Christmas Memories

Christmas of 2010.  This one is going to be hard to beat.  The kids had a blast playing with all their new toys, although I really have no idea where they are all going to go.  I was able to take a two hour nap (heaven!)  Currently Mike is enjoying his new video game that he has been waiting so patiently for.  Here are some of my favorite memories from the christmas of 2010:

• Carter waking us up saying "there are presents under the tree."  
• Ava wanting to play with each and every toy as soon as she opened them.
• Carter opening everything under the tree in about five minutes flat.
• Mike asking Ava "Do you want to open another present?" to which she replied "no more!"         
•  Laughing at Ava's new baby doll that sounds like a gremlin.  Then an hour later taking the batteries out of the said gremlin doll.
• Carter riding his "Litenin queen" bike around the kitchen.
• Ava spending most of the day wearing her new apron.
• Hearing Dawson's squeaks and baby gurgles coming from the pack and play. 
• Carter leaning over the pack and play to show Dawson his new video games.
• Going to christmas eve mass and not being able to hear anything (the sound system was not working in the parent's alcove.)
• Putting out the milk, cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer and then Carter eating the hershey kiss off the sunbutter blossom.  Well, Santa maybe next year you'll get an intact cookie.

Here are some pictures:

Ava and the gremlin baby.

Dawson taking it all in.

Litenin Queen!

Santa brought this xylophone for Dawson, but Ava's breaking it in for him.

Merry Christmas from our little family!

                                                                       

First Annual Gingerbread House Competition

Today I had planned a little craft with the kids: making gingerbread houses.  We were going to make them the preschool way using cardboard milk cartons (or heavy whipping cream cartons), graham crackers, frosting and various candies.  But add in a little friendly competition from mommy and daddy and by the end of the activity neither child were allowed to touch the gingerbread hous.  The first annual gingerbread house competition was born!  So we are relying on you our family to be the judges.  Please leave a comment and let us know which gingerbread house is your favorite. 

"Ava's" Antler House

Yes, Ava really did choose the location of the antlers (hershey kisses.)  Adorned with a christmas tree, candy canes and a red door.

"Carter's" Christmas House

Carter's House features a hershey kiss chimney, blue door, wreath and a candy cane guarding the door.

Let the competition begin! 

Christmas Baby

Our beautiful little christmas baby. 

Pajama Days

As you can imagine between the unseasonable cold, unusally large amounts of snow for December, the cold and flu season and a brand new baby we've been spending a lot of time at home.  Which means plenty of pajama days!

The kids love lounging around in their jammies all day.  One of the main reasons why I blog is to remember the little things.  My babies are growing up so fast and I don't want to forget anything.  I love listening to Carter sing jingle bells or Santa Claus is coming to town (when he dosen't realize I'm listening), watching Ava bring toy after toy over to her newest brother and snuggling with the tiniest one.

Caring for these three babies hasn't been easy, but definetely not as tough as I feared.  If anything I feel like the transition from one to two kids was tougher than the transition from two to three.  Dawson has been the perfect addition to our family and he makes this christmas even more special.

(Can you tell that postpartum hormones make me very sentimental?)

I can't wait to tell you all about our christmas.  Only four more days to go!

Brunch with Santa

Yesterday we went to a Brunch with Santa with the Labbett Family.  Mike was in absolute heaven with an all you can eat brunch.  The kids also had plenty of goodies:  waffles with whipped cream and hot chocolate with marshmallows.  It was a wonderful morning and the snow outside made everything perfect.  (Well except for driving in it.) 

Yes, that is a huge glob of whipped cream.

Riley, Aunt Margie and baby Dawson.

Meme and Avery

Our very festive family

Meme and her grandchildren

And in other news: have you ever wondered what could make a long night full of feedings and diaper changes even longer?  If you guessed a toddler with a stomach virus, you would be correct!  Poor Carter was up last night at least four times.  Today he has been able to keep down some food, but he is running a temperature.  (At least, I'm pretty sure that he is.  I've broken our third thermometer recently.)  So wish us luck!

We have (so far) survived!

Today was the first day alone just Mommy and the three kids and we have survived! 

I even managed to get everyone napping at the same time, so I slept too!

(Mike called it a festivus miracle.)

Baby Dawson is doing wonderfully.  He is having lots of quiet alert time and sleeping for about 2-3 hours at a time at night.  Can't complain about that!  

At his doctor's appointment yesterday we learned that he weighs 8 lbs and 5.5 ounces already!  My only baby to have surpassed their birth weight at their one week checkup.

And of course, you know I am having so much fun taking pictures of my newest little one.  Here are some of my favorites:

The clicking of the camera was making him grin in his sleep.  So sweet!

Our best christmas gift ever.

For Bo and Grandma

New Baby Bliss

Little Dawson is going to have to spend most of his days confined to the pack and play and crib.  I had him stretching out on the floor watching the christmas tree.  He loved staring at the lights and shiny ornaments, but then his brother and sister pounced.

Luckily Mama was there to save him from the love.

I love watching them with their brother. 

Welcome Dawson Robert!

Welcome Dawson Robert

December 2, 2010 at 11:31 pm

8 lbs 3 oz

21 inches