Christmas Jammies.....Day 4!!!

Day 4 of our Advent bags consisted of getting new Christmas Jammies!  Instead of waiting til Christmas Eve I like to give the kids Jammies that are Christmasy early on in the season - and what a perfect night but after they had played hard outside and come in and were ready to get out of wet clothes and into some warm snuggly pjs.  They were all so excited and Cash kept saying "mom I love them, I love them so much! Thanks mom for getting them!" Then Griffy piped up with "thanks mom....tank wu so much!"  It was cute!  And they all looked great in their little Wintery Monkey Pjs!  Here in Cali it is warmer so no need for long sleeves!  They are short sleeved ones! (I actually wish they were long-sleeved and didn't realize it when I bought them but oh well!) 

I love Old Navy Jammies and how they fit snug on cute little kid legs....chubby or not!

Happy 4th!

And of course I had to get their pics in front of the tree!

December Days...and our Nativity Project!!!

It is very different for us to live in a place where we can still enjoy going to the park in December.  Yesterday we had a great time with a bunch of our friends at a big park.  Ivy loved it because she got her first chance in the swings!  She didn't want to get out! (altho she only wanted to look right at Cash swinging next to her so getting a pic was hard!)  Isn't she a cute?! I am not loving the fact it gets dark here at 4:30 pm.  Makes it feel SO LATE before we even get to dinner!

 When we got home we heard sirens and policemen outside our house and so went out to see what all the fuss was.  That was when we saw the sleigh and Santa!  Cash was so excited he wanted to run and see - so we hurried along (leaving Ivy's coat, boots, and hat inside that we had just taken off from the park!)  Griffin was crying and didn't want to get up in the sleigh for a picture so Mrs. Claus asked me to get up with him and she would take the pic!  Awesome - altho Griffin still was crying and not sure about it and wouldn't look at the camera because he was making sure Santa didn't get him!  Cash on the other hand told Santa just what he wanted for Christmas--- Cars from the Disney Store from Cars 2, a BYU sweatshirt, and an Ipad! (sheesh already it is beginning....sigh)  Then Cash asked why Santa was missing teeth and looks different then he does on the video he sent him from the North Pole, and also where were his reindeer because the sleigh was being pulled by a car instead?  He thought maybe the reindeer were sick like in the book we have!  Smart boy I have folks!

 We are doing Advent bags once again and this year instead of gifts or treats every day most days we have an activity to do together.  Last night's said "Write letters to Santa and letters to Christ for FHE!"  We did that - letters about what we are good at, what we are working on, and what we would like from Santa, and then letters to Christ of 3 things we are giving him during the Christmas season.  I loved this activity and it was great to hear what the kids came up with and think about what I can give my Savior. Helps us focus more on the true meaning of Christmas!

 Lately we have had some pretty early mornings with the kiddos at our house, but this morning was actually not too early, and they are also really great times when the kids are happy and loving each other.  These two are quite the pair and Griffin lets Ivy clobber him and pull on him and love him and he giggles and giggles, which makes her laugh and it is way too cute.  He talks baby to her and she adores him!  I love the way they interact and how much fun they bring to our home!

 Ivy spends time playing and eating everything these days!  And Cash loves to see where his Elf on a Shelf is each day!  Griffin has one too and it is a fun part, and helps me keep them doing what they should right now!

 Take 2 with the Christmas present was fun!  Ivy is So stinking cute and is by far my best present of the year!

 She loves to eat anything, including the paper!

 The boys were trying to get her to smile while I shot these!

 Love this one and the light hitting her face.....thanks Kelly for the great tips for my camera! 

 Discovering the tree!

 Rolling around underneath!  And sitting on her own!

 She has pretty much mastered sitting and has started to push onto her knees and seems to want to crawl soon!  Maybe she'll be my first crawler! :)

Santa baby! 

