Christmas Activities and Painting

Let's start this post with a few things on little Miss Amelia.  She is crazy!  She has been running, climbing, attempting to play with outlets, eating my make-up, sticking her hand in toilets if the lid is left up, pulling everything and eating it out of pantry, and all at 14 months old!  A couple weeks ago I went to the store and Chris had text me to let me know she figured out how to climb up on our barstool chairs!  She apparently climbed up on the chair, then onto the kitchen counter while Chris was cooking at the oven, then he turned around and discovered her! She keeps us very busy but we sure do LOVE her.  She says mama, dada, more, grandpa, hi, and some others that I can't think of right now. She loves to eat, play, follow her brothers, and keep her parents on their toes!  She also lets her needs be known by screaming or grabbing at my legs.  She is an adorable, loving little lady!

Here is a picture of our outdoor Christmas decor for out 1st Christmas in our house!

I took the kiddos to the park for a quick 15-20 minute stop before meeting Chris at Subway.  This little lady loved the swings

She was SO happy!

For the month of December the boys had a countdown to Christmas chart and I wrapped our Christmas books to count down to Christmas by unwrapping one each night, too.  So they took turns each night placing a sticker or opening a book to read.

Liam opening a book

It made bedtime exciting.

A couple of weeks ago some gals from work had a surprise bridal shower for Amanda at the wine bar with the Art Uncorked class. We all had such a great time and our paintings turned out half-way decent.

The group

Paintings

Final Masterpieces!

I seriously work with the best people!

Bike Riding

This little gal love to make cheesy faces lately.

The boys had their school pictures come in and I love them!

Sweet little Colin

and handsome Liam's

Just a random one of this lovely little lady

I have been enjoying our Christmas decorations a whole lot along with the fireplace.  This is the first place we've lived that I have decorated enough to provide a warm and fuzzy Christmas vibe and I LOVE it!

We set the train up one evening and the kiddos love it.  Amelia was especially excited about it!

She would laugh with excitement and just point at the train but never once attacked it like I thought she would.

It entertained her big time!

Chris and I were cleaning out the garage on Dec. 5th because it was a beautiful day and it really needed to be done!  We still had full boxes (books, mostly) from when we lived in Virginia.

Anyway, we were working away and the kids were playing inside and outside when Liam grabbed his helmet so we assumed he was going to ask us to help him ride his big bike.  The next thing we knew he was cruising down the driveway and into the street no problem!  We were shocked considering the only other time we really helped him was when Cason came over here

It was like he was a pro and within 30 minutes he was already slamming on his brakes and making skid-marks on purpose.

Since that day he has asked to go outside and ride his bike pretty much daily.  He absolutely LOVES it...

...and is so good at it.  Chris and I owe it all to his strider bike since we really didn't even have to teach him (and now Colin has the strider and is loving cruising on it).

He is awesome.

Little gal eating cheese while watching her big bro.

Here he is in all his glory!

Thanksgiving 2015

First a few quick updates/things I don't want to forget:

1.  Over a month ago, Chris and I were sleeping and I thought I heard a kid in our room.  I asked Chris if he heard anything.  He did not but then we decided it was something else.  Chris got up to use the restroom and that's when I heard the "Colin sigh."  Yes, he has a very specific sigh, ha!  So I said his name and started looking on my side of the bed and when Chris got back we discovered he was under our bed!!  Not only was he under our bed, he was butt naked under our bed.  He didn't wet the bed but for some reason, somehow he decided laying naked under our bed was the thing to do in the middle of the night!

2. I forgot to mention that when the Jacobs moved, we had gone to see them Sunday night to say our good-byes.  The kids were going to go to the store and I told Liam to say goodbye to Cason.  He immediately broke down and I did too, not because they were leaving but because my kid was so SAD.  Anyway, sweet Cason decided to stay back and play with Liam a little longer which was awesome for Liam.  Then when it was really time to say goodbye he did and was the saddest I have EVER seen my kid.  He teared up and cried softly in the back of the car until about half-way home but still just looked glum.  When we got home he went and sat quietly in his room and there was no cheering him up.  He was completely bummed.  Then the following day while grandpa was watching him, he had mentioned something about Cason moving and Liam said something like "Grandpa, I don't want to talk about it right now"  He still was sad.  No worries he is completely fine now but it did take him a couple of days and it was the first time I have really seen my son genuinely bummed out.

3.  When we set the Christmas tree up everyone was pretty pumped but Colin told his dad "I want to hug the Christmas tree!" Ha, silly boy!

4.  Sadie came over to watch the boys and Liam had come out of his room with his hand on his hip, sunglasses on, and told Sadie "You're not stylish yet" Crazy kid!

5.  Amelia has quite the personality lately but my favorite thing she does lately is her scrunchy face.  It is hilarious and makes me laugh EVERY SINGLE TIME.  She is a firecracker and continues to keep us on our toes.  Oh, and she discovered fruit snacks and anytime the boys leave the pantry door open, she grabs one comes running to me, hands them to me and says "uh uh uh uh uh"  Basically, here you go mom now open them!  Oh and she is NOT quiet about it!

I took the kiddos to storytime Wednesday before Thanksgiving and it was awesome!  There were only a few people there.  Here is our sweet Amelia sporting her turkey dress.

Colin getting into the shaky egg song

Liam has not been into storytime lately and I think he has reached the "I'm too old for this" stage.  Which stinks because Colin and Amelia LOVE it still.  Liam still enjoys it but not like he used too.

Sweet gal enjoying her shaky eggs

Thanksgiving was a lazy day until about 3PM when we went to my parents and ate some food.

Emily wanted a picture with the kids, though Amelia wasn't as cooperative as the boys.

Here is our family of 5 on Thanksgiving

I love that Colin put his hand on Liam's head here, ha!

After my parents we went to the Cassons' for desert and then to my cousin's house to say hi there.  It was a busy evening but at least we had the morning to be bums :)

We used the rest of the weekend to put up Christmas decorations and we told the kids we were taking them to Disneyland, as you can see Amelia was the most excited about the news.

Amelia assisting in putting lights on the Christmas tree. She was so helpful!

We went over to my parents' for dinner and the boys helped grandma decorate the tree with ornaments.

Such good little helpers they are!

Fall Leaves

A few weeks ago there was a cold spell and the leaves fell off our trees in the backyard.  It made for some GREAT fun.

Colin and Scarlett

Liam jumping in

So much fun

Love these boys

This sweet girl thought throwing leaves at her was HILARIOUS.

Love the shock in her face

Happy little lady

This guy really had a lot of fun, running, biking, throwing, and jumping through the leaves

Favorite picture, It caught his face just perfect while the leaves were in the air.

Jake, Liam, and Colin running into pile

Daddy and Liam

There was some leaf fights

Attempt at a photo, ha!

Neighborhood kiddos

I love that the kids have others right next door to play with, it is AWESOME!

I love fall and I love having leaves to play in right in our backyard!