*Happy Christmas*

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas! Ours was fantastic. We spent Christmas Eve at the Lires’ Family Party. Then spent the night at Tim’s parents. It was great {aside from TJ NOT sleeping..at.all.} to be able to wake up Christmas morning with family. This will probably be our last year spending the night at someone else’s house. From now on we will probably just wake up at our house and spend every other year with each family. Not only because TJ refuses to sleep AT ALL..not even an hour at other people’s houses, but also because we live within 30 minutes of everyone. So we should be able to drive, no problem. We’ll see how it goes. And it might be different once our kids get older. Anywho. It was a good day. I {well Tim} managed to only take pictures at his parents house. I always forget once we are at the Ellison residence. I should be better at that. But the food was good, and the company was great! We love you all!

{TJ’s Santa present.}

He got a Go Diego Go bike and loves it! He is still a little too short to reach the pedals, but its all good. He will grow into it eventually.

{Our loot}

  

TJ got some great presents over at Grandma Lisa and Grandpa Larry’s house. He was so excited about everything he opened up. I think he actually understood the concept of unwrapping the presents this time. And each time it was so cool to see what was inside.

Eventually Tim’s sister Holly, her husband Ricky, their friend George, and Tim’s nephew’s Jayden and Jaxton joined us. TJ always gets super excited when his cousins show up.

   

   

{The Stockings}

Stockings are a big tradition at the Lires house. Not only are they HUGE but they stuff them full of everything. Its really fun to see what little things there are inside. They are the best part of Christmas morning.

 

{Everyone enjoying their goodies}

My parents got TJ the cutest Mickey Mouse pajamas. I will get a super cute pic of him wearing them and post it. They are adorable. We have had such a great year. Hope everyone is doing well!

2010 = SUCCESS

Winter Wonderland

It has been such a wonderful winter! At first it hardly even got cold and I was starting to worry. It was seriously like 60 degrees in November. Nice. But we finally got our big storm. Tim and I spent about 2 hours shoveling our driveway {which is about 100 feet} technically I only spent about 5 minutes actually shoveling and the rest of the time chasing Milo and playing with TJ in the snow. He LOVES it! I finally got him the whole ensemble for playing in the snow w/ maximum comfort. He looks adorable and I got a little picture happy.

 

We had a lot of fun playing while Daddy was working hard clearing all the snow away. It was amazing. I couldn’t believe how much we got in Spanish Fork. I hope it stays around for a few more days. Gotta love a White Christmas.

 

{Evening of Day 1. We got a few inches}

{Morning of Day 2!!! That’s easily another 1.5 to 2 feet overnight!!! MADNESS! I love it}

 

{Tim working hard. He’s such a good husband!}

{My beautiful house..I’m sure gunna miss it}

  

     

{TJ decided that the snow wouldn’t stop him from busting out his giraffe bike. haha. Love that kid}

We have been having a lot of fun! And are excited for Christmas this year. Due to lack of fundage this will be a pretty simple one. We got TJ a few toys to open and a new church outfit. And Tim and I got some new snow boots {which we have already broken in haha} but it has been nice not to have the stress and worry of getting a bunch of stuff. We have really realized these last few months what is important in our lives and what we can do without. It has been life changing and we have learned some serious lifelong lessons. I am sure that Heavenly Father is preparing us for the frugal lifestyle we will have to live while Tim is going to school. Since I am no longer working and he will be going to school full time our income will be dramatically reduced. I always knew that this would be the case but until I experience the feeling of NO money it never really made sense. I began to realize the importance of staying out of debt and that racking up a bunch of credit cards {even if you can pay them at the time} is dangerous because you never know when your income will take a hit. We really are doing so well under the circumstances. Tim got a new job working for Sprint in American Fork and it has been remarkable. It is incredible to me the way the Lord can place things in your path that are exactly what you need. I have always felt that he placed Tim in my life at the precise moment that I would need him, and now I feel that he has done the same with this job. As long as you are striving to recognize the blessings in your life they will come to you in ways you never imagined!