 Last week on pinterest I saw this great nativity out of felt and decided to do it with the kids.  It was A LOT more work than I anticipated....but already has been totally worth it.  Cash has played with it non-stop since we made it, and each day asks for a new piece that will go with the story.....so yesterday we made a donkey, and today he wants to add a bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.  I love that he wants to play and talk about the story ALL day long.  He played with this yesterday for probably 6 hours and he couldn't be more excited to be a wise man at our church party this Saturday.  He has been telling me each day that at 4 pm on Saturday we have to go there, he doesn't need a costume because they have them, and he is going to be the tall wise man like we made here (in green below with the king hat).  He has also watched videos of the birth of the Savior and this has helped us talk about what Christmas is really about!  We love it!

Teaching G about the baby Jesus!

 G showing Cash his favorite wise man!

 Attempting to get both to look at the camera!

 Close up of the nativity and our awesome felt people!

Have a great December Day!!!

Merry 6 Months Miss Ivy Jane!

Take 1:  I saw cute picture on pinterest of baby in a present in front of tree and decided to try it out!  However, I learned a few things (such as not the best idea to try this when baby is hungry and tired, especially when the camera person (aka mom) doesn't have the camera set right and has to work on fixing the settings a bunch and the room is normally dark and it is night and the lighting is awful - any tips on settings for inside at night with bad lighting I would love to have your help!!!)  and so didn't get exactly the pic I wanted.....thus I will be trying again tomorrow! In the day. After baby is fed and happy!  However, hubby was home and actually obliging and trying to help and brothers were excited and so we tried! And quite a few came out cute - even if not the happiest.  Sorry little missy sometimes when you are crying I still think you look the cutest!!!  She was getting ready for bed, and at least had just had her diaper changed, so on with the pink santa hat (still girly of course) and off we set! 

Take one with brother in the background helping out...and yes he has on my Christmas candy cane stockings!  Ivy was happy here - and pulling herself up quite well in the box!  She has already pulled herself almost to standing a few times now!

 Sassy face and the the first bout of tears and "get me out of this box" faces!

 Happy girl - Griffin making her smile and looking so cute - although wish the pink part of her hat was showing more!

 Not so sure!

 Deciding whether to laugh or cry --- actually doing both in these 2 shots!

 Ok I will be all right and look at daddy playing peek-a-boo with me!

 "whose over there?" and then "I want to be done!"

 I am gonna climb out and get you Griffin!

"Since no one is getting me food I think I will just eat this box!:"

"I am totally done and now screaming so daddy please rescue me"......and he did!

She is our favorite little "girl girl" as we call her and I can't believe she is already 6 months.  She has started to eat baby food and has mastered the spoon and getting it down and loving it in less than a week (the good part of waiting til 6 months to start the baby food I have discovered), she rolls over and has figured she can keep rolling and rolling if she wants to get something!  She also scoots in a 360 around to get things and has mastered sitting up with cushions and a lot of times with no help at all.  She has already attempted to climb out of her bassinet and if she wasn't screaming so loud I would have grabbed my camera and taken the picture of her when she had her arm over the side with her head popped up after rolling onto her tummy....but scared for her saftey and by her screams I just got her out quickly!  She is the first of my children to require rocking back to sleep in the night and after eating will NOT go to sleep on her own if you put her in your crib....when she sees me walk away she instantly screams and so I am actually using my rocking chair I have never used before!  She giggles at her brothers and squeals and giggles almost every time you go up and down stairs - it is really funny!  She loves people and anyone who will watch her and talk to her.  She smiles and acts as if she knows what you are saying and she LOVES the attention!  She is chubby and squeezable and has the prettiest eyes and I can't get enough of her!  Although this past week she has kept me up at night a LOT due to her having a stuffy nose and not sleeping well I have treasured my time just holding and cuddling her and she brings a smile to my face anytime she is in my arms!  She has started to babble and coo and makes the funniest spitting sounds with her lips and I can't wait to hear what is going on in her little head.  We are all obsessed with her and love her to pieces.