Christmas Recital 2013

Christmas evening we went and celebrated with some families from church.  All the kids that were there got to share in some way by putting on a recital.

Christmas 2013

The kids woke up excited to exchange gifts. 

 Levi was so excited to get this helicopter. 

I made the girls rag dolls and lots of clothes to dress them in.  They also got a double stroller for them to sit in and bunk beds to sleep in.  

 Silas got a bunch of baby toys.  Things he can put in his mouth. 

Christmas Eve 2013

We enjoyed our church's Christmas Eve service again in an actual barn like it was last year.  Very special! 

 Every Christmas Eve we let the kids open one gift.  It's always new Pajamas.  This year they also got slippers.

 Here they are modeling their new PJ's and waving to Papa and Grammie-goo via Skype.  

Then we turned on some fun music and the kids ran around the kitchen/dining/living room while my parents watched.  It was really fun.

 Here is Mark putting together the girls Christmas gift after everyone went to bed.  

 All the stockings lined up.  

 All set up and ready for the morning!  

Preparing for Christmas

 This Christmas season was very special.  We read each night from this book . I would highly recommend it.  And we also read from a special advent book that has little ornaments that the kids got to hang on the tree each night.  

Thanksgiving Over the Years

2013

2011

 2010

(Ila was in my tummy)

2009

Baby Swing

I put Silas in the baby swing for the first time.  He loved it and actually fell asleep...so I took him out and he napped in my arms.  

Thanksgiving 2013

This year my parents came for 6 days and we celebrated Thanksgiving a week early.  It was so fun and nice to have them here for such a nice trip.

My dad, Silas and I went shopping together.....we had lots of fun and bought lots of fun goodies for Thanksgiving.  

My mom and Mark were in charge of the Turkey!!  They did a great job. 

My mom pretty much cooked the entire meal.  She's a great cook and her famous stuffing is a family favorite.  

Here is our annual family Thanksgiving picture.  Click HERE to see past family photos.

We decorated gingerbread homes....a fun tradition.  We do this while the food is cooking.  

Silas got his first bite of solid food.  We put an avocado through the food mill.  He enjoyed it.  

My mom brought the kids a very special and fun gift.  The last trip she was here she measured our dining room table and made a table top fort.  

While my parents were here Mark put together our new swing set.  My mom and dad both helped and then got to play and enjoy the swing set with the kids. 

One of my favorite things this trip was making glitter quarters with my mom.  This is what the tooth fairy brings and my mom help me restock my supply.  When I was a little girl my mom made glitter quarters and it was fun to do this with her.  

One evening Mark and I got to go out on a date while my parents babysat. We brought Silas with us since he still nursing.  We went out to coffee and then did some Christmas shopping.  The picture below is of me waving to Ila over text message.  My mom and her were texting us and asked for a picture of mommy....."Hi Ila May, mommy and daddy are having a nice date." 

My moms birthday is Dec. 8th so we did a little celebration and had her open her gifts.  Lulu worked really hard and sewed my mom a tote.  Lulu and my mom have matching totes now.  

This was a very special Thanksgiving!!