Christmas Cookies

Bry took the initiative this year to find the sugar cookie recipe, gather ingredients, and make dough. It was so much fun! We stayed up late the following night with the boys to decorate and enjoy. I know Santa enjoyed these delicious sugary cookies Christmas Eve....

Christmas Sunday

Of course we were running late this morning and I didn't get out pictures before church....so we got some right when we got home which means that the boys had candy eating faces. Either way they are stinkin cute!!!! They are not the greatest pictures, but hey - pretty good for three little ones!

Love these little faces...even when he is covered in candy (which is a normal addition to his daily outfit) And check out Maylee gripping Carter's arm.

Drew got to read the scripture in primary today and he actually let me be in the room to watch, but wouldn't let me be the one to help him. It was ADORABLE and he did such a great job!

Our Attempt at Snow and Polar Express

Last weekend I found out that one of our strip malls had snow periodically through the evening and the bookstore was doing a Polar Express reading. Both sounded fun so we planned a family night out. My sister in law Jami and her family joined in on the fun! Well...the snow was just a sprinkling of foamy bubbles, but the kids didn't care and enjoyed the ten minutes of foam falling and made for some cute pictures!

Caleb and Carter were being too cute giving each other a hug!!!!

We walked from the snow to the bookstore and on the way over Ellie and Drew were being so cute holding hands. Jami even got all of them (minus busy Carter of course) to hold hands...stinkin cute!

We got the to bookstore early to get seats and waited...and waited....and waited. Apparently we were on the right floor, but wrong spot! They read the story again for those of us who miss it and the kids all got a bell and cookie. We had fun and it was nice to get out and do something "Christmasy" together!

Carter found this little gem while we were waiting and waiting....but I am SO glad! Drew has a monkey just like this from his birthday two years ago. He sleeps with it and it is well...a little disheveled these days. We have looked and looked for one just like it and this is the closest we have found! We secretly bought it without the kids knowing....ssshhhhh.......he may find it under the three Christmas morning!

Eight Months and a Whole New Woman!

I would like to introduce Miss Maylee....our now 8 month old daughter who sucks her thumb, soothes herself to sleep for most naps and bedtime, almost always rides in the car without a peep, loves to smile at strangers, and is just a happy, snuggly, adorable little princess! Maylee is a whole new baby these days and the change has just happened over the last 1-2 weeks. I am not sure if we give credit to the reflux medication, her getting older, or her skill to finally find her thumb when she wants it...but whatever it is we are SO grateful and are just soaking up all of her sweet, good little girl cuteness!

We had family pictures done a couple weeks ago.....you don't think she is adored do you?

I think she is just beautiful. She is such a little dolly!!!

Maylee has a very good attention span when it comes to studying people. She has great focus...and it is so cute. She REALLY liked Uncle Jess when he came to visit. She was such a snuggle bunny with him.

I love her little legs in leggings...so adorable. It is cute to watch her figure out how to move around these days.

She still adores her brothers and loves to watch them play....and occasionally gets in on the action for a minute or two.

Baby toes...need I say more...

She has turned into a snuggler again. She will lay with you and such her thumb.  Just wrap her in a blanket and stick a corner by her face and she snuggles right in (most of the time).

  

She LOVES peas. She really likes to have some yogurt with her brothers in the morning. She eats fruits and oatmeal for lunch and then veggies and barley cereal for dinner. She still does NOT like green beans. She will eat bananas, carrots, sweet potatoes, and applesauce.

Apparently a toe is good for sucking too - I don't think I want to encourage this little habit though.

She is getting so big and still working on sitting up on her own. She does okay for a little while, but then topples over. We will get there....I swear it was just yesterday she wore this shirt as a dress!

She gets up on her hands and knees like a pro these days and rocks and rocks. I usually find her this way when she wakes up from her nap and I just love it!

I had to have proof she actually wore this outfit. I have tried to put her in it about four times before, but every time she would have a leaky diaper and I would have to change her!

Her official doc appointment for her weight check is next week, but her home nurse came for her evaluation on Monday so we were able to get a height and weight and developmental assessment. Maylee is doing great and is advanced when looking at her adjusted age which is just over six months, but of course a bit behind from her real age.

Height: 25 inches

Weight: 12 lbs 11 oz

****At her doc appt a few days later she weighed in at 13 lbs...I think that is more realistic!



Five Years Old - Part II

Drew got to open some presents the morning of his actual birthday and was SO excited for his new bike!!! He is still learning to ride it and says it is "too high" since it is so much higher than his tricycle, but he will get it!

