New Years

For New Years our kids really wanted us to party with them, but we had been invited to the Coe's for an adult only party. So we decided to do both. We played games with the kids and had sparkling cider and treats until 9pm and then we went to the adult party. That way everyone was happy.

Alina Mae

Alina is so cute, witty and creative. On Christmas Eve she said to me, "Santa says Ho HO HO and Santa loves Jesus and Jesus married Mary and Mary had a little Lamb." Seriously where does she come up with this stuff?!

Christmas 2009

Christmas for us this year was bitter sweet. Cameron is still out of work and so we didn't want to spend a lot on presents and we didn't have to. We had a bag of gifs delivered to us from "the knee high elves," for the kids and a gift certificate to Applebee's for Cam and I. We were very grateful. We had family also help us out by buying gifts for us to give to our kids. WE have been very touched by the kindness shown to us and hope to be able to return that kindness daily.

We had a great Christmas Eve with my family. We read the Luke 2 by candlelight and Austin and Greta played some christmas songs for everyone on the piano. On the way home the kids searched for Rudolf's red nose. They found it and it followed us all the way to our neighborhood.

We set out treats for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. The kids all slept together and anticipated Christmas morning. They woke up to too many presents, it was a little crazy.

We started the morning out with putting our baby Jesus in our service manger. I think this year was the softest his bed has been. Our kids did such a good job at being service oriented. They really thought hard on what to do for one another.

Then we started opening presents. Austin and Greta got their K'nex from Santa that they were hoping for. And Alina miraculously got the wedding barbie she wanted so badly. That barbie was sold out everywhere so I had to tell her that I wasn't sure if Santa would be able to bring it. She kept telling me she knew Santa would bring it and she was right. Thanks dad for giving Santa a tip on where to find it ;) And Olivia got a new binkie, toys and some snacks. That girl loves to eat.

This was the first year we had the kids use their own money to buy for each other. We took them to the dollar store to spend $3.00 each and they had a lot of fun doing it. It was exciting for them to watch each other open the presents they picked out.

We had a somewhat rushed Christmas morning because my brother Ryan on his mission in Peru was calling home that morning. So we rushed out there to talk to him and open even more presents.

It was a great Christmas. The kids were happy, we are all healthy and we have each other. That's what matters most and I'm grateful to know that.







I told all of the kids to pick their favorite present and I was very surprised to find what they picked. Austin picked his Hulk Abomination Blaster nerf gun (the gun is really cool), Greta picked a recorder that Grandma and Grandpa got for her, Livvy loves her new bike from Nana and Papa, and Alina picked a piece of paper she colored on.

8 Month Old Olivia

Olivia is 8 months old and we couldn't possibly be enjoying her more. She's such a happy baby with a sweet disposition. Her only flaw is that she still isn't sleeping through the night. Since Cameron is out of a job he has been really sweet and will get up with her in the night and rock her back to sleep. We think her problem is that she is so spoiled with attention and love from the 5 of us that she wakes up at night and realizes she's been left all alone and gets ticked.

She will now only go to sleep if Cameron is the one who holds her. She was a daddy's girl before, but now it's a bit out of control. She always says "dada" in the morning when she sees him. If I ask her to say "mama" she'll look at me and say "dada." She's quite the little teaser already.

The mornings are her favorite because she gets to see everyone and she freely gives us each a dozen hugs and kisses, but her dad and Austin can get a few more from her.

She's very smart. She already knows when she is playing with something she shouldn't and if she thinks I might be close by she'll turn and look at me. I'll just stare back at her and she'll try to crawl away with whatever treasure she has found. She also knows what I mean when I ask her for a hug or kiss and will give one to me when I ask her for one.


She still loves her bath and crys when she has to get out. She has the cutest smile and loves to make spitting sounds with her tongue. She crawls everywhere and in no time will be walking. All of us just love her to pieces and can't imagine our life with our little squishy princess.

Making Christmas Decorations

We had a craft night making snowflakes, christmas pictures, ornaments and whatever else our creative kids could think of. The kids were a bit hyper and crazy and it was a great night. Our house has decorations on every wall and it looks fabulous!

Even Cam was crazy that night.

Greta made this Christmas tree and she realized it was mask. We all found it very funny and made her wear it over and over.

Hives

Our little Olivia came down with an ear infection and the doctor put her on amoxicillin. Well after a couple days of being on it she broke out in hives. She looked so miserable, but still smiled through it all. Olivia, Greta and I are all allergic to amoxicillin, we have to have the expensive stuff!

This isn't the first time she has had hives. When she was born she broke out in hives all the time and I finally figured out that it was my laundry detergent. After trying many different kinds I finally found one that works that only Costco sells. I'm hoping that when I run out after 400 loads that I will be able to find it again, or that she will have outgrown her allergic reaction.