Our special sweater.

Today it was cold enough for TMac to wear our special sweater to church that was made by Tracy's great-grandmother. I love this sweater. I looked up the photos of him wearing it from last Winter but they weren't extremely different enough to post. He's a lot taller and the sweater fits tighter after one whole year though. We had ward conference today so the stake leaders taught Primary instead of the normal teachers but TMac was really good anyways. When I picked him up the lady said that he was so well behaved and reverent and that she wished that all of the kids were that way. I was SO PLEASED. That's what we love to hear. T is a joy and really understands the scripture stories that we read every night. His mind is so fun to work with.

You can tell I am holding the camera out in front of us. I need to wear bangs. I had some cut at my last haircut in December but I am too lazy to style them and they get in my face and bug me. Aaarrgggghhhh. At least Heavenly Father gave me red hair and curls because he knew I'd be lazy in the primping department. :)

The PUPPY!

I bet you think by the title that we got a puppy. Nope. We will get dogs soon but until then this video of Tot saying "the puppy" will have to entertain you. He has this growl talk he uses when he is excited that cracks us up. He loves dogs and loves to watch America's Funniest Home Videos because they always have dog montages. In this video he is saying "it's the puppy, it's the puppy!". He does the same growly voice when Tracy or I come home to say "it's the mommy" or "it's the daddy".

Tot the nursery boy.

Tot has been in nursery at church for 3 months now but he hasn't attended much due to being sick and staying home or going but with germs so he stays with me, napping, etc. We had afternoon church last year but this year we have morning so hopefully he will be awake for nursery. He does love it and has no problem going in and staying which is really awesome. We've never had much of a problem with our kids going to other people. I really love the Sister that is the leader right now. She sets up centers, has crafts, etc. It's like a preschool. This boy is growing up on me too!

:(

CTR 5. Why do kids have to grow up so fast?

TMac started his new primary class this year. He is now a big, huge, grown up CTR 5! He has been really enjoying it so far and is especially excited that they combined the 5 and 6 year olds into one class so his older friend N is there and his first "girlfriend" C. She used to come to playgroup before she started 1st grade and they were the cutest couple. During sacrament we sat in front of her family and she drew TMac a picture of a train and gave it to him. He taped it onto the wall above his bed. He is so happy to be back together in a class with her again.

Why does my little man have to grow up? I guess if he didn't I wouldn't be enjoying the things we do now like preschool, soccer, reading books, his help with shopping and grocery shopping and nightly games of Go Fish. Sigh.

Hooray! Blog milestones, etc.

Our blog has hit some milestones recently! We had our 100th post right before Christmas and I didn't even know since I had so many drafts in progress. That's a cool milestone and sad at the same time because if I actually had blogged all of the events and news of last year there should have been about 400 posts! Maybe if I get a faster computer I'll be able to drone on more often! :)

Then this morning we went over the mark of 3,000 visitors! (Although a lot of the hits are me signing on to our page). I am so glad that people have been enjoying our blog. We have really been enjoying every ones blogs also. Tracy used to ask how I found out info. when I would tell him so and so had their baby or other things but he doesn't ask anymore. He knows its all from blog land!

The above photo is one of my absolute favorites of TMac at Disneyland when he was 1 1/2. It was taken on Tracy's birthday and we were there as a family to celebrate. I thought a firework picture would be a good way to represent hooray!

Happy continued blogging everybody! Thanks for visiting.

New Year's Eve festivities.

Yes, I do know that it is Friday the 16th. Yep - this post would have been cuter paired with my New Year's blog background and header but it's just been a crazy year so far and I kind of want 2008 back! The last 16 days have been one health problem for all 4 of us after another and we've been hiding out at home so we wouldn't infect anyone with our various offerings. We were relatively healthy last year and we did especially well in December thank goodness but this month has not been our month so far. It is nice though that the boys are young and we can just stay home without worrying about school or sports.

So, finally here is an account of what we did for New Year's Eve this year! The above photo is of TMac running around at midnight outside with his cousins and our family. We had drums, maracas, a bullhorn and our own super loud voices so the noise was plentiful. We were at Heather's house and had a nice night of games, food, family inside jokes, bickering, teasing - the usual! I do love my family and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Tot refused to give me or Grandma a midnight kiss!

Outside making noise and drinking Martinelli's. Some people that lived in the foothills near Heather's house were shooting off really big fireworks like you would see at an amusement park. Not as many but still cool.

The prego hostess.

I wanted a nice midnight kiss but gross Tracy had other ideas. I was holding the camera out in front of us. Going on 14 years of marriage...can you tell? I think we pecked after I denied his slobbery advances several times but I can't remember. It wasn't memorable!

Tot ran some laps and circles while yelling.

Little drummer boy with his cousins A and A.

Yelling into Tracy's bullhorn.

Watching movies while the adults played games.

Yick! My parents kissing. Actually, I'm okay with it. They are nothing like the parents on Family Ties.

