Welcome Home, Jordan!

We were so excited 4 days after Christmas to welcome Jordan home from his 2 year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! He served in Switzerland, spoke German, and now wears skinny ties.

Ahh, sweet reunion.

I think Cade just assumed he would recognize Jordan when he saw him, but he didn't so he was confused. In this picture, he is asking Jordan, "Where's Jordan?". Jordan laughed and said, "I'm Jordan". So Cade just said, "Oh".

This is what my adorable little baby looked like when Jordan left:

So then a hug was okay.

(What you don't get to see is how attached to Jordan's hip Cade was almost immediately after this. Literally.)

The whole fam together, finally!

Awesome sign that Cody made for Roxanne and Bryan's front yard.

Unfortunately, our much anticipated reunion was cut really short by Jordan having to go back to BYU to start classes for the semester. We had him for less than 3 days. This only adds to my aversion toward that school. But that's a whole other story. If it would stop taking all my loved ones one person at a time and keeping them out there to never move home again, we might be able to be somewhat civil friends. But since all you do is take, take, take, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Alas, we are proud of Jordan's honorable service and are glad he is finally home, er, in the United States (Jordan, Cody! Don't you dare ever call that home!). And even though we still don't get to see him, we can at least talk to him whenever we want.

"Merry Christmas, Baby"-ies

I was SO excited for Christmas this year. SO. EXCITED. This was the first year Cade really understood what was happening and was anticipating all the fun things going on for most of the month of December:

December 7th- Nonni moved back from China forever!
December 8th- Cade's 3rd B'day and Chase's work Christmas Party
December 10th- Cade's B'day party
December 11th- Huntsville Stake Christmas Festival
December 17th- Papa and Seth moved back from China forever!
December 20th- Church Christmas Party
December 23rd- Layton Family Christmas Traditions Night
December 24th- Morning- Calderwood Family Christmas and Cody coming!; Night- more Layton Family Christmas Eve Traditions
December 25th- Christmas!
December 29th- Jordan comes home from his mission!

I am out of breath! So many fun things for a kid to look forward to that does not even include putting up the Christmas tree and fun 3 year doctor's appointments (until the shot was actually inserted into his leg). Oh the joy that Christmas time brings!

Chase's work Christmas party:

The best Santa picture ever.

Since October, I was giddy with excitement searching deals for toys for Cade (and Reece, but hey, let's face it, he doesn't know what's going on and I have PLENTY of baby toys from Cade so let's just be practical). I did garage sales, we (meaning Chase, too) did Black Friday (waiting in millions of lines ALL night in the freezing cold, mind you. Millions as in 5, but it felt like millions), I did craigslist and other random sales at stores diligently to make sure Cade had the best, most exciting Christmas of his 3 year old life. What excites him, excites me. When he is beyond happy, I am beyond happy. And that is the story of being a mother.

So we went along our busy and exciting month with growing and growing anticipation for all our Christmas festivities and Christmas day...

Our Layton Family traditions are always (don't mess with them in any way or the Layton boys will give you h-e-l-l for it) as follows:

• the decorating of Christmas cookies, and ultimately trying to make a cookie look like something it is not intended. This year poop was even depicted. For obvious reasons that cookie will not be shown. That is just disgusting. (Chase).

One of Cade's masterpieces. Mmm..

Another Cade creation. Can't wait to take a bite out of that one.

The angel blowing her trumpet that turned into a Piranha Plant from Mario. For this is why we celebrate Christmas.

My beautiful Santa's head and hat turned into a face.

The creativity next year will be better. I already purchased some nice redneck cookie cutter sets in the 70% off Christmas at Kroger. (Sneak peak- what on earth does a bunny have to do with Christmas?! I guess we'll find out.)

