Christmas

Here is a first look at the kids Christmas morning. We had been up all night because I had gotten to bed at 2:30ish and the kiddos were in my room at 3:00 asking if we could unwrap presents. Multiply my "No" times every 15 minutes makes for a very tired mom. I kept telling them they had to stay in bed 'til 6:00, but they "just couldn't sleep!" Wade finally put on the Polar Express and let them watch it in our room until morning rolled around. I was a little grouchy until we finally got up for good and then to see their faces so excited wiped it all away. I think Braydon's expression in this picture is so funny.
Braydon got a few books and loved it. He loves reading. He's super excited about this new Harry potter book.
Sommer had asked Santa for an idog so she could listen to music in her room, so she was super excited that he brought her one.
Sommer was so easy to buy for. A few littlest pet shops and she is one happy little lady!
Chase has been asking for a baby doll that swims for over a year, so this Christmas he got the boy one! Wade couldn't believe I bought his son a doll, but it is cute. And all boy...meaning it is anatomically correct. I didn't know this when I bought it, but it gave us all a good laugh. I think Wade's words to me were, "Way to go!" as he gave me a funny look. LOL
Turns out that what Chase played with all day was actually Wade's gift. I bought him a creeper to use while working underneath cars to keep his shirts from being ruined. Well, Chase thought it was the best. He also got this cute conductor hat that he wore all day. he told us he was the conductor of the Polar Express. Very Fitting...

Caught red-handed getting into the stockings. Livvy loves chocolate already, even with the foil on. We may be in trouble!
Livvy got a piano and a baby doll for Christmas. She was so excited. She gently opened her baby doll, and dove for her piano when Wade brought it in the room. It was so cute. In the picture below, she was hugging the baby as best as she could while still in the box once she discovered what it was. So sweet...

My most favorite part of Christmas was just being with my family. I have loved having this break to just play with them and see their cute personalities come out. I'm gonna be sad when they go back to school next week because I really am going to miss them. It's been so nice just having these relaxing days together. We've felt so blessed this season. It's all just been so simple and sweet!

Rudolph cookies

We were so excited that the kids are out of school for the Christmas break! I promised the kids that we would do fun things all day today to celebrate Christmas and winter. We made these Rudolph cookies from nutter butter cookies, pretzels, chocolate chips, icing, and m&m's. They were super easy and lots of fun with little mess too! It was so fun!
Here is Chase and his Rudolph cookie. Good thing I snapped a picture quick. He got eaten in a flash!
Sommer and her cookies. She liked green eyes instead of chocolate chips for hers. :)
Braydon made so many in a flash! Here he is with his reindeer.
After the reindeer, we made a gingerbread house. I didn't get any pictures during the construction since my hands were sticky with icing. But here is the finished product. That is until Chase started to eat it too!

Livvy contributed by eating a pretzel and being sweet. We have to include her too! :)
We all had sooo much fun! I really enjoyed it as much as the kids. I love spending time with them! It really is the little things that mean so much!

Sledding & Snow storms

I had promised the kids that we'd go sledding after making our cookies. We've gotten snow almost everyday this week, so we were excited to have fun in it. It continued to snow all day and when we finally ready to go sledding, we went across the street to the ball park, but by then the snow was blowing soooo hard! It was a total whiteout! It felt like a blizzard (but I'm from Mississippi, so it may not seem that way to other people here.) Here is a picture of the kids with our neighbors who went with us. If you look closely, you can see the snow blowing at an angle. Next time we will wait until the snow STOPS to go sledding. It was sooooo cold!!!
Braydon on the snowboard.
Sommer-- freezing cold. She loves the snow and sledding, so she still had fun.
Chase enjoyed the sled, just not the snow stinging his cheeks. I think we'll have plenty of opportunity to go back. Each step I took sunk about a foot in the snow... I think it'll be around a while!

Baby has Biters!

Livvy Brynne finally has some teeth! She got the first 2 bottom ones around 9 months old. I haven't gotten many pictures where they were visible, so I was excited when they showed up in these.
Then around 10 months (she's 10 & 1/2 mos. now), she got the top right one. :).
All smiles. She is such a happy girl. Her new word this week is "pretty" (well, more like "pre-ey"). Do you think she hears that word too much???

Merry Christmas!

