Weights & Measures

I was in the bathroom weighing myself to see exactly the damage that the holidays have caused and Sean watched me.  I got off the scale and said "okay Sean let's go downstairs".  He said "no wait I have to measure my feet!".  Yes Sean I wish that is what it did, I may have been happier with my number if that was the case! New Year's resolution here I come!

Odds & Ends

SHHHH!  The lizard is sleeping.  

 He turned under the table into a Zoo and told me he was a lizard sleeping. 

 Sean teasing Mikayla while playing outside.  He put snow on the window and she would just laugh at him. 

 My kids, I'm so very blessed.

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas!  Ron & Linda, Jon & Michelle, Mom & Uncle Kyle & Snooks celebrated with us.   We opened presents at our house and then headed to Snooks' so we had more room to spread out.  I am very grateful that she allowed us to use her and house as it made it a very relaxing and enjoyable day. 

Sean was not happy with the outfit I put him in for Christmas Eve service.

 Opening one present on Christmas Eve is my family's tradition.

 Sean opened Uncle Kyle's present the movie Planes!  We watched it on Christmas but the adults had more fun watching it than Sean did. 

 My two favorite girls.

 Kyle's dog Honey Badger enjoying her presents.  She wasn't too sure about the rest of the commotion going on so she stayed in the kitchen "safe zone".

 Next year we are coordinating better because you see that pile of presents in front of Sean?  Yep those are all his!!  Very spoiled little boy but he has enjoyed playing with them all.  I spent the weekend organizing to find space for everything. 

 Mikayla liked the presents but mainly the paper and bows they were wrapped in. 

 Mikayla hanging with Papa Ron.

First Snow

We have received a lot of snow the last few days Mikayla was looking at all the white stuff out the back door so I brought some in so she could exam it further.

And she literally...

got her first taste of snow!

Christmas prep

We have been busy prepping for Christmas.  Sean picked out our tree and then helped Ethan decorate it.  They did a wonderful job!

Mikayla keeps thinking it is time to open presents we put the tree on the table so we wouldn't have to keep her away from ornaments but now the presents are right in her line of sight. 

We got to have a visit with Santa and Sean was a little nervous but excited to see him.  Mikayla was more interested in his beard than anything else.  

 Sean wrote his letter to Santa but wanted to remind him that he would like to receive a backpack and dinosaurs. 

Cannonball & Rhinos

Another use for the sleeping bag, swimming pool.  Here he is doing a cannonball into the "pool".  He even had to take his clothes off to make sure they didn't get wet. 

Tigers eating a rhinoceros.  Our living room is such an adventurous place! 

Sleeping Bag

Grandma Barb got Sean a sleeping bag for his birthday.  I thought it would be great to have when we go camping or stay at someone's house but Sean has found many, many, uses for it and plays with it everyday. 

It has been a pond, cave, parachute, submarine, dinosaur egg and so much else. 

Here it is as submarine. He was opening the hatch to see if he could find land. 

Here he is as baby t-rex hatching from the egg. 

Cutest baby t-rex ever!

All I Want For Christmas

Mikayla has her two front teeth.  Her crawling has taken on a new speed, FAST, and she is getting into everything she can reach or maneuver her way to.  I forgot how fast they can get into trouble!  Time to re-baby proof the house.  She climbed up all the stairs this weekend so the baby gate is going back up!  Grandma Barb thinks she will be walking by 8 months.

My happy girl with her 2 front teeth. 

Museum

While Afton and the kids were here we went to the museum.  It was Mikayla's first visit and she seemed to enjoy it. 

Our little park ranger. 

And fireman (Sean insisted he was a fireman not a construction worker)

We were supposed to have pictures taken of the kids but weather kept us from making the afternoon trip to Whitehall.  On the night before they left I tried to get a picture of them all together.  The second picture is a better reflection of their attitude during the whole process. 

Thanksgiving

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving in Whitehall with Ron and Linda, Afton, Landen and Sidney.  Afton and the kids stayed for 10 days which gave the kids a lot of time to play.  Having them here made me realize how blessed I was to live close to some of my cousins and to be able to grow up with them.  I wish we lived closer so the kids could see more of each other but I guess we will just have to plan more visits.  Sean enjoyed playing with his cousins and Mikayla enjoyed meeting Aunt Afton and spending time watching the other three play. 

Mikayla "helping" cook Thanksgiving dinner. 

Spending quality time with Papa Ron.

Playing at the playground. 

Watching a movie

The two things I am most thankful for, I could not be more blessed.