Waiting for Baby... Early January

For the first half of January, we waited for our new baby to be born.  Since Spencer had arrived two weeks early, and this baby ended up arriving one week late - the wait seemed very long.  Also, this has been the coldest January we've had in Iowa, with wind chills at -40.  What fun!  What fun!

We took naps:

"Helped" Daddy study for his board exam (coming in February!!):

Wore some matchy-matchy outfits:

Visited Ellie's art downtown with Grandma Kathleen:

Rode the "horsey ride" at the mall.  Because even Spencer knows that when Grandma comes to town you should ask for things that don't usually happen:

And checked on Baby Brother to see if he was doing well in there.  He was.  And so he stayed a little longer :)

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.