Video

This video I was trying to take a picture and pushed the wrong button... Aren't these two so cute!

Christmas Decorating

I have to admit, I'm kinda a control freak. I want things done my way, so I'd rather just do it myself. EXCEPT, um I need help I'm kinda a busy girl. You see my delema. Well Putting up Christmas decorations is hard for me. I want it to be a family tradition, but I want it done my way...

Well this year I broke the mold and let Ryan and the kids do the tree. I only fixed (i.e. took down and redid) one thing. I decided my goal for this years Christmas was to ENJOY the season. I even told Ryan (and meant it) that I didn't want him to get me anything for Christmas. All I wanted was a fun happy holidays. So I started it off by actually LETTING the kids and Ryan help with the decorations. It was so much fun! I got to do the nativities, which are my favorite part and they got to do the rest. Everyone had a nice time, especially the kids who just LOVED decorating the tree. It was really cute.

I have a few kid friendly nativities that I left kid level so they could play with them. Last year for Christmas my mom got us the little people one. I have been wanting it forever and was so excited! Logan LOVED it. He played with it almost everyday. Emmy too. Here they are playing with it just after I got them out.






I love doing this because we talk about the REAL reason for Christmas and the kids get to hold the pieces and understand the story a little better.

Decorating the tree





Kaitlyn



Emily



Logan



My proud babies showing off their hard work




And every year they find the baby (like 12month) santa outfit and try it on. Silly gooses.




A video from that same week:

Ryan making Evan laugh. This was one of the first times he laughed more than once in a row. Soo Cute!

First Snow

So we had the most BEAUTIFUL fall here. Everyday after Kaitlyn got out of school we'd come home and spend most of the afternoon playing outside. It was PERFECT weather. I knew we'd be stuck inside soon so we tried to take advantage of it. The weather stayed nice until December. Then winter hit, and it hit hard! We had three major snow storms three weekends in a row plus snow through out the week. Lets just say that by the time we got to Kaitlyn's last day of school we were THRILLED to be going south! So the first weekend there was a storm Friday night I believe, so Saturday morning Ryan and the big kids went out to play in the snow! I was very happy to stay inside with the baby.

These pictures were taken through the window, so they're a little fuzzy.








*Yes Logan is wearing purple snow pants. He now has a snow suit of his own. In boy colors.

When they were ready to come in I had hot chocolate and warm blankets ready for them. We sat and watched a movie together and they warmed up!

And then we got out the Christmas decorations!