Dad making breakfast at 6:30 a.m. (Ethan woke up early because he has a cold, bummer huh?)
I know what you're thinking, crazy PJ's, but I had to be festive! :)
I got a huge surprise this year too! Spa gift certificates, I can't wait! 
He loved the paper so much. We would have to take it from him so he would want to open another one. Gotta love when they are young and so easy to please!
Thanks Great Grandma for the fun cookie jar and new books!
Ethan's present from Mom & Dad...a Leap Frog Musical Table. He loves to stand now and we were surprised to see that he could stand holding on the table all by himself. He's getting big!
Chris is enjoying his new chair already...I have a feeling this is where he will be talking to his family each week now!
We missed being with our family in Virginia this year, but had a fun time starting some of our own family traditions! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
A week ago, we went with our friends, the Blakes and McClures, to see the lights at the Mesa Temple. They were beautiful as always and they had a really awesome display in the visitor's center of Nativity scenes from all around the world. It was neat to see the different ways that people have used art to portray the nativity. We were freezing though (yes, it can get cold here) and we had Ethan bundled up in the Snugli tight.
Then on Wednesday we took Ethan to see the Zoo Lights for buy 1 get 1 free night. Most of the animals were sleeping, but we did get to see the Zebras, Flamingos, and Javalinas. Plus, the lights were amazing. Our favorites were the giant spider in the web created out of lights and the light show in the trees that flashed along with music. Unfornately, we don't have a single picture because my camera battery died! I have to go get some new rechargable batteries ASAP!
Sunday night, we had a fun neighborhood "campfire" (well it was a portable firepit) complete with Smores! The kids all had fun eating and riding their bikes around the cul-da-sac and the adults enjoyed socializing and getting to know everyone better. After our busy week...our little boy was totally pooped out. He was completely asleep laying on his changing table while we tried to put his jammies on. That was a first! 
Christmas Eve we had a BBQ with friends complete with a lesson about the nativity, a donkey pinata (because Mary rode into Bethlehem on a donkey, duh!), and fun candy bar game where we each won a dollar. Thanks to the Romneys and Kanenwishers for a fun night!
A Christmas Eve Surprise!!! - Yes, it's official, I actually found a way to surprise Chris! He's not so good at waiting until Christmas to find out what he's getting, but this year we made it to Christmas Eve and he had no idea!!!
Thanks Jennifer, Valerie, and Quentin for your help with the surprise!!!
And the winner is...
Yes, it's true...I've been defeated by a 7 month old. He will officially have nothing to do with formula or even just a bottle now for that matter. I have finally given up the fight and decided that it's just not worth it. Luckily, he does love love love solid food so it does give me a little bit more freedom, plus he does great with his sippy cup as long as the liquid is NOT milk! It's amazing that babies so little can have such strong preferences!
This face pretty much says it all! I decided that it would be fun to just let Ethan play with his food one morning...and I was right he had a blast. Plus, I got these really cute pictures that I love
and Ethan got a morning bath!
It's hard to believe but this was the first time in 12 years that I have been able to experience Virginia in the fall. As soon as we were within sight of the ground when we were flying into NC, I was just in awe of how beautiful all the trees looked with their leaves changing colors. I am actually mad at myself for not taking more pictures of the beautiful scenery, but at least I got one of the Malone's backyard before the boys spent the afternoon raking up all the leaves.
Ethan and I, on the other hand spent the afternoon playing in the leaves. He loved to watch them flying down from the trees, grab them off the ground, crunch them, and of course the favorite...try to eat them! We have realized that he is such an outside baby!
We had a great visit with grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, and friends. Ethan especially loved all the attention and fun! He was actually a little bored when we got home and he realized it was just mom again.
This little boy loves his feet. I often find him playing with them in his crib when he wakes up from a nap or eating them whenever he feels like a snack.
Josh (pictured 2 above) and Brian (just above) are Chris's great friends from way way back. It was great seeing them both and playing a little Mario Kart 64 when we got a chance.
Ethan wants to be a big boy so bad now. He loves to share Mom & Dad's water bottles and has actually mastered the skill pretty well. He spills a lot less than he used to.
Great Grandma and Grandpa just loved little E. We enjoyed our time with them very much. We even got to have an early Christmas with them and Grandpa Dueno. Ethan definitely made out pretty well (see the pictures below)
All in all, we had a wonderful trip and a great Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for this year. We had so much fun and can't wait to have another visit.
Remember, we do have a spare room out here if anyone wants to take a break from the cold and snow and come enjoy the beautiful Arizona winter weather. We would LOVE it!
Beginning of November:
So after 2 months of nothing but cereal (Rice & Oatmeal), Ethan was ready for some new flavors in his food. I promise, despite Ethan's serious face in these pictures, he really did LOVE his sweet potatoes!
Peek-A-Boo! We're Back!!!
