They say it's your birthday!

This is Eggy (and Addie in her sweet leopard print pjs).

Today, Eggy turned 4. So naturally...

We had a party, complete with Play-Doh birthday cake. As you can see, all of our favorite Snuggy friends were invited. I love 4 year olds. 

Laughing at nothing in particular...

Sorry about the quality, is from a video message!

Vegas, baby!

We just got home from a taking a long weekend to Las Vegas. We went to attend the wedding of our longtime (since HS for me, and 6th grade for Cam) friend, Quintin, to his beautiful bride, Molly. The wedding wasn't until Saturday so we went a couple of days early to have a little vaca for ourselves. We were so happy to be able to go! Gage has been so under-the-weather that if he didn't start feeling better we were most likely going to have to cancel. But luckily it worked out and we made it!

We drove in late Thursday afternoon, and kicked off the trip with a visit to Margaritaville for dinner and a comedy club afterwards. Dinner was good, but the comedy club was a bit of a disappointment. The 1st comic started his set by playing the banjo while balancing a stool on his head... enough said. The second comic was better, but all in all we had a good time laughing about the silliness of it all.

In our "boat" at Margaritaville

Friday we just hung around, worked out at the fitness center, took a nap, and then went to see the Titanic exhibit at the Luxor. There were a lot of recovered items to look at, bios to read, and recreations of the ship throughout the exhibit. We are total nerds, so naturally, we loved it. We scored a good deal on some (front row!) tickets to see Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian Friday night.
Ah-maz-ing! I had never seen it live and it was spectacular. It was pared down a bit from the original, but the score was all there. We were running late after the Titanic exhibit and had to run a good portion of the way from Luxor to Venetian with a monorail ride in between and I was wearing new boots that were hurting my feet but we were determined to make it even if my feet started bleeding. :) In the pic below we are outside the theatre after the show. I apologize since most of the pics we took ourselves so they are nice creepy face close-ups.

After the show we did some wandering around, saw the show at TI, the fountains at Bellagio, tried not to punch the annoying porn flyer people always shoving papers in your face, and did some public drinking. Only in Vegas is it acceptable to walk around sipping from a flask while intoxicated.

You thought I was kidding about that flask part, didn't you? Mine was pink and girly! Notice my pinky, that totally classes it up...

Quintin and Molly's wedding was Saturday afternoon with a fun dinner/dance reception after. We were so glad to be there, and they just radiated happiness. I would be lying if I said I didn't tear up during their beautiful self-written vows. Weddings are so romantic, sigh. Here we are with the happy couple.

And silly boys...

Quintin did not know what to think when Cam wanted a turn during the dollar dance...

But they clearly had a good time. Classic.

Congratulations you two! All the best!

Wassat?!

We are in Vegas this weekend for our good friend Quintin's wedding (and a fun getaway of course).  We are having a blast, but alas, we are really missing the kids. They are staying with Grandmama and Happy while we are gone and are getting properly spoiled, no doubt. Anyway, here is a quick list of fun things Gage is doing right now (14 months).

-Pointing at EVERYTHING and saying, "Wassat?!" about 1,000 times a day. I love it. I could listen to that all day. Poor guy has been fighting a miserable sinus and ear infection for the last month and a half and he hasn't been his same bubbly, happy self. But after 4 antibiotics (with an allergy to one, boo) and 2 new allergy meds, he seems to finally be back. :)

-Mimicking words and sounds like crazy. The day we left he repeated "toes" and "chair".

-Finding his tummy. Goes something like "Where's your tummy, Gage?" Followed by his little pat, pat, pat of his belly with a big grin.

-Playing "chase" with Addie. She walks behind him while he looks over his shoulder and tries to get away while they both laugh hysterically. We could listen to that all day.

Oh yeah, and Happy new year by the way! I just realized this will be the 1st post of 2012!

Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful, blessed Christmas. I love this time of year, and Christmas is so special with the kids. We love being able to teach them the real meaning of this time, hand down our traditions, and of course start our own. Christmas Eve we spent with my family for our gift opening and Mexican food fiesta as we do every year. Then Christmas Day we were able to open presents and see what Santa brought, just the 4 of us before we attended church. The rest of the day we spent with Cam's family for more yummy food, gifts, and company. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little choked up to think about how fast the kids are growing up, and that this was already Addie's 5th Christmas. Here's a few of our favorite pics from Christmas this year!

Whispering to Avey what she wants for Christmas. A movie theatre... Sorry kid, that is probably not happening. :) 

Last year we had an Advent calendar that had little chocolates in each door. Addie is obsessed with Star Wars, especially Lego Star Wars. We found this Lego Star Wars Advent calendar where everyday you get to build a little ship or get a Lego guy character from the movies. It was a huge hit!

