Christmas 2012

 

We spent Christmas this year with the family in Utah. We had a great visit and made a lot of great memories together. Here are some pictures of us on Christmas day. Natalie received some BYU Cougar onesies from Grandma and Grandpa. You gotta start your kids young on the right path. Go Cougs!

 

Here is Daddy and Jordan opening some presents. Jordan was really into the present opening this year. It's fun to see him understanding more and more.

Jared and Shaylee got creative and gave all the guys in the family a fun present. They were shirts that say, "I ate some pie and it tasted good" in math symbols. The shirts were lots of fun!

Jordan got a tool set from Grandma and Grandpa. He loved it so much he walked around all day long holding the tools and he even slept with some of them. Great present G and G!

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Here is a fun picture of our niece Clara sitting on my lap. She loves babies and she looked at Natalie as if she was a little doll for her to play with. Clara always wanted to be close to Natalie. It was super cute.

Here is a sweet picture of Natalie after all of the Christmas morning unwrapping. She is by far our greatest gift we have been given this year. xoxo

While in Utah we got to see some extended family and friends. Here are pictures of us with Grandma Murray and Grandma Webb. We also got to see Kevin and Whitney Banner. We met their adorable little newborn girl Kylie. It was fun times!

Here is a boy who loves the snow! We weren't sure if he'd like it since we've been living in such a hot place this past year. But since he was born in Utah, it must be a part of him. He had a blast throwing snowballs and walking around in the snow... he liked hearing the crunch under his feet. 

Jordan has always associated his Grandpa Murray with horses. He is beginning to expect a ride each time we visit. Luckily Grandpa is more than happy to take his little grandson for a ride whenever he wants. Here he is becoming reacquainted with Mariah.

Grandpa and Jordan having a good time together. 

Grandpa also took the time to read some Dr. Seuss stories to Jordan and Clara. What a sweet Grandpa.

Here is a picture of Uncle Bart and Aunt Gayleen taking turns holding Natalie. We got to visit them at their first apartment. They've been married now for about a month. We are so happy for them in their eternal marriage together. 

Here is Clara looking at her cousin Natalie. Someday Natalie will be old enough to play with her.

Jordan and his cousin Clara hanging out together. Clara is being nice enough to let Jordan saw her coloring book. That boy and his tools... 

 

While in Utah we thought it would be a great opportunity to give Natalie her baby blessing. Here is all the family that was there for the blessing. We really appreciated the support and love we felt in having everyone there. 

 

Here is little Natalie in her cute dress for the blessing. 

Here is Grandma Suzie taking every opportunity to hold one of her granddaughters. We are so happy she could be in Utah at this time. 

Here is the proud father holding his little girl. 

We had a wonderful visit over the Christmas break. Family is what makes the holiday special.

Murray Mini Christmas 2012

This is our most current Murray family picture of the four of us. This is the best picture we got after trying for half an hour. Jordan is really good at huge cheesy smiles and not so good at holding still. Funny times.

For the holidays we thought it would be fun to make some goodies and drop them off to some friends. We made cookies, fudge, and added red and green candy canes to the plates. Jordan is helping himself to a candy cane in this picture. 

 Here we are ready to drop off the treats to our neighbors.

Before we headed out to Utah for Christmas this year we had our own mini Christmas at home. Here is a cute picture of Natalie and Jordan cuddling on the bed in their pajamas. How sweet.

Jordan really understood how to open presents this year. He wasn't shy about it either... he tore right into his presents.

Here is a present from Grandma Suzie. Jordan was too excited about the book to look up for the picture. 

Jordan got the book Peter Pan! He loves it! Thanks Grandma Suzie! This book will be well loved. 

Jordan always wants to be like his Daddy who goes hunting for deer and so we got him a toy bow and arrow set. Does he looked thrilled or what?

Here is Preston trying to show Jordan how to use the bow and arrow. It's tricky for a two and a half year old, but Jordan is determined.

Jordan also got a little pirate ship with Captain Hook on it. It has a cannon that shoots cannon balls. He thought is was great. It was fun to be all together with our little fam. It is wonderful to be starting Christmas memories and traditions together.

Natalie 2 Months Old

Natalie is two months old.

Here are her stats from her check up: 

Length 23.5 in. 75th-90th percentile

Head Circumference 40 cm 75th percentile 

Weight 12 lbs. 4 oz. 75th-90th percentile 

Natalie is a big smiler. She melts our hearts every time she smiles at us. She is also a big talker and coos often. She makes various sounds and talks to us for a while. We make sounds back to her and feel like we are having a little conversation with her. If only we could understand the secrets of the universe she is trying to tell us.

Another one of our little ladies skills is she has found her thumb. I'm quite impressed that she found it so early. Sucking on her thumb has been a nice way for her to calm herself down. But mostly, we just think it's really cute. 

Santa Claus Came To Town

This week we went to the library for story time. To Jordan's delight, Santa Claus was there to read The Night Before Christmas! We've been reading lots of Santa stories lately and he's also watched the Santa movie we have A LOT, so he was very excited when Santa walked into the room. As Santa read the story he kept telling everyone around him, "IT'S SANTA! IT'S SANTA!" It was adorable to see how excited he was. 

When it was time for all the kiddies to get to sit on Santa's lap Jordan got a little nervous. So while we watched kid after kid sit on Santa's lap, I tried to assure him that Santa is very nice. Jordan noticed that the kids got a candy cane after sitting with Santa. He asked me if he could have one and I said, "After you sit with Santa he will give you one." I could see from this answer he was trying to figure out a way in his mind to not have to sit with Santa and still get the goodie.

While we were becoming the last ones in the room to see Santa, Jordan realized something... he asked me, "Mom, where are his reindeer?" I said, "I don't know... maybe they are at the North Pole." Jordan then asked the librarian the same question. She told him they were on the roof. He looked up at the ceiling and agreed they were on the roof. With that he was finally ready to sit with Santa... good thing too, because we were the last ones to have a turn with Santa. 

When Jordan got on Santa's lap he asked, "What do you want for Christmas?" Jordan replied with, "Where are your reindeer?" Santa said, "Ahhh..." I guess he wasn't expecting that from a two year old. The picture above is of Jordan pointing to the ceiling telling Santa that the reindeer are on the roof. What a funny little guy.

Jordan was very happy to get a candy cane... he wanted me to open it immediately after saying goodbye to Santa. I am happy we didn't have a crying meltdown this year like we did last year with meeting St. Nick. 

Here is Jordan in the car when we got home with candy cane all over his mouth. Later that day he asked me, "Do you want a candy cane Mom?" This translates to, "I want a candy cane Mom, and if you have one I know I can have one too." He's a smart little boy. When I said I didn't want a candy cane he said, "Why not?" Mom outsmarted him on that one. 

 I am thrilled to announce that we got our very own real Christmas tree this year! Growing up we always had a real Christmas tree and so keeping with that tradition (as I like to do) we got one of our very own. I love the smell of evergreen trees! We also put colored motion lights on the tree which remind me of home.

It was really fun to decorate the tree with Jordan. He was very excited to help and especially wanted to make sure we had a star on the top of the tree. He enjoys plugging in the lights and helping me water the tree. He's a boy after my own heart, since I've always loved doing those things.

Here is the tree fully decorated! Family traditions are a special way to make the season bright. We look forward to keeping family traditions going and to making new ones with our own family. Merry Christmas!