Annie's Christmas Play

I can't find the program, but Annie's kindergarten class did a play called something like, "A Flea on Santa's Tree?" Storyline: Santa needs something to help top his tree. He keeps trying different animals, but it's not working. In the meantime, his guardian angel is getting more and more frustrated with him because he isn't taking care of himself. They performed the play twice to practice with other classes and then twice for 'real' performances where parents were invited. We went to the second parental showing (along with 3 classes). The room was PACKED.

Annie was the Guardian Angel - and MAD that Santa isn't taking a rest! She actually started to cry about the middle (she goes up and down to the microphone 3-4 times) - I think just tired and overwhelmed, but she continued her part! Here, Santa finally found what he needed for the top of his Christmas tree - An Angel!

The end of the play. It was adorable. Poor Annie; she said she was embarrassed because there were so many people. I actually started to tear up along with her. Emily's preschool bus had been in an accident 2 hours prior (she was totally fine; bus wasn't moving - another car just slid into it) and I was still highly emotional.

But - the show must go on! Christmas Eve we had to run to Home Depot for a little present for Andy and found decorations on sale. I have wanted to get something to top our tree for years but couldn't even decide between a star or an angel. This year I finally decided, thanks to Annie's part and my love of angels!!! She is beautiful on our tree!

The Christmas Trees

We have two Christmas trees - a little one we've had since we've been married that the kids are allowed to touch and our one we cut down that they aren't supposed to touch! Emily redecorating!

Our quick 'family' picture on the Sunday before Christmas. Andy had strep throat (but didn't know it yet) and tried to get the kids together while I was finishing getting ready.

Kids didn't completely love the idea, Andy forget the flash, and we're missing one kid - but we have documentation!!! (And yes, I'm the one that curled the girls' hair! yippee!!!)

Those Crazies!

We've had snow on the ground since December 1st - it started snowing and hasn't gone away yet! Two weeks ago, Andy took the kids to go sledding at our favorite hill. Unlike last year, he was able to get pictures of the (cold) fun time! (Those crazies are sledding again this afternoon!!!) Annie and Emily trekking up the hill. Ben is ready to go!

He hasn't yet learned the fine art of steering, but it will come!

Cutie girls! Annie is learning the value of layers - even if they are a little bit uncomfortable...

On the circle sled. Last year, I sucked it up and bought a nice $30 2-person sled with lots of padding; this was after I went off a jump and messed up my back and had to see a chiropractor twice a week for several weeks. The kids were playing with it in the front yard and didn't bring it in one night. NO MORE SLED - we have no idea where it is (or who took it) and are very sad... :(

Loving the snow. This was the end of the 90 minute workout!

A few funnies

We got the Little People Nativity this year. (I have been looking for it since Ben was one and completely obsessed with Little People.) Emily loves it. Tonight we were putting together costumes for our little nativity. I told the kids last night that Emily got to be Mary since Annie was last year. So, Emily picked up the little Mary and followed me around the house getting pieces for her costume. Then, Annie couldn't decide who she wanted to be, so I was giving her choices. Emily got VERY excited about being the Angel and decided to change her outfit. Then Annie was thrilled because she got to be Mary and hold baby Jesus (Mitchell - without costume, although we did swaddle him with a white dishtowel - pictures to follow soon). Once this was decided, Emily passed off her precious Little People Mary to Annie so Annie would know how to dress.

Ben is getting a new pair of jeans (since he seems to go through them faster that I eat sugar cookies!) and they are from 'The Laundry do-er.' Today our neighbor came over to bring the kids some little gifts. Ben was so excited to show her all the presents under the tree. In his most excited voice he said, "I even got one from the dry cleaners!" I asked him how he figured that. He said it was from 'the laundry do-er.' After letting go of the laugh I could not hold back anymore, I asked him who did the laundry in our house. In a very disappointed voice he said, "Oh, it's from you?"

Annie loves singing Christmas songs, especially the ones she learned at school. Her favorite is Rudolph. (We've had many conversations about this animal and how much she wants to see him. She is convinced his nose is so bright it will shine and be visible during the day.) After the line "They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games," she says "like Monopoly Deal." hehe - that's the only Monopoly she knows so far (referenced back to a previous post of several days of this game...

We just left out a plate for Santa and his crew - each child was concerned about a specific part of the meal. 4 weeks ago Ben made Santa a special sugar cookie that has been waiting in a baggie in the freezer ever since. (Santa will love it) Annie really wanted 8 carrots so each reindeer could have one. (We only did 4 that fit on the plate; I told her Santa would give them to the reindeer that needed the most energy.) Emily insisted that Santa have chocolate milk; I'm pretty sure Santa is cool with that!!!

Merry Christmas! Hope you're day will be as exciting as ours will be!!!

O Christmas Tree... O Christmas Tree...

The first Saturday after Andy's finals, we went to cut down our Christmas tree. Ben and Annie are waiting for the rest of us to get ready! With an engineer for a dad, you will never get left behind, Mitchell!

Going up the hill...

We finally made it out to cut down our tree - Ben was waiting and waiting and waiting! Here she is! Working together...and yes, Annie and Emily seem to always have gloves full of snow in their mouths!

All done and on our way back to have the tree shaken! Emily is such a great big sister! She held on tight to Mitchell, who only flipped over once...or twice, but don't worry! He didn't even wake up - thank goodness for that 5-point harness!

It was so exhausting...

