Christmas ~ 2011

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve with my parents. We had a wonderful dinner and then it was time to open the gifts. Boy, oh boy, did the kids have *fun*!! It was a good preview to what was to come on Christmas day :).

Our traditional family picture.

Noah got some Power Rangers toys and a Power Rangers game that he just loves! And...this is apparently Noah's new smile...don't ask.Leah got a sticker book, which she is totally obsessed with, and some tinker bell dress up. She's a classic little girl and totally loves anything pink and girlie!Isaac with his new LeapFrog wand. Isaac was a bit confused about what was going on and it was fun watching him trying to figure out his new toys. Doug had a blast putting all of the toys together for the kids :). It was good practice for the coming day! He also got an iTunes gift card and a hand blender!This past year I found a new hobby...gardening! I LOVE it! So, my mom and dad gave me some new gardening equipment and a gift card to buy some pretty new flowers for the yard! I can hardly wait to use it!!They also gave Doug and I a new wheelbarrow! Oh my...I was so excited to get this! Apparently Noah was just as excited :).We gave my mom and dad some cups that we made for them at Color Me Mine, a calendar with pictuers of the kids, and a big frame with lots of pictures of the kids. I sure hope they like it :).Then we opened up our new jammies and got all ready to head home for the next day! Oh my, were we excited!!!Christmas Day

We had church at 9:00 on Christmas morning. We told the kids that we weren't going to open the gifts until we got home, which was so hard for both them and us! BUT, we did it! As soon as we got home, we ate breakfast, then got down to business! Let the fun begin :).

Noah was so cute and came up to me and asked if they could open their *big* gifts first. Of course we said yes...after all, they had waited long enough :). Here's Noah excited as can be opening his gift...He got an AWESOME remote control car that is so, SO, fast! And, I must add, that Doug likes this car just as much as Noah does! We drew names this year in our family, and Leah drew Noah's name and got him a Cars Color Changing Station. Leah was SO excited to give it to Noah because he has been asking for it for quite some time! She was so cute and kept hugging him when he opened it up. I'm glad that Noah tolerated all of the love from his little sis :).He also got Cars 2 and Mario Bros. for the Wii. Boy, oh boy, was this little guy excited!Leah was thrilled with the Sleeping Beauty socks and necklace that she got in her stocking! Sometimes it's those little things that matter :).Leah has been asking for Princess Barbies for a looooong time! She was one happy little girl when she got seven of them! It seems like she hasn't stopped playing with them since she opened them. She LOVES them!Me and my girl :).Leah got a Hello Kitty from Isaac, which she adores.Now, Isaac was so dang fun to watch this Christmas. The first gift that he opened was his very own teddy bear from Noah. Noah named him Fuzzy and was beyond excited to have Isaac open his gift. Isaac was just as thrilled to get his very own teddy :).Isaac also got a cute little animal train, a Cozy Coupe, and some balls to play with. He was one happy little boy!...and his very own blanket that I made for him. I have made a blanket for all of the kids when they were babies, so it was time that Isaac had his own as well :). I was beyond thrilled with my goodies...a calendar, a purse, gloves, and a nice console table that I have been eyeing forever! I was very excited :).For Doug, I framed ALL three of his diplomas, as well as his tassels. He also got a shaver and some other goodies :). THE BOYS also got yet another remote control car! When Noah opened it up, he looked at Doug with the biggest grin on his face and said "Dad...now we can race eachother!". That was Doug's plan since he loves these things just as much as his boys! All I can say is that these cars have provided hours of entertainment in this house!After we opened up everything, it was time to relax and play, play, play! Leah had a grand time talking to my mom on the phone telling her about all her goodies. This girl LOVES talking on the phone!And these three just sat and played Mario Bros. the rest of the afternoon! Good times!That evening, we went to Doug's sister's house to spend time with Doug's family. I didn't take many pictures, but I can assure you that we had a wonderful time, especially the kids! I was able to snap this picture of Noah and Ryan in their matching jammies...so dang cute!

It was the most wonderful Christmas for us this year! This holiday is so much more fun with kids...seeing their faces when they give and recieve gifts is priceless. We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas as well! Until next year!

Baby #4 is a...

