Christmas 2011

What a wonderful Christmas!  Christmas has got to be the best time of year.  Having a three year old made it even more magical and special.

Our family Christmas photo taken at Tyson's parents house.

 Christmas morning was a bit crazy because it fell on a Sunday and we had 9:00 church.  We decided we would just focus on opening stockings and the kids' gifts from Santa and leave the rest for after church.  Here are the girls in their matching PJs excited that Santa didn't forget them.

 We were so excited when Tom, Mayer and Billy decided to drive from Utah to join all the us (and my dad and Beth) for Christmas.  

 The only thing Nina asked for was Rapunzel.  She was beyond thrilled to get it.  To top it off Grandma Beth and Grandpa Larry got her a Rapunzel tower to put her dolls in.  This girl couldn't have been happier.  She was definitely on Santa's good list this year.

 Tom and Tyson drew each others names for Christmas this year.  So of course they got each other gifts that any manchild would want.  Here is Tyson with his air soft gun.

 Susie got an Alphabet train from Grandma and Grandpa and the girls had a blast cruising around the kitchen on it.

It turned out to be a wonderful day.  All in all I think it took about eight hours to open presents that day (between naps and eating).  This time of year makes me reflect and realize how blessed we are with wonderful family and friends.  But most importantly how blessed we are for the Savior, whose birth we celebrate this time of year.  I am grateful for a holiday which focuses on His birth.

Santa

We were lucky enough to have three separate encounters with Santa Claus this year.  With each meeting Nina warmed up more and more to the idea of sitting on a strange, creepy man's lap.  I'm not really sure if this is a good thing or not.  Nina wanted just one thing this year: Rapunzel.  She also let me know that Susie wants a yellow duck.

Tyson's work Christmas party (picture of a picture, sorry.)

Hmmm...this Santa Claus looks awfully familiar.  This is at Mountain View High School where Grandpa Mack just happens to work.

Grandma Connie's annual Christmas party.  This year it was at Brent and Marsha's house in Roosevelt, Utah.  This year we learned that Connie's mom, Great-grandma Lyon, started this tradition years ago.  Everyone always gets Oreo's, Lucky Charms, cheese and meat.  Grandma Lyon started the cereal tradition.

Susie didn't know what to think of Old Saint Nick.

Did I mention that EVERYONE sits on Santa's lap regardless of age or affiliation to the family.  If you attend the party, you sit on the lap.  No questions asked.  Poor Santa.

Festivities in Utah

We were able to spend a week before Christmas up in Utah.  It was great to be able to visit our family and friends that we don't see very often.

One of our first activities was Grandma Connie's Christmas Party in Roosevelt, Utah.  It's so fun seeing all of Tyson's aunts, uncles and cousins.  We haven't been able to make this party in years.  Here is Susie mesmerized by all the people and, of course, Santa.

 Nina had so much fun playing with all of her second cousins.

 Grandma Connie and all of her great-grandkids.

 We got to visit with my Grandma Wood in Kaysville.  The kids enjoyed playing with all of her fun toys.

 Nina watched this train for hours.  We may have to get one for our house.

We got to spend some time with our friends, the Bilbaos.  Our kids are the same ages and it was fun to get together with them.

And of course no trip to Utah would be complete without a visit to Temple Square.  We were so lucky to see Aunt Bea (Sister Wood) before she left for Kentucky the next morning.  We got to hear the sister missionary choir do a "beautiful rendition of Silent Night" (Tyson's quote, I guess you had to be there.)

 We got a VIP tour of the Beehive House where she was currently serving.

 And, oh my goodness, the lights were magical!

9 months

This little chica is 9 months old.  Whenever I read the book The Boss Baby it reminds me of Susie.  This little peanut if packed full of personality.  She can be demanding and bossy, but never forgets to smile and laugh.  Here's a few factoids about this sweet little 9 month old:

• She is a tiny little thing, weighing in at 15 pounds 12 ounces (5th percentile) and measuring 25.5 inches tall (3rd percentile)
• We're not too worried about her size because this girl LOVES to eat.  She will eat everything offered to her and won't stop.  She will eat until she throws up in fact.  If you don't feed her fast enough she slams her hands angrily on her high chair tray and yells at you until you feed her. 
• Still no teeth and it doesn't look like she will have any soon.
• She loves to "talk".  Says dada, mama, baba.
• She LOVES dogs.  She gets so excited whenever she sees one.  She starts breathing heavily, her heart races, and she squeals and kicks her legs.  Pretty much the cutest thing ever.
•  She is crawling, kind of.  She mostly army crawls and gives up easily.  She will crawl a little bit, then look at me with sad eyes and will whine until I pick her up.
• She is still an "orangutan leech" baby, who insists on physical contact with "mama" at all times.
• She loves to laugh, especially at the silly things Nina does.  Her sweet smile melts our hearts and causes us to count our blessings every day.

Retail Therapy

Occasionally a girl needs a little bit of "retail therapy".  Our therapy sessions occur at the Valencia Towne Center (mall) with Grandma Beth.

Doesn't  get much better than lunch at Dink's.

 Gotta love the poinsettia tree

 A carousel ride is a definite must to keep the kids sane.

