and then there was christmas...

we were in indiana for christmas...it was lots and lots of fun...lots of family, lots of food, lots of PRESENTS...

i don't feel like i got many good shots...you two were too busy--didn't sit still for long enough, didn't care to smile for mommy...so, lots of blurry, not great pictures...

jackson, your first remote controlled car...not the greatest remote controlled car--it only goes forwards and backwards...LAME.  but you enjoyed running it into granna and papa's furniture anyway... 

zoey, your first tutu from auntie kiki, of course.  it's too big right now...fell right to your ankles...but it won't be long until you're twirling that fluffy pink thing to its full diameter...

HOLLYWOOD...

the concentration--it took lots to make that car go back and forth.  btw, you're holding the remote backwards...maybe that's why it was a difficult car to get moving...

christmas morning.  yes, we opened all of those presents up there ^ on christmas eve...how cool are your parents?!!  actually, we started opening presents as soon as we walked in the door it seemed.  you guys raked in the loot!!!

zoey, you didn't really get the hang of opening presents...you just liked all the boxes that made noise when you shook them.  you'd put them down, someone would open them, and TA-DA a new toy for you...YAY!!!

aww...our little family before church...

i AM the cutest!!!

the ONLY picture of you two together...in your christmas fancies...

lady-killer...

take a drink, kiki!!!

kiki gave you piggies...CUTEST.EVER.

rockin' in granna's rocker...

SO.MUCH.FUN.  love it when you can be with family since we're on our own most of the time...you are LOVED by so many people!!!  lucky ducks.

sacreligious...

and completely inappropriate...but kind of funny nevertheless...

mommy got out our "little people" nativity set a few days before this picture was taken...a few days later, mary was found on the potty.  it cracked me up.  i took a picture.

i'm quite certain it was all YOUR idea...

toes and bubbles...

it was a rough-starting day...upon entering your room this particular morning, it was VERY clear that a bath was immediately necessary.  in the picture below, you're waiting to be cleansed from all of your unrighteous filthiness...jackson, you decided to suck your big toe...zoey, you proved to be much smarter than your big brother and decided your bottle was a better choice. 

**you had already been "bathed" with baby wipes which is the only reason i allowed you to wait on the couch while i fumigated/scoured/hosed-down your bedroom and ran you a bath...

 bubbles, oh the bubbles, how we LOVE the bubbles!!!

love the face, zoey...

bad-tasting bubbles, jackson?

and again, the face...i think you're trying to blow them away...or eat them...not sure.

christmas cookie-baker...fully clothed...

we did this...

while she did this...

i have about ten pictures of you eating dough off of your rolling pin...

and the rolling pin would go right back to the dough...and we baked your licked-dough cookies and gave them to other people to eat...hahaha!!!

trying out the frosting to see if it was poisoned...

nope, all good. 

the finished products.  jackson, you were in charge of sprinkles...you were awesome.

cheeseburger...

makin' krispies in our underwares...

where to begin...

ZOEY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!

our sweetest girl...can't believe how quickly your first year went...TOO FAST!!!

granna and papa came to celebrate...

balloons were a big hit...you bee-bopped them around for a good 10 minutes...jackson was jealous...

birthday hat...

the spread...cupcakes and candy...

cupcake paper garland...thanks, pinterest...

birthday hat on head...

lasted about 21 seconds...it was much more interesting sitting on the tray in front of you...

presents...

well, YAY, a little people dollhouse from granna and papa...

mrs. potato head...

a quick chat with aunt kiki...she was so sad she wasn't able to be there...

lalaloopsy doll...the doll with the hardest head ever...i think her name is "pillow mc feather-fluffin-stuff" or something ridiculous like that...mommy just thought she was cute...not cuddly, but cute...

here's the cake...mommy learned from jackson's first birthday cake to make one from scratch...this one's called a "pink lady" cake...strawberry with cream cheese frosting...YUM!!!

i think jackson technically blew out your candle...

milk, please...

this is as messy as you got.  boring.  mommy was hoping you would go for it.  nope.  i've created kids who are opposed to getting dirty...and i'm NOT a mommy who won't let you get dirty--under the right and appropriate circumstances, of course...  :0)

clean up...you were on a sugar high and you went NUTS in the bathtub...you are always a wild woman in the bathtub...splashing and squealing...

your little neck kills me...everytime.  i soap up your hair and pile it on top of your head just so i can look at your little neck.  precious. 

happy first, sweet zoey!!!  we are BLESSED to have you...love, love, love you!!!