Joy to the World

December bring birthdays (Scott Sr. & Scott Jr.) and Christmas. To celebrate Scott's birthday, we used the Famous Dave's gift card and enjoyed some awesome BBQ. We can't get enough of that place!

As you can see, we ate 'till our bellies were full and Spencer was ready to pass out!

It has been hard to keep Spencer from pulling the ornaments off the tree, but he has settled for simply lying under the tree as he watches Elmo.

For our ward Christmas party we celebrated "Christmas in Nauvoo." Our sister-in-law, Kathy, planned a very fun activity. There were different places around Nauvoo to visit with activities in each area. You could even visit the North Pole and visit Santa. Does he look familiar to you?

Christmas Eve we invited the missionaries - Elders Hillyard and Sundwall - to join us for dinner. We had ham, potatoes, green beans...all the holiday trimmings. This year I wanted to try caroling around the neighborhood and spread some Christmas cheer. Little did I know that "spreading cheer" is not much appreciate on the east cost - at least not in New Jersey. We knocked on several doors, but no one seemed to be home (or at least they acted like it!). We knocked on one last door (or neighbor to the left) and their teenage daugther opened the door. We immediately burst into a chorus of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and she started to close the door in our faces . I don't think she had a clue what was going on...I stopped singing to explain that we were her neighbors and we just wanted to deliver a Christmas treat. What a bust! Oh well...we returned home to sing carols around the piano before Spencer went to bed.

Spencer and Daddy on Christmas morning - my most favorite things to see in the morning!

Yummy! Daddy and Spencer enjoy chocolate pound cake for breakfast (Grandma Maldonado's special recipe).

Here is a little video clip of Spencer on Christmas morning and opening his first gift.

Some of Spencer's toys included Avatar light-up toys from a Happy Meal. He loved the "Jake" figure 'cause he simply lights up with any sound. Watch the clip...

It's a bird...it's a plane...it's SUPER SPENCER!

I had fun on Christmas too. I received a snuggie and the "perfect" brownie pan.
Scott Jr. and Gabriella came the next weekend to enjoy a be-lated Christmas with us.

The day after Christmas we adjourned at Michael and Mandy's house to celebrate together.

We feel so blessed to have such an amazing family!

How do I Love Thee...

Happy Birthday, Scott!!!

To celebrate, I took the day off of work...and he is working a double shift (a little backwards, eh?). Since he was born on the seventeenth day of the month, here are 17 reasons why I love my hubby:



1. His contagious smile

2. How he loves/worries about his kids

3. His testimony of the gospel

4. He is a good teacher

5. His sense of humor

6. His generous spirit

7. His yummy food

8. His long eyelashes ;)

9. His hugs and kisses

10. His boldness

11. His patience when I am flustered

12. He is my personal cold-hand heater (he is ALWAYS warm!)

13. His confidence in me (the best support I could ask for!)

14. His thoughtfulness

15. Keeps me on my toes

16. His work ethic



...and last but not least



17. Because he married me!

I LOVE YOU!

Counting our Blessings

Spencer is now officially 18 months old and surprising us every day. He will start attending nursery this coming Sunday and I think he is ready for the challenge. Just look at that smile...

If there is a box to be found, Spencer will find it and climb inside. It might have something to do with the large cabinet box we currently have sitting in our living room. We cut away a door so Spencer can get in and out to play. He loves that box!

It's also no surprise that Spencer seems more and more like his Daddy every day. They even share the same cowlick on the right side of their heads. :)

Trying to fill Daddy's shoes. You'll get there kiddo (hopefully not too fast).

Thanksgiving 2009 - We were delighted that Catherine and Weston could join us from Virginia this year. Spencer warmed up to them very quickly and was so happy to have some new people to play with. Thanksgiving morning Scott, Catherine and Weston played in our ward's "Turkey Bowl". That afternoon we enjoyed a great feast (prepared by Scott) with all the trimmings. It was so great to have time to relax with family.

The day after Thanksgiving Catherine and Weston ventured into NYC via the train for a little site seeing. We decided to go back to the city with them on Saturday so they could visit the Manhattan Temple. While they were in the temple, Scott, Spencer and I enjoyed visiting the Central Park Zoo and simply walking around the park together.

Spencer wasn't so sure about the Carousel Ride

- between the music and the motion, I think he was a little over-stimulated.

Thanksgiving Wishes

May all the bounty of this Thanksgiving season be yours!

Let the Holidays Begin!

We kicked off our Halloween weekend by attending our annual ward Halloween Party on Friday the 30th - complete with chili cook off. The food was delicious and the activities were fun as always, but this year we were accompanied by a cute, but cranky dragon.

Hmmm, maybe the dragon is cranky because his canine teeth are coming in.

Plastic cups of the world...beware!

Ahhh, coloring soothes the savage beast. :)

On the 31st we celebrated with a mummy feast - mummy english muffin pizzas and mummy hotdogs. Gabriella was here to help prepare the meal and enjoy the delicious results.

Gabriella dressed as an adorable bumblebee - Spencer just melts into a ball of cuteness when playing with her (can we say "putty in her hands?"). He just wanted to follow her everywhere! We did not see Scott Jr. this year, but I'm sure he had fun at his friend's Halloween party. We started our trick-or-treating rounds in our complex. It is so convenient to have a lot of townhomes and condos close together. Both Gabriella and Spencer came away with quite the loot in a short amount of time. Next, we decided to surprise Aunt Kathy and Uncle John by driving to Piscataway and trick-or-treat at their door. I think they were surprised to see us and we were glad they could join us in trick-or-treating down their street until the rain started up again.

Spencer lasted about 10 houses, but then got the royal treatment by visiting houses in his stroller. Even though he was extremely tired at the end of the night, he had just enough energy to try his first piece of Halloween candy - a blueberry lollipop (his first lolipop too!). I think he suspects we've been holding out on him

Here is a brief video clip of Spencer knocking on his first door. So cute!

I still can't believe Halloween has come and gone, but I love this time of year and the string of friends, family and well wishes that ensue - so......let the holidays begin!