• the viewing of the Botanical Garden Christmas lights. Really, it's just sitting in really long lines of traffic for hours, and then driving 2 miles per hour to look at all the commercialized light displays of Santas, dinosaurs, and Humpty Dumptys set up throughout the Botanical Gardens. We make fun of it the whole time, but it's tradition and therefore, it is a must at Christmas. Let me save you 20 bucks and show you the best part of the whole thing:
  

Despite our mockery, we really do enjoy it.

• the wearing of Christmas Jammies. Every year, Roxanne buys the whole family special jammies that we open and wear Christmas Eve. No one knows what they look like except Roxanne. Some years, we all match. Some years, there is a theme. This year, the theme was Super Heroes.
  

We have a Flash, 2 Green Lanterns (Hmm..), Captain America, Iron Man, every woman superhero ever known (because I am that awesome), and little Spiderman and Superman.

Goober

Finally- Christmas Morning! All of Santa's presents were set out for the boys:

I couldn't wait to hear squeals of sheer delight from Cade as he ran into the room. I was so excited. BUT, as he ran into the room, he merely glanced at the toys, and immediately got down on the floor and started playing with his new train set. Didn't look at anything else. Didn't even notice the bike. He was just calm and collected.

HUH?!! Big disappointment! Well, we still have tons of presents to open:

Even with every present he opened, he was calm. He said thank you for everything, but there was no freaking out in excitement. Booo. I think it may have been overload. Next year, we are going to do things differently and I will get that reaction I desire.

I wish I had taken pictures of the presents the boys opened. From what I can remember, Cade got tons of Thomas train tracks (aside from the one set up in the picture), trains, lots of books and movies, a bike, Sally from Cars (he wanted her SO bad for some strange reason), a doctor kit, rainboots, Toy Story figures, Don't Wake Daddy game (which scares the bejeebies out of me), and tons more. Reece got baby toys and clothes.

Family Christmas picture before church. My Reecey always has to be with Mommy.

Ahhh..can we just sit like this for awhile?? Please, for the love, they are actually being still! Cade has never fallen asleep in church, and if Reece gets tired we have to take him out in the hall to bounce him until he stops fighting it. So this was RARE. And although, it looks like a.)I decided to join in on this little slumber or b.)I'm cracked out, the correct answer is c.)I blinked at the perfect time.

After we got home and had naps, the rest of Christmas day was spent sitting around with the family and playing.

Uhh oh...Caught kissing on Mommy.

And that is how we did our Christmas in 2011.

First Hair Cut

I thought this day wouldn't come for years and years. We lasted until shortly after Cade's 3rd birthday. I guess now that I have a new baldy, it's okay that Cade has big boy looking hair.

My friend Katie ("Wuby's Mommy") came over and cut his hair for me. Cade did so much better than I thought he would. I don't call him Crazy Cade for no reason. That boy just can't be still. But for his haircut- still as a statue. I think I need to pay Katie to stay at my house all day, every day and SLLLOOOWWLLYYY cut his hair.

Oh. My. Goodness. He looks so grown up now! I'm sure he's tired of me telling him over and over how cute he is. Actually, he's probably not, but Chase probably is. I thought his curls would be gone forever as soon as his hair was cut, but it started curling up right away. It doesn't always do that, though. Usually, when it's warm out.

So adorable. So big.

Great to Be 3!!!

Cade had his 3rd birthday last week on December 8th. I can't believe my baby is already 3! I hate thinking about how quickly my boys are growing because all I can think about is how it won't be too long until they leave me (BIG crocodile tears). I want my babies to stay babies forever!

As for celebrating this occasion, of course, we did it Thomas style. Was there even a doubt?!

My first time making the birthday cake. Yeah...a huge headache. Thank goodness my sister helped me decorate it or there would only be the figures on top and nothing else. I vowed to never make another cake again, but I know when Reece's birthday rolls around, I'll think- It wasn't really that bad. And so I'll venture at it again and go crazy, get frustrated, and wonder why I thought this was a good idea all over again, I'm sure. Kind of like having kids. But, the end result is always amazing and then you're glad you did it. This cake, by the way, was incredibly delicious! Chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. Cade is still asking if he can have some Thomas cake, and we ate it up long ago! (And then he cries, so I wish he would just forget about it).

