Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope your day was great!

Thomas' Gift to Himself

This morning Dave walked into get Thomas up for breakfast and found him sitting up in his bed. So now he can go from laying down to sitting up all on his own.

A Stocking Hung with Love

My friend Jen made Arden a Christmas stocking. It is amazing! Really, it's amazing. The stocking took her three years to make and this is the first Christmas that it will be used.

The stocking is so special to me and I know that in the future it will be special to Arden. Can you imagine in 20 years she will look at that stocking and know how special it is to her.

Jen wrote Arden a very special letter about the stocking and Arden understood how special it was because she took it right away to be hung with the other stockings.

My camera does not do the stocking justice. I wish you could see the details of the stitching. It really is beautiful.

Jen,

Thank you so much for the time and energy that you put into Arden's stocking. It will be cherished and taken well care of. Thank you so much. We love you.

Question of the Week

Do you really think it was a silent night?

The Littlest Christmas

Arden's pre-school Christmas Pageant was so much fun. She stood on the front row and did her thing. She sang when she wanted and clapped throughout each song. She was an adorable shepherd.

For some reason most of my pictures turned out fuzzy...but here are the best ones of the day.

She's in the front with her elbows out. Her red dress is peaking through.

Front and center.

Exiting the stage.


My little shepherd.

For the Grandparents

On Wednesday Arden's pre-school had their Christmas Pageant. It was fantastic. All of the kids did great. You could tell they practiced a lot before hand.

Here's one of my favorite videos.

A Princess Christmas

Our friend Marie emailed me a couple of weeks ago asking me if we would like to have a Princess Christmas tree. The tree arrived at our house on Tuesday night and Arden zeroed in on it right away.

She was so excited and wanted it to replace our Christmas tree. Once we explained to her that it was for her room she took the tree skirt and said "Don't worry tree I'll keep you warm with this skirt."

Here are some pictures of her decorating it.

9 Month Stats

Today Thomas did the big weigh in. His pediatrician said he looked great and was meeting his development needs at a 100%. He flashed his big grin for her and even though he was mad at the nurse for giving him a shot. He said smiled at her through his tears as she was leaving. He is such a joy.

At nine months:

Weight: 19.14 lbs (2 oz short of 20 lbs) 50%

Length: 29 inches 75%

Head circumference: 44 cm 25%

Click! Take A Pic!

Arden is getting better and better with the camera. Maybe now I might actually be in some of the pictures.

Santa's Stockings

Arden has been asking me over and over again why Santa wears stockings. She will take our Christmas stocking that are hanging up and put them on along with the Santa hat. She walks around asking Thomas to sit on her lap and tell her what she wants for Christmas. It is the sweetest thing. But before she takes them off she always asks "Why does Santa wear stockings?"

Question of the Week.

"Why does Santa wear stockings?"

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Our house is starting to look a lot like Christmas. Dave and Arden put up the tree while Thomas and I headed to the grocery store. It was wonderful to return home and the tree was finished. While in an ideal world it would have been great to put it up together but since we are crunched for time we maximized our efforts this year.

Dave did a great job with the tree and Arden loved to help. According to her the tree is not complete without candy canes.

9 Months

Today Thomas is 9 months old. He goes in for his check up on Tuesday so the official stats will posted then. He's growing so fast. The pajama's he's wearing here Arden wore when she was 18 months old. Just goes to show his size.

You Create the Caption

A Little Photographer!

Arden loves the camera. She wants to learn how to take pictures. She is learning how to line up the picture. She's getting better.

Here's a sample of her work.

First try...

That's better:

Wordless Wednesday

Girls Day Out

Last week Arden asked me if we could spend some time together without Thomas and Daddy. So on Saturday we got dressed up and headed out for some shopping and ended the night with pizza at a restaurant. We had such a great time. Arden is really fun to hang out with and let me tell you she can shop with the best of them. She is a great window shopper and other than one gum ball she didn't ask for anything.

Here we are getting ready to head out.

Arden shopping at the Hello Kitty Kiosk. She loves to pull out the stool and look through the different charms.

Waiting on our pizza.

Arden loves going to Front Gate at the mall and looking at their decorations.

Overheard

Last week Dave came home from work sick with a fever. He went straight to bed and I took him some medicine downstairs. My little helper was very concerned about her father so she followed me downstairs.

Arden: "Daddy, what's wrong? Are you OK?"