Visiting with Santa

Santa came to our Christmas Brunch at church. He was set up in a VERY well-decorated corner. Ben asked for a long fishing pole to go fishing with dad in Michigan! Emily asked for a candy cane like the other kids got!

Annie would like a baby bunny, which I keep assuring her that Santa will NOT bring something that mom doesn't approve of!

Mitchell - he's pretty content right now, although he would like to be held a little bit more!

Four cutie kiddos!

Too bad I didn't sit on Santa's lap. I would have asked for peace on earth - or at least continuous peace for the next 2 weeks!

Aunt Nancy Visits!

Oh, so fun. Another great visit - thanks for leaving your four kiddos to play with my four!!!! Nancy helped me go through the toy room, organize and reduce in preparation for Christmas! Since I've had a little boy, we can put some of those toys away and pass on the younger girl ones! She and Emily sorted magnets while B and A were at school. I have the cutest picture of visiting Nancy when Annie was 14 months old. We were there 3-4 days, but Annie would have absolutely NOTHING to do with Nancy, unless Nancy was giving her candy. It was the funniest thing. This was fun to see - after Nancy french-braided Annie's hair.

Morning hugs! Can't remember if this is the night Nan stayed up all night with Mitchell or if I did. Those 3 days/nights all blur together! We also made batch after batch after batch of fudge, some sugar cookies, and made cards with goodie bags for all the kids' Primary teachers. (Along with exercising most days too!)

She gave us all hair cuts!

Introduced us to a few new movies (Penelope and Bedtime Stories), scrapbooked with the kids, put my scrapbook pages in order, finished my massive blanket project, and cuddled the baby!

I love crying-baby pictures!

We also spent some time getting me a few new versatile outfits - things I can throw on to look nice quickly, but that go with everything. And a top to go with a skirt I've had for 3 years with nothing to go with it! Yippee! Then she straightened and curled my hair for my date that night!

I think I might need to have another baby... :)

Aunt Jamie visits!

Well, Jamie's first full day here, she curled the girls' hair. It was so absolutely precious, we spent much time at Old Navy getting matching outfits so we could get family pictures done! Meeting Mitchell.

After his bath, trying to put on his 'puppies.'

My little girls that are sideways, but I'm too lazy to turn it around because Mitchell will be awake any minute! They had so much fun smiling for the camera!

We did a ton of my projects while Jamie was here. Family pictures, goodies for neighbors, going to apple orchard, making lots of applesauce, etc... We also went to Tangled - Mitchell's first movie and everyone else's first movie in 3D - such a fun time! We also hit Target...of course!

Christmas sugar cookies!!!

Aunt Jamie cutting cookie dough with three helpers! Andy went to LA for the weekend for a friend's wedding, so I think Jamie was just trying to keep us busy! She took the kids to church while I picked up Andy from the airport and then we spent the rest of the day making cookies!

Her last day we jam-packed. We'd baked, shopped, and delivered, it was time to play (something other than Monopoly Deal, which I think we played about 35 times with Ben - seriously; it was great!) We spent the morning at Chuck E. Cheese, lunch at Wendy's, and she took the kids ice skating in the afternoon while I had some quiet time with Mitchell! Then we took her to the airport and said goodbye for a long time!!!

However, we have made one change because of her visit...I learned how to curl the girls' hair with the flat iron!!!

Grandma's Visit

My mom came a few days after Mitchell was born to keep my house in order for a week while I slept (and fed the baby). I don't think she got to shower more than twice, I know she never had a full night of sleep, but I'm pretty sure she still had a 'good' time! Right, Mom??? She's done first bath for all the kids. NOT my favorite job, so I'm happy she 'likes' to do it!

We spent one morning while Emily was at school doing her Christmas shopping for the kids. Once Em crashed and Mitchell was fed, she wrapped gifts, while I continued to work on Ben's crocheted blanket that is taking much longer than I expected!!!

Grandma loves to scrapbook, so she and Emily spent one afternoon creating some baby Mitchell pages.

Then she spent the evening scrapbooking with Ben and Annie. They all love creating pages with her. Very interesting to see how differently they like to do them!

More scrapbooking...

Staying up late on a Friday night 'watching' a movie - the night before Grandma flew back to Texas.

Building with Lincoln Logs on a beautiful November day!

Emily finally getting a turn with Mih-ell Mi-el. Yes, he's wrapped in a pink blanket...it was convenient and I didn't want to go down the stairs to get another one... :)

After bath #2 - super-duper curly hair! (And yes, Annie is pretty much always where Mitchell is, especially during bath time!)

Finally some quiet time to love on the baby by herself!!!

Apparently I have a cousin that lives in Michigan 4-5 hours away. I have never met her. (My mom has 7 siblings; they each have several children - I have a lot of cousins...even another handful or so that I haven't ever met!) Wendy was grown up and gone before I was even in existence! She saw on Facebook that Mom was coming to visit, so she and her family drove down to visit! SO FUN!!! This is her little Sydney (who is in between Annie and Emily). I was shocked looking at the pictures of how much Emily and Syd look alike - yes folks, these are the Mitchell genes!!! Now I have a new favorite cousin (because she lives the closest to me!) named Wendy that we are going to visit next summer!

Oh, the hours that were spent playing Memory...

Their last outside hike with Grandma. She was such a good sport! Thank you for all the early mornings and breakfasts for the kids and sweeping and dish-doing and leaf-raking and diaper-changing!