Christmastime is here

I've always wanted to enjoy the holidays while snuggling a newborn. This year, I got that! Not only was Lindsey fun to cuddle, but she was extra fun to dress up, too!

This was my favorite Christmas outfit she wore. I should've gotten a full body shot because her little leggings had silver sparkles and a couple tutu ruffles on top. A-dor-able!!

Jackson had a preschool program that we went to and he sang Christmas songs and Happy Birthday to Jesus!

 I tried to fit in as much Christmas fun as possible, so we even made Gingerbread houses. I feel about gingerbread houses the same way I feel about carving pumpkins... a lot of work, a lot of mess, for something that turns out really ugly unless I do it all! Well, I resisted the urge to decorate their houses and they turned out... well, ugly. But hey, I think they had fun making them and since I let them eat them after, they didn't stick around too long!

 

Another funny Christmas memory was my attempt to visit Santa at the mall. I thought I was so strategic to run over right after Tyler's last day of school and assumed that since it was a minimum day, we'd beat the crowd. Well, we beat the crowd, and we also missed Santa! We saw him jingling his bells as he took his lunch (fed his reindeer).

But I had my children dressed up in matching outfits, had my camera in tow and had an hour to kill. So, I set up my kids in a decorated corner of the mall and actually got a good photo. Jackson's face looks exactly the same in all 20 shots. Pretty :)

Tommy and Melonie got to come and visit for about a week and a half! It was absolutely wonderful to party it up with them and the cousins had an absolute blast! I had to snap a shot of the birthday twins! Tammy and Tommy :)

Here's the magic of Christmas morning! Santa laid out a beautiful blanket with our gifts and stockings, and Ringo even got a stocking full of treats and toys.

The kids are at such fun ages this year, and we enjoyed some really funny moments during the anticipation of Christmas. One day the boys were super distracted while getting ready for school so I used the famous, "Santa isn't gonna bring you any presents if you don't hurry and obey!" I overheard Tyler say to Jackson, "hurry! Let's be good. We don't want Santa to bring us COAL! It's rocks but too small to paint and they get your hands all dirty when you touch them!"

One night while I was tucking Jackson in, he asked me a series of questions:

"Mommy, is heaven way up up in the sky?"

"Yes."

"Does Santa live in the North Pole?"

"Yes." :)

"Is Santa comin' to town?"

"Why yes, honey he is."

I love 3 year olds!

Thanksgiving!

We had a really wonderful Thanksgiving! Jeff had to work in the morning, so I headed over to my parents' house to hang out with the girls and let our kids play. The boys especially had fun with Samantha, and enjoyed chasing her around playing "tigers".

We enjoyed a delicious meal at Lanie and Papas with the Ingalls and Ormes, and enjoyed playing games.

It was so nice that Katie and Randy got to come, I always enjoy spending time with them!

We took some pictures with Alicia and Sarah too, but they must be on my mom's camera, so I will be searching for them :)

On one of the school days off, I bribed the boys to take some pictures! We took our Christmas card picture this day as well and all it cost me was 2 Target Icees! I'm going to have to use that bribe more often, they smiled so well!

Lindsey is 3 months old!

just for fun:

Jackson 3 months

Lindsey 3 months

So much fun...

...to dress up my little dolly!

 

 Sometimes I feel like I am dressing up my little boy in pink... and then I remember that God gave me a little girl!! Even though she looks just like Jackson, she really does act like a princess. She LOVES smiling on camera, and of course she LOVES to be held! 

Halloween!

We had a fun Halloween this year! Our first celebration was Tyler's school Harvest Festival. The boys dressed up and there were booths for games, activities, and crafts. My mom took us because the Dad's were getting ready for Village Venture the next day.

 Tyler was a "skeleton mummy" and Jackson was "Bumblebee the Transformer!"

 I dressed Lindsey up in her Halloween onesie, pink tutu and big hair bow!

 

The next night, I had a major toothache (one that needed a root canal a couple days later!) That had me in bed with a massive headache on the night of the church's Trunk or Treat party, so baby and I went to bed instead :( But I did have tons of fun dressing up the boys and painting their faces!

 And my awesome hubby went to work a booth and play with the boys!

My autumn front porch! The pumpkin the boys painted at the Harvest Festival

On the day of Halloween, Tyler had a super fun day planned at school! Jackson, Lulu and I went along to help/enjoy! First of all, only the Kindergartners are allowed to wear a costume and they got to march through every classroom! Then, his class took a walk to one of the classmate's homes for a pumpkin patch. They got to pick a pumpkin to take home.

On Halloween night, we had fun together as a family!

First we trick or treat-ed around our neighborhood, then we headed uptown to visit Lanie and Papa and my parents. My mom had special treats for the boys and planned Halloween BINGO which the kids loved playing! And then I'm pretty sure Grandpa dragged them around on a blanket (their favorite activity with my Dad!) I love having family so close, it's really wonderful!

