Christmas Day

 Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday.  This year was a bunch of firsts for the Hays Family.  It was the first time we were in PA for Christmas, as well as the first time we were all by ourselves without any other family.  It was so fun to open presents, or I should say, let the kids open presents.  We had Church at 10:00 am and decided that there was no way we would make it on time if we opened presents, so we just let the kids open their stockings.  Santa sure knows the junk food.  Peter got some Cheetos and was pretty much in heaven.

 I just had to take that typical, 'just woke up' jammie picture on Christmas morning. 

 Apparently, we should have just gave Brooke some hairspray.  And nothing else.  I got a bottle in my stocking and that is ALL she wanted to do. 

 Opening presents after church was pretty fun because we were all dressed up.  I don't think that has ever happened before.  We usually are in are PJ's and look pretty rough!

 again, the hairspray...

Christmas Eve

 We spent our Christmas Eve with some of our 'extended family' out here in Pittsburgh.  We went to the Cheesecake Factory with the Nelsons.  It was awesome not to cook.  I am way too pregnant to be motivated to make a big meal right now.  Dressing up and going out was a blast.  Then we came home and attempted to read the nativity story to the kids.  Next year we will be more prepared with a 'short' version.  They listened for about 2 minutes and then they just wanted to play with the nativity set.

 Santa managed to find our house and left the kids some goodies in their favorite chairs.

We let the kids go shopping for their own ornament.  Peter picked the airplane and Brooke picked the baseball.  (I didn't expect that one!)

A visit to Santa

with no actual picture with Santa because we are cheap. But I took a couple pictures with-out Mr. Clause.  I hope that counts for something.  Brooke wouldn't sit on Santa's lap anyway.  She ran away screaming when it was her turn.  Peter was true to form and told him the same 2 things on his Christmas list as he has been telling Bryan and I since September.

I would also like to announce Brooke's first fully formed sentence: " I was at Costco "  She marched right in the house when we got back a couple nights ago and informed Bryan.  And it was pronounced clear as an Arizona day!  Who would have thought???

As much as Peter wanted to see Santa, I think he liked sitting on those silly riding machines more and pretending to drive the Helicopter for 5 minutes tons more.

Its different being away from all of our family during the Christmas Season.  I really miss them.  It has been fun this year to teach Peter and Brooke about the meaning of Christmas as well as the fun activities (like driving around looking at lights, moving the Reindeer on the Countdown calendar, turning on the lights on the tree everyday, wrapping presents, ect. ect.)  I am so excited for Christmas morning with the kids.  I never knew I would enjoy buying gifts so much!  Its really hard not to spoil them.

In pregnancy news, I am still pregnant.  whoopie.  Hopefully not much longer. And they say that nobody stays pregnant forever.  But I am not sure about that.  The last month is always so long and uncomfortable.  I am counting down the days.  There are 19 and that is close to forever to a pregnant lady.  I finally got out the baby clothes and washed the 'unisex' ones.  All I can say is this baby better be a boy because I had an ultrasound, and after talking to my doctor he says it will most likely weigh 9lbs.  (The the u/s said 6lbs 11 oz when I was at 34 weeks and 5 days)  I don't think I need a monster girl.  I don't particularly like the thought of having a ginormous boy either, but as long as they are healthy I will be happy.  And I am trying not to stress because there is nothing I can do to change how much my little munchkin will weigh.

In conclusion of my random thoughts...
Merry Christmas Everyone!  May thoughts of Christ be with you.  Our Savior was born into the world in a humble stable.  Don't forget your roots and know that humble beginnings can make for fantastic endings.  I wish all of you a happy season.  God bless you and your families.  Stick by your family and they will stick by you!  Much love!
Jamie

Graham Cracker House Party!

This year we hosted our 3rd Annual Gingerbread House Party with our fellow 3rd year dental school friends.  I have to admit that our houses keep getting better every year!  This year Bryan and I did a "Trailer" theme, complete with a tow bar and an awning.  It is pretty ghetto.  But we like it.

 (I love that it is on 'blocks'.  We had to do the underside with marshmallows to give it the authentic 'mobile' look.)  I think this is where Santa Claus lives when he isn't at the North Pole.

