Festivus for the rest of us

Christmas has come and gone. It's crazy to think that all that anticipation and buildup is over in one day! We have been so blessed this Christmas season and have been busy busy busy. The good kind of busy that means it's the holidays. Here are a few things that we have been up to this holiday season:

1. We went to the Shania Twain concert for my birthday and got our tickets upgraded to practically the front row. Oh my goodness, she is gorgeous, I've been a fan of hers since I was in elementary school. Seeing her on stage was so much fun. Of course no pictures were taken to document this experiment.
2. We went to the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert. I touched Tim's hand. I touched his hand. I touched his hand... Did you see that I touched his hand. This concert was so fun because it was such an intimate setting and they really involved the audience.


3. Sawyer was so not ok with Santa. We waited in line for all of 45 minutes at our ward Christmas party to get a picture with Mr Claus, and Sawyer was not ok. He needed his mama, he needed his daddy, and he did not need this stranger that everyone is so excited about.


4. We've been celebrating our cool weather appropriately by dressing in some handsome winter clothes. I can't stand it when he looks like a little man



I go a little picture crazy when he's looking all stylish and he gives me looks like this:



5. We've been going to lots of Rebel games. Sawyer loves them. He loves the fireworks and says "boo" when they miss a shot and "whoo hoo" when they make a basket. He also enjoys his pb&j sandwiches during the games.


6. Grandma Kathy gave us this fun gingerbread tree set, and we had a fun family night setting that up! My boys especially lived the candy. Sawyer will do just about anything to get a mint m&m. Those are his absolute favorite. Like mama like son?!





7. On the Sunday before Christmas we went and saw Dixon's grandma and Grandpa. They gave Sawyer a fire truck. My boy has been in heaven. In the clouds. I can't seem to get his attention when he's playing with that toy!


Christmas Eve is just as important to me as Christmas day... If not, more. I have such fond memories of going to my Aunt Marie's house and being with my extended family. And on our drive home we would always look for Rudoph's nose, and Dad always seemed to find it for us. I loved leaving a note with cookies and milk and carrots for the reindeer and that feeling of excitement so strong you don't want to sleep. This Christmas we stayed close to home. We went to the Leavitts for Christmas Eve and had the traditional prime rib with yummy nummy sides. We played family games together and exchanged Jammies. We felt the spirit together and listed to the story of our Savior's birth. We were in the company of family, and it truly was a magical night. We came home and took Sawyer to bed and got to work being Santa's elves, putting together a big boy car and filling stockings. I was so excited for him to wake up, I was up and got ready at 6:15 am.


We woke him up at 7:30 because we were going to Skype with Elder Chase at 9:00, and wanted him to have time to open his gifts. The traditional "waiting on the stairs" picture. Its tradition at my house to wait on the stairs while dad goes downstairs to check everything out.


He was beyond excited to see this car waiting for him, he loves it. He lovingly refers to it as "new vroom."


On our way to Skype with Elder Chase. He was so happy that morning. I wish I could have frozen time just a Little bit that morning. This age was so magical this Christmas.





We had a lovely day. We went and saw Les Miserables. I'm in love with that musical. I have been ever since I saw a high school production of it my Jr. Year. I love the music, it speaks to my soul, and makes me feel something that can rarely be expressed in words. It is so moving. Sawyer was so excited to get home and play with all his new cars, and this is what entertained him for the rest of the night:


The piano keys are like the parking stalls for all the vehicles. I am finding cars lined up more and more. Sometimes by color, other times by shape and I love it. It brings back so many memories of when My little brother, Landon, was that age. My how time flies.

Let's go to the Ocean

I was having an emotional meltdown on Friday. I went to the temple that morning to try to work through some of the emotional turmoil, and try to sort through my tangled web of emotions and when I got home I only half jokingly said "I just need to go to the ocean, let's go to the ocean." A half hour later, Dixon looked at me and said "let's go to the ocean." We were packed and in the car ready to go a half hour later. In the past four and half years of our marriage we have never done something this spontaneous. We are planners through and through, but the ocean was calling our names.

Oh where do I begin with the ocean. Something about the sound of the waves and the salty air that soothes my spirit and helps me to see things in a bigger picture. It was beautiful there, partly cloudy and a little cold... But beautiful nonetheless. And my sweet Sawyer loved the ocean. He would have swam in it if I would have let him.


We walked the boardwalk at Venice beach and I saw Muscle beach for my first time. Sawyer loved the swings there, and we let him swing his little heart out. I love how it's always the little things that bring him so much joy.











I love that my hand is enough for him. He holds tight and knows that all will be ok if he just holds on tight.


I let him get his pants wet and feet dirty and didn't think twice about it... That's what you do on spontaneous trips.





One of my most favorite pictures. My two boys and the ocean, what else do you need?








This morning we went and saw the LA temple. Oh my goodness, it is breathtaking. And if only you could smell it there, the grounds smelled so good with all the beautiful flowers there. It's too bad it was Sunday, I would have loved to go inside!





We ended our trip with a visit to the Santa Monica pier, where Sawyer was in heaven riding the "lellow vroom."





My spirits have been lifted, I feel a little bit stronger and am now ready to face this New Year. The ocean has healing powers.

More on our Christmas festivities tomorrow.

