Christmas Day

Derek and I were giddy with anticipation for Christmas with Acalias this year. We had set out presents earlier but when I caught Acalias tearing into a present I had to hide them in the closet. We didn't make it back home to celebrate Christmas with family but Derek had a few days off to hang out with Acalias and I.
The weather has been beautifully mild, so we took a walk downtown to see the the window displays and lights. I noticed this Nativity scene while out on the run one evening and I thought it looked neat against the brick wall.

Our Christmas tree.

Just in case you wondered what it would be like to visit us during Christmas.

Our newest ornaments. 

We had to get a WV instrument since we've moved 30 minute away from WVU, the logo is everywhere.

The 2nd ornament was a gift from family.

On Christmas morning Acalias was a bit annoyed that we woke him up, once he tore into his first present his mood quickly changed. His grandpa scored with this dog book, if anyone loves puppies, it's Acalias. He was so distracted with the book that he didn't want to move on to the next present. We ended up opening presents throughout the day rather than in one sitting.

Acalias loves music so much, he loved the toy instruments Santa got for him.

Derek and I were more excited for this remote control car than Acalias was.

I forgot how much I enjoyed playing with toys!

I almost finished my green dress on time for Christmas, I wore it anyways. I need to take it in a bit so that the folds are taut against my body like the dress form below.  I really enjoy creating my own clothes, it feels good to tell people that I sewed it myself!

I love my dress form, it makes dress making easy! 

I know longer have to try on my dress a zillion times and avoid getting pricked with pins.

The weather has been so nice here, can you believe this was take on Christmas Day?

Hope everyone enjoyed Christmas.

Happy Holidays

Countdown to Christmas!

The holidays are so much more exciting with children!! Derek and I are so excited to celebrate Christmas this year, we cant wait to see Acalias' reaction to opening presents. In my excitement I set up the Christmas tree too early. It's been a constant battle to keep ornaments on the tree, Acalias thinks that they are balls that he can play fetch with.  The top of the tree is cluttered with ornaments in our attempt to avoid making them accessible for a toddler. Next year I will not put up the tree until the second week of December.

Acalias loves story time at the library. He loves singing the peanut butter song most, he spins his little body in circles once we start singing. He loves the musical instruments that they allow him to play with. I think he might me musically inclined. I don't know where he got that from, definitely not me!

This week was extra special because Santa brought presents and visited with us.

Acalias was excited for the presents so he tried pulling Derek towards Santa while the other children were a bit apprehensive to visit with him. 

Acalias was so serious. We couldn't get him to smile for anything.

Not even when Santa tried to tickle him...this picture is kinda awkward.

I guess I should be happy that he looked at the camera right?

I'll have to dig up some of my old Santa pictures I was just as serious.

Christmas in Utah- Week 2

On Christmas day we were so happy to be home for the holidays, we weren't expecting anything but we were showered with gifts. We spent the night over my brothers house and it was fun to see our nephews so excited for all their presents. Acalias was so amused with all the excitement surrounding him that he didn't really notice the presents that he had received.



I loved this outfit from Grandma Cindy, it said, "Smart like Mommy, Handsome like Daddy". I thought it should be reversed since daddy is the one in Medical school.



He recieved a sheep that makes noises such as the ocean, rain, heartbeat ect. It has been the best way to help him to calm down and take his naps, we love it.



Grandma Nativa was visiting from Florida. Here she is with all her great grandchildren.



He didn't know what to think of this puppy at first but now it's his go to toy when he's in the mood to giggle.

One more thing, Acalias turned 6 months on Christmas day. He was the best gift of this year! We are so blessed to have him in our life.




I was so happy that we were able to spend a little time with my mom (who was visiting from San Fransisco). We cooked dinner together one night, we had to show off our the skills we have developed since moving to West Virginia. We made Indian food and I think for the most part everyone enjoyed it, especially the Indian bread Naan.

Here we are being goofy in the kitchen.


Acalias had fun trying to mimic his cousin Isaiah, they are 8 months apart.


We have a crazy, not so safe tradition that we started when we lived in Utah. We go sledding but after an hour we get sick of pulling the sled up the hill.


My brother ties a sled to the back of his car and we have a blast being pulled throughout the unplowed parking lot. We did it until our faces were so cold we couldn't smile.



Acalias stayed nice and cozy in the car.

The Rock's cooked us dinner one night. I can't believe we all have kids now, I wish we had more time to visit. Thanks again Alithie for making us a yummy dinner.