 Our awesome group:  The Eriksson's, Sants (along with Raylene's younger sister), Newland's and Hays'!

 The "Village" 

If you look closely you can see on the upper lefthand house (which is not in fact a house, but a train) you may notice Santa.  He is tied to the railroad tracks with twizzlers.  So if you don't get a visit from Santa this year, you know why.

A Christmas Letter

I know this is a random tangent, but I don't send out letter because I think they are cheesy.  I am one to think (though I could be wrong) that everyone who would care enough to get a letter about our 'year' doesn't really need to read it because we talk to them often enough that they know what we are up to.  And sometimes they come across to me like a competition of 'keeping up' with other families and blah blah blah....stuff like that.
Anyway.  So someday if we do send out a Christmas Letter remind me of this blog post.  Although, I LOVE family Christmas cards and someday when we aren't poor students anymore, I will send some out.  And if I can get Bryan to consent to family photos. And letting me spend money on REALLY cute 'holiday' dresses and suits for the kids... For now we will just stick to Peter's letter to Santa.

 

He wrote his name and "santa" all by himself, as well as drawing the train tracks.  I helped a little with the rest.  I always love this time of year, and now that Peter is old enough to understand things, I REALLY am loving this Christmas season.  I love how magical everything is for children.

I was shocked when Peter wrote his own name.  We have been practicing for MONTHS.  And its a fight.  Every time.  Want to know why?  Because he is upset that his name doesn't have the letter "I" in it.  So he doesn't want to write it.  Bryan and I were in charge of cleaning the Church building one night last week and while we cleaned we set the kids loose in a classroom with a couple pieces of chalk.  I walked in later to see his name written on the board.  It made my whole week.  I love that he really is paying attention to things I try to teach him- even if it seems otherwise.

On to Brooke.  She is starting to talk- alot.  I like to refer to her as my 'babbling brooke' (pun intended...).  She doesn't say much in public but at the house she either talky-talky or listening to Peter be VERY chatty.  Her latest include always telling me "I stink" and getting a diaper for me to change her.  She can say all the names of the "Thomas and Friends" trains, though her favorite is "Stanley" and "James".  She loves her baby dolls too and is playing 'mommy' all the time.

 

My favorite event of late is Brooke's binky, which she refers to as "Mimi".  She likes to pull out the neck of her foot pajamas and drop the binky into her jammies while she is supposed to be sleeping.  Then she gets pretty ticked because she can't unzip them to retrieve it.  I think its pretty comical (unless it is 2 am).  It always ends up down by her feet or behind her back.
Pregnancy update:
I am now 35 weeks along.  Fabulous.  I am measuring a little more than 2 weeks ahead so they are sending me in for an ultrasound tomorrow.  I am not getting my hopes up.  I think I just like to retain a lot of fluid.  My feet and ankles are swelling if I sit for more than an hour.  My hands, correction, my left hand, is swollen as well.  (Its been like that off and on since 26 weeks or so)  I am still running 1.5-2 miles 2-3x a week (at a snail's pace!) and using a workout video 2x a week as well.  As fun as running is right now, it is worth it because I am less swollen on the days that I do- which is worth the 30 minutes of misery, torture, excitement a couple times a week.

2 kids. 3000 pictures. 0 with both making eye contact at the camera.

Thanksgiving

Last year for Christmas Haley got me a spring foam pan.  It has only taken me until now to get the guts up to try and use it.  I am please to present my first attempt at homemade cheese cake.  Pumpkin-gingerbread-pecan. 

 And my first attempt at home-made crust for my apple pie.

 Brooke has become obsessed with 'pretties' in her hair and the latest are headbands.  But she doesn't really look 'pretty' in them because her hair goes nuts around the elastic.

 We had a group of friends over and decided to put on a movie in Peter's room and turn 'em loose to all the adults could hang out.  Not a bad idea, as long as you are okay with the mess that will follow...

 Our thanksgiving group.  Minus Bryan's dad.  He was taking the picture.

 Mount Washington

 Riding the Duquesne Incline

 Thanksgiving isn't complete with out some sort of Christmas-ee adventure to wrap it up.  We visited the tree down on Carson street to let the kids run around and attempt some pictures.  (more pictures to follow in next post.)

Let the Holiday's begin!!!