Friday Night

This is what my Friday night looks like.
Mark my words: I will eat both of those ice cream cones.

Shaggin Wagon

This year we purchased a Radio Flyer walker-wagon for Jude for Christmas off of Craiglist. These babies are all wood and usually run for at least $100, but I got a cute little beat-up one for $25 :). Score-age. 
At first when we gave it to him, he would just push it and face-plant.
But once we showed him how to put one foot in front of the other, he could NOT be stopped. 
I have to say, it kind of freaks me out to see Jude on two feet instead of all fours, but he seriously can't get enough of it. This is literally what he wants to do all day and he laughs that same dufus laugh every time he takes it for a ride--it's almost like his personal little shopping cart when he stops along his way to the other side of the room just to pull something down from the couch or the fridge.
Anyway: best. purchase. for. Jude. EVER. 

Our First Christmas!

Wheeeww. Did you get through all of that? 
This year was the "on" year for the Stevens family to all come together for Christmas. 
There was:
Christmas lights gazing.
Breakfast at Denny's having. 
Birthday celebrations doing. 
Christmas present shopping.
Bowling. Bowling? 
Chinese food eating. 
Christmas pj's wearing. 
Christmas story reading. 
Little babies screaming. 
Christmas food baking. 
Adults reminiscing. 
Very little sleeping. 
Christmas breakfast scarfing. 
Church together going. 
4 hours of presents unwrapping. 
Christmas dinner eating. 
Christmas games playing. 
And one baby who fell out of his high-chair onto the hard tile floor and ended up with a vertical bruise on his face from the grout between the tile. 
But he was ok. Just really sleepy. 
Highlights?
Jude got a rocking horse and a Radio Flyer red walker wagon to get his fat-boy legs walking. 
I got new Aldo boots. holla!  
Adam got us this insanely gorgeous print that we've both been dying to have in our home but was sold out. 
Jude didn't get a concussion. 
Christmas was on a Sunday. 
We got to spend time with family who we rarely see. 
Lastly and most importantly...
We were able to celebrate the miraculous birth of our Savior into this world who's mission was to bring about peace and make it so we can return to live with our Father in Heaven again. 
Can't believe that next year Jude-Man will be almost 2! Just don't let him turn 6 because I swear it's just downhill from there. 
Hope you all had a very merry Christmas and have some fun plans for New Year's!

...And A Partridge In a Pear Tree

I feel a little guilty for not having posted for almost a week now. During the holidays, people like to take off work so I've been snagging some shifts--mostly night shifts--and have been dog tired, which may be the understatement of the century. I'm sorry, Kim, can you repeat that? I need time to remember how to form words. 

I'll post about our Christmas this year with little Jude-Bug sometime tonight--I need to sort through about a gajillion pictures. 

But I thought I'd at least give you a little clue as to how crazy this Christmas was!

The above shows 10 sleep-deprived and sugar-loaded adults, 9 screaming grandkids under the age of 6, and 1 overwhelmed 15 year old.

It was hell.

But it was our hell :) 

As Of Late

We've been busy making preparations for Christmas around here!--lots of cookie baking, cookie eating, and then dying for some real food and splurging on Mexican; Christmas present receiving, buying, wrapping and shipping, decorating, and the Lego train finally made its appearance. Aside from Italian wedding cookies in my mouth, I think we're just about ready. I'm stoked! A few Christmases back I discovered that Adam is FANTASTIC at buying clothes for me = bring on the tranny heals, faux fur, and big jewelry. I think my husband secretly wishes I was more wild--like Cher or that fat kid from the Goonies. 

Hey Jude

Hey Ju-Ju, 


One of my favorite things is when I sit down on the couch with something to eat, and you leave your toys behind to come stand next to me and open your mouth like a baby bird. It warms my heart. I love sharing my snacks with you and having you discover new foods with me. Today it wasn't a new food, just some baby-boy puffs, but mommy likes them too. So we shared them together :). 

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Guess what else happened today? 
You said your first word.
!!!!!!^^^
While you were lying on the floor getting your little lumpy tush changed, I looked up at you, you looked up at me, smiled, and said, "hi!" 
I almost died.
A full out heh-eye. 
For a second, I didn't believe it even happened. I said, "hi", waited patiently while you decided what to do, and then you smiled and said, "hi" back! 
Hey, it doesn't surprise me that this was your first word. Sure, I wanted it to be mama. Maybe even dada. But you're such a friendly little guy that it only seems fitting that the first word of communication to come from those sweet lips in your life would be to say hello :). 