He got a year subscription to an animal magazine from Poppie and Grammy. He is so possessive of it and loves to flip through the pages of what he claims as "my book".

We had a crazy afternoon. Drew wanted to take the bus to school so I had to drive over to school and take cookies for this class. He prefers cookies over cupcakes any day. That night Bry and I both had commitments with church, but I made sure to squeeze in grabbing some "Fry Store" (In-n-Out) for Drew. It is his favorite meal even though it only consists of fries and a shake for him.

He had his five year old check the next day and did great. He has gained weight and looks good. I made an insane decision to get all the kids flu shots at the same time...by myself...that was fun. Carter went first and cried and screamed like crazy which made Maylee cry, but Drew was next and he cried, but not has hard...then Maylee and her crying only lasted until I picked her up again. I was sweating by the end, but they did great and didn't cry for took long. All was well with the world again once the boys got to pick something from the treasure box!

I just love this little man SO much. Yes, he has a lot of energy, loves to ask questions, pushes my buttons, bugs his brother, and makes messes...but he is such a sweet, gentle, fun kid. He loves to makes friends where we go. He adores his little sister and is so gentle with her. He is learning to share and play with his little brother. He loves to snuggle on the couch. He loves to tell "knock knock" jokes even though it is always "pumpkin" at the door. He sings twinkle twinkle little star in the most adorable way possible. He stills loves me to sing to him every night and won't let me leave without a kiss and a hug. He loves his "monkey" Curious George stuffed animal that he has to sleep with. He still takes naps for me 50% of the time which is a beautiful thing when all three children nap together.

We love Andrew so much and are so blessed to have him a part of our eternal family. I am not ready for him to keep getting bigger - next year is kindergarten (insert nervous sigh)!

Happy Birthday Drewbie Doo!

Weight: 34 lbs (7%)
Height: 40.6 inches (11%)

Sunday Time

After a wonderful morning at church, complete with all members of our family attending since no one had any sort of runny nose or sickness....and of course after adoring this incredibly beautiful baby in her oh so pretty church dress....

....we had lunch and the children rested. I would like to say I napped, but alas Maylee staggered her napping perfectly with the boys - oh well. I had big plans to make Christmas treats and to deliver them as a family, but I changed my mind and I am so glad I did. Instead I got to sit back and video and take pictures of my boys play all night long together. All three had so much fun!!! Sunday is family time and we sure did soak it up this week.

Five Years Old - Part I

We had a family get together in a church parking across the street from the temple so we could go see temple lights after doing a little birthday celebration for Andrew. I made a cupcake cake in hopes of making it easier to eat without the need for plates and forks....but this proved to be a bit messy with all the extra icing. It sure was tasty though!

Drew was pretty excited about this cake and did a great job at blowing out the candles...amongst the usual 5-year old stray spraying that goes along with blowing out candles! Drew opened presents and loved spending time with his cousins!

Of course there is the dreaded STAR which we first encountered two years ago when Drew was deathly afraid...and again, this year was no different. Not sure why the star is so scary. Funny, funny boy.

These two were ADORABLE that night. I didn't have to really worry about Drew because I knew Haley was right there with him. What sweet little cousins....and oh her hair - are those not the most gorgeous curly locks you have ever seen!?

Ashley was so cute with Carter and trying to get him to take a picture. He is such a little sinker! She looks beautiful and I guess Carter gets a pass since the back of his head is pretty cute with those curls of his~

Brig was explaining to Eli which cousin was Carter and which was Caleb. It was so funny to see the look on Eli's face when he saw the two together. He had been calling Caleb Carter for a while now - these boys are all within four months of each other!

Maylee and Bradley spent some quality time together. She was loving touching his face and studying him. So cute! Holly and her family drove all the way there to spend just a few minutes - she is so sweet! We were able to catch this great picture of us and our little girls - I have to say that girls are pretty fun!



Happy happy birthday Drewbie! His "official" birthday celebration was a couple days later, but it was so fun to spend time with so much family!!!

The Little Things

Bryan knows me...and he knows me well. He has taken on the duty of dishes to help me out around the house. Not sure if it was because he loves me and wanted to help or he was sick of the dishes never being done. *smile* Either way, I SO appreciate it. Not only does he do the dishes for me, but he does them how I would do them and most of the time even better. I have to smile every morning after he empties the dishwasher and I look in the cupboard to see these bowls. I am not sure I have ever put all the colors together, but he does - every time. I love it. I love him. Ahhh the little things that mean the most. He knows me so well......and I a so glad!