We went to have our ultrasound last week to see our sweet little baby. We opted to not take Leah and Isaac with us, as we knew that it would make the experience a little less enjoyable. I can barely keep them still at home, let alone in a tiny room crammed with {what would be} six people! Thank you, Alli, for watching them for us :). We did, however, take Noah with us. He has been very curious and was so excited to see the baby in my tummy. He remembered going when we had Isaac, so of course he was excited to come for this baby.

First, and foremost, from what the doctor could see, the baby is very healthy! That is all I wanted to hear from him. I get so relieved when I go to my appointments and they say that everything is A-OK. It is just so amazing to go to these ultrasounds and be able to see the heart, spine, face, etc... Amazes me every time!

Now...the big question is what are we having? In all honestly, Doug and I would have been happy with whatever it was, but deep down we both thought that having a girl would be ideal. Two boys, two girls. Perfect! Well, it happened, and we're having a GIRL! I'm not going to lie...I totally cried when we found out! My emotions just took over and I got SO excited! I get to have one more girl! Yay! All of those dang cute little girl clothes were going to be used once again, and, yes, I am SO excited about that :). And more than anything, I was just so excited that Leah was going to have a little sister! All along, Leah has said that it was a girl, and she was right :). When we told her the news, she was very excited! To this day, she keeps talking about the fact that she was right and how excited she is to have a little sister! Makes me smile every time! Oh...and Noah is excited too! In fact, when we were driving to the appointment, he told Doug and I that he had a "feeling" that it is a girl baby. So, I guess he was right too! Ha! Plus he's happy about it, which makes me happy :). Heck, we're ALL happy to know what we're having and can NOT wait to meet this little girl in 18 weeks!

So, here are some pictures of our little princess.
Cute little profile.Here's a straight on shot of her face. Cute little foot.And...it's a GIRL!!

Santa ~ 2011

We have been waiting to go and see Santa for quite some time, and we finally went to see the Big Guy this past week! Noah and Leah were SO excited and knew exactly what they wanted to ask Santa for this year. This is the first year that Leah has been excited about seeing Santa and was really looking forward to sitting on his lap and talking to him. I was actually surprised that she followed through...she wasn't scared one bit! Noah didn't want to sit on his lap, but he wasn't at all nervous about talking to him :). Isaac...he was a classic one year old and didn't know what to make of the whole thing. At least he didn't scream! All in all, it was a great visit!

Isaac was thrilled with his candy cane from Santa! Treats are definitely the way to this boy's heart :).

Leah flat out refused to wear a hat or gloves...and it was coooold! By the time we decided to take this picture, she was so sad that her hands were so cold, yet she still wouldn't put her gloves on! Oh well...can't say I didn't try!

Afterwards, we went and got some ice cream with the Box family. I just **love** this picture of Leah and Shea! What a little cheese ball :). Love it!

Santa from years past...2007, 2008, 2009, & 2010!

Beautiful Day

Yesterday was such a beautiful day...probably one of the last this year {sniff, sniff}. Doug and I took advantage of the nice weather and raked up the rest of the leaves in our yard...what a chore that was, but I'm so glad that it is all done! While we were busy at work, Noah and Isaac had a grand time playing around the yard. Noah took Isaac on a little walk, which Isaac thoroughly enjoyed! Noah insisited on helping us somehow, so he took ALL of the bags of leaves to the garbage for us! He really is such a great little helper...it's amazing how little tasks like this really do seem big in theirs eyes...and in ours too :). Love my boys!

Gingerbread Houses

Last weekend we continued the tradition of decorating a gingerbread house, and can I just say that these two could not wait to get to work.

We bought the house on Saturday and we decorated it Sunday night...that meant that for one whole day, all Doug and I heard was "when are we going to decorate the gingerbread house"...over, and over, and over again! Needless to say, I was very thankful once we finally did it so that I didn't have to hear about it anymore. They had such a great time and created a very cute little gingerbread house :). Good times.

Leah hard at work :).The finished product...Noah was beyond thrilled when he heard that he was going to decorate gingerbread houses in school too! Lucky kid! Here's his little masterpiece...He was very happy with it...and he devoured every piece of candy on it {what was left} as soon as I took these pictures!