*merry*christmas*

My little Cowboy

I love walking into our living room and seeing this! TJ climbs up on his horse and rides it into the night haha. He loves it! 

*New Changes*

As I have said in a few posts before we have some new changes happening. I think its time to make it BLOG official.

   

{TJ and PJ ~ Great Grandpa Papa Joe} 

Change #1: Tim got a new job! Yes..again. He was working for his dad Larry and loving it. But then business just seemed to die and things started really s.l.o.w.i.n.g down. Gotta love the economy. Tim was getting jobs but they just weren’t paying. It was really super frustrating. So his dad told him he should probably start looking for something new. Well that was way back in August. Tim had been job searching for the past three months and we were starting to get super desperate. I seriously think he applied at about 50 different jobs. We were calling old employers to see if anyone had anything that he could do. But nothing was working out. FINALLY he got called to come in for an interview at the American Fork Sprint store doing retail sales. Of course he nailed the interview {I knew he would..just as long as someone could hear him talk they would hire him…yeah he’s that good} and got the job. It’s a salary + commission based job that will be perfect while he is going to school.

 

{The *Ellison* Fam on Thanksgiving. Dad took the picture…notice the professionalism}

Change #2: We are selling our house. *CRY* I seriously was heartbroken when Tim and I came to the decision to sell. We love our house. I mean really LOVE it. There are so many things here that are just perfect for us. But it was either Tim never finishes school and I keep working, or we sell the house. So even though it was a hard choice it was for the best. I am excited to see where we will end up in the next few months. Of course because we bought our house right before the housing market really tanked, we have to do a short sale. Its craziness. We have two offers in right now. One is $90,000 less than we paid and the other is $85,000 less. SICKENING! But whatever. We are just waiting to see if the bank will approve an offer so we can get into something more affordable for starving college students with a kid.

  

{CHRISTMAS TIME!!! TJ is fascinated with the train. He is so good not to touch it. How did I end up with such an obedient child?!} 

Change #3: A NEW BABY. Don’t get your hopes up….not yet. haha. I just really want it to happen! I was told by one of my GYNs that it might be difficult for me to get pregnant due to some weirdness with my baby maker. But I got pregnant with TJ 4 months after Tim and I got married…so I know it can happen haha. We are just super excited for a new addition to the fam. Whenever that may be!

  {Happy Holidays}

Summer in November?

It has been so fantastically warm this year! We love it. Considering it didn’t really get super warm until mid-June, we will take the wonderful 65 degree weather in November. It has been great for playing at the park and going for walks. TJ and I have been spending many lazy afternoons walking and playing. We have been having a wonderful month so far. There are big changes in the air…and if you know anything about me its that I LOVE change. Its kinda sad actually. Tim’s probably feeling pretty lucky that I still keep him around haha ~jk you know I love you babe~ but I seriously love new things. I love going new places and probably two months after we moved into our brand new house I was thinking about the things I wanted to change. It can be a good thing because it keeps me busy. But is also an expensive habit/characteristic to have.

{the tent and puzzles from G*mom Lisa. TJ LOVES playing in this thing haha}

Tim is getting all signed up for school again. He has decided on becoming a physical therapist. I really hope he loves doing this and ends up going all the way because I think he will be great! He was struggling with his major and didn’t really know what direction he was going to take. I told him that I had a dream that he became a physical therapist. He had said that it was always something that interested him and he thought he would enjoy. So after a few talks he decided that was what he would pursue. His dream job? –work as the physical therapist for the Utah Jazz. That would be amazing. But we’ll see where he ends up. The cool news is that if he doesn’t get accepted at the U then we will be moving out of state for his PT degree. Awesome. I have been wanting to do something like that for a while. After seeing family members head out on their own, and being the independent person that I am, this is right up my alley. Of course there are certain places out of state that would be ideal *cough Kansas City?* but we will have to see. We still have a few years before that road. Tim has to get his bachelors degree first. He is going to major in Exercise Science at UVU which is totally his cup of tea. He loves everything sports. I mean everything! He plays basketball, softball, football, volleyball, golf…and yes there have been times where he has done ALL of these…in one week. Not to mention the boating, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and skiing that he does seasonally. So he is pretty excited about it. I can’t wait to see where it takes him.