 Nina is all girl.  Here she is trying on knee high women's boots.  It's so funny how she is already interested in fashion.  She told Tyson this morning, "Dad, you look really cute in that outfit."  Are we in for some trouble or what?

 Nina must feed her obsession with trains.

Enjoying the ever-so-early Christmas decorations.

Christmas is Coming

 

The Fieldsted family has a Christmas tree!  We did our usual tradition: headed over to the local Home Depot, picked out a tree and brought it home.  Not much of a tradition.  Tyson wishes it was so much more.  I think he imagines us hiking through the snow to cut our own perfect Christmas tree.  Personally, I love the Home Depot tradition while we have two small kids.  It's about 2 miles from our house and takes us about 30 minutes to do.
Nina was so cute about it this year.  She picked out our tree and really looked forward to having a tree on the roof of our car.  She found that part fascinating and talked about that part of it for hours.  Anyhow, just love this time of year.

"Look Mom! I got another treat!"

That was definitely the quote of the night.  Cute little Sadie said that after every single door.  I think this Halloween was the most fun I have ever had trick-or-treating.  The little girls were so much fun.  They just loved every single second of it.  It was funny to see them coaching each other at the door.  Nina: "That's enough knocking Sadie.", Sadie: "Okay, you say trick or treat".  They both think they know it all, and in all reality, they pretty much do.

All ready to head out.

 Little Miss Snow White and her Poison Apple.  I tried to talk Nina into being Cinderella.  I thought it was an obvious choice because of her coloring and the pattern for Cinderella was much easier.  But, Nina insisted on being Snow White.  In the end she made a beautiful Snow White and loved wearing her costume, especially the cape that went with it.  Maybe those many hours spent on the costume were worth it!

 Grandma Beth went as Dobby from Harry Potter.  Nina was too afraid of her to get a picture with her.  Sadie was a good sport and apprehensively stood next to her for a quick shot.

Pumpkin Patch

Nina's preschool took a field trip to the local pumpkin patch.  Everyone had a grand old time.

Here's most of the preschool group.  Nina insisted on wearing a hat that day.  She has become quite particular about the things she wears and dresses herself almost every day.

 Nina thought this was the perfect pumpkin and rolled it around for a while.

 Here's our little pumpkin!  She's eight months old in this picture.

 She is seriously such a smiley little thing.  I think I love this age the most.

 Near the end the kids were a bit pooped out.  They had just finished the corn maze and were done.

Blast from the past

One of my best friends ever stopped by on her 30th birthday week, which happens to be mine as well.  Birthdays, that's actually how Kelly and I got acquainted in 6th grade.  She thought her birthday was October 21st, which is the same as mine.  We were so impressed and thought we already had so much in common. (Turns out Kelly's birthday is actually October 20th.)  We had much more than our birthdays in common.  We had good times doing band, district choir and ASB together.  Thanks for all of the amazing memories Kelly!  She and her husband are some of the coolest people I know!

Nina loved walking their cute little dog Pinky.  Poor Pinky is all I have to say about that.

 Here is everyone jamming out on the kitty keyboard.

Kelly and her husband Nate are amazingly musically talented.  Their band Good King Friday  just cut their first album.  You should check it out.  You'll be impressed I promise.

Three Years Old

Warning!  Long post to follow with a lot of pictures.  We celebrated Nina's third birthday several different days and we did a lot of fun things for her. 
Three years has flown by for me.  Nina has such a fun and feisty little personality.  She does some of the sweetest things followed moments later by something absolutely crazy.  I guess that is typical three year old behavior.  Nina loves a wide variety of activities.  She loves playing princess dress-up, riding her tricycle, swinging on her belly at the park like Buzz Lightyear, drawing, coloring, painting, singing, "playing" the piano and dancing.  She is a really good helper and always wants to pick out which diaper Susie will wear, which is usually the one with Baby Big Bird on it.  Every single morning she comes into our room and asks us, "How was your nap?" followed by "My nap was good".  She makes up silly songs.  Today she made up a song about Uncle Kevin peeing in Grandma's grass.  (I think it's made-up anyways).    We are so grateful to have Nina as our daughter and love the light that she brings into each of our days.

Our big preschool girl

 The Thursday before Nina's birthday we headed down to Disneyland with Grandpa Larry and Grandma Beth.  Disneyland is always such an amazing and magical place to go to around the holidays.

 One of Nina's favorite rides is Dumbo.

 Had to end the evening with a tasty Mickey Mouse cake pop.

 Nina got a wagon from Grandpa and Grandma and love strolling around the neighborhood.  Susie especially enjoys it.

 The day before Nina's birthday we had a family celebration.  It is so great having Brandon and Lindsey so much closer.  We love being able to see them more often.

 We are also so lucky to have Kevin and Jennalyn closer too. Our kids are definitely spoiled!

 On Nina's actual birthday we went to the local zoo with Nina's best friend Sadie.

 The girls loved the Bobcats and named them Simba and Pumbaa.  Very creative, right?

 This little girl was happy to tag along with everything we did.

 Nina also had a little princess party with all of her cute little friends.  It was so fun to have them all over in their darling little outfits.

A group shot of all the sweet little princesses.