Christmas Day 2007!

This year we spent Christmas morning with Steve's parents. His oldest brother Judd and his family came Christmas Eve from Tucson to have Christmas morning with us too. Our oldest nephew, Cannon (9 yrs. old)and I were up at 6am chomping at the bit together... we were a little anxious to rip into those presents. However, the ripping didn't start until 8:30! It's a tradition in the Curtis family to line up in the hallway, youngest to oldest and walk in together. Since Chandler was the youngest, we got to be the leaders of the line... it was great! It seems that everyone enjoyed all of their presents. Kate sure loved her new Barbie dress-up and Princess play cell phone.

Afterwards, we all got ready in our new Christmas clothes and headed over to Steve's other brother Ryan's house to have gingerbread waffles. It was a fun Christmas morning with so much family!

Later that afternoon, we went back to my parents house to have Christmas #2 and enjoy a nice Christmas dinner. WE LOVED IT!!!

Christmas Eve 2007!

We have had a fun week! The Monday before Christmas, my family(Stevens) has a tradition of pigging out on a Mexican fiesta. This year it happened to fall on Christmas Eve. My mom made her famous green chili burros, while we all chipped in making tacos, tamales, enchiladas, guacamole, 7 layer bean dip & spicy nacho dip. For dessert we had fried ice cream! Afterwards, we played games and laughed until our sides hurt.

I'm sorry to say I forgot to take pictures of the beautiful spread. I was too busy stuffing my face. However, here are the kids enjoying their time with their aunties in their new Christmas pajamas.

Nativity Scene

The Curtis grand kids(14 of them) perform the Nativity scene on Christmas Eve every year. Some are out of town this Christmas and others won't be here on Christmas Eve. So we did what we could tonight. This year Chandler was honored to play Baby Jesus. He looked so cute swaddled in towel, laying in a laundry basket. Kate refused to put on her angel costume and join in on the fun. Instead she sat on the sidelines and ate a cupcake. Afterwards we sang Christmas carols and had dessert. What a fun tradition we have to look forward to every year.

Temple Square

On Sunday, we bundled up the kids and went to Temple Square to enjoy the beautiful temple lights. It really felt like Christmas with the snow on the ground, the feel of the crisp, "cool" air and the Sister missionaries caroling in the background. Before leaving, we stopped off at the Visitor Center to enjoy the Christus and thaw out for awhile. What a fun tradition we have started in our new surroundings.

Miss Mullet

Steve has given Kate a bath every night(except when he's been out of town) since she came home from the hospital. They have a special "tubby time" together! He lets her play in there 29 more minutes than I do(she's lucky if she's in there for one min. with me). Recently we've been noticing she looks like a drowned rat. But forget the drowned rat, who can get past that mullet she is sporting? She loves to play with it and twirl it around her little fingers. She doesn't even care that it is always in her face... she's too busy drinking the bath water! It's a good thing her hair is curly to hide such a stringy mess or else Aunt Lacey, snip snip.

All dressed up and somewhere to go!

Steve and I went to his black tie/ formal Christmas work party and had a ball! It was held at the Grand America Hotel in SLC. Lets just say Omniture went all out for the holidays. We had jumbo shrimp, tamales, egg rolls and cheese w/ crackers for appetizers. Along with all the drinks you could hold. After an hour of mingling, they opened the exquisite ballroom to find over 100 tables prepared for kings and queens. Steve ranted and raved over his steak and lobster, while my mouth watered with the steak and halibut. Lets not forget the desserts because there were 5 to choose from... along with freshly foamed hot chocolate. We enjoyed a nice program, games, a live band, dancing and conversations. Some lucky winners went home with 52 inch plasma flat screens, American Express gift cards, Ipod, X-boxes and one grand prize of $20,000! Yes, you are reading this correctly! That lucky skunk!

It was fun to get all dressed up, meet Steve's co-workers and boss and enjoy an exciting night out with Steve. I cannot wait for next year.

Thanks Natalie and Josh for watching the kids!

Chan Chan the Ladies Man!

This handsome little boy is 4 months old today & is a big hit with the ladies at church. Mostly with the women that are 50+. When they start talking to him, he gives them his ear to ear grin and their hearts just melt? We have had several baby-sitting offers for this smiley guy. Maybe one day we will take them up on it.
Chandler has been a joy to have in our home. There is not a minute that goes by that this boy is not receiving kisses from someone. He has discovered his toes, how to roll over, his sweet little laugh and a pestering big sister.
One of my favorite times of the day is when I get to rock him to sleep. This precious boy even laughs in his sleep. Just when you think he's out... he lets out a chuckle. I know he's just saying, I love you mama, you're the best!

Festival of Trees

This week the kids and I went to the Festival of Trees with the Macfarlane cousins. It had over 700 decorated trees, along with wreaths and amazing gingerbread houses. Each tree is a tribute to someone who has beat the odds or lost a battle of some disease. All of the proceeds go to the Primary Children's Medical Center.
It was so beautiful... we can't wait to go back next year! Here are a few of Kate's favorites.

Many Firsts...

We had a lot of FIRSTS this past week. Some were bigger than others, but all important to us. Enjoy!

Our 1st Jazz game(we will always be Suns fans). Chandler slept for the first two quarters, but then...

cheered his little heart out for the second half of the game!

We found this bike at the park. Kate's 1st real bike ride with training wheels, she did great!

Kate's 1st time going #2 on the potty!(Steve said this was not bloggable, but I disagree... she was SO proud of herself)

Chan's 1st time rolling over, he was cracking himself up when he landed on his back!

Kate's 1st time taking a nap when asked to go lay down by herself. She fell asleep in the doorway of her room while holding her shoes...I'll take it!

Kate's first time seeing snow. This won't be the last.