Whether you knew what you were saying or not, I'm still convinced you're the smartest little chocolate chip cookie in the world. 

Jude's First Trip to NYC

Yesterday, we took Jude to Carlos Bakery (the "Cake Boss") and the Big Apple. We helped ourselves to some beyond yummy pastries--beYOND--crumb cake, pizza, and Crumb's cupcakes. If only my life-long dream to parasail with Molly Shannon had already come true, I could have died right there on the cold, drug-powdered streets, a very happy woman.

  

It was really special to show Jude around the city that Adam and I were married in. 
It all began here.
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In other news, Jude and I returned to Portland this afternoon! We had such a memorable visit with my family, full of nostalgia and memories--especially as we sorted through old photos and laughed at how awkward Brynne and my awkward stages were. Oh 5th grade, you couldn't have ended sooner. 

Just Another Useless Talent

This is my little sister, Brynne. Gorgeous. Athletic. Talented. Obviously. 

This is my previously mentioned little sister making everyone at
the soup/salad joint gag on their plastic spoons.

This is her coaching me into making one of those disgusting faces. 

This is her, once again, and without fail,
showing me how it's done. 

This is my best effort. 

I try to do as much eating as possible when I'm with Brynne. I swear my pants feel bigger whenever I spend at least half an hour with her--not to mention only being able to consume maybe half of my meal from spitting it out everywhere. Sisters are the light of my life :). 

D Squared

 And here's where I said: "Ok, Bryon. Pose with your food." 

 And here's where he stuck out his chest. 

Quite honestly, there are better places to get a bagel. Ok?--I said it. But DD does make a tasty toasted everything bagel with cream cheese. As well as pumpkin donuts and coffee rolls--not to mention their delicious-refreshing-diabetic-inducing vanilla bean coolatta. But, this place brings back memories. 
Some are awkward. 
Some are sweet. 
I look back on those glorious nights I was employed at that shop, and remember getting fatter and fatter as I took a bite out of each donut and muffin before I, with complete devastation, threw each of them away. 
It was my job, ok? 
Model employee, right here. 

Calm Down

 Ok everybody--calm down. We're going to be here for an entire week. Dial-down the affection. Just kidding. Keeping it coming. We've missed you :)

Our Weekend, From the iPhone

 a. Adam put on his signature "stoked" face Friday night for our THREE year anniversary date at Urban Fondue. FYI --nothing makes a man more attractive than dim lighting, candles, and him feeding you a stick of bread and hot cheese. 
b. Brie and gorgonzola cheese fondue = my craving for the rest of eternity. 
c. To the innocent passerby I look cool and collected. In actuality, I'm freaking out to be dipping sauteed mushrooms in cheese. 
d. What's that, lobster and shrimp? You're feeling a little left out? Join the party, my ocean friends. 
e. After 3,000 calories, who wouldn't want to end the night with Heath bar chocolate fondue to dip cheesecake, donuts, peanut butter cookie dough, and strawberries in? 
f. & g. I woke up to a little babe laughing and smiling at me in my bed on Saturday morning. He's the sweetest thing. 
h. We quickly set off Saturday morning to get our Christmas tree! It didn't take us long to find this beauty! 
i. j. k. Smiles with our little bundle of fleece. 
l. Tree secured and ready to take home! 
m. Adam's company Christmas party invite said, "Dress to impress." Believe me: we impressed. 
n. Well hello, beautiful friends! 
o. Out of all of the sophisticated desserts the country club had to offer, I chose Frosty. He didn't disappoint in the least. 
p. Adam and Phil stoked about their well-deserved gift cards from winning a game. 
q. Oh, hello other beautiful friends. We had a fabulous night with you, too! 
Tonight, we listened to the First Presidency Christmas Devotional--something I have looked forward to every year since my childhood. 
Tomorrow, Jude and I pack-up to visit my family back east AND we're decorating the tree while watching Rudolph and drinking hot cocoa with cookies for fhe!
'Tis the season!