My friend Melissa had her little boy on Christmas day, David Lincoln was such a cute little boy. He reminded me a lot of Acalias, our little boy has grown too fast.

Hanging out with cousins, we enjoyed singinging and playing with Alec and Zoe. We wish we didn't live so far away.



I spent some time at my grandma's grave, she passed away 4 days before Acalias was born due to breast cancer. I wasn't around to see her in suffer in pain, my last memories of her was at our farewell party playing her ukelele, singing and laughing with the family. It was a sad reality to come home and not have her around to meet our son, she always told me that she couldn't wait to see my kids. Rest in peace grandma Mele, I love you.



Thanks again everyone for taking good care of us while we were home. We can't wait until the next time we visit.

Christmas in Utah - Week 1

We had been anxiously awaiting our trip home to Utah. The majority of our family and friends hadn’t met Acalias yet so we were excited to introduce him to everyone that we love. We were lucky that our flights weren’t delayed too bad, Acalias was an angel the entire flight to Utah.

When we arrived, Damion picked us up and Grandpa “with the Cats” (the other grand kids came up with that nick name for him) came along to see us. Acalias had changed so much since Grandpa had last seen him in June, it was fun to see him observe grandpa.


It was so nice to be on familiar roads and see the beautiful mountains again. It almost felt like we were returning home from a 3rd world country. We live in such a rural part of West Virginia where roads don't get plowed and shopping/restaurants are limited. It was such a great feeling to be home.

On Sunday we attended my old home ward, I hadn't visited since I returned home from my mission in 2005. I invited my brother and his family to meet us there. It was nice to see all the faces I grew up with, Bishop Kemp invited me to share my testimony in the Christmas program. It was honor to share my gratitude for my Savior during the Christmas season and to the members who were so kind and loving toward me in my Youth and during my mission. It's neat to think about how the people in our lives can influence us, the Lord had placed them in my life at the right time.

Afterwards we visited Grandpa JR and Great grandma Nativa. Grandpa JR had never met Acalias and was amazed at how big he was.



Grandma cooked up some delish Haitian food, we enjoyed reminiscing about our childhood with dad while Grandma sang her French songs to Acalias. I think he remembered her voice, she sang to him a lot during his first month of life and it always calmed him down.

Here he is playing with Tio Simi. I thought Acalias would be more apprehensive with all the unfamiliar family but he was so happy to have so much attention.


Hanging out with Grandma Cindy.

Meeting Grandpa and Grandma Milar.

Alec and Zoe loved playing peek-a-boo with Acalias.

We traveled on the Frontrunner to Salt Lake to see the lights on temple square.





We miss living so far away from the temple.




Here we are playing a board game and stuffing our faces with yummy white chocolate pretzel/chex mix. This particular game was so much fun! Settlers of Catan...I never did win, the 2 hour time difference always made so drowsy by 7pm and passed out by 9pm. Everyone else played all night.

Braxten had wrestling tournament that he invited us to. It was so intense my heart almost pounded out of my chest. I felt bad for the boy's he wrestled, many cried and wanted to quit while their competative parents screamed at them to keep wrestling. I think I'll put Acalias in tennis..a non-contact, less intense sport.


We met up with a few of our close friends, Laina was my visiting teaching companion and Beezer was my visiting teacher. We're so thankful for our family and friends in our life, we felt so loved by those of you who called us and made an effort to visit with us during the busy Christmas season.

We'll be home for Christmas...la dee da da doo...

All our bags are packed and we're ready to come home.

We found a sitter for Skofeild! Thank goodness for my local friends, we live in such a small town that everyone seems to be connected somehow. Skofeild will be staying home and protecting it. Our hired help will visit three times a day. We're going to miss him so much but we're super excited to visit family.


Skofeild can sense that we're leaving, he's been extra needy lately. He's been resting his head next to Acalias so that he can get pets from him. Acalias pulls his hair rather than give pets, but Skofeild is so desperate he will take anything these days. I'm excited for the day that Acalias can play with Skofeild, then they can wear each other out.


Acalias loves his toes, he can't seem to get enough. He's having a conversation with his feet.


It snowed A LOT today. Derek has a test tomorrow but if the weather is too bad, he's allowed to postpone his test until we return. I think it's best he takes it now and get it over with. He is so ready for this break, so am I!


Derek caught a picture of this rare occation, Acalias was so tuckered out. We had been running errands all day. I have a similar picures from when he was a newborn.

This seems like yesterday, he's grown too fast. We're so excited to introduce him to all of our family members.

See you all soon!