Gage's favorite present by far, this little couch from Aunt Erica and Uncle Trevor. It caused some serious fights and a few tears from both Gage and Emily as they both wanted to sit on it by themselves!



Learning how to unwrap gifts. Don't worry, Sissy helped with most of his and Emily's.

Poor little guy has been so under-the-weather lately. He was so tired; he's just chillin' with his favorite peep, Papa.

Leaving milk, cookies, and carrots for Santa and the reindeer!

It was a Star Wars kind of Christmas this year. Santa brought a Yoda clock! (She also got the Millenium Falcon from Uncle Matt, and a Darth Vader backpack from us. The Force is totally with us.)

Riding in his new Tonka playing with Daddy's new presents, a cigar and whiskey... Cam says, "Can he get any more manly?"

"Think I'll just finish off these carrots and crumbs left behind."

Addie got new skates and a hockey stick so she can play roller hockey with Daddy.

She also got an RC car built especially for her (Cam had to do some tweaking so it won't go too fast) by Daddy. Um, can you tell she's a tomboy? :)

Grandmama and Happy opening their presents from Addie that she picked out especially and wrapped herself!

Gage giving a hi-five to his great-great grandpa who is 92 this Christmas. Pure love.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

The Polar Express and Ugly Sweaters

I have about a million things to post about from our very busy December, so instead of doing several posts, I'll do my best to condense into two. Be forewarned, this will be a looong post with lots of pictures! Enjoy.

We were lucky enough to take the kids on The Polar Express again this year. That book/movie is a Christmas time staple in our house and it is SO MUCH FUN to see how excited Addie (and all the kids) get while riding the train to the North Pole. :) Some of our favorite pics below -

 That is one big cookie! Naturally, he ate the entire thing.

All the kids get a cookie and hot chocolate, just like in the story.

Then you get to kick back and enjoy the ride while listening to the story. We brought our own copy to follow along.

Addie, Gage, and Emily looking at the North Pole. Santa and his elf are out there waving!

Santa pops aboard for the return trip to give all the kids a little Christmas gift, a bell from his sleigh. Gage is unsure about St. Nick...

But pretty stoked about his bell!

Our little Polar Express riders!

We bundled up back in the car to head home so we could get ready for our next big event that weekend, the 1st Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party! It was so much fun! We had about 30 peeps show up in their fantastical ugly creations. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to attack old ladies around town to steal their ugly sweaters for this party. So classic. I'll let the pics do most of the talking.

My 1st attempt at Jello shots. Gone in about 15 minutes. (Everyone had a REALLY good time...) :-)

Erica and Trevor in their "creations". Loving the pregnant Santa!

Had to get my knee socks in the pic...

Kris and Val in their already ugly sweaters that they made even uglier! Love it!

Kendra, Xochilt, and Clifton in their matching hats.

They did not plan this, they had never met before!

Erin and Trent. Hard to see in this pic, but the reindeer on Trent's sweater are doing something... well, naughty. LOL.

Ashley and Steph in their "rented" sweaters. :)

Me, Mindy, and Aimee. Aimee added all her own decor and Mindy borrowed that kitty sweater from a former teacher, no joke.

The finalists! All homemade, with their own creativity!

Trevor, Arian, Charlie, Clifton, and Aimee

We definitely made them strut around the kitchen so everyone could catcall at them...

Charlie wins by popular vote. 1st place prize, leg lamp. Enough said.

2nd place, Clif and his Charlie Brown tree! :)

Time to start planning my sweater for next year...

November in Pictures!

 Our little ballerina! She started creative movement at The Studio in CG in August, but I snapped this pic on her way to class a few weeks ago! She is loving it. We went to a Ballet Under the Stars performance earlier this season and we are taking her to see The Nutcracker in CG, and the question she's asked both times with a big cheesy grin, "Am I going to be dancing on the stage?"

 Thanksgiving jumparoos!

 Me, Sissy, and nephew-to-be on Thanksgiving

 Gagers mowing Karli & Gary's lawn. He pushed that thing all over! (See upcoming post for our now official walker!)

 It wasn't technically his 1st Thanksgiving, but the 1st one where he could dig in! He ate way more than his sister, as always! :)

 Chowing down, mouth full!

 Post turkey coma...

Grammy & Papa's tree is "magic". If you clap your hands the lights turn on & off! (Or Papa has a remote... I'll let you decide the truth.)

 Getting ready to decorate for Christmas! Climbing things was definitely a fun part of the day!

 I LOVE this picture! Polar Express 3D for the 1st time of many this season, I'm sure. For the record, Em kept her glasses on for a few minutes before taking them off and bending them. :-)

Meet the newest member of the Sanders' family, Avey the elf. He showed up under the tree and has been popping up in a new place every morning to keep an eye on Addie & Gage. You better watch out, he reports back to the North Pole every night to update Santa on the happenings around here! Addie named him and cannot wait to find him in the mornings.