Love, Lightning McQueen, & Snow!

A long and random post to get caught up on the past few weeks!
Love
95% of the time the kids are best friends. One evening they were hamming it up for the camera so I took a few shots. Oh how I hope they will always remain close.
Haley loves to pick up Jackson despite him weighing close to the same as her

And Jackson loves to give his sissy kisses. He is so cute when he gives you a kiss because he even makes the puckering noise really loud.

Awwwww.... they love each other (most of the time).


Lightning McQueen
Jackson has some big news to share, he finally got a big boy bed! Well, it's a toddler bed for now. We want to eventually get him bunk beds but we don't trust this over rambunctious 2 year old on a bunk yet. So the toddler bed it is. We found this great Lightning McQueen bed and our little boy had to have it. To my surprise, he has done GREAT in his bed. The first night he settled right in reading a book and slept through the night with no issues.

Haley loves the bed too. They were bouncing off the walls when Matt set it up in his room. Next step will be the painting of the room. Maybe this summer...

Jackson loves to help Daddy outside. Grandpa Vara sent him a lawnmower for Valentine's Day and he helped Matt mow the yard. It was getting dark so the picture isn't the best but it was super cute watching him follow Dadddy's every move.


SNOW!!!!!
And now to Vacation!! We just got back from a long weekend in Park City, UT. The kids did pretty good on the plane ride there despite having to wait in our seats for over an hour for the crew to show up. So the 3 hour flight turned into a 4 hour flight ending right at nap time. Luckily they both fell asleep in the car during the short ride to the house.
We joined some friends and stayed in a beautiful house with a killer view. It was REALLY cold while we were there so we didn't get too much opportunity to play outside but when we did we made the most of it.
Haley and Jackson checked out the view from the back of the house. The snow was pretty packed the first day so Haley didn't get to make the snowman she wanted.
They sat just long enough to pose for a picture

Haley checking out the snow

Jackson trying to lick off the snot

My two boys.

The view off the back of the house as a storm moved in

Friday we took the kids to the mountain to watch the skiers and check out the town.

Miss Haley all bundled up in her snow gear

Jackson was ready to go. His poor eyes water up pretty bad in the cold

We joined our neighbor's and their 7 month old.

The three monkeys

We took the kids on a coaster ride. It was AWESOME! Matt took a video of the ride and it was a little "Blair Witch Project" ish but caught a funny moment with Jackson in it.

Jackson rode with Matt

While Haley rode with me

On Saturday we had arranged a sitter to come to the house so the adults could go skiing. Wouldn't you know a terrible storm came through but we braved the elements anyways. Matt and I had a great time skiing with the snow coming down. After leaving the kids all day we wanted to take them to do something special when we got home. So we decided to take them to the tube park down the street. It was VERY VERY cold that evening (in the teens with 30MPH winds) but the kids had a blast.
A very cold Mommy, Jackson and Haley

It was nice to just jump on the conveyor belt to pull you up the hill

We lied and said Jackson was three (despite Haley shouting, "No, he is only 2!!!") in order for him to ride. We would only be half way down and the kids would say, "Again!".
Ready for the ride! Yes, Jackson IS having fun.

The kids had so much fun at the tube park that we took them back on Sunday. Luckily it was a little warmer this day.
Giving some love to my little man

The Vara Family coming down the tube chute

That's all folks...

Daddy Daughter Dance 2012

For Christmas I got Matt tickets to the Daddy Daughter Dance at The Marriott. We weren't sure what to expect but what little girl doesn't like to get dressed up and treated like a Princess for an evening with her Daddy. Haley was treated to an up-do, nails and make up at Sweet and Sassy to get ready for the big evening. She was very quiet during the entire pampering session but told me she had lots of fun once we left.
Getting her hair done.

She got to pick her own hairstyle. Proud she picked the prettiest one!

After her hair was done complete with glitter spray and flowers, it was time for her nails. She picked a blue green color

Next was make up time. I wasn't crazy about her getting make up so I asked that it be a light application. Haley originally picked an electric blue eye shadow straight out of the 80s but we were able to change her mind to purple.

Finally my princess was ready to go to the ball with her prince. the pictures don't do her justice. I actually got teared up seeing my little girl look so beautiful :)

The shot of the back of her hair

Matt was looking sharp too! Haley and Daddy looked so nice!!

Daddy Daughter ready for their big night

Matt and Haley had a great time. Haley was on the younger side so we might wait a few more years before doing it again. Hopefully this is just the first of many dances Haley gets to enjoy over her lifetime!

