Milestones

So as we were cleaning up from our Christmas Finn was standing by the bottom stair. I commented to Tadd that before we know it Finn is going to start climbing up the stairs. And literally, not more than 10 minutes later I look around to see this. What?! Can you really be climbing up the stairs already?! Slow down time...I am not ready for this yet!



Yes, I know he is quite cute :) and a fast climber at that.



And right after this I hear Tadd yell at me to stop taking pictures and watch Finn more closely..oh yeah, and then he fell down a couple stairs. But, I caught him then. And got pictures during this first milestone!

Ready for bed in their new Christmas jammies!

Our Family Christmas

We decided to let the kids open their gifts a little early this year. We were planning on being at my parent's house all day on Christmas Eve so Thursday night we set aside as our time together just with our family. It was a night of memories. Like a lot of people I am trying to come up with cute traditions that we can have every year, but in reality this year I was worn down by the time Christmas got here. So, our fancy idea...a picnic in front of the fireplace. And what was the dinner of champions you ask...well hotdogs and chicken nuggets of course! Selah thought it was great though and loved getting to sit on the floor to eat and drink mommy's pop :)




The presents begin. Not too many exciting gifts from us, all the good ones were from grandpas and grandmas. Nonetheless the favorite toy of Selah's a recorder she got in her stocking! Go figure! She did love her teddy bear and trike for her and Finn.

Finn enjoyed the wrapping paper the best :) He was quite humerous to watch open his gifts..or the lack thereof. The little guy was always more interested in everything else but what he was supposed to be doing.



Can I just freeze these moments in time? Because that would be my prayer. To freeze time and soak in each moment. The smell of my babies, their cute chubby cheeks, feeling Selah rub her fuzzy hair on my neck as she gives hugs, or Finn's slobbery kisses. God is good! And I truly feel so blessed this Christmas.

Before the rush of the holiday...

Just a few pics before the holiday chaos began.

Selah LOVES to hug Finn, or pick him up, or smoosh him, or whatever she is constantly trying to do to him...oh yeah, pester him!

reading books together

love this picture - Finn is picking up the cheesy grin very quickly!

Winter means lots of bubble baths and bubble beards!

Festival of Lights

One of our traditions of sort (or at least we try) is going to the Festival of Lights which for those of you not from this area means driving through an area filled with Christmas lights of all kinds crammed in your car going around 5 miles an hour. Just kidding...it really is fun. Packing all of us in the same car so we can enjoy all the ooo's and ahhh's of the kids together. This year we went with Aunt Tiff, Addy, and Brooks. It was lots of fun and Selah was so sad when it was all over. She kept saying "more!" and Finn, well he was just as wiggly as ever in the car :)

From Our House to Yours

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas this year!

Look out! Finn is on the GO!

Yep, Finn is now crawling on all fours as of the first week of December! 7 months old! He used to get around by rolling and almost army crawling, but now (as Tadd first noticed) he crawls on all fours! He also loves pulling himself up on anything he can reach. Chairs, beams, and toys to name a few are never out of reach. He is way more active than Selah ever was. Maybe it is the boy in him :) Either way, it has been quite interesting as Finn begins his new exploration with crawling! We are so proud of our boy!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

As soon as Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas decorations come out. It has become quite a smooth operating machine, putting up the decorations that is. Tadd usually hauls all the boxes out from wherever they are while I start unloading and putting up the garland, snowflakes, and decor. And then we put up the Christmas tree together all the while playing Christmas music in the background. This year I was a little antsy and started kind of early while Tadd was at work one day. So most of it was put up before Tadd got involved. BUT, I did wait to put up the Christmas tree as a family and Selah got to help this year.


Selah kept asking to "help" "Selah do it". So as soon as the tree was assembled we let Selah start putting up the ornaments with us, of course that is after the balls were put up. It was a little nerve-wracking for me, all I could see what ornaments breaking or the tree falling down. Extreme I know. Well, Selah did just fine. She loved it and put all of her ornaments right at eye-level of course in a bunch. Tadd teased me and asked if I was going to leave them all done, and of course I had to leave a few there so we could always see that Selah helped :)



And this year, with all that is going on with Christmas parties, caroling, and family gatherings I am vowing to remember the true meaning of Christmas. We are still working on establishing our Christmas traditions as a family, but Selah knows of our Savior's birth and all about Baby Jesus. Along with Christ there is someone else I don't want to forget this year...our precious Laynie, our angel in heaven. We love watching Selah point out her pictures and saying "Laynie" or "sister" "heaven". I cannot wait until we can share her life with Selah and Finn as they get older and we can look at pictures of her and tell them about how we prayed for a baby to come into our lives, and how when everything looked dim Laynie came one miraculous day. How we loved her more than words can say. The love she brought into our lives, the strength she possessed, and the life lessons she taught us. The miracle that she truly was. We can never thank God enough for bringing her into our lives and sharing her with us...we will never forget you Alayna Christine...never!

So, we pray that you will never forget the true meaning this holiday season...the birth of Jesus Christ in a manger that day. (and yes, since this picture was taken, Baby Jesus was found, under the couch once again).

And what else does Christmas mean than sending out the dreaded, I mean exciting Christmas card. Every year I say that I am going to start at the beginning of November to get the picture taken so that I can have it out in decent time, but once again I failed. So, no family picture this year just a picture of the kids. But, that is all that matters, right? So here are a few pics we got in the meantime, the duds :) And soon enough we will be sending out our Christmas card and posting online. Until then, may you enjoy each and every moment of this Christmas season.

What Selah really things of taking pictures.... (you can almost imagine)

And what Finn thinks of all the pictures he has to take....too funny!

Thanksgiving Round 2

We spent Thanksgiving Day going to church and then heading back to Tadd's mom and dad's house for the day. It was so relaxing. Just Tadd's immediate family, so that was nice. Both sides of his extended family were with their families.

So what did the day consist of? Food, and lots of it. I think we still made as much food as we would have for 25 people instead of 11 :) We always do the traditional meal for lunch with turkey and all the fixings. Then that evening we break out the leftover turkey for round two with sandwiches, chips, and lots of more goodies. Yep, I think the holiday pounds are coming on already! Loved spending time with the girls talking while doing the dishes. Or loving the fact that the kids got to take their naps and the rest of us hung out relaxing, playing scrabble...

And read the paper (Here Doug is enjoying the "calm and quite")

And of course, we had to have a little fun too. Tadd wrestling with the kiddos!


Lots of laughter! Another year of shared blessings, memories, and watching our kids grow. We are just trying to soak in every moment we get!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was hectic and yet relaxing...is that possible? I got to make pies this year for both sides of the family and by no means protest to be a great cook, but I did enjoy it for the most part (wink!wink!). I love the smell of pies right out of the oven...mmm mmm!

My mom hosted my dad's side of the family this year. We even got to spend time with my cousin Susan and her husband Jason who we have not seen in a long time - so it was great! But mostly, it was kids galore. The L side of the family has 7 babies all born within the last year ranging from 6 months to a year now and that isn't even including the rest of the kids. So, it makes it quite interesting.

These next few pictures were from the nights of family gatherings before Thanksgiving. My aunt and uncle come on Wednesday night and we usually get together every night until the weekend. It makes for a full week, but we love spending time with family (hopefully as much as they enjoy spending time with us)




And here, Finn sums up how we felt after the final night was over...exhausted! We are so blessed as a family with our extended families close by and being able to spend time together, eat loads of food, and share in each others' lives. Thank you Lord!