Stan Hywet

We have talked about doing this for a long time, but we finally got to visit Deck the Halls at Stan Hywet.  

A Christmas Scene of the Old Goodyear headquarters and the blimp flying overhead.

The Elves in the Bake Shop

Ava and Carter got their picture with Gingy

Inside the mansion:  Different rooms were decorated based on different Children's holiday or winter books.  Right up my alley!  Here is Ava in front of The Mitten.

Owen was pretty excited about looking at all the decorations.  He was a pretty good baby.  He got a little fussy in the mansion, but he was tired and a overheated from the hot snow suit.

Our kiddos in front of my favorite:  the candy cane tree!

So gorgeous!

I love Christmas lights!

Thank you Mom and Dad for joining us!

Haha, the baby's face is cracking me up!  He does not look impressed!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  It took the kids approximately seven minutes to rip through everything!

Happy First Christmas Cutie!

Each of the kids received a ride on toy this year.  Ava likes her motorized scooter, even though it took a little while to adjust to it. 

Carter got a hoverboard.  He was zipping all over the house on it.  He is still adjusting to the bumpy ground outside.

Dawson got a crazy cart, very appropriate for him!  It can spin around and around in circles and he loves to make a "tornado."

Owen was pretty happy with the crinkly paper and a fist to chew on.  Those stinking teeth are driving him crazy!

One of my proudest moments:  In the middle of Christmas morning, Carter drops everything to read his new Dan TDM book.

Twister is really fun, but tough too.  Just ask Grandma!

Dawson and his space shuttle with its attached atomic bomb.  Don't even try to tell him that it is a fuel tank.

Thank you Bo for assembling all the lego sets!

Owen and his new piano.  He really loves kicking it!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

As an adult I've come to realize how wonderful it is to have my birthday on Christmas Eve.  I've never had to go to school or work on my birthday.  I get to stay home and spend time with my favorite people in the world.

Dawson and I played some battleship.  I'm working on teaching him this game, he still tries to move his ships around while playing the game.

Ava and I had some time together to get ready for church.  We painted her nails red with green glitter and curled her hair.

My four lovelies

A Shepherd, Mary and baby Jesus

Mary did a fantastic job of taking care of Jesus.  She rocked him and even let him suck on her finger when he got too fussy.

My handsome boy is growing up.  He didn't want to dress up this year.

My sweet little shepherd boy

December 23rd: Sibling Day!

It's interesting to see how our Christmas traditions have evolved each year.  Two years ago the kids wanted to sleep under the Christmas tree, so we decided to do it on December 23rd.  This year the kids also made blankets for each other, so it only seemed right for them to also open the gifts on the 23rd.  This year the kids did a secret santa gift exchange, so we had them open the gifts today.  Although I must say, they weren't very good with keeping the secrets.

The most important thing about the gift exchange was the letter.  Each child wrote a letter to their sibling and they had to write three things they liked about them.  It was so nice to hear the loving things they wrote about each other (and I wrote a letter for Owen.)  Carter was very happy to receive the nerf gun he has been wanting from his little brother Owen.

Haha, he hasn't even opened the package and he is already screaming for his remote control helicopter from his sister Ava.

Owen received a penguin lovey and rattle from his big brother Dawson.  There is Ava, always loving on her brother.

Ava received some trolls from her big brother Carter.

This worked out great because the kids have been off school for a week, so it gave them something new to do today.  

It was an air battle in our house today.  Mike got a mini drone as a supplier gift from work, and he was flying right alongside Dawson's helicopter.  I'm pretty sure the dog has PTSD.

And right now, this is what I'm looking at.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

December Memories Part II

At school the kids have a holiday gift shop.  This year with three children I had each child buy for two family members and Dawson was responsible for buying gifts for Mike and I.  Dawson repeatedly told me "Pretty soon you are going to be married to two people."  I didn't understand why he was saying this, so eventually he had me open his present from school.  It was so sweet, it brought tears to my eyes.  He bought me a little emerald ring!  He even told me that he used one of his dollars to be able to buy it for me.  I love it Doc!

Every December for the past couple of years, Ava scours the house for gifts to give to our family.  She wraps them up and she gave me this to open.  This year  it was favorite shells and an amethyst.  Her gifts always remind me of the widows mite, she gifts are small but her sacrifice great.

We went to visit with Grandma Jackie for Christmas.  She was blown away at the size of this baby!

Aunt Pam gave Ava these reindeer antlers and she thought they looked better....

on her little brother.  This little one just melts me!

We have a little light up Christmas toy that Dawson has dubbed "the baby hypnotizer."  The little guy really does love it!

These are the sweet smiles that I'm greeted with every time I go to get him out of the crib.  I can't get enough!

Four Months Old!

Look at this boy!  I blinked and that tiny little newborn is gone.  I love this crooked little grin, he was so proud because I put him in the jumper for the first time.  He looks so different now, I weighed him at home and he is over 18 pounds.    

You are growing into such a smiley, happy baby.  Your favorite toy is a rattle that we put into your hands and you shake.  When we are at home you are napping around 1-2 hours in your crib.  You are also sleeping better at night, usually you go down around 7-8, eat again at 2 and then sleep in until at least eight.  I love that you wake up smiley in the morning!  I've had other children that wake up grouchy, even at such a young age.

I have this exact same picture of Carter hanging on the kid Christmas tree.  I just had to duplicate it, and you two really do look very similar.

We learned the hard way that you really don't like taking a bottle, although you did eventually.  Your expressions remind me so much of your Daddy and Bo too.  You are discovering your hands and you like to hold onto your own hands.  The first time we saw you do this was during prayer time and the kids were convinced you were trying to fold your hands in prayer.

Artistic Shot:  Baby in an ornament

Love you baby boy!

December Memories

On December 6th, St. Nick brought us Gingerbread houses!  Each child got a different house, and the one Carter received was awesome.  All I had to do was take it out of the box and it was ready to be frosted! 

Usually I end up assembling the houses and the kids do the decorating anyway, so why not skip the first step?

Ava took a selfie.  I think she did a great job with the decorating!  Carter photo bomb!

Dawson had a gingerbread train, he was mostly interested in the eating.

Ava and I went to see the musical A Christmas Carol with her Explorer girls group.  The girls had first row seats and Ava really enjoyed the experience.  

Snow! Snow! Snow!

Not as much as our family in the lake effect snow belt though!

Dawson had pajama day at school so he chose his new christmas jammies.  Ava's class does How the Grinch Stole Christmas Reader's theater and they are encouraged to dress up like a who.  Ava's hair took a little practice, but I think it turned out pretty good.  The secret to the high hair is a cup.  I was shocked when she got off the bus with her who hair intact!