It's a Wonderful Life...

I was really looking forward to Christmas this year and it did not disappoint! I really wanted it to be calm and quiet and focused on Christ. I didn't want to fuss over making meals that take all day to cook and all night to clean up. I didn't want to have Liam whining about opening presents. I didn't want to be opening a million presents and then having to find a place to put a bunch of stuff we don't really need. I didn't want to go here there and everywhere, trying to see everyone one we know and everyone that they know. And I didn't have to do any of the things I didn't want to! Perfect.

We woke up late on the 24th (a Christmas miracle for my children!) and played around the house all morning just the four of us. Then Grandma and Grandpa (my parents) came late morning to liven things up a bit. Liam was in heaven. If all he got for Christmas was a visit from my mom and dad I think he would have been perfectly content. Edwin made a delicious prime rib for dinner and we ate early and then headed off to church for the candlelight service. Liam and Jonah were incredibly behaved all day and through the service too! Then we came home and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus, had some cupcakes and read the Christmas story from Liam's Bible. I loved it!

Getting ready to eat dinner.

All dressed up for church

Liam LOVES to have his back and head tickled and it is not hard to rope Grandma into doing it! It's also a great way to simmer down before bed.

On the morning of the 25th we lingered over an incredible breakfast with four different types of coffee and then slowly wandered over to the Christmas tree for some presents. I know it won't always be that way, as the kids get older and start to really understand what Christmas morning holds! But it was so nice not to rush it this year, or have a million people to cook for and clean up after. After we opened up all the gifs we cozied up and headed outside for Liam's big gift this year. And then we relaxed for the rest of the day. Not one of us ever made it out of our pajamas! This is most certainly not common for my family!! Then we topped it all off with some crazy delicious wine and fondue. I am so grateful for every minute of it and wouldn't change even one thing!

Jonah is already very adept at opening gifts and he seemed very excited about his new onsies. See his little hand holding the wrapping paper...so cute!

He was also VERY interested in ribbons and bows.

Liam got some "Icky" Mouse PJ's

And an easel from Grandma and Grandpa. The easel is a big hit. He even enjoyed helping daddy put it together.

Here is some video of our two wonderful days together...

On the 26th we got to go down to my Aunt and Uncle's house in Everett where all of our Washington family gathered to celebrate Grandma Nancy's birthday and late Christmas. We had a great time catching up with all the family and even squeezed in some karaoke before everyone got there. All in all another fun and relaxing day!

Uncle Jeff showed up in the same shirt as Liam and Liam was pretty proud!
Here is some video of the karaoke. I, of course, could not help but sing a few, and am now convinced that I need my own karaoke!

So, what is my Christmas wish for next year? Please, oh please, let it be as great as this year!

Sing AND Play?!

Here's a follow up to my last post with my amazing singers. Not only can they sing, they are also talented with instruments! I pulled out my guitar the other day to play and Liam loved it. Then what did I find the very next day while looking for a gift for little Morgan? A Liam sized guitar! I think you'll find he's a natural.

We had a ton of fun on Saturday. Uncle Jeff, my brother, came up to hang out and brought the boys some loot. A piano for Liam and a Jonah sized guitar! That just sealed the deal. next year we'll be getting the drums and a microphone for the band. After naps we headed out to see the "preedy lights" as Liam calls them. Then we stopped by a live Nativity scene down the road from our house on the way home. It is so fun to be making all these memories and starting new traditions during the holidays with my own kids!

I think Uncle Jeff will love this video of Jonah with his new guitar. He is also clearly a natural. I mean, he's only 4 1/2 months old and watch how he commands the instrument! Amazing.

And this picture is just because he's so darn cute and cheerful all the time!

My, what singers!

Liam and Jonah have both found their singing voices and even in that they take after Edwin and I! I would have to say that Liam can carry a tune, just like his mommy...

And Jonah sings just like his daddy...

Here are some other random pictures from November. The ABC's are EVERYWHERE in our house. They have even made it to the bathroom. Liam just can't get enough!

Playing with Grandpa after Thanksgiving.

Learning to make good coffee with daddy.

Sleeping with Grandma.

Jonah found a new toy

I think we actually posted a video of Liam a few years ago that is very similar to this one. I can't help it, I just think nearly everything they do at Jonah's age is so cute!

Peanuts

So long October,

I barely noticed you, you flew by so fast! Not much has been going on here in the Martinez house. Well, with the exception of Jonah. I can't believe how fast infants grow and change. With every other age you have to look back at video and pictures to notice the changes, but I feel like I can see Jonah changing right before my eyes! He is so amazing, I call him my little sunshine. The child smiles ALL the time. And he has started to giggle, which I adore. Anyway, here are a few pictures taken this month, for those of you who don't get to see us in person very often!

Snuggling up to go out for a walk

We hit up the pumpkin patch again this year. I think it is more for me than anyone else in the family, but they humor me. Remember this picture from last fall?

Look how much Liam has grown and changed! I think I will have to make this an annual shot.

Not quite tall enough yet, maybe next year.

Driving the old rusty tractor

Why do my parents make me do these things?

This is how Jonah rocked the pumpkin patch.

Mini handiman

Jonah's bed head cracks me up. Every time we give him a bath he wakes up from his next nap with some really funny style.

My little monkeys.

And here is a bunch of this months little video clips strung together so that you can seen the boys in action.

Family Photos

Right before Liam's birthday in September we had our favorite photographer, Evantide Photography, come out and take some family photos. We had some taken when Liam was 6 weeks old, so we wanted to get some of Jonah at the same age. And since they were coming out we decided to get some of the family and some of just Liam at two years old. We did them all here at home and were so grateful for a perfect day of weather! I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves...

What!?!? Two!!?!

Happy Birthday to my biggest little man, Liam! I can't believe he is two years old already. Time has flown by. And I cannot imagine my life without Liam in it. He is an amazing little person! I am so in love with this little guy that sometimes I look at him and my heart literally hurts.

Liam is beautiful (of course, he does look a lot like me), intelligent (he knows all his ABC's, upper and lower case, can count to 16 in english and 10 in spanish, can spell and read a few words, and so much more!), thoughtful (he loves to give out kisses and share his things), observant, funny, obedient a lot of the time, and so much more! I can't wait to see what this next year will bring. He is just growing and changing so fast that I have to really focus on savoring every moment of his precious little life. He is now and always will be my miracle, my baby, a perfect gift from God!

To celebrate this year we threw a big party the weekend before his actual birthday. It was supposed to rain so we threw it in the shop. We created a big underwater fish theme to commemorate the fact that from 12 to 18 months one of Liam's only words was fish. Everything was a fish no matter how hard we tried to convince him otherwise. Here are a few pictures and some video of the event!

Today, on Liam's actual birthday we decided to make the day all about out little man. My aunt, Nancy came to watch Jonah for the day so we could give Liam ALL of our attention. We started off with some man-cakes, sausage and eggs, Liam's favorite breakfast foods, and then we took him to the Vancouver zoo. He loves animals so we thought he would get a kick out of the zoo. Here is some more video and a few pictures of our favorite animals.

In other news, Jonah has been periodically sleeping through the night, three nights now, though not consecutively. Wooooohoooooooo!!!!