Happy New Year!

Wow, what a great year it has been! We have been so blessed and I am so grateful for all that we have. I am so excited for what 2012 has in store for us. Hopefully it can slow down a little, but that is wishful thinking. Maybe I will have less projects? ( I am sure James would like that ..as he is doing some right now.)

This New Years was the quietest one yet. It started off early with getting our power fixed by LiveWire ( Since we had half of our house with power) Thank goodness we had a great electrician come since the problem almost caught our house on fire! We had plans for the night but then they canceled, and it was probably a good thing since I decided to repaint and redo half our house. So I painted all day. James was able to have some fun time with the kids, and then we enjoyed some pizza and a movie. I was in bed by ten and so were the kids.

Here is one picture of the night and lots more of my many projects to come!

Slacker I am ......well not really.

Wow, where does time go.
I have been looking through pictures a lot lately and I can't believe how fast the time goes. It makes me really think about the things I am doing, and what I want to be spending my valuable time on. Maybe thats why I haven't been blogging much? No that's not the real excuse :)

For the next 5 days, James took off so we can get some big projects done around the house! I can't wait! We have been working on Emerson's room - an ongoing project. But, since winter is right around the corner - and I HATE the cold (unless I am skiing in it). We are making his room so we will love being in it ALL day!

So lots of pictures to come! And, I will catch up on all the past blogposts....but I figure I should concentrate on the future...or I will never get caught up!

Here is a picture of our cute little kiddos (and James) - growing faster than weeds!

To O-H-I-O we go!!

Well, James has never flown with Emerson and this time we got to fly with 2 kids under 2! We were lucky to get a direct flight to Cleveland, we had bags filled with goodies and things for Emerson to do...but we got on the plane last so there wasn't really room for our stuff to be near us.

* We did get to the airport 2 hours early, it took awhile to get through security with 2 kiddos and a bunch of stuff then we had to get to the furthest part of the airport and the elevator didn't work, so we took the stroller and carseat up the escalator! Then ran to catch our flight :)

Now we are enjoying Ohio, spending time with family and keeping busy ! Make sure to check back for lots of new posts!!

Emerson's new obsession!

Emerson loves playing with Sissy's bows and headbands. He is always wearing them, or his knight hat! We will need to come up with something clever so he stays away from the headbands and bows. Here is just a little preview.....

The Evergreen Fair

We weren't planning on going to the fair this year, but really wanted to go. So, we had James dad over for dinner and he said he really wanted to go to the fair and needed someone to go with him since he just had a stroke.... So we ended up going!!

It seriously was my favorite time at the fair, and I have had a lot of good times at the fair { since I grew up doing 4-H and being at the fair yearly.} I really know why they say being a mom is the best thing ever!! It brings me so much joy to see my kids happy, and at the moment Emerson can truly show his emotions!Zoe not so much...but she enjoyed all the people watching,and had lots of people come up to her and tell her how cute she was ( I almost thought she was an attraction with how many people came up to her)Going to the fair it was Emerson's first time going on the rides (Yes he is a large 20 month old already 36 inches) He seriously had so much fun and it was so fun watching him go on the roller coaster with his dad, and the car ride by himself,and the merry go round! Once he got in his little car he was just light up! We thought he was going to be scared since he was by himself, but he didn't want it to stop!

His new favorite food is corndogs - and yes he had one at the fair!

He got to try an elephant ear - and loved it!

He got a big turtle from the balloon popping game - james won him.

He got to see a pig race - which he loved.

He got to see animals - and he tried to make the noises.

All in all he loved the fair!!

Where oh where did the Wagners go????

Well Life has been super busy? Who would have guessed!! We have been enjoying life to the fullest with our little kiddos, working, keeping up on the house, spending time with family and friends and fitting in a few vacations!!

Now, we are on a little break in Ohio - so instead of being super busy working and blogging away, I am going to take some much needed time to catch up on this blog!!

Instead of staring from where I left off, I am going to go backwards in time!! READY!!!!

And make sure to check out Coupon Connections when you have free time, that is where I have been spending all my free time :)

Levenworth and Tree Lighting!

Each year we like to go to Leavenworth for the Tree Lighting and to do some sledding! Last year we weren't able to go since we were awaiting Emerson to be born! So this year was fun taking Emerson!

Our friends Maggie and Casey invited us to come stay at her parents house in Cashmere! It is such a cute little house filled with love! Emerson had so much fun going up and down their stairs, and he had so much fun with his friend Axel!


After a day of relaxing, and enjoying ALL the snow!! We went into Leavenworth, and it there was so much snow and people we just missed the tree lighting! So instead, we tried to eat at my favorite restraunt Andrea's Keller, but the wait was way too long with 3 little kids in tow. So we packed up and met at the grocery store to get some snacks! The only problem, there was so much snow we almost got stuck ( James won't ever admit to ever almost getting stuck) But when 2 guys have to push you out...I would think so!




He sure liked being inside away from the snow in the grocery store!

So instead of the german food...we went and got mexican!



Emerson liked trying the limes!






We got back, Emerson wanted to be in the snow...but it was time for bed!


The next day, we did some antiquing while the boys watched some games.
Then we went and picked up the boys and kids and went to Sonic!


After we got back from Sonic, we said our goodbyes and headed into Leavenworth to do some sledding and went to the tree lighting!


Emerson sure liked to sled!

He really loved the tree lighting!!

And now for the pics we always take :

Singles Ward Christmas get together!

What a fun night we had! Lots of yummy treats! Great conversation! And of course a white elephant gift exchange! We need to get together more often!!

Country Village Tree Lighting

I love going to Country Village! And at Christmas time it is so fun! Everything is lit up, and of course Santa flys in on his sleigh! Here are just a few pictures from the night!


Sam and I!

Kilee and me!

James and Emerson having fun like always!

Our fun little train ride!!

Traditions

I absolutely love Traditions!!!

Decorating the Tree! With Candles and All!
I love to decorate the house the day after Thanksgiving! And I can never wait to get a tree! Growing up we always had candles and a pickle on our tree, and that is one tradition I still keep! ( We just don't light the candles now)




Here is one tradition my aunt Betty started and shared with my family!
Christopher Pop-in-kins
The story behind them are that right after Thanksgiving Santa sends them to your home and they watch to make sure your kids are being good. Then at night they go back to the North Pole and report back to Santa and tell them how the kids are doing. The next day your elf returns and he is also in a different hiding spot (you hide them some place else each day and your kids look for him). But, the kids can't touch him or he might lose his magic powers.



Then one we always did growing up, is the Advent Wreath and Advent Calender!
The Advent Wreath Adventskranz is set up on the first Advent Sunday (the fourth before Christmas) to start off the Advent season. You gather around the wreath on each Advent Sunday to light the next candle and sing Christmas carols and read stories.I love this tradition because it draws you closer together as a family. We also got Emerson a book called Jingle with a dog that barks to read each Sunday, so he has something fun too!


Then St.Nicholas Day (Sankt Nikolaus) is the night of the 5th
The kids put out their boot on the night of the 5th, and on the morning of the 6th they get their boot filled by St.Nick! This was always a favorite of my brothers and I!

Christmas Tree Farm 2010

For the past 4 years we have gone to the Red Barn Tree Farm in Woodinville! It is always a fun trip! It is so fun to be able to pick your Christmas tree and chop it down yourself! We got a different kind of tree this year, since all the trees we normally get are still growing.

Here are some pictures from this year and from the 3 years after! It is fun to look at the changes!

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2007