Christmas Eve

We spent the morning at Mike's parents for gifts and brunch.

Peter got Legos and Lily got art supplies (their favorites!)

 Benny got this cute snowman book that was a favorite of Peter's when he was a baby.

 As close as it gets to a family picture

 Benny got a travel bag (the big kids also got one for their first Christmas- exciting, I know- but oh so practical for years to come.

 We enjoyed our church service with Mike's parents.  And I remembered praying to live along the corridor that we now live last Christmas after that service- & Mike told me I should pray for things more important- so we did :).

We ordered eggplant parmesan from a nearby Italian restaurant and enjoyed it that eve at our house with Mike's parents.  It was quite lovely.  The whole day felt quite relaxing, luxurious, & quiet to just be together with Mike's parents.

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That night we set out "Santa"...

The kids got quite "boring" things from us but had gotten exciting things from Mike's parents and family. I was surprised at how much they still liked it all.

Each got snow bibs & boots (after last year of making do), a gymnastics class (at the same time!), a "toy" (science experiment kit for P & pom-pom making kit for L), and books.

Peter's:

 Lily's:

Jamin's:

More to come...

Our Littlest Elf

Yes, nothing new to say.  He kills me with his cuteness!!

In Search of Sunshine

We went out the afternoon that school got out to one of our favorite parks.
I wanted to just be in the sunshine (the winter body aches/stiffness is already setting in).

It was so nice to be out with them!  It felt like old times before our schedules were so clogged up with school.  (We love school too, just saying...)

 It was SO cold but they just don't care.  They had to do the playground too! :

We were so looking forward to break!  And its been so nice so far!! :)

Christmas Week

Writing thank you cards/notes for their teachers before Winter Break...

(this scene made me happy!)

We took them out to the "$5 store" over the weekend to get gifts for each other.

I love it about Peter that he is always so drawn to the books.

A little mini brunch with the kids.

 Lily & I made cookies for neighbors.

 She made the "tags" for the bags.  

Then she and Peter were my little elves and delivered them to neighbors.

The elves making deliveries in the rain.

It is so wonderful to be in a real neighborhood.  

Thankful for our new little "village" of neighbors.

This afternoon we went to the library. 

It was so nice to be out of the house and just have time to be with them.

 She & I did some reading.

 Then Peter's turn! :)

I remember the years that the library just seemed so hard.  It really is SO easy now (at least until the baby gets mobile). Yay!

Dec in Phone Pics

He is too much cuteness.  Those cheeks.

 He has gained some mobility. He can scoot & can go from sitting to supporting himself on a knee.  He often goes forward to his belly from there.

 Our fall afternoons have been OT on Mondays, tae kwon do on Tuesdays (this will change a little in Jan).  FINALLY on Wednesdays, we get to just be home and read.  Its so nice for all of us.

(Of course, do homework all of those days- blah, homework!)

 And we all take turns going to bed early.  Because life is just a lot.

 We now have a fish.  

I was the lucky one at our small group's white elephant (we LOVE our small group!).  

I was holding my breath the first week or so but now that he has lived for a couple weeks so we feel a little more relaxed about having him in our life.

 Mike "stole" this Elsa hat from someone for Lily.

 One eve I was lucky enough to be able to convince the kids to run up and down this sidewalk 15 times after OT.

 Lily's turn for an early bedtime.

(Mike & I are also on the rotation.)

 And this baby- I love him- I looked at this pic and wanted to title it 'the baby of my old age'.

I feel like we are stuck in the house more trying to respect the need for naps

but I love him and am so happy to have his sweetness.