ugh! why aren't my pictures rotating? they're rotated on my computer, but not uploading that way. weird. but anyways... here's a car seat canopy i made tonight.

and this was pretty cute today...

random pictures

our new years day dinner was kinda... toasty
his foot got stuck in a dozer and he was not happy one bit!

he LOVES brooms!

and his fish

and falling asleep in his highchair

martha stewart paired up with dove chocolates. so instead of getting a nice "promise" fortune inside, i got a holiday tip from martha stewart. lame.

and it read, "send thank-yous within 2 weeks of receiving a gift". that was definitly something i didn't want to read a few days after christmas when all i wanted was a delicious piece of chocolate, lol.

made myself a fabric keychain...

SANDALS are now popping up in stores. really? already? so i grabbed a few pairs before they ran out. came home and cut up some scrap fabric in strips of 1x6 inches and tied them around the strap. voila! cute sandals!

softest baby blanket ever! minkee on one side, satin on the other. oh it's heaven!

A New Gilbert Family 2010!

2009 was a tough one for us. the other night we were talking and decided that the new year would be a great time to change up our routine and strengthen our family, our marriage and our overall lives. here are our goals for 2010:

1. go to church, all 3 hrs, EVERY sunday, no matter what!
- which today we were succesful at. even though our times got mixed up and we were 1 1/2 hrs. early. but we stayed and just walked the hallways.

2. family home evening, no matter what!
- i found a great blog called a year of family home evening that gives you lessons for the whole year. so we'll be following that, unless another topic needs to be taught

3. volunteer together
- we signed-up for disneylands give-a-day get-a-day promotion and already have our volunteer date scheduled in February. we chose an organization called project linus which provides new handmade blankets to children in local hospitals and shelters. our requirement is to make ONE each. there's no way that's gonna happen! our goal is 4 each the month of february. but we're taking it one step farther and will try to donate one each month the whole year, as well as the 4 in february.

4. plant a garden
- hoping this one will happen. we haven't looked into it yet. we have a great backyard and would like to take advantage of it.

5. celebrate every holiday to the fullest of our ability. this may sound silly, but not to us.
- this includes new years, valentines, st pattys, easter, mothers/fathers day, birthdays, 4th of july, halloween, thanksgiving, christmas

6. cut back on soda
- we drink WAY too much!

7. take nathan on more walks
- what child doesn't want to do that right?!?!

8. blog more
- it has become a great journal to look back at old entries and remember what we did that month.

wish us luck. and if you see us slacking, kick our rear into gear!

Happy New Year 2010!

just for journaling purposes... nathan didn't make it to midnight. he fell asleep around 1030pm. jaren and i went to bed around 11pm, but just laid there talking til a little after midnight. we'd be almost asleep, then we'd hear firecrackers from the neighbor, the dog would bark, and we'd wake back up. we ended the year with jaren going on 2 years at his same job. kathryn staying at home with nathan and babysitting. nathan is almost 1. a pro at walking. has 5 teeth with 2 more coming in.

Christmas 2009

pictures in no order whatsoever...

we went to my parents house this year for Christmas. they were smart enough, with 3 little boys running around, to tie the tree to the wall so it wouldn't get knocked over!

nathan Christmas morning with his stocking dad helping nathan open his present from santa claus
radio flyer retro rocket. a gift from jarens boss and his wife. he LOVES it! he pushes it down the hallway, chases the dog with it and presses all the buttons at once to drive us nuts ;)
he's getting quite good at opening presents! nathan and my sister (aunt cynthia) who graciously let him have a piece of licorice radio flyer inchworm from his mimi and papa. when you sit on it, it bends and you bounce on it to make it move. jaren and his graham cracker house weirdo ;) our family, christmas eve 2009 nathan and his cousin aaron playing in there atv's plate of cookies for santa

chillin. opening presents is exhausting! again with aunt cynthia

my mom got my dad an atari. so here he is with jaren playing pitfall.

FINAL TOTAL

i was super busy this holiday season! here's what consumed my life the past 2 months...

making 9 dozen tamales

1 Christmas sock advent 17 snuggies 4 snowmen handprint ornaments
1 baby block picture ornament 8 stockings



1 toddler quilt 3 Living Christ frames
many goodies 147 peanut butter balls

4 cheeseballs

300+ pretzel hugs

7 name arts (names not the same, obviously)

6 doodlebags 7 reversible headbands

10 car cozies

1 reversible apron

3 fleece hats

here's my models showing them off with their matching snuggies

6 gift card holders (mini elf shoes)

and 1 exhausted lady! the list for next years gifts has already been made. looking forward to another crazy year :)