a few favorite phone shots

Some of my favorite phone shots from the last two-ish weeks. 

Downtown. A special morning coffee treat for momma. 

A mischevious girl with a silly smile. 

Sleeping boy. I have a lot of these sleeping boy shots. 

Cheeser. 

Late afternoon. 

Tiny alyssum flowers from the girls. 

How many babies can fit in this little chair?

More sleepy boy. Notice the chunky cheeks. Yum. 

A little momma, always with a baby tucked under her arm. 

He smiles with a dimple. 

Christmas Eve. 

Christmas night. 

I love these monkeys. 

We survived Christmas. Enjoyed it even. I spent most of yesterday purging the old and organizing the new, fueled by fresh coffee from our new Keurig. I'll be getting to those holiday pictures soon. As always there are many, and I'm anxious to sort through them. 

I hope your holiday was as joyful as ours. 

a little pre-Christmas review

~ let's pretend she's wearing clothes ~

Christmas is almost here. Present opening starts tonight with Ryan's family, more presents tomorrow morning with my family, and a stocking with Ryan's parents tomorrow afternoon. Let the marathon begin (past marathons documented here, here, here, here, here, here, and here). 

But first...the buildup, and an undeniable overload of pictures.

Putting up the tree. The girls and Ryan were in charge of all ornament placement. And our tree is more decorated than ever before thanks to two crafty little girls. There's even a Fruit Loop garland. Noah (three weeks old at the time) slept on the couch. 

 

The girls painted lights on their own paper trees. One very neat girl, and one messy girl who isn't wearing clothes for a reason. 

 

We made ornaments from a baking soda, cornstarch, and water mixture (recipe here). They cracked and didn't turn out exactly as planned but it was fun. I hope a solid coat of Mod Podge will help our little thumbprint reindeer family survive at least a few years. 

 

 

And once again, Noah slept. He is a good baby. A very good baby. 

It has been a good, full, heart warming month. We also opened new pajamas last night (pictures to come), made candy walnuts (I can't stop eating them), and the girls made cookies with Grammy and ornaments with Nonny E. Yes, it's been a very full month...lots of projects and lots of time spent together. 

We have a lot to be grateful for, and a lot to look forward to. I hope we are teaching the kids to appreciate the season, family time together, and the spirit of giving more than the presents they are about to receive. Laci has spent much of her time the last few weeks making cards, drawing pictures, and stringing bracelets, always adding, "This is for so and so." She has a generous heart, and, like her momma, loves to give things made with her own hands. I'd say this means we're doing a pretty good job. 

Merry Christmas!

the thanksgiving report 2013

Since Christmas is only a few days away, I figured it was about time I get some Thanksgiving pictures up. I propose we move Thanksgiving to the beginning of November. It will motivate me to shop earlier and get a bit of a break between holidays. At least I think it will. Anyone else agree?

Thanksgiving this year was not unlike any other. I like the predictability of our annual family gathering. The faces change occasionally, but I know to expect a good time with good food and good people.  This year, we added a few long, lost cousins making a total of 21 (I think), not including the under-age-5 group (which has grown to a total of six now). The weather was amazing, so we were able to enjoy mom and dad's new covered patio and "play" in the sunshine. The boys turned the go-peds into a competition, complete with a couple of wrecks. Helmets may have been a good idea. And the girls, including Aunty Beth, cruised around in the jeep. She may have enjoyed her beverage a little too much, or maybe enjoyed it just the right amount, you decide. Noah chilled in the Moby wrap much of the day and slept through dinner, as any good two week old should. I was less organized about group pictures this year, but I did what I could with a baby strapped to me. As always, there are a few who managed to escape the camera completely. I'll try harder next year. 

And now, just 33 of my favorite shots from our day. 

 

 

 

On Friday, we ventured to downtown Oroville for a little local shopping. I designated myself stroller watcher and spent most of the time outside of the stores with our ever growing flock of children. As I stood on the sidewalk outside the kitchen store, I realized I was drawing the attention of passing cars and not in the flattering way of my younger, single years. It probably had something to do with the three strollers with four kids that surrounded me, and the fifth one strapped to the front of me. My how times have changed, and really, I wouldn't want it any other way. 

Another Thanksgiving is in the books. New memories, a few pictures to prove it, and hearts full until next year. Now, onto the next holiday!