A Christmas Wish

Jackson loves sending and receiving mail. He likes to make pictures and cards for people, and then narrate what they should say while I write. It's usually very cute. Lots of "I loves you"s and "I can't wait to play with you"s.

Yesterday, he brought me a Christmas card that he had colored. Inside was a picture he drew of me. He said "I made you a Christmas card. Will you help me write the message to you?" I was pretty excited. I sat down and began rapidly scribing everything he said while he narrated the card to me. I was expecting some heartfelt "thank you"s for all my hard work. Instead, I got this.

"To mom, from Jackson. I want to say I love you. Uh... I wish that you would come to Daddy's football games every day and bring snacks for me every day. I really want you to make a picture back for me. I love you again. I wish you would put up the Christmas tree today. I wish snow would fall from the sky. And I wish the Incredible Hulk was real."

And that was the end. I swear that is word-for-word what he told me to write.

Not to get too profound here, because we all know that's usually not my style, but I was thinking I wonder if that's how Heavenly Father feels when we pray. He expects prayers of love and gratitude, and instead we ramble off a list of wants... random wants.

Either way, I love my little Christmas card, and find myself wishing I could make a little snow fall from the gray Seattle sky, and somehow find the REAL Incredible Hulk.

Wicked & Chuck E.

For my birthday, Tyler got us tickets to see Wicked, and last weekend it was finally here.

Tyler's parents were in town, so while we went to the show, they took the boys to Chuck E. Cheese.

Brothers

Jackson and Fisher's favorite spot to hang out, the top bunk bed. They think it's so funny to sit up there and giggle.

I would give anything to have these pictures be in better focus so I could print them. The focus is just a little off. I was snapping too quickly to make sure my camera settings were where I wanted them. We'll have to try again this Sunday.

G&G Hawkins Visit

Last week my dad had a conference in Seattle, so we turned it into a long weekend trip. It was so fun having them here. Shopping, fancy hotel swimming pools, delicious food, grandparents, everything you need for a great weekend.

We spent a rainy day at the corn maze

Fisher should win smile awards

Fisher Plaza

Fisher loved that leaf. I think his favorite part of the visit was my grandpa talking him on walks to hunt for leaves. Jackson's favorite was probably the swimming pool. I enjoyed shopping with my mom, and the fact that she introduced me to my new favorite store, Romy.

Halloween 2012

Jackson's class took a fieldtrip to Remlinger Farms to visit the pumpkin patch, go on a train ride, hay jump, and more. Such a fun day.

Getting ready to jump in some hay. He wasn't a fan of it getting stuck in his shoes.

There were several presenters there that taught the kids about farms. I love Jackson in this picture. He looks sincerely fascinated.

Grinding wheat

Jackson loves these silly face cut-out photo props. He wanted his picture taken at every one of them, and there were at least 20.

The train ride. It was fun to spend a day just Jackson and me. He sure has some great things to say when you get him talking.

Learning about bees

Our trick-or-treating group. Tyler was in Dallas interviewing for residency, so our friends let us tag along. It was so much fun to go with them.

My favorite house... awesome. I want to do this some day.

Spider web 7-layer dip. I love Halloween food.

Painting pumpkins. We were too lazy to carve this year, but painting was just as fun.

Pumpkin pizza for our little trick-or-treaters

Jackson already had a fair amount of sugar in him, so getting a smile out of him was impossible.

These kids have some silly face. I love that McKyla (blonde hair) has this gorgeous super model smile in both pictures. Jackson has a bit of a crush on her. He's a smart boy like that. In all fairness, he's got a crush on her adorable little sister too.

Fisher quickly figured out that the mini Reese's cups were wrapped in foil, and if you suck on them hard enough, chocolate starts to leak out. Jackpot... but always disgusting. By the way, Fisher was a trooper. He just chilled in his stroller in his little pumpkin suit and cheerfully watched the action all night, so he deserved a little sweet treat before bed.

Fisher turns 1

My sweet little Fisher, where did your first year go? Thank you for all the fun we've had this year. You make me so happy. You are such an incredible addition to our family. Some of my favorite things that you are doing right...

1. Your "happy crawl" as we've named it. When you crawl, you make happy noises and wag your head enthusiastically from side-to-side. It's sort of like a happy, skipping version of a crawl. It's adorable.

2. I can't make it through the grocery store in under an hour because every grandma in the store has to stop me and hold your hand and smile at you, and you are very good and smiling back. The cashier's at QFC all know you by name and look foward to your high fives each week.

3. If I lie down on my side on the floor, you eagerly crawl towards me. When you get close, you turn around and back up into me. Then you curl un into a ball and snuggle at my stomach, spooning-style, like a little kitten or something. It's pretty awesome. 

4. You give awesome kisses, and you've learned to understand the word "kiss". I think Daddy is your favorite person to kiss. When he asks for a kiss, you eagerly take his cheeks in your hands, open your mouth, and plant a big one right now his lips/nose.

5. Your big brother Jackson is your hero. You follow him around the house all day and laugh at all of his silly antics.

Fisher, you're adorable and we love you so much!

Enjoying the delicious birthday cake, sugar makes him happy :)

At some point we have to ease up on the "fish" puns with Fisher.

I love his expression. He's saying, "Oh hi, I'm about to have some cake and I'm pretty happy about it."

Posing for a photo on the night of his actual birthday. Tyler was out of town for his real birthday, so we kept it low-key. A little cupcake with my family singing via video chat, a bath, and bedtime. After he fell asleep, I did sneak him out of his bed and put him in bed with me for a while to snuggle. I used to do this a lot when he was a little baby. I can't believe how huge he felt in my arms. What a big boy (even though he's technically kind of a little guy, I was surprised to find that his height and weight were only in the 10th percentile at his one year check up)

I really hope he never grows out of loving mommy snuggles.

This was taken on the Sunday afternoon after we celebrated his birthday. I am kind of in awe of my beautiful little/big baby boy.

Idaho August 2012

We recently got to spend 3 weeks in Idaho. It was so fun. I'm always a little homesick for Idaho for a few weeks after Idaho trips.

Celebrating Ben's first birthday. He let Fisher crash his party and celebrate early too. Neither of them were shy about the cake.

Tyler and Jackson

Randi, Madden, Tyler, Jackson

Kim and Ben, this kid makes the best faces

Trying to assemble the present from grandma. I'm really excited for Fisher to have one of these cute toy garages. We played with one just like it when I was a kid and we loved it. Fisher loves it too.

Matching pajamas from grandma

Tyler, Jamie, Whitney, Kim, Steph, Kevin

Mmmm... cake. He kept trying to share soggy chunks with people that walked past.