My little superhero

I'm so lucky that while Chris is at work and the the older 2 boys are away at school all day, I have such a strong and mighty superhero to protect me!

Dressing up and dressing down

Dressing up.....

or down......

Dominoes and hot cocoa

These are the times that make it easy to love being a mom.  The times I really love having the two older boys home from school.  The times when I think I could have 4 more kids!!  Just kidding on that last one......

Playing a game nicely, sharing without fighting, being patient with Ashten who wants to play with ALL the extra dominoes, drinking hot cocoa after helping me clean up the Christmas stuff.....I love times like these!

Enjoying their gifts

Logan made a stone from a kit he got from Christmas

Ashten loves her new kitchen!

The other two, Brayden and Preston, are loving their new presents as well, I just haven't gotten a picutre of them as they usually don't sit still long enough.

Big helpers with the big snow

The week before Christmas, we got a huge snowstorm.  10+ inches.  It was great because 1) the kids were already out of school so I didn't have to drive in it to take them to school, 2) Chris got a day at home instead of having to go to basketball practice and 3) the boys went outside for 2 hours and shoveled our driveway and the neighbor lady's, thus burning off all some of their energy!!

 

Ashten spent maybe 5 minutes outside, but then got cold and came in.  But she wanted to keep her snow gear on, silly girl!

3 Christmases

After an (unintentional) blogging break, I'm ready to get back to it.  It was nice to just spend some time together as a family and not worry about documenting it.  But, if you know me very well, you know that not keeping up with my blog is driving me nuts, so pardon me while I "catch up" with the posts.

We had a 3-day, Christmas celebrating extravaganza!  It was a lot of fun, but exhausting.  Christmas Eve we spent together at home as a family.  It was relaxing and just what we needed - some down time as a family!

 

On Christmas morning we took some pictures of the kids in their church clothes by the tree.  We were going to put the boys in their suits and Ashten in her Christmas dress, but someone (not naming names!) refused to wear her Christmas dress, she wanted the pink one.  Oh well, I just decided to let it slide, we've gotta pick our battles with that one!



Not sure what's so funny in this one, but it's cute!

 

AFter the picture-taking fun, we went to church and then headed to my parent's house for some lunch and opening presents fun. The day after Christmas, we spent the day with Chris' family, getting pictures taken, going to lunch, opening presents and eating dinner. Phew! 

It was a really great Christmas (x3) and we are very blessed to be able to spend time with both of our families around the holidays, but it definitely makes for some tiring days.  We spent the next few days just chillin' at home and resting after all our celebrating.

Christmas program 2011

All the boys participated in the kids choir Christmas program this year.  Preston's 4-year-old choir sang 3 songs and he was also the sheep in the nativity.  Brayden and Logan both sang 5 songs as one big 1st-6th grade choir.  They all did a good job and it was such a good reminder to focus on the real meaning of Christmas.

Travelling with Ashten

Ashten is kind of a high-maintenance car rider.  Doesn't matter if it's a quick trip to the grocery or around town to run a bunch of errands, the girl is demanding!  And not quietly either!

Before we even leave the house I have to try and think of all the things she might need and bring them.  Her milk or water (sometimes both) sippy cup, in case she's thirsty.  A baggie of some kind of snack in case she sees someone else eating and thinks she's hungry.  Her blankie in case she gets so upset that it is the only thing that will calm her down.  A baby doll in case she wants to cuddle it.  A hair bow - I'm not kidding!  There have been times we've been halfway somewhere and she has thrown a royal fit because she didn't have a bow in.  I've learned to just keep an extra one handy.

I don't know what it is, but she is never satisfied in the car.  I can't imagine a car seat is that comfortable, but it's not like she's new to one either.  She's been sitting in one since the first time she rode in the car!  I even have a stash of small toys and books I keep in the car, but she tires of those so easily and I get tired of switching them out all the time.  Half the time she sees something she wants in the front seat somewhere and I spend the next 2 miles trying to decipher what she is saying by guessing everything I can see and think of.  I can usually understand her, but the longer it takes me to figure out what she wants, the louder and more not understandable (what's the word for that - uninteligible?) she gets.

The only thing I've found that works pretty much every time is leaning my arm way back and holding her hand.  Sure, it's very uncomfortable and makes it hard to drive, but so is her crying or yelling from the backseat, so I choose the quiet!

Seriously, girl, can't you just sit still and quiet without being held for like 15 minutes?  It's not like I'm asking to ride in the car for hours on end.  Just a quick trip to Target or something.  It's not that bad, believe me!

Another tooth fairy visit

Logan won the "who will lose their 2nd tooth first?" race!  Last night he was wiggling his tooth and decided he wanted Chris to try and pull it out.  Chris got one good pull, but it didn't quite come out.  However, it was hurting pretty bad at that point, so it was uncomfortable.  For about a half hour Logan couldn't decide if he really wanted to take it out or not, but he finally let Chris pull it again and it popped right out!  Way to go Logan!



Holding his tooth in a baggie - so proud of himself!

Now he can stick his tongue out without opening his mouth, which he thinks is pretty cool.  Now all he wants needs for Christmas is his 2 front teeth!!!

Tooth Fairy Visit

Logan lost his 1st tooth last night.  He was so brave and let Chris pull it out.  He didn't even cry.  He told me later, "it hurt a little, but not so bad to have to cry".  He put his tooth in an envelope, labeled it for the tooth fairy and put it under his pillow.  The tooth fairy left him a note and $2 in it's place this morning! 

This morning, Logan wanted to take the tooth to school and show everyone, so I put it in a baggie for him.  By the way, Logan is not fooled AT ALL by the tooth fairy.  He knows it is Chris and I and he doesn't even want to pretend for fun.  Oh well! 

Now it's a race to see who can lose their 2nd tooth first, Brayden or Logan.  Both of them have another loose tooth (and a permanent tooth already coming up behind it), so my guess is one of them will lose one soon.