Thanks for a good time fam damily!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We are excited about what 2009 will bring. Nothing that we know of or are planning on...just a new year! Well, I guess TMac will start Kindergarten later this year which is a crazy thought! So that is a known thing. Other known things are that we will have great times, fun adventures, stressful times, bad trials, blessings, family fun, new babies (via sisters and sister-in-law - not me!), celebrations, joys, illness, LIFE experiences, etc. It is GREAT to KNOW that all of these experiences will be experienced TOGETHER with my own little family, large extended family and friends. We are thankful and excited to start a new year with everyone.

I'll have to post pictures and details of our New Year's Eve party and New Year's day celebration later because I started this brand new year super sick... :(

HAPPY 2009 to all of our loved ones!

Countdown to the New Year!

Here is a photo of the boys from last year's New Year's Eve party. They both look so small. Boy have they grown in one year! We are looking forward to what the new year may bring!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours - we really hope that you had a wonderful day. We enjoyed some Christmas Eve activities last night and had a great time this morning opening gifts with the boys. We spent the rest of the day with extended family. I took only 336 photos so a slideshow will be coming soon! My favorite part of all this Christmas has been all of the discussions with TMac, reading books and scripture stories, watching the Joy to the World DVD put out by our church, listening to him sing along with my Christmas music, making homemade ornaments and cards, doing countdown chains and advent calendars, playing with nativity sets and hearing the theories of a four year old mind about Jesus, prayer, Santa Claus, etc. He really understands what Christmas is about this year and that has been really cool. Christmas is easy task wise before having kids but it is super great when you have kids to teach and enjoy all of the simple Christmas joys with.

Merry Christmas and lots of love from the Tracy Bain family!

355 days until next Christmas... :(

A joy list.

I had such good intentions months ago of doing a weekly joy list to journal our family life and activities so at least you all would know what we've been up to when I am behind on posting photos. Also to be able to read in the future what brought us joy right now. So I'll start again and try to make a joy list every week. Wish me luck! (And don't be surprised if you see a smashed computer, printer, cameras, phones, microwave, kitchen lights, etc. in our street because I finally lost it and went pyscho running our failing electronics over with my van. Over and over again while laughing maniacally!) This computer stinks and takes forever to blog photos so I am of course behind! Okay - that stuff obviously doesn't bring joy. Here is what did bring joy last week:

• Saturday the 13th was our ward Christmas party. The boys had matching Winter train shirts. TMac played the part of a wise man in the little Nativity play. He took it so seriously and was so cute. After the party we went over to our friend's the Johansens to celebrate Dave's graduation from Cal State SB.
• Sunday the 14th Tracy spoke in Sacrament meeting and said some touching words about his topic of work and coming home to the boys so excited to see him. The boys wore their new Christmas dress up/Sunday outfits and were so gorgeous. Red sweaters with black cordouroy trains. The first chance to open presents at my grandparents annual Christmas party down in Seal Beach.
• I did the majority of my Christmas shopping way early this year from August to November when I hit great sales or clearance items so I have not been fighting crowds this year which is so nice - especially since it rained most of the week.
• Wednesday the 17th was our playgroup Christmas party and potluck and the attendance was awesome. We had our friend with us also and ended the day with a scrumptious pasta dinner with sauce made from scratch at her house. Thanks Hudgens!
• Thursday the 18th was a humongous day - Preschool in the morning. We had a Christmas crafts day and birthday celebration for one of the boys. No schoolwork or Soccer - just crafts and party time. The boys deserve it! They have worked hard the last few months. Then at night we went to see Wicked in LA and rode in a limo. So fun and major thanks to Katherine and Mark for babysitting.
• Friday the 19th we shopped for a gift for an un-named boy in our stake to help give service and I only mention it because I want to remember how into it TMac was. He was so sweet and wanted to buy everything to help kids who in his words aren't "super major lucky and spoiled" like him. He is so sweet.
• Saturday the 20th we went to Sea World with my parents, sister and kids and Hudgens girls. We had fun doing all of the Christmas things there. Everyone was bundled in layers with hats, scarves, jackets, gloves, etc. with nothing showing but the lower half of our heads but we still had a blast! The Christmas Shamu show was perfect - religious, spiritually uplifting - way to go Anheiser Busch beer people! Way to realize that Christmas is about Christ and not be afraid to have a Christ centered program in a public park! We also swung by the San Diego temple on our way to and from to see the Christmas decor and lights.
• Yesterday - Sunday the 21st was "Christmas Sunday". I really enjoyed singing in the ward choir for the sacrament program which was beautiful and letting Tracy get the kids ready and over to church. That was nice! The boys looked gorgeous again in their holiday outfits. We attempted family photos with our coordinating outfits- not so joyous but evidence of our eternal family. TMac helped me hand out treats to his teachers, Primary leaders and leadership in our ward and he came home with tons of goodie bags and presents from Primary. My men were just fine with leftovers so I didn't have to make a Sunday dinner.

