December Instagram

1st Row: Blessing Day, Decor, Playing Doctor, First snow day

2nd Row: Christmas stories, happy 2-year-old, brinner, lights

3rd Row: Santa Claus, 3 months old, Great-grandpa, Who you callin' Elf?

4th Row: Jenni and Mars, Uncles are the best, My best girl and a new 'do, A boy and his horse

Christmas

 The following sums up our Christmas:

 It included:

-Logan waking up first and Daddy quickly covering his eyes (his bedroom is the only one downstairs). He had to wait in our bedroom until Norah woke up - which was around 7:30.

-Santa gifts were a bike for Logan, a kitchen for Norah, and a jumperoo for Max. He also left a lot of goodies in our stockings, including new movies and sugary cereal.

-I got cash (the best kind of gift!) and a cocoa motion machine

-Benj got a tool box, a new wedding ring, and cologne

-We ate a yummy breakfast casserole and orange rolls. The kids were more interested in the cereal. 

-Grandma Bradshaw gave Logan his most sought-after gift - his Spiderman racing track!

Here are the kids annual photos with their gifts:

Later in the evening we went over to Benj's grandparents for a delicious dinner and more gifts! I'm wondering why I never pulled out my camera. Boo!

My parents and Andy came a couple days after and stayed with us. We enjoyed their company and love when we can all get together for the holidays. 

Here's a New Years Resolution: take more pictures!

Sunday Best & Candlelight

 Here's the family in our Christmas attire for Sunday (wishing I had taken a moment to tuck in my shirt).

 

 Attempt of all 3 kids

 Pretty princess Norah in the dress Grandma Bradshaw gave her. She told me she was a "pwincess" the moment she had it on and began to twirl.

 Handsome Logan

 This picture makes me smile every time I look at it. :)

 A tradition we've began is having a candlelight dinner the Sunday before Christmas. My parents used to do this around Christmastime when I was young. We had a pork roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and homemade bread.

 My neighbor gave us a box of cake mix and candles as a gift reminding us to celebrate the birth of Christ. I loved this idea! I think it was an easy concept for the kids to understand when we told them we are celebrating Jesus' birthday. We also took a turn saying something we'd like to give to Jesus this year. It was a good experience for our family and something I would like to do every year.

Visitors

 My brother Sam and cute wife Jenni, along with their adorable daughter Marlee came to visit us for a couple days. They have been in Iowa since last March and we've missed them so much!

They came in during a big snowstorm but luckily made it to our house safe and sound. We were also in the middle of getting our furnace fixed so we were worried about the heat (it worked out fine). The next morning there was plenty of new snow to play in. Marlee had to wear boots that were huge on her, but she had a ball trying to tromp through the snow.

Daddy came out with the kids and carried Norah around everywhere (she felt a little stuck because the snow was so deep). He had also just shoveled the driveway. Needless to say he was worn out.

Here's cute Marlee with her Mom.

Uncle Sam was very amusing to my kids (and he made a good trampoline to jump on).

 Kids enjoying their lunch together.

 Logan liked to follow Marlee around, though she didn't want much to do with him.

 When the kids went to bed, we enjoyed playing games and good conversation. It was also their first time meeting Max! So lucky they came to stay and we were sad when they had to go.

Max at 3 Months

 Our little guy is 3 months old!

 I tell everyone that this is the beginning of my favorite baby stage (3-6 months). Max is such a happy boy. He loves to be talked to and loves to talk back.

 He has started sleeping through the night (bless his little heart) and it is pure bliss. He still takes about 3 naps a day.

 He loves to sit upright or be "standing" on your lap. He is through with being swaddled and would rather his arms and legs be free to move around. He isn't really a binkie baby although likes to play with it in his mouth.

 He's starting to pay more attention to toys and his main focus right now is finding those hands. They are almost constantly in his mouth. He has also started to drool a lot so I hope that we aren't getting any early teeth!

 Yummy hands . . .

 and going for the double fist!

 Norah adores her baby brother and kisses him all the time. Its fun to see their little relationship already.

 Other tidbits:

-He is in 6 month clothes

-We still are guessing his eye color

-His hair seems to be getting darker

-He eats about 6 times a day

-Was babysat for the first time by Grandma Bradshaw while Mommy and Daddy went to dinner

-Burps a lot and at random times throughout the day

-Most common nickname - Maximilian

We love this kid! Happy 3 months handsome boy!

Gingerbread House

 Another activity we enjoy doing are gingerbread houses. It was really hard for Logan and Norah to understand that they couldn't eat the candy but decorate with it. Logan got sick off the candy a few years ago so I get a little paranoid. I'm thinking next year we'll do a smaller, more edible version.

 Daddy is great at detail work. Check out those scallops!

 Max watched from the sidelines. Maybe next year buddy.

 The finished product!

 Days after Logan would still ask if he could eat it (or steal while I wasn't looking). Just so tempting!

New Traditions

Benj and I were talking about some of the traditions we had at Christmastime growing up. I feel like we are still in the process of making some of our own family traditions. Here are a few we tried out this year.

One of them was the arrival of Buddy the Elf. He hangs out at our house during the day to watch the kids to see how they are behaving. At night he magically travels back to the North Pole to report to Santa. The kids really liked Buddy so I think he might return again next year.

 One of the traditions (not so much new) we have is getting new ornaments for the kids each year. Logan got an airplane, Norah a snowman, and Max a 1st Christmas one. Even Daddy got a Ute nutcracker. Logan and Norah LOVED decorating the tree this year. I had to resist my perfectionism and leave the ornaments where they were.

 

Another tradition we started is reading a Christmas book each night by the tree. We opened one a day. The kids looked forward to this every night and it was quite magical to read by the light of the tree each night. Some of the books we already owned, some borrowed from the library, and a few new ones we added to our collection. 

 This was also the first year the kids wrote letters to Santa. I found a great template online and let them fill them out themselves. Excuse Norah's post-nap bedhead.

Logan did a great job filling his in. He asked for a Spiderman "racing track". Norah asked for a

"pwincess".

We also found a new place for Christmas lights. Instead of going to Temple Square (it was just too cold for little Max this year) we stayed in our warm car and went to a nearby park where they had a cool tunnel, tons of animals and other fun scenes!

 

Another new thing we did (no picture, darn it) was celebrate the anniversary of our engagement. Its been 8 years! Benj and I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Olive Garden while Grandma Bradshaw watched all three kiddos. It was the first time leaving Max but it was so nice spending time alone with my sweetheart. I definately hope to do this one again and again.

Stay tuned for more!