Christmas Morning

We had a lovely time on Christmas morning. Our children are at that perfect age where everything is so magical.

I woke up at 630 to hear Ryan (who had been sleeping on the floor in Luke and Evie's room) yelling "Get up! Get up! It's Christmas morning!"

About half a second later, all 3 kids were tearing into our room, pouncing us in the bed. They were so, so excited.

We did stockings, opened up piles and piles presents (we gave up the tradition of opening presents one at a time about 3/4 of the way through and just let them tear into their piles ) and ate monkey bread. We spent the morning in our PJs playing games and just watching the kids enjoy their loot.



Calvin loved his baby doll
Caroline made our family puppets to look like us - I especially love the Ken puppet goatee and the Evie puppet googly eyes. So stinkin' cute.

Luke loved Steggy the 2nd (Steggy the 1st met an unfortunate end - decapitated by the dog).
Evie spent the morning dressed up in her new princess gear, vacuuming the house.

Lily was just happy to be. Happy to be smiled at, happy to stare at the Christmas lights, happy to be held. Happy, happy, happy.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

And all through the house
*Which was filled to the brim with family, friends, and yummy food


The children were crazy
In their new Christmas jammies





The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
*and there were a ton of them as we had grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all snuggled in our house

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there
*assuming that the huge winter storm didn't keep him away
The children were nestled all snug in their beds
While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads
*after reading the Christmas Story and about an hour of singing, standing on the dresser peering out the window "wooking for Santa!" as Evie put it. Ryan was happy in his blanket bed on the floor.


Merry Christmas to all
And to all a good night!

Merry Christmas!

From my cheesy family to yours.

Christmas Eve Snow

We had the worst Christmas snow storm on record here in Minnesota - probably abut 18 inches over the past 2-3 days. It's made for a gorgeous view out the window, a huge snow mountain in the cul-de-sac perfect for sledding, great snow cave and snowman building and is the perfect weather for hot chocolate. We've been holed up enjoying Christmas, playing games and watching movies.

Grandma and Grandpa Walton arrived late Monday night for Christmas - and the kids have been in hog heaven. We let Evie get up at 11:30 for a while when they got in and she just sat on the couch, hugging Grandma, with the biggest grin I think I have ever seen.

We took everyone to the Mall of America today (honestly, not as crazy as I thought it would be) and the kids got to ride rides and listen to a kid band play Christmas songs. Evie and Ryan loved it - they just danced and danced.

We came home and decorated cookies today. If you don't mind some kid finger prints, they look pretty good!

Holidazzle Parade

We Minnesotans aren't pansies.
We go downtown every year, no matter the cold, sit outside and watch a parade. A parade of lights, which the kids love.

They sit on the curb in hats and gloves and drink hot cocoa.

Our friends join us, too.


Then we headed over to Macy's to check our their Christmas display (an entire floor devoted to Santa's elves) and meet with the big guy himself. Luke wants some legos and a dinosaur. Evie asked for (what else?) a princess.


We do this every year. And we'll do it again next year too!

2 Months

It's going by too fast. It really, really is.



She's turned from a wrinkly, sleepy newborn into a happy, smiley 2 month old butterball. She smiles at everything and everyone (us, Luke, the wall, the fan). She is almost always happy, despite horrible diaper rashes and poking, prodding siblings. She sleeps well at night. We adore her.

Here are her stats:
13.1 lbs (95th %)
23 inches long (75th %)

Way to grow, little Lil.

Santa Baby

Is there anything cuter than a chubby cheeked baby in a Santa hat?

I think not.

Mutiny

I have a thing about Christmas lights.

I like them white. All white. White on the tree, white on the house. I think it looks classy. I get that from my mother. In fact, Ken and I had a rather large "discussion" about this (he likes the colored) when we were first married that ended with us getting only white lights. And that's how we've done it ever since.



Until he snuck this one by me, on one little bush in front of my house.