{heading on one of our fantastic walks}

 

As some of you know we are trying to have another baby! No news yet..but we are sure getting anxious. That would be a HUGE change. Lots of changes are coming soon…and I can barely contain myself. lol. I’m a weirdo I know. Most people like feeling some sense of stability. And I do too…but I also am ALWAYS up for a kink to be thrown in my routine. Craziness-yes. Just love me =]

{it was a good park day. TJ is laughing/saying “cheese” in these pictures. I think you can tell that he is….but he also kinda looks like he’s crying a little bit. love that kid!}

This Morning

{sleepy heads}

Oh how much I love them. My boys.

Oktoberfest

I love October. Pretty much October, November, and December. The feeling of the holidays is just awesome. But October is the best. I love the weather change, decorations, and Halloween. One of these days Tim and I will start having an annual costume party or maybe start being members of someone else’s haha. I just love the idea of getting all dressed up and partying with friends and family. Pretty much the greatest. Or perhaps we should just move to Missouri and crash the Doan’s annual party lol. They would have us I think. Anyways you get the idea. I just love this season! It makes me feel really ambitious. Tim and I spent all day today finishing up our nearly 2 year paint project. Not that it was a TON of painting. Just two rooms. That's pretty embarrassing. We just kinda put it off..and off..and off some more. So I’m thrilled to finally be done. Well like 90% done haha. I still need to cut in one small section in the family room, above the TV and paint the doors in our bedroom. But it will happen. THIS WEEK.

 

{TJ eating breakfast this morning..yummy Malt.o.Meal}

He is getting so big! It is so shocking every time I pick him up. He keeps growing and growing. He is catching up so fast. At his two year check up his weight was in the 39th percentile and his height in the 62nd. He’s ABOVE average in height! We are so thrilled. Its amazing. Every time I hold him he makes me baby hungry even more. We have been trying for about 2 months now and no baby brewing as far as I know. I’m not concerned at ALL 2 months is nothing but I’m just anxious and excited for a “little”. That what I tell Tim all the time:

“I miss my little. TJ is not a little anymore.”

Its really quite sad how quickly they grow. He literally says at least 100 words. I really need to start making a list of it all. He is so far ahead of me now though haha it would take forever. He is saying full phrases. It shocks me. Such a sweet little boy.

  

This is how it feels to me! I just want to grab him and say:

“SLOW DOWN!”

He is constantly moving. Running, climbing, flipping, throwing, screaming, playing. Being a Boy! I love every second of it. But want to slow it down.

TJ is rocking a buzz cut right now. I have been cutting it myself for his whole life and lately its easiest to just pin him down and buzz.it.real.quick! He is screaming and crying by the end but it takes about half the time of trying to cut it with scissors. And he ends up screaming and crying either way so might as well make it a shorter traumatizing experience.

{these pictures were actually taken in September}

 

{the gang at an Owlz Baseball game for Grandpa Mike’s birthday}

{TJ’s typical stoned, won’t look at the camera face}

{rolling down the hill with the cousins..TJ’s is more of a scoot}

So Spanish Fork has a pretty fantastic new park. We love it. For whatever reason TJ is afraid to climb up and go down the slides. Don’t really know what his deal is. He used to go all the time by himself and now he gets terrified. He never fell as far as I know..but he’s afraid. So we spend most of our time at the park walking around, checking things out, sitting on the swing for about 2 seconds, and throwing wood chips. But this park is awesome and we love it anyways lol.

{Milo~Our Pup}

He likes to sleep on the couch in the weirdest positions.seriously.I have about 100 pictures of him doing strange contortions. I always say:

“That can’t be comfortable Milo.”

And then snap a pic.

Life is Good.