Turning two is fun to do

I keep thinking that if I don't blog about his birthday than he's not really two. But alas, I can't stop him from growing up, so here we go... A post bout a two year old and his birthday!
Sawyer loves Elmo, and I saw these cute cupcakes on pinterest, so i thought I would try them out. I think they turned out pretty cute. Sawyer loved thm and they tasted good... So win win.




I got him a giant Elmo cupcake just special for him. He loved it. He was so cautious not to spill or get any in his fingers. He doesn't like to be messy. It was fun to have my family Skype in and be part of his special day! What did we ever do without that technology?












You bet I kissed those nice red lips when he was finished. Next it was presents. Sawyer we super excited about his UNLV hat! He put it on and didn't want to take it off.




Those would be Elmo slippers... He hated them. He does not want to step into Elmo. Not even just a little.




His cute grandma Carolyn made him this darling quilt. It's super soft and cozy. Sawyer pointed out all the letters to me, he knows his whole alphabet and loves to point out letters to me and tell me what they are.




And we couldn't let him celebrate without a swim in the jacuzzi. This was by far his most favorite thing, He's a fish, he didn't want to get out!
I think we succeeded in another great birthday! I still can't believe he's two. Since when am I a mom of a two year old?!?!?! I love this age. He is so sweet and quick to say please and thank you. He loves cars and basketballs. He loves his daddy and riding in daddy's car. He loves dogs, and always has to know where his dog, Lyla, is. He still eats puréed fruits and cottage cheese. He will sometimes eat grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, and peanut butter sandwiches. He likes yogurt and pancakes.... But his newest favorite food is graham crackers dipped in milk. He loves to play at the park and slide down the slide. And he is my little talker. He is saying so many words, it's so fun to be able to understand him a little better! He is so loving and very very sweet. He is such a happy boy and an amazing sleeper. I could ramble on and on about this sweet boy of mine!
Happiest birthday Sawyer!!

The other day I was getting Sawyer ready and he stuck q-tips in his ears like so...



He laughed his guts out. He knows he's funny stuff. And then we all laughed for 15 minutes. The belly laughs that make you snort and cry at the same time because your laughing so hard. That's how we roll here at the Leavitt household!

On turning 2

He is going to turn 2 in two weeks. That means I've been a mom for 2 years. I'm not ready to let him turn two. He has brought so much joy into our home. I have started to write and rewrite my thoughts down and nothing is coming out how I want it to.... He is my everything. I love him with my whole heart, with everything that I have. I get excited to see him in the morning, and check on him a few times each night because I miss him. He makes me laugh until my belly hurts, and cry because he's upset and I hurt for him. He makes me see the world through eyes of wonder and amazement, and helps me to enjoy the simple pleasures. He teaches me to try new things and like them and how to forgive myself when I get frustrated. He is so loving and is so quick to give hugs and kisses, he melts my mama heart. He is my greatest gift.




He is my greatest gift. I am so lucky to be his mama. I am soaking in these next two weeks... Every last drop.

Christmas season is in full swing here at the Leavitt household. We got our Christmas decor out and our favorite Christmas record set to play at the press of a button. The lights are up on our cute little house and I'm finally starting to come to terms with the fact that Christmas is just around the corner. Does anyone else feel like they just took down Christmas decorations? I swear this year has just flown by.
Here's my cutest gift under the tree. I told him I wanted a picture with him by the tree, so he sat right under it. Love that boy. Love that he has on a cardi and tie and no pants on. Love his silly smile.





Sawyer and I have been busy in the kitchen today. He helped me make pumpkin bread. 32 loaves of pumpkin bread to be exact.





He even let me put on his apron and everything.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house, and I could not be happier!

Thanksgiving pictures are on their way. We stayed here for thanksgiving and spent it with the Leavitt family and a smoked turkey wrapped in bacon. Our bellies were so happy!

My family came down for a visit yesterday to celebrate Sawyer's upcoming birthday and get a head start on Christmas shopping at our outlets and fashion show mall! I love when my family visits. Something about having them in my home seems to make my heart complete. I love the way my mom notices every little detail and goes out of her way to compliment my decorating choices, boost my confidence as homemaker/mother, and is so quick to encourage me in my home. I love hearing my siblings laughing together at my dinner table and watching Landon play ball with Sawyer. I was so worried when we moved far from home that Sawyer wouldn't get to have a close relationship with them. Never have I been so happy to be proven wrong. That boy of mine knows his grandma Beck and "Rebel Bob" and Dee, and Ken, and Lllll, and Dyd. He loves them. He gets so excited to see them. I think he was just as excited as I was to have them in our home!

He loved opening his presents, and was so concerned with that wrapping paper. He didn't know what to do with it when he tore it off and didn't want to just throw it in the floor... So he gathered piles of it in his arms and kept tearing more off! He loved his book.


He got an apron to help me in the kitchen.


And most of all, he loved his "brrrmms" that he got. He loved driving them on grandma's head...


And driving them on "Rebel Bob's" arms. (that's just what he has chosen to call my dad. We all think it is pretty hilarious).


It's funny how I didn't even realize how much I needed their visit until they were here. I know it is a sacrifice for them to come all the way down here, and we are so grateful for them and for their love and support! How blessed we are to have family that loves us so much!