Dave: "Arden, my feet are slow today." This is what she told us when she was sick a few weeks ago.

Arden in a sweet, gentle voice: "Well, maybe we could get a giant to carry you."

__________________________________________________________

Me: "Arden, what do you think we should get Daddy for Christmas?"

Arden: "How about a spider-man mask?"

Me: "I'm not sure he needs a spider-man mask. What else do you think he would like?"

Arden: "How about a cattoo?"

Me (trying not to laugh): "A tattoo?"

Arden: "Yeah, a tattoo he doesn't have one."

Me: "Your right he doesn't have one of those."

Imagination

Does anyone know what to call the foot rest that is sticking out of her princess castle?

A porch.

Arden came up with this on her own. She told me that she needed a porch for her castle because sometimes she likes to sit outside. I love it.

Fun in the Tub

Arden loves the bath but usually hates to have her hair washed. Some days it is an ordeal just to get her hair washed. She is getting better and the other day we were able to have some fun while washing her hair.

The Morning Paper

Thomas and my brother Eric were hanging out one morning. I love this picture of the two of them together.

Wordless Wednesday

Over the River

We traveled to my parents house for Thanksgiving. We left on Thursday morning and had a rough trip. Arden wasn't feeling well but luckily she started dancing around again about 12 hours latter.

We all ate too much but we had a good time.

Happy Thanksgiving

Since today is Thanksgiving I wanted to let you know what I am thankful for:

My Savior

Dave

Arden

Thomas

Our families

Dave's job

Our house and neighborhood

My job

The ability to stay at home with our kids

Arden's school

Our church

There are many more things that I am thankful for but I don't have enough room to list them all. I find it very important to constantly count my blessings because it really keeps things in perspective.

Wordless Wednesday

One More Video

Here's Thomas in his element. He is 100% boy without any prodding. He is already into cycles. He loves to roll Arden's tricycle. He will sit there and roll it over and over again.

Rockin'

Thomas wants to crawl so bad. He's trying hard to get moving. He can pull himself anywhere he wants to go but he can't figure out his hips and legs.

Question of the Week

Does anyone else go to the grocery store and forget the main item that that originally went to the store to get?

Happy Birthday Laura

This weekend is the birthday weekend in our family. Today is our sister-in-law Laura's birthday. We can't wait to see Laura at Christmas. It's been a year since we've seen then. Until then...Laura we hope you had a great birthday.

Happy Birthday Eric

Today is my brother Eric's birthday. He is the big three-O today. I still can remember when my parents brought him home from the hospital. I wanted him to be able to play with me right then and there. I also remember being the big sister and telling my kindergarten teacher all about being a big sister.

Today my brother is:

The best uncle to my kids. He treats them as if they were his own.

He's not afraid of babies.

He's generous.

He's very funny.

He's hard working.

Happy Birthday Eric. We'll celebrate with you soon.

Playing Together

Arden loves to play with Thomas. The other day I left Thomas in his room while I ran downstairs for a moment. Arden ran into the room to play with Thomas in his room. They rolled around the in the floor.

Arden asked if they could play in Thomas' room more often.

Wordless Wednesday

The Picnic

Arden loves picnic's and we usually have them on the floor. So the other day I surprised her and took her outside for lunch.

She had a great time. She carried out the cookies and napkins. She loved it. She told me that it was her favorite part of her day. That night when Dave was tucking her in and they were praying. She said that she went on a picnic and it was her favorite thing of the day.

I love doing the simple things with my kids that end up making a huge impact in their day.

Arden did not want me to take a picture of our picnic but I did anyway.

Hot November

The weather the past couple of days has been amazing in the mid-70's and sunny and we are taking full advantage of it.

We've had picnics, played tag and hide and go seek. We've also walked around the neighborhood plus went to the park.

It has felt like spring and I love it. Just don't remind me that winter is still on its way.

Question of the Week

Why oh why does the housework never end?

Cranberry Caramel Bars

Do you ever wonder what to make with fresh cranberries? I love cranberry juice and cranberry sauce but other than that I've never know what to do with those fresh cranberries. This weekend I discovered a delicious way to enjoy them and I just had to share the recipe. Plus it was super easy.

One of the ladies that I work shared this with us and all of us loved them even Arden. If you try the bars let me know if you like them. I have a feeling this will be a favorite of ours. Sorry there are no pictures because we ate them all.