OUR CHRISTMAS CARD
For as much as I'm not so keen on winter, I do LOVE Christmas time! And even the snow makes it feel so festive- which we have gotten so much of this week! I had planned to send out a really nice Christmas letter this year, seeing how I feel so blessed lately, but days turn into weeks, blah, blah, blah. I am sure that my schedule is no different than any of you, but sometimes I still feel like I'm on a hamster wheel- the faster I seem to go, the further behind I get! Like I said, I love Christmas time, but it is just so crazy! My to-do list never ending. I wrote down my list about a week ago, don't even think I had time to check it twice. I ran out of paper before I ran out of errands, etc. For example: work, ward, firefighter, & family parties, white elephant gifts, make treats and extra special lesson for visiting teaching, neighbor gifts, clean house, prepare and teach KM, get the tree and decorations up, oh no! baby's sick with double ear infections- won't stop crying!, go to Dr., get medications, what's for dinner?, Work, work, work, to sleep at midnight or later, now Sommer's up at 3 a.m. throwing up- great!, clean & disinfect (i'll spare the gory details!), Shopping, Forever long lines, make Christmas cards for self and family members (what was I thinking?) plus get them sent out on time, buy teacher gifts, kids homework, baby hates medicine and spits it out, shop some more, Chase wants lunch- I offer to stop at Burger King and get a happy meal and he cries telling me that it's not very healthy! (well, at least I get to laugh- thanks Chaser!), piles of laundry, Amish bread to cook, and of course take time to watch the Biggest Loser (way to go Michelle!) and love my kids and hubby etc. etc. etc.
You get the picture! However, even with all the chaos, I'm so proud to say that I wouldn't trade my life for anything! Sometimes I feel like the most blessed person on earth. I have the sweetest hubby who gives me unconditional love and compliments, and the sweetest, cutest kids in the world (sorry people :) ). I have wonderful friends who deserve a standing ovation for all the support, love, advice, and sunshine they bring to my life. And as a side note, Has anyone taken a good look at all my friends? They are all such beautiful girls! I pale in comparison standing next to you all! But, I will stick it out because of the beauty of your hearts! I love you all so much! You know who you are! Thanks for inspiring me and being my friend! I truly am so blessed!
So, since I was the slacker, and didn't get those letters written, I just want to post a few more things I have to be grateful for this year:
A new baby (the sweetest ever!)
A new home
10 years with Wade
The best vacation ever as a family
My sweet Braydon who reminds me everyday how fast he's growing up. He is so smart and such a good boy! Such a hard worker, so dependable!
Sommer, my ultra- talented, creative, caring, heart-of-gold daughter. And a super good mommy's helper. I don't know what I'd do without her!!!
Chase, Mr. Independence, hilarious, and sweet snuggler. He is feeling like such a big boy lately!
Livvy, her smile brightens my every day! I just can't get over her!
Of course, we are so thankful for health, warmth, all of our family members, and the Gospel. I can't imagine celebrating Christmas without my testimony of the Savior. In all the chaos, He truly keeps me grounded!
Well, if you've trudged through this ultra long post, then you are awesome (We are all busy)! As this is my only journal of sorts, I felt that in some way, I needed to recognize my many blessings this year. Merry Christmas to all of you! I hope you have everything your hearts desire!

Pictures with Santa

Santa Baby

My sweet baby in her Santa suit. Like I said, she is wearing this everywhere this month, he he.
Here she is singing and leading her own little song with a mallet. She sings all the time lately! So sweet!
This was at Kindermusik. Livvy loves playing the instruments.

Kindermusik Christmas Celebration

Here are a few pictures I was able to snap at our class finale/ celebration for the semester. This week's classes were the funnest! I wish we had a whole month to celebrate Christmas! As you can see, we sang "Rudolph" and many other Christmas activities. One of my favorite activities in my Our Time and Imagine That! Classes was when we reigned the kids up with bells and scarves around their waists (acting as Rudolph) and had the moms pulling the reigns and act as their coaches as we galloped around to "Over the River and through the woods". It was so cute! I have the cutest kids in my classes, not to mention the cutest moms too! There were so many fun times that next time, I'll have to have Wade come and take some pictures while I teach so maybe one day I can make an album for my kids to see and remember our fun- filled days at Kindermusik. Also, Cammy, Jen, & I will be starting a blog this next semester, so you'll have to take a peek when we get that all constructed! Anyway, here are a few pics of our class celebration. Wish I had more, but it was a busy week, but oh, so fun!

Time Marches on...

I can't believe another month has passed. Livvy turned 10 months on Dec. 3rd. We are excited that this is her 1st Christmas. She is so observant and loves the lights and colors everywhere. What can I say? She's a girl who loves pretty things! She LOVES jewelry and decorations,etc... And she LOVES baby dolls! Christmas shopping will be easy for her. She also loves exploring all over the house. It's so funny when she's into something she shouldn't have, because if we walk in the room, she crawls as fast as she can to get away and hide from us! It is hilarious! She's been standing for a few months now, but now she's even beginning to let go with one hand and walk more along furniture. But my most favorite thing right now is everytime I pick her up, she squeezes me so tight. She gives the cutest little bear hugs. It is the sweetest! She went to the Dr. today and weighed 16 pounds even (just for reference- Chase weighed this at 4 months!) LOL! She's in the 3rd percentile. I think when I tell her not to grow up too fast, she's just trying to be obedient. She eats great! She just has stayed little. The dr told me just pour gravy on all of her food. too funny...
Here is Livvy Brynne is her little Santa outfit. It is so cute on her! Tonight we went to see Santa so it was fun to dress her up. Plus, it's so soft and warm. She will be wearing this dress everywhere this month since it is so cute and I want to get our use out of it. I know I'm biased, but she's such a doll and we get such a kick out of her. Everything she does is cute.
Livvy trying to get through the baby gate at my mom's. I love this picture because I think she is so cute standing and gaining some independence. sniff...sniff...
My sweet girls- getting ready to go see Santa.
Livily and Mama Kaye, her great-grandmother. Aren't they so cute?
Snuggling a teddy bear...
This outfit used to be Sommer's and I was so excited when Livvy
could wear it! Sommer wore it for her 1st Christmas too! more tears... (sigh...)
Sweet as Candy! We love her!

Chaserism --Part 5

Just a quick funny story. A couple of nights ago, Chase kept walking all through the house and saying, "I'm a knees-walker" over and over again. Then Wade was going to the grocery store to pick a few things up for me and so he asked Chase if he wanted to go. Of course, he wanted to go with Daddy! So, after Wade got Chase buckled in the car seat and they were driving, Chase made this comment," You know, Knees-walkers are always mean!" Wade asked, "How come?" Chase replied with a sigh, "I don't know... Jesus just made them that way. "



Seriously, What are we teaching this kid????