 

 

Lindsey's Baby Blessing

On September 30, Baby Lindsey was blessed in church. Jeff gave her such a beautiful blessing and it was so wonderful to have so much of our sweet family here.

I am so blessed that my husband is such a good man! He holds and honors the priesthood which is a huge blessing, and he sets such a great example for the kids. He is so good to me and I swear, he has become a better father and husband with each kid we have!

 I made these little shoes for Katie's baby Samantha's blessing! But they were too small for her. Since even the newborn size didn't fit Lindsey, I figured the too small ones might-- so Katie brought them down and they did fit! I'm so glad they got to be used for Lindsey's blessing even though I originally made them for Sam!!

Sweet Baby Lindsey in her beautiful dress! A friend in our ward gave us the dress they purchased for their granddaughter, but it didn't fit. It was extra long nightgown style, which I didn't care for, so Terri helped me to chop off the bottom and hem it up. I love how it turned out and that I put some "craftiness" in it!

Kaylynn, Qai, Kendi and her kids and Ken and Judy came too! It was so nice they came to celebrate with us and Kaylynn was so kind to take pictures of the special day. Thanks Kaylynn for all the sweet cuddles and making it an extra special day!!

Everyone who made it for the blessing!

The wonderful men who blessed our baby: Grandpa Boucher, Rick Wride, Papa Kenny, Daddy, Grandpa Tom, Uncle Randy, Papa Ed.

Us proud parents :) Such a special little girl!

The Gingerbread Man:

The first week of school, Tyler's class made a gingerbread man. They took him to the cafeteria for the school lunch lady to bake and when they went to check on him, he had escaped! Each day, they chased him around school: to their big buddy's class, the library, the computer lab, and the nurse's office, only to find crumbs, but no cookie! On Friday, they finally found him in the principal's office in a drawer!

Tyler told me all about it that week and I figured out this was a brilliant plan to show the kindergartners the campus. When they finally found him, they took him back to class and ate him up!

A few firsts...

First Bath at home

August 17 (4 days old)

First Smile

August 18 (5 days old)

 First time at church

September 2 (almost 3 weeks old)

First time brothers read her a book

September 18 (1 month old)

First Days of School

Tyler had his first day of Kindergarten last week. I am really excited about his teacher Mrs. Wallace. She seems really great and a totally experienced teacher. Tyler was super excited to go, and has been happy to go every day. he is so ready for this new adventure! When I dropped him off and said Good-by I had to walk away quickly so he wouldn't see I was crying-- mostly out of excitement for him and a little bit of emotion, just because my little boy is old enough for school now!

Jackson's first day of Preschool was today! We met his teacher Mrs. Lott last week and he got to play in the classroom. He will learn shapes and colors and a little about the ABC's. I love this preschool and he has been looking forward to going there ever since Tyler started last year! He was so excited this morning and I can't wait to hear all about his first day!

Now what am I going to do with myself? Well, first of all, take a shower! Then cuddle this cutie and maybe do some dishes (or maybe not!)

Special Moments in Survival Mode

I've realized we are in survival mode: get through the days, get through the nights... Having a new baby is absolutely wonderful, I feel like she brought heaven with her into our house. Everyone has been happier and we've had some very peaceful special moments. But we've also had some rough days, where our lack of sleep makes coping with any challenges... well, a challenge.
We had one pretty rough day this week, a day where I realized that all this change has been hard for the boys, that they are adjusting the best they can, although they've been having some trouble with obedience and listening to me, and needing extra attention. That day, I prayed extra hard that we'd get through this transition and that the boys would be able to adjust better. I prayed that I'd be able to be the great mom I am always striving to be.
The next day, I was blessed with two very special moments that have helped me realize we are going to be just fine.
Friday morning, I told the boys that whoever was ready when Grandma came to pick us up for school would get a candy in their lunch. I can help them get dressed and brush teeth, but I can't physically pick them up or carry anyone, which makes it hard if they are not trying. When my mom came, Tyler earned his candy but Jackson didn't. We got to the car and Jack started crying that he didn't get his candy. I have to follow through now more than ever if I am reinforcing their good behavior. Tyler opened up his lunchbox and gave Jackson his candy. It made me so proud to see Tyler give away something he earned, something he wanted so badly in the first place!
Then later that day, the boys were swimming at my parents house. Tyler fell in the pool with his robe on, and he started crying that he was all wet again. My mom was about to go get him a towel, when Jackson took off his robe and handed it to Tyler. It was so sweet- the image of one brother taking off the "shirt on his back" to give it to his shirt-less brother was so special.
I am so thankful for moments like this, that help me to see that we are doing a good job. Jeff and I try so hard to always be calm and positive parents, but when we are running on just a couple hours of sleep, patience is a challenge. I feel so blessed that the Lord listens to our prayers and helps us during challenging times.