"17 days til Christmas. . .

and my true love gives to me. . .a few minutes alone so I can blog!!!" Sing it

The Christmas season is upon us and we have been busy, as we're looking forward to celebrating Baby Jesus' birthday! Every morning the kids wake up and open up a window on their advent calendar. Then, they eat the chocolate while I read the Bible Verse that's behind the window. Next, the kids change our "how many days til Christmas" wall hanging! The kids also really like our magnetic nativity on the fridge, and the nativity ("activity") set my parents add to every year for us. The lights on the house have been hung. . .thanks to daddy and help from our littlest elf, Trey.Ainsley had a dance recital (preview, as she calls it), and she was excited to wear her "cutie pie" costume! She does such a great job with her dance moves, and most importantly, she loves it. . .she runs into class confidently without even looking back!

Cousin Cutie Pies

Ainsley's preschool had a Thanksgiving feast, and I enjoyed helping with it!We also celebrated Thanksgiving at my parents and at Ryan's parents. . .I got up early the day after Thanksgiving to get the 50% toys at Kohls!The boys. . .
And speaking of boys, daddy and Porter had a great time riding over snow piles in the driveway. Their "snow dam" We've been baking goodies, bringing frosted sugar cookies to daddy's students (Ainsley's idea), and we hosted 4 college boys at our home for Spaghetti and atari. They appreciated the home cooked meal and said, "This is my dream home!" Not sure if that's because they're used to a small dorm room, or because our house comes complete with food :)

We attempted to get a Christmas picture of the cousins. . .What do YOU think it looks like Bridger is saying to Trey? . . . maybe "Hey, Get back here!" or "Just checking to see if you have a dirty diaper" We also have a new addition to our family. . .her name is Stellaca. . .what a good little mommy you are Ainsley! And, the kids in our Sunday School class made Christmas cards for those who otherwise may not get any. Ainsley girl made a Christmas tree on her card. . .someone will be so glad to get it!We've been making snow angels and snow piles! The first time I bundled Trey up in snowpants, boots, etc, he couldn't move (see pic of him laying on the floor). Poor thing toppled over, scraping his sweet little face. I love the picture of him looking out the window, in his feeties, at the bigger kids playing in the snow!Trey is continuing to live up to his title of "mobile mess":). . .And for some good clean pictures of Trey at 16 months. . .

love the teeth in that one :) Trey, he does the cutest thing everytime he gets mad or sad. . .he covers his mouth with his hands while voicing his opinion. And, he's turned into a champion at falling asleep. Let me just say that I love putting infant babies to sleep. . .mine and other peoples. . .feeding them, rocking them, singing lullabies to them. Yes, I know he is no longer an infant, but he still typically fell asleep on our shoulder. . .until recently. Every so often, he's been reaching out his arms to his crib, laying down, making a few peeps and falling asleep. Maybe he likes having a little space after being loved on/tackled all day by his siblings :)

There's been a cookie exchange, me attempting to learn guitar from my parents, Ainsley reading all 193 pages of Dick and Jane, Ainsley wanting to read everything in sight :), reading the first book in the Little House on the Prairie series (which we call "reading Laura and Mary"), swimming at the Wellness Center, decorating, baking, picking out toys we want from Santa Claus, and most of all talking about baby Jesus' birth!!! Random photos. . .

Love the one with Trey in between the dancers :)

Really?! We have our hands full?! . . .and to think, it used to be 3 kids 3 and under!