December 2015

December is crazy for all families, but ours gets a little extra crazy because of Rhyla's birthday, and this year, because of Cohan's blessing. Picture time!

Cohan loves to see the Christmas tree.

Target dinner so we can do some shopping. Nana is a shopping pro.

I'm so grateful the kids love each other so much. 

This picture is called simply, "Boop." 

When Papa got to town, all of us, including my parents, went to the local mega church for their Nativity walk-thru. It's always a highlight of the Christmas season. The baby they used this year was sooooo tiny.

Speaking of tiny babies...

My newest addition to the necklace. Vash's stone is similar, but it's paler. Cohan's pink is much brighter in real life. Rhyla is so jealous that her's is blue. I'm like, that's just birthstones, baby girl! 

Rhyla got to do a gift exchange at her dance studio. Can't remember what she got though... 

Christmas dress, courtesy of Nana.

Fischer loves the precious.

Singing Christmas carols at the Preschool Christmas Program. 

The boys colored on donation slips while Rhyla performed. 

And my good boy slept. 

The Stanley's had us over for dinner one night. Man I love them. Good peeps:) 

We brought cookies to share, and she gave me fudge. It was a fair trade. 

Remember that Monkey see thing? Can you tell what I do a lot of based on this picture?

We call him Mr. Happy. (My pregnant friend said she hopes their boy is just like him, lol.)

We even attended a friend's birthday party. That's dedication, because let me tell you, it was like zero degrees outside and snowing that day.

The toddler brothers of the birthday attendees.

Vash and Rhyla got paired up for the toilet paper game. 

He was a good sport about getting dressed up. 

I think they won that round too. 

Rhyla really wanted to have her faced covered, like a veil. 

I made a colored mobile for Cohan's Christmas present. Yes, I always have to hold it up with my foot to get the picture right. 

This one is called, Isle of the Lost Teeth

This face:) 

He found his fists!

One of my New Year's goals was to learn to cut hair. Fischer was not thrilled about being my first test subject...

Dream a little dream. 

Christmas Eve fun. 

The annual cookie baking commences!

Mema and Pepa's house. 

Present madness. 

She finally got a Jasmine.

Fischer just liked ripping the paper off. 

These cars took forever to get off the cardboard. 

Holy big truck, Batman!

Grandmother Smothers, anyone?

This was Fischer's favorite gift. This was the only way I could get the "Raa Raa" home. Buckle up, buttercup. 

Daddy sneaked home from work and was able to do the annual pizza dinner with us. 

Silly boys.

Each pizza is as unique as its maker.

Reading of Luke 2, then the Christmas story.

Even Cohan listened.

Santa likes to reuse bags because he's economical like that. 

Though he splurged and left a glitter trail to the bikes. 

Stocking time!

Yay bikes! 

Presents: Something you want, something you need, something you wear, something you read.

Blurry, but the Coco Bean seemed to feel the excitement.

Beardo, the magnificent. 

Rhyla wearing the robe I made her and showing off the Rarity necklace. 

Toot toot!

Too much fun.

Is it on straight?

Good weather on Christmas morning means bike rides in short sleeves. 

Then the wind kicked up, lol. 

So alert. 

So, I try something new for Christmas dinner every year. Trying to find "Our Thing." This year we tried "kid sushi." Bananas rolled in peanut butter and rice crispies, pickles rolled in mayo and ham, etc. It was fun, but probably not "our thing." 

More toys. 

Fischer wanted Mine Mine to ride the elephant. 

Posing before throwing the snowflake. 

Me and my first born;) 

Gumming his onesie.

Yes, all my children are especially animated. 

We made a gingerbread house for FHE one night.

Rhyla's birthday!!!!

Pink, purple, and white streamers. 

We went to Barnes and Noble for cookies, and to use our gift cards from Nana.

Fischer shoved half of that big ole cookie in his mouth at once.

Vash savored his.

I made a fancy marshmallow cake. 

Present time! ( I feel like that's all the captions this time around.)

Fischer trying on Rhyla's new bow.

Vash photobombing Rhyla's wig picture.

Hi there!

The Ninja and the Princess.

He was trying so hard to sneak up on them...

Rhyla loved the ribbon dancer I made her. (We didn't do much for her birthday because of behavioral issues, but I made it up to her later, once she'd stopped misbehaving. That's right, Mama means business. And yes, I feel mean.) 

He just gets so tired trying to keep up.

Blessing Day!!! Nana and Papa came out, as did my parents, and Nana's sisters and their husbands came out to support us too. It was such a wonderful day:) 

Fischer refused to get in on this group shot.

But then he felt bad and hugged Cohan later. 

Daddy helped make real Christmas wreathes.

The stocking hung from the chimney with care...

We met Santa. Lucked out and didn't even have to wait but three minutes.

Rode the train.

Elf hat.

No, no I don't take enough pictures of my babies. 

What is that thing????

Found a thumb. 

We did a cookies and dancing with Santa as Rhyla's dance studio too. They had a coloring station.

Vash liked dancing, but not in front of everyone.

Rhyla loves booty shaking. Doesn't matter who's watching.

Hi, Mom! Why yes, I did fill my pants.

Fischer just wanted to drag teddy around the dance floor.

Coloring time. 

Fischer don't dance.

Ward Christmas party.

Fischer spent most of the time eating the centerpiece.

Brother Mason made a good Santa. Apparently he was really excited about this. His roommate told me he woke him up early, wearing the beard, and was like, "How does it look?"

Found his hands. 

I helped in the preschool on Pajama day. 

Such a good big sister. 

Vash, the Flash.

Rhyla the warrior. 

These two have too much fun. If only we had the Vash and Rhyla show for reals. 

He loves seeing himself in pictures. 

Look, I can sleep sitting up!

Paper hats. 

Paper Sailor. 

One of her dance costumes. I think she looks just like a Charlie's Angel. 

Fischer adopted these two ladies during Rhyla's practice recital. 

Everybody dance now!

My tiny dancer.

More dancing.

So, Christmas was wonderful. Birthdays are wonderful. Even ze orchestra is wonderful. (This is me seriously misquoting Cabaret and no one getting my obscure movie references...)

Anyway, I'm grateful Craig got to sneak home for the holiday. I'm grateful for good friends and good food. I'm grateful to be able to celebrate the birth of our Savior and the birth of our darling girl. I'm so grateful we were able to bless our sweet little boy, and look forward to the wonderful things he and his siblings will continue to bring to our family.