Christmas....Finally

Merry Christmas!!!  I know, it is February.....I am a little late, but better late than never, right?  Well, the Zach and Rikki Stewart family had a GREAT Christmas.  This year was probably our slowest,

 low-key Christmas yet.(Not complaining)  We stayed here in Missouri and since we don't really know a ton of people yet (and most of our friends went home), we had Christmas Eve and Christmas all by ourselves.  We actually enjoyed it.  I can't believe I am saying this, but I got on it this year and bought all our gifts early and I didn't have to pay 95% more for gifts to rush them here on time!!  That is a first for me.  I think the kids had a good time and that we all got some great gifts and actually took time to enjoy eachother.  That is what Christmas is all about.  I didn't take a ton of pictures, I actually recorded a lot of it this year (that is a first too!) but, enjoy the pictures I did take.

decorating our very first gingerbread house. I am a scrooge and hate these things.  I would much rather just eat the candy on its own. BUT I love my kids and here is the result:

 Result......doesn't that look yummy??? 

 Zachs grandparents Papa and Mema sent us all some money that we could spend on anything we wanted.  My Grandparents Grandpa Ned and Grandma Pete did the same thing.  SO... with just a little bit added from us, we were able to get this BOUNCY HOUSE!!!  The kids were SO SO shocked when they woke up.  We moved it downstairs and that things has been going for a whole month.  I am little nervous to see our power bill, but HOW COOL IS THAT????  I would have died to have my own bouncy house growing up.

 This is Aynslees new barbie house.   Blaze is loving it as well ;)

 This is just a picture of all the kids together.  That doesn't happen very often anymore.

 Zach HAD to get Blaze this car and ramp.  I was a little nervous, but ALL the kids really like it.  I really like that it folds up into the stand and it is out of the way when I want it to be.

 This is how Christmas morning should be.  Already fighting over toys about 5 minutes into Christmas.  These two crack me up.

And one last picture of what Santa brought.  That dude is pretty cool.

Mission accomplished

  If I die tonight, I will die an accomplished mother.  There are a few checks in a womans life.  Get married....check, have babies......check, be done having babies......check, POTTY TRAIN ALL BABIES.......BIG FAT STINKING CHECK!!!!!  I am very proud to announce that Blaze is 100% potty trained.  I am screaming to the world that I am done buying diapers.  I have had diapers on my grocery list for 9 years my friends.  Done!  Don't get me wrong, I MISS my babies in their tiny little newborn diapers and even crawling around with that soggy diaper between their legs. Cute picture.  BUT, when they turn 2, something in me changes.  I DO NOT LIKE changing a 2 years old poop.  Sorry, I said it.  It is gross.....period. So, we (meaning I) decided on Blazes 2nd birthday that he was done.  So, I took him to the store, he picked out Spongebob, choo choo train and spiderman underwear and this boy has been wearing them ever since.  I have been lucky enough to have great kids and potty training has never been a big deal.  I say it is time, and well....it is.  No more diapers.  Anyway, I could go on forever about how happy I am, but I will just let you look at my very handsome baby boy and his super cute spiderman booty.

 Spiderman booty at its finest

A smile and a little pose

One of the most handsome little boys ever!

Zachs Major Promotion

 Yesterday was a big day.  After 10 years of HARD work, lots of LONG hours, Deployment and years away from Idaho and family, ZACH WAS PROMOTED TO MAJOR!!!!  We are SO PROUD of him.  For our friends not in the military I will explain a little of how the rank goes in the Air Force.  If you have a college degree and commission from ROTC from your college or if you went to the Air Force Academy you start out as a 2nd Lieutenant and then you move up  to 1st Lieutenant and then you pin on Captain.  You stay a Captain for about 5 years and depending on how hard you work and how well you do, you go to a board and they can either promote you or not promote you to Major.  Well, as you can see Zach was promoted!  Woot.  Not only is this a great accomplishment for him in his career, it also brings in a little more moolah.  My favorite part!!  His next goal is to make LT. Colonel.  Huge.  I can not even begin to explain how proud I am of Zach.  I have always known this would happen, but to finally be able to pin those Oak Leaves on his shoulders was a very special moment.  I was lucky enough to be around when he commissioned into the Air Force so I also got to pin on his original rank 10 years ago.  It is amazing how much has changed and how much Zach has accomplished.  The kids were super excited because they got to get checked out of school early and we went to Zach's work and had his ceremony there.  It was a short but sweet ceremony and Zach gave a great speech ending with tears in my eyes as he gave me a bouquet of beautiful flowers.  What a great guy.  Flowers for ME on HIS big day.  I really married well my friends.  I am SO lucky to be able to have the life I do and to move around and meet all my amazing friends.  I LOVE watching Zach grow as a man and leader.  I never thought that coming from a dairy farm in Idaho that I would be pinning on my husband Majors rank on his good looking Air Force Blues.  I have all of this because of the great man that Zach is.  We are proud of you Zach.  I can't wait  to pin on the next rank! 





Standing at attention getting ready for the ceremony to begin.

