Meg's Birthday

Meg turned six!  I can hardly believe it, and almost typed "five".  She was so excited for her birthday, and doesn't mind at all that it comes right after Christmas.  This year she wanted a watch and a globe, and was happy to receive them both.  She also wanted cupcakes because she doesn't like cake.  Meg adds such a flavor to our family.  She has the best giggles and loves to take care of her younger brothers.  She loves to dress up in her dance clothes and dance around the house.  She can be a spitfire when she wants to be, but also loves to have a good hug and cuddle.  She is loving having friends and being in kindergarten.  Every day she comes home to tell us about some new friend that she has made.  She also loves to draw and has enjoyed a new book that shows you how to draw all sorts of animals.  We love our six year old Meg!!

Christmas!

On Christmas Eve morning we let the kids open their presents from each other so they could really enjoy them for awhile.  They were so excited, although the wrapping paper I bought was apparently evil and none of them could get it off of their presents.

Then they all got dressed, and so I took pictures of them while they still looked nice.  The girls picked their own outfits this year, and they matched!  It was a Christmas miracle.  Spencer looks like he has a comb-over because he'd been playing with the squirt bottle for the last 1/2 hour.  That boy is obsessed with water!  I love posting multiple efforts at family photos.  They make me giggle.  But I did leave some out to spare you all.  (p.s.  Gotta love the tippy "baby tree" in the background.  That was the kids tree and Spencer redecorated it often.)

On Christmas Eve we had dinner and activities with some of our friends from the ward.  The children acted out the Nativity (Meg was Mary, Grant was Joseph, Ellie was an angel, and Spencer carried a stuffed animal dog around and got into trouble.)  Ellie even sang a song with her friend Brooklyn, which was very pretty.

Then we played an ornament exchange game:

Waiting at the bottom of the stairs on Christmas morning.  They were so excited, and so impatient while Mom and Dad got cameras all together.  Which is funny, because then I apparently forgot about the camera all together and took no more pictures the rest of the day!

Merry Christmas!!!

Ward Party and Santa

This year we saw Santa at our Ward Party.  Grant was so excited.  Spencer... not so much.  He was not interested in seeing Santa Claus at all, but insisted on hanging out with his best friend "Lina" instead.  He did manage to wave from afar.  I probably would have sat him on his lap to see the reaction, but Evangelina is rather protective of Spencer and wouldn't have made him go near the Jolly Red Man for a million dollars.

December Happenings

December went so quickly this year, and kept us very busy... like everyone else, I'm sure.

Ellie made me this early Christmas gift: a very precious Christmas Nativity

Grant became obsessed with this doll of Ellie's: "Grace." Eventually he threw it and ended up breaking it's face, which was tragic for both him and Ellie.  They cried, and cried.

Ellie had a piano recital which she played beautifully at... we love her teacher, Miss. Camille... and Ellie enjoys learning piano and making up songs of her own to play.  She recently started a new book where she gets to pick songs she's interested in learning, and she is very excited.

Spencer is an early riser, just like Ellie.  Every morning at 6:00 sharp he insists it is time to get going.  He and I get up, read scriptures, drink milk, and sometimes we get to sit on the heater vent.

We had great snow for Christmas.  Truly a white Christmas.  The kids wanted to play, but just so you know... it is cold in Iowa and I had no intention of going out.  Luckily, between Libbi and Emily my children are well stocked in good snow gear, so out they went while I watched from inside.  Eventually Grant got snow in his gloves and the snow-time was ended, but they had fun time while they were at it.

Spencer loves to get "wa wa" on his own.  He spills it all over the floor, all over the table, and all over himself.  So, it is quite the wet mess.  He has recently turned into quite the little trouble-maker.  He opens doors much better than my other children, loves to get into the older children's "special things," and especially likes to climb up and get my phone and iPad.  

Gingerbread Houses

This year Grandma sent us the best Gingerbread House kit.  It had a little house for everyone to make - perfect size - and it had frosting that actually stuck the things together!  The older kids had a great time decorating their Gingerbread houses, and Spencer enjoyed eating his candy.  I tried to stick it on as quickly as possible so he couldn't shove it all in his mouth, but he didn't care about that.  He just pulled it off, took a bite, and then put it back in the frosting again.  Later in the month, while I was in the shower, he climbed up to where we kept the houses and attacked Meg's.  She was a good sport about it all.

Forgotten Fall Photos

I forgot to post these pictures of the boy from Fall around our home.  I think they're hilarious because we obviously don't have a rake and they were having to make do with what they could find.  Get those leaves, boys!

Ellie's Fall Program

Ellie's Fall Singing Program this year was very cute.  It is hard to get good pictures, but she did a very good square dance.  She made me giggle because she reminds me so much of myself.  She kept pulling her partner along with a sigh as though he needed all the help he could get to be in the right place at the right time.  It was very fun to come hear her sing and see her perform.