Christmas Fun

Wow, Christmas is exhausting! Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays and seeing the excitement on my kids faces as they walk downstairs on Christmas morning, but I have to say I am glad we can get back to normal life, including better sleeping and eating habits! Here is a recap of some of the fun we had this Christmas...

Gingerbread Day...
The boys made gingerbread houses that they were so PROUD of at the Bourgeous' house (Thanks Julie!) Tanner's was a two story house and Hunter's was an Indian longhouse. Later that night we were ding-dong ditched and a beautiful Gingerbread house was left on our door!

Hanging out at Bass Pro Shops while waiting to see Santa...
Only Hunter got to see Santa-Charity was sleeping and Tanner didn't want to wait in line. Hunter was cute and shy with Santa although he is pulling quite a face in this picture!

Christmas Eve at our house with my Dad, Grandma, and Monica...

I hope Charity grows up to be as beautiful and talented as her Aunt Monica!

Santa Baby...

Santa Came!...
We open our presents from Santa before heading over to my mom's for breakfast. Both boys must have been on the nice list because they got what they asked for!
Tanner makes for one skinny Santa in his Christmas jammies!


Christmas Morning at my Mom's house...

We also went to church (I wish Christmas always landed on a Sunday-I love to sing the Christmas hymns and be reminded what all this fuss is really about!) and went to Heidi's house for dinner. I somehow missed taking pictures of all the cute cousins but you can trust me that it was fun for all with all 15 grandkids there!

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad!

We've been learning about the Spanish and Mexican history of California for school. So, when deciding what theme I would do for our Christmas Day Camp, I decided to do Christmas in Mexico. We read a Mexican Christmas folktale, learned about Three Kings Day, did a poinsettia craft, made galletas de Navidad,
ate tamales for lunch,
and had a pinata!

It was a fun day and I am so grateful for the traditions we've established with our homeschool friends!

Earlier this month I took the kids, with friend Bradley, to La Asistencia in Redlands. It was like a mini mission the padres built out here so they would have more land to graze their livestock. Who knew? It was a quaint little place rich with history!

In Charity's world, "field trip" and "stroller" are synonymous!

December, so far!

December is always a crazy month! Here are a few things we've been up to so far...

Calico Ghost Town Field Trip








The boys love Thursdays because it's time for Hunter's Legos Engineering Class and Science Explorers (no picture) for Tanner!

Then it's off to PE, this month it's Kickball!

We also attended a live Nativity Program which was really well done!

6 months

Can you believe this baby girl is 6 months old already? I can't! Charity is a little ray of sunshine in our crazy lives. I am so grateful for her! I love her to pieces and so does her dad and brothers. She loves the men in her life too, a huge smile appears whenever she hears Tanner, Hunter, or Daddy nearby!
Now that she has lived half a year, she is doing new things like playing with her feet and eating "solid" food. She loves avocados and just tolerates rice cereal. She somewhat rolls- I put her down one way and somehow she manages to move around the blanket by just rolling from side to side. Charity loves her Bumbo seat and Ladd and I ask ourselves how we managed without it with the first two babies. She is still waking up about twice during the night to eat. I am hoping as she gets more efficient at eating solid foods this will stop-because I am beat!

We love our baby girl and can't imagine our life without her! Happy half birthday Charity!

Bytheway, I get lots of comments on all of her cute headbands. Check out this site to see where they come from! Notice the cute baby modeling the "vintage baby headband"!

2011 Family Pictures

Thanks so much to my dear friend Stacey for our family photos! Finally a good picture of our complete family of 5! Here are a few of our favorites...
I love Hunter's leg above, and his pondering expression on below...
Then there's this face... Thank goodness for a patient photographer!





Here's our stranded baby in the woods!