***Steve has set up his 1st sales meetings with four companies this week(he didn't want his picture taken, but we are PROUD of him)!

We are Thankful

Kate spent most of her time with her cousins: Greta, Owen and Bella...

the rest on this play horse!

Steve, the kids and I did not go home to AZ for Thanksgiving. I am very thankful that my Uncle Dwain and Aunt Sharon invited us to their Thanksgiving with all their kids and grand kids. We had all the traditional dishes and then some. I made our traditional Stevens pumpkin roll, which was a hit at the dessert table. We had a great time eating, talking, laughing, watching football(the men), playing games, making crafts and of course eating some more! We are very blessed to have extended family all around us. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone... we miss you!

Where's Sissy?

Kate had a blast when her Aunt Sissy (Shanda) came up to visit. After dropping her off at the airport Saturday night, Kate asked where here "Aunt Sissy" was over a dozen times on the way home.

While Shanda's visit here, we managed to do a little exploring at Thanksgiving Point(you can see it from our bedroom window). We met two of Shanda's dental hygiene friends and their kids at the Thanksgiving Point farm. Here are some pictures of the fun!

Our new home!

Just got done unloading and Kate got a tubbie... notice her 10pm snack of potato chips!

Dave and Jules wiped out from a long day of driving... testing out their new air mattress.

This is our family room. The hallway is basically our whole house. To the right is the kitchen. To the left is the rest of the family room and patio. Down the hall... 1st door on the left is Kate's room, 2nd door Linen closet, 3rd door Chandler's room. Straight down the middle is our bedroom, huge closet and bathroom. The doors on the right... 1st door coat closet, 2nd door the laundry room and 3rd door is the kids bathroom.

This is the rest of the family room and sliding door to the patio. Chandler is taking a snooze in the nest.

The kitchen... the door on the right is the pantry.
The laundry room. I love my new front loaders!

Steve's parents drove with us to Utah. Steve and his dad got an hour head start in the Penske moving truck while his mom and I drove with the kids in my car. At times Julie and I both wished we were driving the moving truck. After six stops(actually seven, one by the Highway Police) and purchases of gummy worms, stretchy frogs, chips, cookies, apple juice and the Cinderella and Barbie DVD...we finally caught up with them in Nephi. I drove with Steve in the Penske truck for the last hour and a half, while they followed behind.

With the help of Dave's nephew in laws and some neighbor skateboarding kids, they had the truck unpacked in an hour. Dave flew home the next day, while Julie stayed until Tuesday to help me unpack and tend the kids(THANK YOU)! My sister, Shanda flew up on Wednesday morning until Saturday to help finish all the unpacking and play with the kids too(THANK YOU)! How blessed we are with the help of ALL of our family!

Happy Late Halloween

I am extremely late posting Halloween pictures. However, I have a good excuse...the kids and I moved into Steve's parents house on Saturday, October 27th for a week before we moved up to Utah the following Saturday. We rented our townhouse out in Chandler and needed to be out by Nov. 1st. With the help of my fabulous sisters, mom, brother, father & mother in law and brother & sister in laws it was a complete success. Our place was cleared out and sparkling on the morning of Halloween...so on Halloween night we enjoyed the festivities.

We first stopped on by the Brenchley's for yummy chicken chili soup and pictures with cousins. Then we drove to the Allen's to see their great costumes and to say goodbye. Lastly we went to my parents and let Kate trick-or-treat around the cul-da-sac. She couldn't keep her hands out of their candy bowl when they bent down to give her candy... it was some what embarrassing! It was a good thing she looked so cute. We were sad that Steve was in Utah working and couldn't be with us.

Happy 2nd Birthday Kate!

Kate turned 2 today. She's getting so big! We had cake and ice cream with the aunties, uncles, cousins, Nana, Papa and Grandma at the park near our house. It was fun to watch her eyes light up after each present she opened...they were all a hit (thank you)! Afterwards the kids played on the playground, the adults visited and Kate pranced around with all of her new stuff.

It is a tradition to choose what you want for breakfast, lunch and dinner on your birthday. For breakfast she chose scrambled eggs, a biscuit with jelly, a piece of bacon and washed it down with some apple juice. For lunch we had Costco samples while picking up her cake and then had turkey and Cheetos when we got home. For dinner we had waffles!

I hope you had a FUN day... we love you.

We love Hand-me- Downs!

This morning we went through a bag of hand-me- down clothes from my sister in law Sarah. You would of thought Kate died and went to heaven. She put on the yellow polar bear pajamas, a purple hat and a pair of pink cowgirl boots. She wore them all around the house for a couple of hours before getting dressed for the day. Don't you think she is ready for fashion school? Thank you to all of my sister in laws for the clothes for both kids!

"Follow the Yellow Brick Road"

I saw these fancy red shoes at Target and thought Kate had to be Dorthy this year for Halloween. So with the help from my mom, I sewed Kate's costume in September (I was a little anxious). We tested it out last Saturday when we went to the Kids Club costume party. Let me tell you, she was a hit! She followed the little lion boy around all night. She couldn't keep up with him while holding her basket with Toto so she left it in the stroller with Chandler.

We are Moving!

If you haven't heard... we are moving to Utah! Steve got a job at Omniture(Software Comp.) located in Orem. He starts work on Oct. 22nd. Chandler and I are driving up tomorrow with my sister in law and her kids to look for a house. I' m preparing my kids early for this coming winter. WE are going to FREEZE!

Happy 2 Months Chan!

My precious little boy turned two months old yesterday! (I know the last two months being pregnant did not go by this fast.) I can't get enough of this little guys smiles and sweet personality...he is such a mellow little guy. I really can't believe that he sleeps through the night. He definitely did not learn that from his sister.