Getting ready for Christmas

Life at our house has been busy with three....and now it's already December and there's Christmas to plan!! It is hard not to get caught up in the "busy-ness" of Christmas and all that needs to be done, so I just need to keep reminding myself about the TRUE meaning of Christmas and spending my time teaching that to the kids. Luckily, they love the Christmas story and want to hear it again and again, which helps me to SLOW DOWN!!

Here is how Lilly spends her days. I just think it's funny how she prefers to be up on the table to play with the nativity.



We got our tree the weekend after thanksgiving. Hayden couldn't wait for Thursday (thanksgiving) to be over so that we could bring up all the Christmas decorations. Friday morning he was asking when we would get the tree and was more than willing to start moving furniture by himself to make room for the tree!

Quick pose in front of the tree (still working on potty training...whoops, shirt is tucked into underwear...I think she is pantsless in most of these pictures. Sorry!!)It takes hard concentration to put ornaments on the tree!

We still have our Rudolf nose from a few years ago. Hayden spent one afternoon cutting out "horns" to look like Rudolf (or Max from the Grinch)


Just a cute picture of how Caleb relaxes. I often find him with his upper lip right over Mark's shoulder. Must feel good on the gums!

Piper has found a new buddy to guard. I think he thinks they are his kids. He won't come downstairs in the morning until each person is up. If I'm up, he'll sit in between the kid's doors even if I'm downstairs. Then when Hayden wakes up, he lays right in front of Lilly's door. He's pretty good at keeping track of all of them!!

The other day, I worked on getting a picture taken for the Christmas card (you'll have to wait until you get it to see what we chose), but here are some of the multiple shots that I had to take. Can you see why I had to take so many??? Each picture has something in common:

Lilly, don't do your "cheese" face!

Lilly, Don't suck your thumb!

Lilly, your hand doesn't go in your pocket

Lilly, what's so funny?

Lilly!!!!

It's not too hard to get him to pose though!! :)

The White's (Jake) gave Caleb his Christmas present early. He has little matching gloves to go along with it. It's so cute on him and so far the only hat that he will wear and not cry!

Last Saturday we made a "quick" gingerbread house before Mark and Hayden left for the Apple Cup. Both Hayden and Lilly were good helpers. Lilly couldn't stop eating the candy (and even stuck one up her nose) and Hayden said he didn't want to eat too much because he might get a "belly ache".

Helping to put on the gum drops

On Sunday, Hayden went to a play with Robin and Auntie Amy. He was WIPED OUT after and wouldn't even wake up for dinner! It must have been a fun day!