Eighteen Months

Emotions are all over the place this month, due to the fact my two youngest are 18 months. Can you believe it? Eighteen months. There are moments during each day that I’m reminded about how I only had a couple more weeks left with their older sister when she was their same age.

It just wasn’t long enough.

But I’m grateful it isn’t as painful this time around as it was with Ledger. I’m still anxious, and after talking with other Angel Mom’s, I think it’s common to feel this way. Hopefully my anxiety will subside when they reach 19 months.

When Ledger reached 14 months, I decided to have pictures taken of him at the same age Preslee’s last set were taken. I knew my kids would grow up, and eventually Preslee’s picture’s will look outdated. I wanted the option of having all my kids’ pictures at the same age. So I scheduled pictures for Can and Cruiz, but life got in the way and we had to put them off for a couple months, but we got them!

The process of getting two toddlers to cooperate wasn’t easy, while I tried to get one to smile, the other was destroying the photographers house… but I’m so happy with how they turned out :) Don’t they look completely different with their long hair? Aw, I’m glad I captured their curls before Pat cut them.

Thank you Kassie Crapo Photography for capturing their personalities so perfectly.
(Cannon in the red, Cruiz in the blue)

 

All four within a couple months - I can’t wait for the day Pat and I will get to see them all together.

Winner!

The winner of the Disney gift card is Trisha Larson! Congratulations!
Be on the lookout for an e-mail :)

Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Dorsie and Terry (Pat’s dad and step mom). We ate a fabulous dinner, and just as we were finishing up, there was a knock on the door. I wish I would have had my video setting recording, because Santa walked in, and all the kids went crazy! Ledger began talking too fast to understand and jumping around, and Sawyer started spitting out every fact he knew about Santa. It was adorable. Santa talked to each kid individually, and gave them each a toy. I was extremely surprised when Santa called my name... and Pat, even more than me :) He brought each adult a thoughtful gag gift, along with a gift card we all appreciated.


Cannon in red, Cruiz in blue.

All the kids love Uncle Wyatt!
 

Santa brought me two helping hands :)

The adults held a white elephant exchange, it was hilarious! By far the best I’ve ever participated in. (Remind me to share details for all of you next year). Then we had the kids act out the Nativity scene. Ledger surprised us by taking his role very seriously, and my heart about burst out of my chest when he leaned over and gave “Baby Jesus” a kiss on the forehead. It’s those moments when you realize our daily scripture study had paid off. Cannon and Cruiz mimicked the older kids and even sat reverently.

I felt the Sullenger boys represented the Three Wise Men quite well.

Ledger being his clumsy self :)

We drove home while it was snowing (Yay, snow for Christmas!) and let the boys all open their Christmas jammies (Avengers theme). We told Ledger when he woke up the next morning, he had to come in to our room before anywhere else. Pat even put up the baby gate to stop him. Ledger eagerly jumped into bed because he knew Santa wouldn’t come unless he was asleep. Oh and picked up his room as well, he remembered me saying Santa likes boys who keep their room clean :)

I wanted to document the baby gate that didn’t help very much… Haha

Christmas Morning

About 8:00 Christmas morning, (Yes, the one day for our kids to sleep in!) I was laying in bed waiting for our kids to wake up, when I heard the baby gate being torn down, I jumped up and grabbed the back of Ledger’s shirt as he raced towards the Christmas tree and pulled him into our room. He didn’t quite make it into our front room, but got a glimpse of one of the presents Santa left. He immediately began yelling, “Little City People Skyway! Mom, Santa brought us Little People City Skyway!”


Waiting in our bed while we woke up his brothers.

This year my goal was to make it simple, and I can honestly say this Christmas was amazing. The twins mimicked Ledger’s excitement and we had three excited boys running around shrieking with joy. Ledger ran around flying his Toothless Dragon (How to Train Your Dragon 2) and Cannon and Cruiz ran around in their capes and masks with their McQueen sippy cups. Aw, my heart was incredibly full, and it was the first year my grief didn’t take over that day.

 
Cannon – Captain America, Cruiz – The Hulk


Santa found the neatest Toothless. He has a blue laser that shoots out of his mouth, along with mist… Not sure who likes him more, Ledger or his Dad.

 
A month later, Ledger still talks about Christmas daily at our house. 
There wasn’t any snow the morning before! 
My parents made the drive to eat breakfast with us. Thank you! The roads hadn’t been plowed yet. We ate amazing Eggnog French Toast and Biscuits and Gravy. Our boys were thrilled to show Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Rhett their gifts.

Christmas Afternoon

Once my parents left, we got ready to head to Patrick’s mom’s house. Michele cooked an awesome Christmas dinner, and Ledger was thrilled to hang out with cousin Ivy two days in a row. Michele and Layne gave Ledger two Ninja Turtles, which surprisingly replaced his three year Lightening McQueen obsession. He hasn’t put the toys down since and has been referring to himself as Mikey aka Michelangelo.  

Cannon in the solid, Cruiz in stripes!
  
Missing Kash, Cara, and their kids.

We were so blessed this Christmas season. To the anonymous person who sent us an envelope in the mail, we thank you! We are so grateful for your kindness.

Thank you to the Beckstrands, the Browns, and the Reams for sending us the Christmas decorations, we love you!