What a week and those are just the big things - sprinkle some crazy boy moments, shopping, car wash crazy story, middle of the night barf in our bed surprise with full linen change and laundry in the freezing cold, sick kids, tons of rain and cold, photos at JC Penneys, a few acts of service and lot's of normal stuff in and we were officially super busy.

It's freakin' cold when my town gets snow!

Usually when the thermostat says 75 it is because I am trying to get cooled down from 105 but lately it says 75 because it is so freakin' cold outside! The above photo is Box Springs mountain - that's right - we have a mountain here in our city. Last Wednesday and Thursday the temperature dipped down to nearly 34 degrees outside which is insane for our part of the world and not the norm. We get cold but not THAT COLD and it's not unheard of for us to wear shorts and tee shirts on Christmas day but last week was cold. So add lots of rain and we had snow for a little bit on our mountain top on Thursday morning. It was beautiful on the short drive to preschool. By the time preschool was done at 12:30 pm the snow had melted away but some of my friends report wet snow landing in their hands on Wednesday evening. I missed that! I have lived here for almost 14 years and it has snowed on the ground 3 times that I know of. Just an hours drive will get us tons of snow but snow right here at our house is unusual. It's really cold today too - 48 degrees right now (yes my Utah family and friends - that is cold here!). So, my cocoa machine is working overtime and we're all wearing socks. Maybe we'll have a white Christmas?

2050 feet - elevation of the top of Box Springs mountain.

1705 feet - elevation of my home.

Stay warm everyone!

We were WICKED last night!

We went to see Wicked the musical last night at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood. We had a blast! Our friend invited us into a limousine which I have never done before so I was totally excited. It was nice to relax and let the driver fight the traffic. Before leaving the driver gave the women each a red rose. We had Martinelli's and sodas, candy treat boxes and had the soundtrack going quietly in the background. We stopped really quick at a Jack in the Box on the way since we were pressed for time. (We felt like High School kids that go to prom in a limo but eat at McDonalds.) I loved the play. The men in the group tolerated it. I read the book, several internet synopses and have been listening to the soundtrack for months so I was totally into it. It was a wonderful night out!

(This post isn't finished yet because I was so relaxed and excited about being on a date night without kids, traveling in a limo etc., that I wasn't my usual paparazzi stalker with a camera. So gals, send me your photos so I can put limo and friend photos on here please. I can't believe I am the first to blog. I'm never first! :) I also need to photoshop Dana's gestures out of the really nice photos I got of Tracy.)

I copied an idea from my friend Shannon and made candy treat boxes for each of the couples in our limo. Everything inside was green - candy, chocolate mints and breath mints. Tracy on his own got a big pack of individual Martinelli bottles which went so well with my theme and it wasn't even planned since he didn't know about my treat plans. The Smiths brought big bottles of Martinelli's so we were boozin' it up sparkling cider style all night.

The lovely Kierstin and Sterling - a.k.a. Ralph the retcher.

Chillin' in the limo.

I got Tracy to wear green and I wasn't even trying to on purpose. It's just my favorite shirt on him because it matches his eyes. I laid it out and he put it on. Amazing!

I'm going to start saving little chunks of money for Phantom of the Opera. It is coming to the theater for only 4 weeks starting at the end of January. Dreams!

There were a ton of people at the theater that we knew since about 100 to 120 plus people went thanks to the great organization of some ladies in my sisters area. I sold more than 45 tickets out here so we had a bunch of friends and family there. Tracy's parents, his sister, husband and 5 kids, my sister and her hubby and lot's of extended family. I can't believe it is over. It was great. Good thing it's Christmas next week and I won't have serious excitement withdrawals!

The reason for the season.

Art by Simon Dewey.

Christmas music.

I snatched a few moments today while the boys were in the bathtub to finish changing my blog to Christmas. I made a new Christmas music playlist that I love! Give it a listen - it will get you right into the Christmas mood. Can you tell that my two most favorite Christmas songs are Oh Holy Night and Silent Night? I've got a good variety of artists on my list for those two songs. Now Christmas music isn't Christmas music without Harry baby - Harry Connick Jr., MoTab and Amy Grant. If you've never heard the songs Emmanuel, God with Us and Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) by Amy Grant then you must listen to those. Diane R. in my ward had me listen to her CD more than 10 years ago and these songs are wonderful. One month isn't long enough for all of these beautiful songs. Oh, and The Angels Cried by Alan Jackson with Allison Kraus is on the list too - it's so beatiful and peaceful. Enjoy if you can spare a moment.

Clean and sweet boys.

I love how a good, long bath can turn boys into relaxed, clean, fresh and sweet smelling boys. I love to cuddle them and smell their hair. I wish I had time to take a nap with them today because that is the best! I love when their faces are so clean and look so soft from the lotion and when their damp hair is combed into place but not dry yet.

We were trying out gel in TMac's hair. We've been trying a few different styles but I'm not a fan of this one - it makes him look too old. He's a cutie though!