksgiving...maybe a new tradition?? I feel like the best way for me to get into the holiday spirit is by cooking...well baking really. So I made a few things and took up to the amazing feast we had.

We have so much to be thankful for every year and this year the blessings have just poured upon us. Justin got a great new job, we were able to purchase our first home in an awesome location, Caleb is continually growing and developing and I am so thankful to stay home with him each day. We have great health and so many loved ones and friends in our life. Anyway...the list is never ending. 

Since my child is losing patience with me being at the computer I wanted to quickly post some of my favorite pictures from Thanksgiving...

Caleb loves playing at our new railing

The impressive table spread

This begins the photo shoot of Caleb being silly during dinner.

"I'm not listening.."

Caleb, where's your nose?

Where's Caleb?

He's mastered the peek a boo game

And he LOVED the candy corn

And the slushy (a Blackham tradition)

And just to mention... we went downtown SLC to walk around Temple Square the Saturday night following Thanksiving. Although it wasn't too cold, there were a lot of people and Caleb was not a fan. So we quickly walked around and enjoyed the lights but definitely will be going back before Christmas comes. 

train ride to the lights

that dern coat bothered Caleb the entire night but at least it kept him warm!

much happier with the coat unzipped!

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season, time to get into full blown Christmas mode!

Our home

I haven't taken pictures of every space in our home... I should probably do that before too long. But here are a few pictures that I did take last week. Caleb's room is put together (except for hanging pictures on the walls) but it isn't included in these pictures, sorry!

Speaking of Caleb...he is finally happy again (for good hopefully). This last couple of weeks have been rough between a cold, possible sinus infection, an ear infection, the side effects of the antibiotic, teething...he has been a constant fussy noise in the background unless I am holding him. Now that he is happy and content playing by himself with his blocks I can finally blog! Whew.

So here goes the [brief & incomplete] tour:

The "before" picture. This is what the view from the den to the kitchen was when we first moved in.

Another shot of the same view, including the staircase

View from the kitchen down to the den

Oops...don't know how this cute picture snuck its way into the tour...

Our master bedroom, we painted the room from a mossy green to this grayish blue color.

Upstairs guest/hallway bathroom

Although we have taken out some of the clutter in this room, it still pretty much looks the same. This is the front room, which will be a sitting room down the road (need to lay hardwood floor throughout this level, from front door through to kitchen...and get furniture!)

The kitchen...plans are to have cabinets refinished and new countertops put in...but those plans are a ways away. You can see the left side of a door on the right side of the picture. That is the door to the backyard and patio. Not included in this picture...the garage access door, it is on the same wall as the fridge.

Sorry for the dark picture! This is the eat-in kitchen area.

The "after" photo of our renovation. The railing and walls need to be painted still.

The new view from the den to the kitchen. The door on the right side of the photo is to the unfinished basement. On the wall right of that door is the laundry room and another guest bathroom. There is also a guest bedroom off the den.

View of den from kitchen.

So there it is. Its a work in progress but thankfully not so much work that it is a constant stress. We are so happy to have our first home!