Christmas

We had our own Christmas morning on the 24th.  It was our first year having a tree (fake tree that is.  Eric won that debate for now).  We loved doing Christmas activities in the month of December.  Blake and Janie are at such fun ages to get excited about all of this.  Their favorite present was this indoor trampoline.  We need something to help get their energy out with these cold Michigan winters. 

We flew to Arizona Christmas Eve night to spend a week with my family.  Two of my sisters live there so that was the meeting place this year.  I am so bummed that my camera is taking blurry pictures.  None of these are very good and I don't have that many.  I will post more when my sisters send me some.

 Janie loved getting presents to give to people to help them open.  She didn't care what was inside and would turn towards the tree to grab another before seeing what the present was.

And proof to my sisters, Brie, and Jill that I made a Christmas craft!

Janie Jane

This is how I found Janie the other night after she went to bed.  Janie had a good sassy streak going for awhile.  I'm not saying it's completely gone, but she has become such a good little girl.  She is pretty obedient and sweet these days. 

She always shares her food or treat with me.  When Blake is at preschool and Ty is napping I will run on the treadmill while Janie plays in the basement.  I give her a little bag of snacks.  Like marshmallows and pretzels.  Whenever I'm done and we walk upstairs together I find a marshmallow and pretzel waiting for me on the stairs. 

She adds a plural or past tense to her words.  "I was holding Ty like this and he burpded."  "Ty talkeded."  "He laugheded."  "We can do it ourselveses."

She is suddenly very into puzzles.  I love it.  She always wants me to make them with her.  Which actually means she wants me to watch her.  She will say "Come on, do it with me Mama."  So I will and then she will take the piece out and say "We will do that piece later."  So I try a different piece and it's the same story.  The same thing goes for playing dollhouse with her.  Every move I make she tells me that I'm doing it wrong.  I just can't get it right!

Someone at a store asked her what she wanted for Christmas she said a candy cane.  Blake said m&ms.  Then he said "That's all you want?  Don't you want a pony or a kitty or something?"  So Janie said with big eyes, "I want a pony."  She said it like she didn't know that was an option.  And Blake now wants a kitty. 

I asked Janie who's birthday we celebrate at Christmas.  She said her grandma (her birthday is Dec. 4th).  So I talked to her about Jesus and how we celebrate when he was born.  She paused and said "Umm try again."  So I re-asked her my question and she said "Jesus!"

Preschool Program

 

Blake participated in his Christmas program!  We were so proud.  He sang and even did all the hand motions.  This was improvement from the ward primary program a little while ago.  He loves preschool and is always smiling when I drop him off and smiling when I pick him up.  He has a couple of friends that he always plays with and tells me about how the play "firemen" every day. 

Makes Me Smile

 

 

Gingerbread House

 

 

 

Blake and Janie loved this.  For the rest of the day Janie kept asking if she could eat some candy off it.  We went out later that night and a man told us to have a merry christmas.  That must have reminded Janie and she yelled "we have a gingerbread house at our house!" 

Santa

 

We went to a Christmas community event today.  It was so fun.  Last year Blake and Janie were both afraid of Santa but not today.  They wouldn't leave him alone.  Blake wanted to know if Santa was the real Santa or just a person dressed up like him.  We found out he was actually the real deal.  We got the group shot and then my kids kept going up to sit on his lap without saying anything.  They were so excited to get a "spicy" candy cane. 

Ty - 5 Months

 

I can't help myself.  Eric always laughs when I prop our babies up on the couch to take a picture.  Ty is 5 months.  He is becoming more observant and loves to watch other people and what they are doing.  He smiles so big when he sees another face--on tv, on the computer, or Janie's baby doll.  He is so ticklish.  He eats his hands all day long.  Started rice cereal last week.  He gets so happy when he sees Blake and Janie.