Say Cheese

I'm going out of order a little bit as I took these yesterday, but Mitchell has been smiling for awhile now. I just finally had the camera handy! He is such a little ham. The two easiest times to get him to smile and talk back to me are first thing in the morning when I change his diaper and late at night when I'm telling him that it's time to GO TO SLEEP. He just thinks that is hilarious! But who can resist this?!? He's going to be such a doll when he's older!!! WAIT - he already is! We all love our little guy sooooo much!!

I think the cutest part is Emily introducing him to people. Even her little 3 year old friend, Jensen, calls him Mitchell Michael Maas in conversation. It's just so fun!

Christmas Morning

I snuck upstairs to see that Santa came! (Ben and Dad - fishing poles and tackle box, Mom - Biggest Loser cookbook!, Annie - cash register, Emily - lady bug pillow pet) We all slept in the basement. Ben woke up in the middle of the night with croup. Joy - no, we didn't get much sleep that night!

Christmas morning. Poor Mitchell, I made him stay in my arms all morning. Such a special holiday with a little baby. :) Thought I would hate a winter baby, but a Christmas baby is something sweet!

Months before we were at Toys R' Us, Ben found a Lego set he realllly wanted. I told him the only way for him to have that it would be his only gift from Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa Doerk and maybe even Aunt Jamie. He said that was fine - it was what he realllly wanted! It went on sale a few weeks later, and I was able to snag it, so he did get a few other little gifts. This big box didn't get put under the tree until after the kids went to bed on Christmas Eve - just in case there were little fingers that opened packages (which a few got torn). He had to wait until the VERY end of the morning to open it...see a happy Ben!

Christmas was so incredibly delightful! We didn't rush; we didn't have to be anywhere, there was just us, and we had fun! One aspect that made a bit of a difference was Ben - he lost his voice. So just there, the volume was much lower than normal. Add to that, the girls had one less person to talk over and the volume went down even more. Everyone was just happy. We played games all during the break, all worked together to get the house in order each day, ate mostly healthy things (with a few little peppermint egg nog shakes thrown in the mix), and just enjoyed being a family! It was incredible! I remembered why I loved my husband again...I might need to look back at this in March when he is neck-deep back in law classes and work!

Love my cutie kiddos!!!!

Necktivity

We've been going the 'Nectivity' (according to Ben) each year on Christmas Eve. However, I think that is just too much with our other stuff. Next year we are going to try it on the Family Home Evening before Christmas! Alas - our wicked King Herod and Narrator. Mary

Baby Jesus all swaddled in his white dish towel. (It's a good thing I have so many white dish towels!)

The sleeping shepherd.

The beautiful angel!

And Mom? I was the replacement Mary. I was going to be the wisemen too, but we didn't make it that far this year. Andy and I decided to cut our losses and call it good after the angel came because those shepherds just couldn't travel to see baby Jesus this year (who was moved when the original Mary had to make a pit stop). The shepherd was tired and not feeling great. Nor did he have a voice... Alas - still fun. Maybe next year I'll make real costumes - but the kids quite like putting their own together. We'll see...

Making Houses

Andy was sick and slept all of one Sunday; we found out the next morning it was strep. I tried to continue our holiday activities we previously planned and the kids did AWESOME! I was planning to have each child build his/her own house, but Ben and Annie really wanted to work together (and consequently argued most of the time, but that is beside the point - they still wanted to work together). So, Emily, Mitchell and I teamed up! Mitchell wasn't much help...slacker!

The finished product! (Disclaimer: I'm absolutely positive that both Annie and Emily consumed at least twice the amount of candy displayed on the houses. However, I decided I didn't care for two reasons: first, I was the only parent and could in no way enforce a limited amount and second, we used the rest of the Halloween candy to decorate houses. At no other time do I let them go free on candy - except decorating houses. No wonder this is something they want to do every year!)

It was amazing the amount of detail B and A put into their 'house.' This was George Washington's army and battlefield. There are soldiers with guns, cannons exploding, bullet-proof walls, barricades and more that I can't remember. I just felt so important because Ben let me eat George Washington - a star burst with frosting; it doesn't get much better than that!

Emily and I worked together well. She told me where to put frosting. She put on the candy. (Mini Oreos with frosting may or may not be very delicious...) Mitchell wanted to join us for the picture!

Then we trooped downstairs to watch The Little Drummer Boy, which I have never seen but really quite liked! Andy walked through to get a drink (I was a little bit busy and couldn't get it for him.) and caught my 'most-evenings balancing act' with the 3 youngest children. Personal space issues, me? Why do you think... Good thing we have a big recliner!!! And, please, if I don't always answer the phone, even if it's right next to me, don't take it personally

Emily's Preschool Party

Ho! Ho! Ho! This little girl was happy to see Santa at her preschool party! This big guy was too - he'll do pretty much anything for Emily. If she says she wants Dad to sit on Santa's lap too, he'll jump on!

After cookies and Santa's visit, we went into the classrooms for some awesome age-appropriate crafts. These are Annie's teachers: Miss Brenda and Miss Stacie. LOVE them! Emily only goes two days for her IEP (speech), but next year I have to figure out how to get her into this program everyday. It is the most amazing preschool class I have seen! Emily quite likes it too!

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... :)