Pinning on his rank, side 1



Pinning on rank, side 2



Oath of office

Giving is awesome speech at the end

Our cute family

A "just us" picture



Halloween

Halloween, Halloween, lots of fun on Halloween.  Black Cats and Ghosts, Skeletons too,Clowns and Witches all say "BOO!" Black cats with eyes, shiny and bright, make you shiver with fright. Halloween, Halloween, we ALL love Halloween!!!  I grew up singing this song that I thought my mom had made up until I met Zach. We had been dating only a few months when I went over to his parents house and heard Zach's dad singing this!!!  I guess it was a Weston  (where Zach's dad and I both grew up) song.  I love it and now ALL my kids sing it the whole month of October.
Halloween was a week long holiday in this house.  LOTS of Halloween school parties and trunk-or-treat at the church with finally the actual Halloween Day to wrap it all up. Of course the kids had a ton of fun and Blaze is waking up in the middle of the night asking for "MORE CANDY".  He runs around the house saying "trick-or-treat" thinking if you say that you get free candy.  Smart kid, but smarter mom.  One more week of a "few" pieces here and there and the rest goes in the trash.  I LOVE that my kids love Halloween, who wouldn't?  You get to dress up and be crazy and run around on a sugar high for days. BUT.....who came up with this weird holiday? Really??? Anyway, we had a great week, hope you all did too.

The kids

Blaze the bat (minus the ears, I never did figure out how to make them look right, so he could be a burgler too I guess)

Jax the boxer (he was this same thing when he was 2)

Shade the ninja

Aynslee Lyn the "butterfly" "fairy" we were not sure.  I made a dress quick and added wings.  We went old school on our costumes this year. Like it should be. Wear something old or weird. 

Blaze in all his glorious candy

The boys bartering with each other for somthing better.

BOO!!!!!

Blaze is 2!!!!

Blaze is VERY patiently waiting for his presents

Showing his helicopter

I LOVE this face.  He is so excited for Elmo!

Elmo

Sweet!  He got a $20 from Mema and Papa

Ready to blow out his candles

The Ice Cream cake is not bad!

I can't believe my baby is 2!!! Yesterday was Blazes birthday.  Some of you know that birthdays are a big deal in this house.  We don't have friend parties or anything big, but let me tell you EVERYONE knows it is your day. From the second you open your eyes in the morning until you close them at night, I am IN YOUR FACE about your "special day". The only problem is that maybe I am a little to over the top??  All day Blaze kept saying NO! whenever I would dance around and say happy birthday and cover his cute little face with kisses.  This happened about 5000 times yesterday. I don't think he was really that into it....UNTIL.....the presents came around. I don't have a picture on this computer but he got at MOTORCYCLE bike.  There are 2 things Blaze loves more than anything else.  Elmo, and motorcycles. This boy was on his bike for about 8 hours yesterday. He would take the kisses if it meant he could keep the bike.  Good trade for me too. We really didn't do anything crazy, Jax had scouts and Zach had to go to Young Mens so we had Ice Cream cake without them.  This is the way to go in our house.  No more regular cake that I always throw out, I know this ice cream cake will be finished to the last piece.

I am SO glad Blazer is in our family.  He came into our lives in a blaze of glory and he has kept it up since. He is SO busy and keeps us all going with his monster fits, but I can promise you that I would not trade one second with this boy. Everything is forgotten when he gives you a huge hug and kiss and tell you he Yubs You (loves you), just out of the blue. With as crazy as he is, he is twice as loving (to his mommy at least, I don't think Aynslee would agree). We love you Blazer, Happy Birthday!!

School 2011-2012

School has started once again. This year the kids got an extra 3 weeks of summer, and we were ALL ready for school to start. Jackson is in 3rd grade now, Shade is in 1st grade, and Aynslee is in her last year of Pre-School. The boys were a little nervous to start, not because it is a new school and new kids, but because they go to different schools from eachother. They break up the grades so there are not as many kids in each school. It makes it a little difficult when you have 3 kids in school, and they start at the same time and end at the same time. I think we have it figured out now. They all really like their teachers and are doing well so far.

The boys together, right before leaving for school.

Jax

ShadeAynslee before school

Aynslee LOVES her bookbag!

What have I been doing????

Where have I been? EVERYWHERE!! Things have been a little crazy and fun, so be ready for a picture overload. First, let me tell you that the main reason for my non-blogging issue is that my dear baby boy that we refer to as "dirty and mean" found my laptop on the floor one day and pulled off a bunch of letters. It is a good thing I went to Bridgerland Technology School for "almost" a year in Office Technology and learned where all the letters are. Otherwise, this whole typing thing could be an issue...he he he. The letter "A" takes about 4 hits on it to actually get the "A" to type. There are a lot of "A's" in the English dictionary!! This blog entry will probably take 6 days to type! Anyway, enjoy a picture detailed account of our last month.....

I, yes Rikki, cross stitched my families handprints. How fun is this? I can't wait to hang it on the wall.

My Blaze got a big boy bed. No more cribs in this house. SO
WEIRD but nice.

A little bit of losing our minds on our drives back and forth to Idaho

The kids saved their money to buy chickens to keep at Grandpa Stewart's house. They are so proud of them.

Ayns and Blaze FINALLY got over their fear of dogs. WOOT!

Jax learned to DRIVE. He thinks he is so big now. It won't be very long before this is for real.

Ayns got a "real" haircut

I tried on my wedding dress after 10 years and it still fits!!! The best day ever.

I went to California with my mom and sister to see my other awesome sister

And to the beach

And have made and eaten LOTS AND LOTS of very un-healthy treats.

So, as you can see, we have had a great summer so far and are waiting for school to start in 3 weeks. Hopefully I will post before then, but you never know when we are partying like we do.