snow much fun

We have had snow since last Saturday and the kinds were finally able to get out in it. Pete and Brie went to church this morning and I bundled everyone up and out the door we headed! Why don't they make gloves that stay on 3 year old hands! ugh! Anyway, an hour later we had our driveway clear and two snow people constructed. The one below is a girl with pink hair, lollipop eyes and a corn cob pipe! IT made the kids giggle to add such funny things together for a snowman! It really was a nice day today, low 40's and sun. It sounds like our weather is headed in not such fun directions this week so we will see.

Fun with friends

We had our friends over Saturday for a visit. I think the kids saw each other last in August so they were happy to play! Quite the crew when we collect our 4 and their 5 for a photo! We so enjoyed their company and wish we were able to get together more often!
It was quiet and I went looking for Brie. I found her next to the tree playing with the little people nativity set. I asked "what are you doing?", she replied "playing baby Jesus" with a giggle! So sweet

St. Nick

St. Nicholas day is Dec. 6th and it is also my birthday! A quick snuggle with the kids and then off to the St. Nick stuff. Good 'ol St. Nick left a bag of stuff again on the front door. Brie had a great time dragging the bag of goodies around, stating loudly "MINE!".

They immediately put on their new robes and open the bag of treats and divided them out! Brie got the candy, Kayla the nuts, Maggie the clementines, and PJ wanted everything that was green! I think they each were pleased with their bag of fun!

cookies....

Christmas cookie, monster cookies, and chocolate chip cookies were on the agenda Sunday! We had cookies on every counter, table, stove top, you name it, it had cookies on it! At any rate the girls and Pete decorated cookies. Brie was only a taste tester, not a decorator.

Look at the determination on that little girls face! Maggie had a little learning to do with the decorating part but in the end had the hang of it.

a little Christmas around here

The four kids waited ever so patiently with their parents this morning to get ready to convert the house to Christmas! PJ was told he was placing the angel this year and so that was his only focus today! Usually the angel goes on after decorations but in attempt to make him be quiet the angel went first!

The usual after decorating the tree photos. Please pardon my photos as my flash card is breaking and I need to go buy a new one! that to do list never ceases.

A little help from daddy makes it just right!

This year we have new lights for the tree and they are LED lights. Makayla was so impressed by the reflection she said we HAD TO have a picture of it for the computer so we could show everyone!

playdate

Maggie has this little friend Lilly at her school who is VERY shy. She has not spoken a word to date at school. However at home she is a chatterbox and is a very fun little girl. I work with Lilly's mom so we arranged a play date thinking this may encourage talking between the two girls. IT WORKED!!! about 40 minutes into the visit Lilly spoke and Maggie's jaw dropped to the floor, she was totally amazed that she could talk. It was a priceless look. Even tonight toward the end of the play date the girls are playing "school" and Lilly was shouting the number answers the loudest! I am so happy the day went well. Next time we may even discuss an overnight stay!

monkeys

So I was busy dusting, washing clothes, vacuuming, you know day off cleaning and catch up stuff. At one point when I turned off the vacuum I heard giggling ( the kind that warrants further investigation). I walked into Brie's room to find the two monkeys jumping in her bed! I promptly said Dr. Shawn says NO MONKEYS JUMPING IN THE BED!! they both giggled and then PJ crawled out, and close behind was Brie crawling out the same way. It is only a matter of time before we are saying good bye to the baby bed at our house! bittersweet... Little ones you have to stop growing up so fast! please. I love you just the way you are, even with all your monkey business!