And what did he get?? Thomas, Thomas, and more Thomas!

He's not excited at all.

Of course Grandpa's in there playing with it all, too.

He had a great birthday! Now, the time can start going slower...

One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

WELLLLL, let's just say, I have no talents and no hobbies. That is why saving money and finding deals has become my thing. When you are young and married with small children and living off of one income, finances can be really tight. So stretching our dollar and purchasing things at extremely low prices (that we may otherwise never have been able to buy) gives me great satisfaction! It is rare that I pay full price for anything. This way of thinking has brought me to find a new love-- garage sales!

I will admit, I used to stick my nose up to garage sales. I mean, why on earth would I want to buy some stranger's used crap?!? Well, my friend, because there is a lot of "used crap" out there that really isn't used or crappy at all. For instance, it only takes 1 time to hit a garage sale given by a shopaholic who is selling massive amounts of amazing clothes (some with tags still on) for $1 each to get hooked. Now, I am picky about the areas I go garage selling (because I don't want to waste my valuable time looking at actual crap) and what I buy. It's got to be something I need or really could use, in excellent condition, and really well priced. It is so pointless and a waste of money if those criteria are not met.

Whenever I go out to garage sales, upon arriving home, Cade always runs to the door and asks, "Mommy, you find any treasures?!". Because usually I have found a little something for him. Last time I went he said, "Mommy, you find any treasures?! Thomas?!". One of these days I will hit the Thomas jackpot, just haven't found it yet.

Here are some of the treasures I've found at garage sales in the past month:

Eddie Bauer car seat in pristine condition. It really looks like it has never been used. Retail- $200; price paid- $20! Your welcome Reece:)

Closet Organizer brand new still in packaging- $5.

Cade has gotten into the show Little Einsteins lately so he was more than thrilled when I brought home this submarine for the bathtub and the plush characters below. Apparently, they don't sell Little Einstein stuff in stores anymore and it's all going for a fortune on eBay. I did see the plush rocket for $16 on Amazon. Price paid for these toys- 25 cents each.

He sleeps with them. Now, I'm trying to find the other 2 plush girl characters for Christmas, but not sure if that's going to work out.

Fake Gucci purse- $1.

I have been wanting a food processor for awhile now so I was excited to find this. The lady said she bought it but only used it a few times because she still preferred to do things the old fashioned way. $5.

I kept my eye on this shirt a couple years ago at Target, but even on clearance it didn't go low enough for me to buy it. Happy day when I found it at a garage sale. 50 cents!

This picture makes it look frumpy, but its actually a really nice Gap sweater. $2.

Really nice lined black skirt- $2.

$3

$3

$1

Been looking for brown boots for church- $3.

This Express dress actually looks very nice and maybe worn once- minus the stain at the bottom that I need to get out. Just add a cute white cardigan and wallah!- my Easter dress. 50 cents.

Yes, I know pretty much my entire wardrobe is sweatshirts and t-shirts, but when you're getting spit up on 50 times a day, this is just what's practical. When my kids are all grown up, I'll dress nice again. Or not. Who knows. Anyways, representing the University- $1.

My sister and I found a killer garage sale a few weeks ago. The whole neighborhood pooled all of their stuff together and had 3 ladies in charge of selling all of it. That was the best for 2 reasons- 1.) 99% of it wasn't their stuff so they had no emotional attachment to it. Meaning- they didn't think things were worth way more than they really were. So, whenever we would ask how much something was, they would say, "I don't know. Like 50 cents?" or "Like 25 cents?". I got some great Christmas presents for Reece and Cade so check back later for those. (That is where I got the Little Einsteins, closet organizer, pink ruffly shirt, and dress from above). 2.) All the money they made was being donated to a charity so they really didn't care how much things went for. A big win for me!

I don't know about you, but all this talk is making me want to go search for more treasures!