Hmmm, I think some retaliation is in order.

Which baby is which?

Can you tell them apart?

Lily, 8 weeks:


Evelyn, 8 weeks:


Honestly, I don't know if I could.

Lily's a little chunkier. That's about it.

Big Brother

Luke, Evie and I all cuddled up in Evie's bed for awhile after bedtime. Evie snuggled right up, with her arms around my neck. Luke talked. And talked.

"Mom, Evie can get in bed with me if she gets scared. I don't mind. Evie, if you get scared tonight you can come right in my bed. See? Now it's free. You can come in any time. I don't mind Evie sleeping with me as long as she doesn't use my pillow. She can get in my bed any time. I like when she sleeps with me. Then she's not scared. Evie, come get in my bed tonight if you're scared okay? Sometimes she gets in my bed."

And she does.

Little Picassos

I love that Luke is able to draw actual pictures now. He comes home from school with a wide variety of masterpieces that always make me smile.

We made some pictures for the Grandparents a week or so ago. Luke came up with the ideas all on his own. Evie got involved, too.

This is our family. And the sun (who is smiling). The is the first picture he's drawn where Lily is not inside my belly anymore. Yep, she's been here for two months.
This is Evie's drawing of Tucker and Lucy (my parents' dogs):
Here is Luke's version. This is Luke, Evie, Grandpa and Grandma taking Tucker to go look for Lucy. Lucy has a little bit of a wandering problem. Luke loved to be the one to find her.
Luke, Kevin, Daddy, Mommy and Evie flying to see Grandma. We're going in February. He's excited. The guy in front is the pilot.
Luke's Halloween pumpkins. They lived in our window. He was proud because the first one had 2 faces.

Thankful Turkeys

Luke (He kept asking for more feathers because he didn't have enough):
Family
Baloo
Daddy
Mommy
Evie
Lily
My Friends
Legos
My Bed
Church

Evie:
Family
Family (yes, twice)
Princess
Coloring
Halloween
Daddy

Kelly:
Running
Holidays
Family
Time at home
A warm November
Kid pictures
Cuddly babies

Ken:
Turkey (yummy!)
Football
Children
Washable markers
Colored paper
Trips (this started out as "business trips." Until I reminded him he doesn't do those any more).
Home
* please note who didn't make the list. Gee, thanks.

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!


I've got a pretty good list going this year. We have so much to be thankful for.

1. I am thankful for family and good friends. We had 24 people at our house yesterday for dinner, including my sister and her family plus her sister-in-law and family (their company got sick at the last minute and had to cancel). It was wonderful to have so many people there. I am thankful my husband convinced me to buy the 21 lb turkey and that my mother convinced me to make 3 batches of rolls. I am thankful we had enough food for at least 60 people (I don't know how to cook small).

2. I am thankful for these little people. They make my day.


3. I am thankful for an 8-week-old baby who has slept all night for 3 nights now. 4. And started really, really full-faced smiling over the last 2 weeks. I finally have proof.
4.I am thankful for a job I love and for great people I work with. I am grateful that it lets me get in-and-out in 45 minutes when my little boy needs stitches on Thanksgiving evening. I am thankful that he was very, very brave. And that he ate pumpkin pie with me when we got home at 11pm and for breakfast this morning.

5. I am thankful for a husband who can cook a mean turkey. And who, despite going on almost 9 months of unemployment (and lots of stay-at-home time) continues to be supportive of me, patient with our kids and find joy in service.
6. I am thankful I got to get out shopping today with my great sister-in-law. We found some great deals. And we had a pretty cute shopping partner who spent the entire 2 1/2 hours like this:



7. I am thankful for a little girl who, for the last 2 days, has started coming up to me, throwing her arms around my neck, and telling me "Mommy, I wub you. Soooo much."

8. I am thankful for my Savior and his teachings. I am thankful for the spirit we have in our home.

Hope your day was wonderful!