Love is in the air

Ok, no real reason for the title other then February is a big month for us. We have a special dance, Valentines, our anniversary and a ski trip all planned this month. Plus Grandma's birthday, Uncle Michael's birthday and Uncle Brian's birthday. Whew, lots to celebrate in February.
This weekend Haley and Matt are going to a Daddy/Daughter Dance at The Marriott. Fancy! I'm taking Haley to get her hair and nails done at Sweet and Sassy then she will be off to dinner and dancing with Daddy all night. I hope she enjoys this very special night with her very special date :)
Not much else is really that new at our house. The kids are growing like weeds and make the days and weeks go by so fast. Haley finally moved up in her school. She is now in a combined 4 & 5 year old class but it's usually based on your age as of Sept 1, much like public school. Having an October birthday means we get to keep Haley at home one more year before starting Kindergarten. Her new teacher was a little worried at first thinking she would be behind the other kids but after the second week that worry is gone. Her teacher said she is doing great and keep up the good work because she is very close to reading! We're so proud of her. She loves to learn and read books. We can only hope this will continue as she gets older. On Friday she was the "Star of the Day" at school and got to take her nap in the igloo. She was so excited!
As for Jackson, he is moving up classes again this week. His current teacher is sad to lose him since he is "the talker" in the class. He likes to lead prayer and she told us if he doesn't talk, then no one talks. If he says prayer, they all say prayer. What a leader! Ha!! He will be the youngest in his new class but I hope he can learn from some of the older ones. A few in his new class are already potty trained, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed he will want to start that soon (hey, a mom can always wish!). Jackson is also showing a love for reading. Despite being a rough and tumble boy always banging into things, we can see no permanent damage has been done; he's doing great with his colors, shapes and ABCs. Now if we can just get him to sit still for more then 2 seconds or listen every once in awhile we'll be good to go.
We've decided to get Jackson fitted for Swim Molds for his ears so he can swim with no issues. It's usually a toss up whether the ENT will recommend them for kids with tubes to swim with. Most kids have no problems swimming without them but we took Jackson swimming in the hot tub three times this past week and would you know he got his first ear infection since having his tubes. It might be coincidence but we're not taking the chance. So in a few weeks Jackson will have some cool custom ear plugs to wear anytime he gets in the pool.
That's about all that's happening at our house. Here's a few pictures over the past several weeks. Enjoy!

Like most people, I'm hooked on Pinterest. I made my first craft from there. A Thank You bouquet for Haley's teachers. Watch out Martha Stewart!!


We had lots of fun at the park the other day. Jackson getting big...

And Haley getting even bigger.

Higher Daddy!!!

My Brown Eye Girl

When did my baby girl get so big?

Just....barely....hanging....on....

Haley taking Buster for a walk.

Sitting with her Buster Bear

Going crazy on Super Bowl Sunday!

Happy 2012

Happy 2012! We started New Years off very low key, just hanging out with family. Well, actually, we started New Years off in bed...Ha! After watching the Aggies win their bowl game in the morning on New Year's Eve we were pretty exhausted. We ended up lighting off some fireworks around 8pm and called it a night shortly before 10. I know, we're getting old.
As for the fireworks, Haley is terrified of them still. And Jackson, well, he is my pyromaniac like Matt.

We tried to stick to just sparklers and fountains so the kids wouldn't get too freaked out. Jackson did a great impression of the Statue of Liberty

And did you know that some fireworks will still go off despite being submerged in your pool! We accidentally threw a flower (you know the ones that spin really fast and change colors) into the pool and it still went off. It was actually pretty cool.

When the weather has been nice we've been hanging out at home enjoying the kids. Haley seems to be getting bigger by the day.

Jackson has been learning to ride his bike...

Ready, set....

Go!!! Look at my big boy peddling away!

Pure joy on his face :)

Jackson has done a great job on his bike. He's been trying hard to keep up with Haley and the other boys on the street, despite being 2 years younger. What a big boy.

Haley is an awesome bike rider. This year we'll work to get her off the training wheels, but what's the rush right now.

I love this little girl soooooo much.

Today ended up being a beautiful morning so the kids decided to take the firetruck out and fight some fires. First things first, must have a clean ride.


This firefighter is ready!

And they are off

We found a good fire. Now spray Jackson!

Off again to look for more. This time Jackson is the pumper and Haley is the spray holder

Whew, that was a close call but we put that fire OUT. Let's go

Jackson's turn to drive!