Merry Christmas from the Van Dorns!

These are a few pictures taken for our Christmas card. My sister Kylee took them with her new great camera.

I have not posted for a while due to the not fun we have been having. I feel like I'm way behind. It seems like we have been sick forever. We keep getting over it and just when I think we're over it something hits again. Dec 3 I took the boys to the Doctor and they both had ear infections. It was Izac's first that we know of, and his second antibiotic ever, so that's not too bad. Needless to say that's why I havent posted for a long time. Nothing fun to post! So here are a few pictures of the time that has passed.

These are pictures of the first big snow. Izac was sick, but insisted Justin take him out in the backpack (which he's way to big for), to look for snow animals. Then he just couldn't quit looking out the window at it.

We discovered the boppy. Alex loves it. He can sit up and see the world and he's getting real good at holding things and putting things in his mouth. He loves to suck on his hands.

There's nothing better than hanging out with Dad.

Izac didn't want to sit on Santa's lap at our ward party. So I did what all mean moms do. I went in when no one was there with Santa, and sat him on his lap. As you can tell Izac didn't like it too much.

Happy Thanksgiving, and New Crib

Alex loves his new crib, this is the first time we put him in it.

We've had a great Thanksgiving weekend so far, and hope that all of you have too!

We are so excited, we finally got a crib! We actually ordered this same crib in a different color before Alex was born, but when it came I was eating a nectarine, and the crib looked like the flesh of the nectarine. I just couldn't stand it, it was so orange-ish. plus that it had a small crack in it, so we sent it back. We knew that this crib came in another color, but everwhere we looked it was out of stock, so Justin finally found it the other day and we ordered it. It came much earlier than expected, so it's all set up, and we finally got to put the new bedding on. I'm just so excited, I love it so much. And Izac can't wait to have Alex sleep in his room. (I don't think he knows what it will really be like yet.) I'm nervous too, about them waking each other up. Any suggestions on how to make this work?

So I guess you could say that I'm thankful for the new great crib, and that I'm not pregnant and sick this year for the holidays!!!!

Mr. Blue Eyes

Alex is now 3 months old. Time Flies!!! He is getting so big, and has the biggest, bluest eyes, I think he gets cuter every day!

Izac Says

Lately Izac has been talking my ear off about subjects hes interested in at the moment. So the other morning he was babbling about dinosaurs, and how there's a place like a zoo and if we just take the paff(path) to get there we could pet them and all the other animals, and then he told me he was gonna tell dad, and went on to explain the whole thing again, and told me that all we have to do is look for their pootfrints(footprints). I found the whole conversation quite amusing.

Then on Monday we were going over to Justin's Grandpa's house who recently passed away, to get some things and to see it for one last time. I was telling Izac this and told him it was the last time we could go there. He then told me that he just wanted that old grandpa to come home. I was explaining the best I could that he lives with Jesus now and that we'd see him again, but in a long time. Izac looked at me all serious and said, "but mom, he could just give Jesus a hug and a kiss and come back to his home. He has such a tender heart and sweetness about him.

So since I can't post without a picture, I took some pictures of some things in the house that I think are interesting, or that I just like.

This is the front door, and I think it's so cool how it has the screen built right in, you just open the small door inside the big door. Totally convenient.

The totally retro oven/stove, with two ovens, and I just love the dials on that old thing.

The "dinner dials"

Then there's the magic toothbrush holder. It disappears into the wall.

I think if I could have I would have taken these things. And if they ever get rid of that door I seriously want it!!!

Falling Leaves

H-A double L-O-W double E-N spells Halloween!

So as an ode to our new baby, the 4th and final pumpkin Justin carved was our baby, in his car seat. Oh that Justin and the things he comes up with to carve every year. It's so exciting to see what he ends up doing! He loves to carve,I think as much as I don't like to, so he did all of these.

Here's our family on the porch on our way to Trick-or-Treat!
Kylee & Auri, Jenn & Kate, and Me & Alex, and Izac. At our soup party before trick or treating.
Izac the Kangaroo, with a punch mustache
Izac kangaroo, holding Auri ladybug, so darn cute!!!

HALLOWEEN

So the babe is supposed to be a spider, hanging on me, I will try to get a better picture tommorw, one that looks like it's supposed to. Izac is a kangaroo. Oh my, we have had too much fun. Saturday our ward had a trick or treat, where these pictures were taken, and last night a friend in the ward had a spooky dinner, that's the last two pictures. I guess we'll go trick or treating tomorrow for some more fun!

Last week, we went with Izac's preschool to a pumpkin patch, where we were able to cut our own pumpkins off the vine. It was so fun! Thanks to Katie Wright and Miss Shan!

So I've had this recipe for cheesy monster eyes for a long

time, but haven't made it until now, maybe it has something to do

with having a kid who will care. You basically make Lasagne filling and fill

jumbo pasta shells, and use meatballs and olives for the eyeballs and pupils.

It was fun, but I didn't like the meatballs I used.

These are just a few of the fun things we've done lately, Oh the fall weather, so great!

Pumpkin Patch

We went and got pumpkins today with our Aunt Liz, Cousin Kate, & Aunt Jenn. We went to the place that we go to every year. It's the same place and the same hat and blanket on Alex as most of you have seen in the picture of Izac. As usual the boys are sooooo cute!

P.S. Alex is a little fatty boy he weighs 13.8 lbs. and is 24 1/8 inches long which is about 90% for both. I guess thats what happens when you feed a baby just about whenever he wants to eat, and yummy to the baby chub, I love it, and wouldn't have it any other way!

Beautiful Canyon Drive, Great Conference Session

Today we went for a drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon during he last session of conference, and listened to it on the radio. We found was a good way to stay awake for us, and put the kids to sleep, and keep them quiet so we could listen. It was a beautiful day again. We saw lots of colors, and lots of snow. Izac cried after our mini snowball fight because it was too cold! We still had a good time, and he got over it quick! And wasn't conference great as always? It always reminds me of my great worth and how lucky I am to be a member of the church. It's also always great inspiration, and a little nudge to help us try to do a little better. I love this time of year!!!

Alex is already 8 weeks old! Mom is sad that he's growing up so fast.

Our little Alex is 8 weeks old already. I can't believe that much time has passed by. He is smiling so much, and his hair is starting to grow back. He is so big, he is in 3-6 month clothes, and is filling them right up. He sees his pediatrician on Monday so I'll have to post his stats next week. These pictures turned out pretty good, and as you see Izac just couldn't stay away, he loves his brother so much!

Alex's Blessing

We blessed Alex yesterday, and what a blessed day it was! It turned out to be a beautiful, cool, sunny, fall day, perfect if you ask us. The sun was surprising since we had snow on Saturday, and the power was off at our house from 3-9 AM which had us a little stressed out. Justin gave a wonderful blessing, and we had a great little get together at our place afterwords with our families. Thanks to all of you who came and brought yummy food, thanks for making our day a great one!