Ingredients
1 c. fresh cranberries (next time I am going to double it but that's just to my liking)
1 T. sugar
2 and 1/3 cup flour divided
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups uncooked regular oats
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 c. melted butter
3/4 cup finely chopped dates (find them in the isle with the raisins)
1 c. chopped pecans (optional)
1 (12 oz) jar caramel sauce

Stir together cranberries and 2 T. sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.

Combine 2 c. flour and next 4 ingredients; stir in melted butter until crumbly. Reserve 1 c. flour mixture. Press in remaining mixture into a bottom of lightly greased 13x9 baking dish.

Bake at 350% for 15 min.

Sprinkle dates, pecans and cranberry mixture over crust.

Stir together caramel sauce and remaining 1/3 c. flour together. Spoon/pour over cranberries.

Sprinkle with reserved 1 cup flour mixture.

Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and cut into bars.

Yields: 2 dozen

Playing Together

Arden has a giant bunny that my brother gave her last Easter. She loves this bunny. She sleeps with him every night. Every once in a while he will make his way downstairs to join the rest of the family.

Arden decided the other day that Bunny was going to be a pretend car. She asked if Thomas could play with her on her bunny. She pretended to be a bus driver and was driving Thomas all over town. They had a blast together.

The Meaning of Fall

Our house is surrounded by tress and every Oct/Nov Dave starts talking about putting the house on the market because of all of the leaves that fall. He litterally spends every Saturday for 2 months cleaning up the leaves.

This fall Arden is really picking up the differences in the changing of the seasons. She notices the difference colors of the trees and the fact the leaves are actually falling to the grown. She also has discovered the pure joy of jumping into piles of leaves. I love listening to her laughter. It's pure joy.

LIke Mother Like Son

The other day Thomas and I ended up matching. I thought we were cute together.

8 Months

Here I am at eight months!

8 Months

Thomas turned 8 months today. I know every month it doesn't seem possible. Since my camera is still not cooperating I will tell you what he's been up to the past month.

He currently has three teeth. All on the bottom.
He can pull himself around the floor with his arms.
He loves to bounce.
He eats 4 solid meals a day.
He will sit and listen as Arden and I read.
He loves looking down the floor vents.

Hopefully, there will be pictures tomorrow.

Pictures

There are pictures coming. For some reason my camera does not want to download the pictures I recently took. Hopefully, tomorrow I can get it all straightened out.

Question of the Week

"Why are you laughing if it isn't funny?" asks Arden.

An Observation

I have noticed that Thomas likes to sleep with his feet upon the rails of his bed. It must remind him of when he used to put them up in my ribs.

Get Ready

Thomas has figured out that he is strong. Tonight he would put his arms out and then pull his legs behind him. He was so excited because he can now get around. He was into everything tonight. He couldn't decided what to get into first.

Life has officially changed. I have a mobile baby.

Wordless Wednesday

Good Hygiene

Thomas' two teeth are fulling showing and Arden has taken it upon herself to teach him out to brush his teeth.

She found the toothbrush we got for Thomas and proceeded to teach him out to brush his teeth. He has to be the most patient baby. She did a great job and then encouraged him afterwards.

Now if I could only get her to brush her teeth when I ask the first time.

"This is pretty easy."

"I can't forget the one's in the back."

The Stroller Press

Thomas love anything that moves. He is fond of his sister's baby stroller. If the stroller is within his reach he will grab it and pull it and bench press it. He just laughs.

"Mom, I'm busy here. I am building muscles so I can get into everything."

Question of the Week

Is there anything better on a Sunday afternoon than a nap with the kids?

Trick or TREAT

Tonight is the night that Arden has been looking forward to for weeks. All day it had been overcast but warm. We don our costumes and started out of the house and wouldn't you know it that it started to pour to rain at our 4th house. The sun was trying to peak out 15 minutes earlier.

Luckily we were at a friends house where everyone was in their garage waiting for the rain to stop. As the rain stopped Thomas and I headed back home to pass out candy while Dave and Arden took off to conquer the neighborhood.

Arden was the Queen of the Spiders and Thomas a Cute Pumpkin. Arden really got into her role. I ran out to the car to get something when I returned she said:

"I am going to take your baby because I am the Queen of the Spiders."

Me: "You're going to take my baby"

Arden: "Mommy, it's pretend and yes I am going to take your baby because that's what the Queen of the Spiders does."

Where she came up with this I have no idea.

I must warn you there are a lot of pictures because I think my kids are pretty cute in their costumes.