Welcome 2015!!!

I know it's cliche... but I really can't believe it's 2015... it's such a futuristic sounding year.. and in four more years I'll have graduated high school 20 YEARS ago.

20 years... wow.

And I still look the same. :-)

Ha. Kidding...

Anyways.

We had some casual plans on New Years Eve to have our friends Pat and Erin and their kids over, but sickness hit their house and ours and we had to cancel the playdate.

I had the day off from work because I had a personal day to use up, so we decided to take the kids into school and have a quiet day of adult time.

It ended up with Neal laying on the couch all day recovering from a fever and chills and me cleaning the house..

#party

Neal was feeling better by the afternoon so he went and picked up the boys at school and I decided to put out some of the appetizers I had bought and make it as festive as I could, even though it would be just a quiet night with out little family.

 Noisemakers and poppers and fun hats!!!

He just about hyperventilated with that thing.

 This perfectly captures the excitement of the evening. He kept saying it a bit wrong.. "Happy New Near!!!" it was awesome. 

Greetings from the 2015 Glynn's!!

 Figuring out how to pop the poppers!!!

We ate snacks, watched a movie and then did what most families do...put our toddlers in a box and throw things at them. 

We let Austin stay up until a little after 9pm!! Party Party Party!!!! 

Yep... Dat's My Big Boy Bike!!!

Do you remember that one toy you got as a kid at Christmas that just made your childhood??

For me it was a Magna-Doodle. Man.. I was so jazzed about that thing.. I was convinced it was going to change my life. I was going to suddenly become a renowned artist and illustrate all these awesome things and be famous and amazing.

What a cute little naive thing I was...

Anyways... I think Austin will (hopefully) always remember how awesome the Christmas was when he got his Big Boy Bike.

He had been talking about the BBB for months... he asked Santa for one and anyone who asked "what do you want for Christmas?" the answer was always "A BIG BOY BIKE!!"

My parents really wanted to play Santa and get him his BBB... and there was something funny with the training wheel so my Dad and Neal were in the garage for a few hours Christmas morning trying to get the wheel righted so Austin could be surprised. My Mom and I had to keep him distracted inside while the "elves" fixed the bike.

I was nursing when it was time to reveal the bike to Austin.. but I could hear him as he walked out in the garage.. "A BIG BOY BIKE!!! Can I... can I wide it wight now???"

So of course, off he went.. never to be inside again...

There he goes!!! Took to it like a duck takes to water

They went around the whole block!!

"Yook at me Dad!!!"

Don't worry, we got him a helmet too. Neal's parents got him one for Christmas and it was unfortunately too small. Neal got him a bigger helmet the next day. 

I'm a big boy now!!!

It's hilarious because when he's not riding his bike, he wants to go look at it. And he'll stand there and put his hands on his hips and say "yep, das my big boy bike!" and then tell us all about the parts it has.

"Just got to move dis right here."

Ain't she a beaut, Clark???

"Its got wheels, an a seat, and brwakes...."

Ride on, little man.. ride on....

Christmas Day is Here Again!!

Ever since we had Austin, Neal and I started a tradition of having Christmas morning at our house, so we could do the whole Santa thing, before heading down to my parent's.

Waking up early is no problem in our household, since our children don't get the concept that life can begin after 7am... so at about 6:30 Christmas morning, the fun began!!

Jake and the Neverland Pirate sword! Swish! Swish!!

New toothbrush! He wanted to go brush his teeth immediately after pulling this from his stocking

"What did you get, Austin?"... "Umm... I dunno. A package." haha! It was a wooden train whistle, he didn't know what it was at first.

We've come to discover he's the type of kid that has to get every last little piece of wrapping paper and tape off a package.

Heeeyyyyy... it's early... ugh.

Jake toys! 

We unwrapped a baby! OMG!! Haha.

It crinkles. It wrinkles. It's AWESOME!!!!

Down to Springfield and first stop... Great Gramma Darlene's house!!

More goodies to tear into

My Grandma always offers to keep Owen. I keep telling her to go for it.. because I'd love to get some sleep... but somehow he keeps coming home with us.. strange.. 

Festive baby!!

Austin got to "play Santa" and hand out gifts!

Owen's new crinkle book. He was ALL ABOUT IT!

He claimed he was hot and took off his shirt. I think he just wanted to show off his finely chiseled toddler body. 

Happy baby doing what he does best.. being cute!

Shirtless fishing... how very Springfield. Ha. 

Last stop.. Gramma and Grampa's!!

Owen had a hey-day with his new chew toys!

Making Gramma all festive with antlers and a bow!

New Play-Doh! I think they design that stuff on purpose to dry out within a few months so you always have to buy new. 

In Austin's words.. "A BIG MONSTER TWRUCK!!!!"

Cool!!!! Cars and a race track!!!

Back over to Gramma Darlene's for dinner.. and a pooped out little boy snuggled Uncle Brian

It was a very Merry Christmas for our family.... Santa was good to all of us!

'Twas the Night Before...

It has been our tradition since having kids to spend Christmas Eve with Neal's family, and Christmas Day (and a few days after, sometimes) with my family since we have to travel to my family.

This Christmas Eve we headed over to Neal's parent's early in the day- armed with snacks, drinks, and a cranky toddler.

It was one of those days that Austin woke up really early (and we could tell didn't sleep that well the night before) so as soon as he was awake, he was being a challenge.

Everything was "no," everything was defiance, or an argument... and I knew he'd get no nap, so I was wary as to how the whole day was going to unfold.

He was... ok. We had a few moments where we had to lay down the parenting law, and he got a little cranky by the time we headed home.. refusing to give anyone a hug goodbye... sulking in a corner... then passing out the minute he was in his carseat... but overall, he held it together pretty well for being tired.

The excitement and new toys helped, of course.

Best brothers in front of our tree before heading over to Poppa's!

He convinced Poppa to hide in the tent with him because there were "bears" outside it!

The pretty little tree

Poppa enjoying his boys!

Owen wasn't so sure about all the hulla-baloo going on. 

Big dinosaur puzzle from Auntie Lori! Neal quickly lost patience and had to walk away. Toddlers really test your last string of patience. 

Uncle Ricky admiring Owen's Santa socks. He was sad to discover they didn't come in his size.

Auntie Lori snuggles!! Definitely Owen's favorite person of the evening!!

The signature cocktail.. fireball and apple cider. See those floating things? Pomegranate seeds. That I harvested from the fruit. And stained and ruined a shirt in the process. So I forced everyone to put them in their drinks. Do not let my shirt have died in vain!!!

This is how he says "cheese" now... Batman hat!!!

Did we just hear Santa??? Owen is so not impressed.

Uncle Garrett got Austin a Bat Cave! Thanks Uncle G, for the large toy that doesn't collapse or fold up and has a million little parts. 

I think Garrett had more fun with the Bat Cave than Austin!!

How do other people get my baby to fall asleep so well??? My Grandma, and Auntie Lori just need to come live with us. 

Uncle Garrett is so amusing!!

Selfie with my big baby!!! And a nice shot of the beautiful watch I was gifted!

We always end the evening with Poppa reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas..."