Tis the Season

Tis the Season for activity after activity after activity.  This weekend was no exception.   Friday night we went to Living Bethlehem and Deacon Dave's.  I had planned to do a really cool blog about the Living Bethlehem itself because it was AWESOME but too much has happened since then so everything is getting shoved into one entry.  Saturday night we had Matt's work party, Sunday night was our annual white elephant party, and Monday Savannah decorated cookies with Aunt Kathy.  Grandma Linda was here through the weekend so we were able to celebrate Christmas with her!

Living Bethlehem:

Savannah enjoyed the animals at the Living Bethlehem

Savannah's favorite cast member was the Angle

Three generations!

"There was no room for them at the Inn..."

"...so they wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger:"

Watching the Nativity Scene unfold

Wise Men and Shepherds came to worship

Opening presents with Grandma:

"Pattern Power!!"

Savannah trying on MY cookie monster PJ pants!

Beautiful bows

White Elephant: (Apparently I was so busy trying to keep my "sleeping" kids quiet that I didn't take any photos.  This one is from Matt's phone.  Next year the kids are sleeping at someone else's house.  What was I thinking?)

White Elephant Party

Cookies with Aunt Kathy:

Decorating Raindeer Cookies

I was very impressed with the coordination this 2yr-old had!

Mixing Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Oh, I almost forgot....Caleb is three months old!  He is finally settling into a good sleep pattern during the day...HALLELUJAH!!!!!  He weighs 14lbs 7oz and started wearing 9mo clothes today.  He likes to be upright, suck on his hands, and swat at toys as if he's boxing them.  He's SUPER ticklish!  I only got two clicks of the camera before its batteries ran out and I can't decide which picture to post.  He's smiling in the first pic, but I think the second pic looks more like the real him.

Caleb at three months take 1

Caleb at three months take 2

Sibling Pics

Sometimes you just have to laugh rather than allow yourself to be frustrated.  Sometimes it takes a solid four days before you can laugh instead of cry.  Let me explain...

Last week I found a cute shirt in Caleb's drawer that said "Best Little Bro."  How did I miss this shirt?!!!  He was about to outgrow it so I threw it on him, put Savannah's "Awesome Big Sister" shirt on, and got them situated for the most adorable photo shoot you've ever seen!  Except not a single picture came out even remotely cute.  So instead of posting the most adorable picture you've ever seen, you're about to get a slideshow of goofy (read: incredibly frustrating) pics of some not-so-cute kids!  Enjoy!!!!

Savvy: "I can do this all day long!"  Caleb: "Huh?"

 

Savvy: "I'm over this already Mom" Caleb: "I'm just warming up"

Savvy: "hey bro, why so serious?" Caleb: "What's with the flash, Mom?"

Savvy: "LOUD NOISES!!!"  Caleb: "Do girls ever sit still?"

Savvy: "I'm outie."  Caleb: "this little bro thing is hard!"

Santa!

This weekend we went to see Santa!!!  Savannah had no problem with Santa (even though I thought he was a bit creepy...you can't tell if he's smiling underneath that fake beard!) and she asked for a choo-choo train (we got several Thomas the Train books at the library this week so trains are fresh on her mind).  She forgot all about trains once Santa handed her a Candy Cane.

Savannah and Caleb meeting Santa

Later that night we went to the annual downtown parade which is apparently a big deal around here.  Really it's just a bunch of advertising for the community, some boy scout troops, and the high school marching bands.  I guess it was a little fun hanging out in the 45deg heat cuddled up with all our friends.  At the end of the parade was Santa Claus (with his posse of rented security guards) and the lighting of the giant Christmas tree. 

Say "NO" to crack!

Best view in the house

Downtown at the Christmas parade

Once we got home and thawed Matt and Savannah hung our new Bethlehem star on top of the Christmas tree.  Our old star was broken, along with some other Christmas decorations.  It never occurred to me to re-pack the Christmas supplies for moving across town.  Apparently ours didn't survive moving to the Ranch, sitting in the August heat for 3 weeks, and then moving again.  Oops.

Matt and Savannah hanging the Bethlehem star

Sunset at the Park

It was one of those moments when you just HAVE to get out of the house!!! Savannah had just woken up from her nap, it was a blazing 48deg outside, but I needed OUT.  So I threw the kids in the wagon and hauled them off to the park where we witnessed the most beautiful sunset!

Papa Smurf!

Off to the park

The photo doesn't do the sunset justice

Swinging in the Sunset

Savannah "not" looking directly at the sun

Later that evening Caleb's girlfriend Riley came over for some flirting.  Caleb asked her out, she said yes, he tried to make a move, but she wasn't too happy.  Like father like son.

Caleb and Riley chatting it up and holding hands

Riley telling Caleb to Back OFF!

Earlier that morning I managed to catch a few cute videos of Savannah showing off.  Enjoy!

Yardwork and Yuletides

It's a long-standing cultural tradition that the weekend after Thanksgiving is dedicated to hanging the Christmas decor and decorating the tree.  We, however, saved another task for this weekend....yard work.  This house has a million leave-dropping trees, plus a few trees that need pruned at this time of year, and we waited until almost every leaf had dropped before raking a single one.  Well, to say we underestimated the amount of time and energy it would take to rake all those leaves is an understatement!!!  Holy Moly what were we thinking?!!!  Even with Savannah's "help" it took all day!!!  Someday this chore will belong solely to the children...that's why we bred them, right?

Matt blowing leaves with Savannah's "help"

Daddy's little side-kick

Oh who are we kidding...she's just playing!

The most beautiful smile in the world!

Daddy's little helper

Savannah learning how to shovel leaves

Superwoman trimming trees!

I hope she thinks it's this fun when the chore belongs to her!

Ready for a dump run

All in a days work

We did eventually get to decorating the Christmas tree and open the early Christmas gifts the Grandmas sent.  It's fun to have a child old enough to appreciate the decorations and traditions!  She particularly enjoys her Christmas pajamas and her advent calendars (the edible ones as well as the play ones).

Helping Daddy set up the Christmas tree

Opening an ornament from Grandma Barb

Decorating the tree with Daddy

Opening an Advent calendar from Grandma Linda

It's not too early to wear a Christmas dress to Church!

Mommy/Savvy "selfie"

Caleb's weekend wasn't as much fun as the rest of ours.  He had to go to the doctor because, well, he doesn't poop.   It's normal for a breast-fed baby to not poop often, but it's not normal for them to cringe in pain while passing gas and to stop eating.  Poor guy.  The doctor prescribed prune juice, which did the trick. He didn't lose any weight by not eating....the little bugger weighed in at 14lbs 2oz!  Still a chunk-a-hunk!  And still adorable.  I couldn't decide which picture was the cutest so I made the executive decision to bombard you with all of them.  I dare you to try and pick a favorite!

Handsome man take 1

Handsome man take 2

Handsome man take 3

Handsome man take 4

Handsome man take 5

Tummy time

I LOVE DADDY

Sitting up (supported of course)