And to all a goodnight...

We hope you all had a beautiful holiday!

 He insisted! 

 Finally found that tree

 He wanted to put the ornaments "way up high up dair" like Mama

 Helping Daddy with a puzzle. 

No REALLY, actually helping!

Mama enjoying cuddles before bedtime

Because you can't have a snow "storm" without brownies. 

And you can't make brownies without licking the spoon!

 Baby girl is growing so fast and has her first baby doll

 Making Christmas cookies

 There is good reason he had his own decorating station. He only managed to decorate 4 cookies. 

Two of those cookies were consumed at lightening speed and, apparently, that's what lunch was that day. We're excellent parents.

 It's the best we could do. Not even worried about it. 

Take THAT pinterest!

 He rests! 

 Merry Christmas Eve with GG Faye!

Big Al and Little Al. I mean Jack. 

Can we say twins!?!?

 Wow, we even managed a family photo! 

 Yep. This was Christmas morning. 

"I don't like Santa no more"

Was it because he ate a bite out of his Christmas cookie and drank his milk?

Was it because he just wakes up grumpy? 

Who knows!

 He did warm up though.

 Me and my pile of munchkins.

Fort. Books. Milk. 

Goodnight.

Mini Holiday Update

This is the only record I have of Thanksgiving. And I would have NO record if I hadn't stolen these pictures off Grammy's phone. 

Good job Grammy for capturing at least one photo of Cora on her first Thanksgiving!

We have started getting Christmas up, but it's proving to be a slow process this year. 

Normally I'm DONE decorating and shopping and have  most of my wrapping done. 

This year, I'm half way on decorations, we have no tree yet, still have shopping to do and haven't wrapped a thing.

 These two are the reasons I give myself for being behind on my schedule.

We took an early birthday present over to GG Faye to help her celebrate her 99th birthday!

We got to hang out and have fun and sang a few Christmas carols with a cozy fire. 

Happy Birthday GG Faye. We love you!!!

 You know how I said we still had no tree? We don't. 

But that doesn't mean we haven't tried. 

Effort 1: Parked, was way to busy and expensive. We left.

Effort 2: Provided tree hunting pics, but the trees were less than desirable. We left.

 Effort 3: A tree from Fred Meyer's costs HOW MUCH??? We left there too.

 Effort 4: Pull into a tree lot. We didn't even get out of the car when we saw the prices.

 Effort 5: Will take place some time in the future. We hope to leave with a tree.

Our "Christmas treating" (per Jack) saga of 2016 is to be continued...

 Here we have Jack reading his favorite bedtime story to Cora.

Mama tried oat cereal with Cora for the first time.

 You sure this is a good idea mama?

 All right, I'll give it a try.

 Why'd you think this was a good idea?

 Hmm, I'm less than impressed.

 Thanks to Grammy for taking the kiddlets to go see Santa. I knew she could get a good picture out of them!

 Jack and Santa circa 2014

Happy Fall Y'all

It feels like it's been way longer than just over a month since I posted. 

Since going back to work, life has been busy and regimented to help us get through the days in a (mostly) happy state of being. Everyone is getting fed, washed, clothed and resting at night and we try to sneak some fun in there too!

The boys are heading out the door to work and daycare. 

Jack reads this book EVERY. single. DAY. 

At night time, it's THIS book no matter what. Even if we try to bribe him with 3 other books to read. We must end with this one.

Daddy built us a fire! 

"ooo, hot!"

Miss C turned 3 months

Candy corn heads

 A muddy day at the pumpkin patch

 Jack was in wheelbarrow heaven

 Mama and Cora bundled up to keep each other warm

 We survived the 2nd annual pumpkin patch extravaganza! 

 Cora is wanting so badly to be upright rather than laying down lately, and she makes it known with LOTS of chatter

 We went grocery shopping at the grocery store! Fun times and fun activities too for all the kiddos

 Concentrating on his pumpkin carving craft

 Daddy and Cora are supervising the work

 Four happy pumpkins. Mama doesn't like to carve scary ones.

 Cora was a gnome

 

 Jack would be nothing but a fireman, or a "direwriter" if you ask him. 

We're working on the "F" sound.

 And all the grandkids gathered at GG Fayes to trick or treat a night early

 Jack lucked out and got to trick or treat only because the weather was perfect and he clearly needed an activity to occupy his mind and energy that evening. We went around the block, but he still got lots of candy and it took us almost an hour lol

 Mommy and Daddy were able to sneak away to the beach for a day date.

 jack still thinks the bumbo is his chair and was using it to peruse the library

 Current favorite toy? Tongs from the kitchen. Very useful for lego clean up

 Out with the old couch...

 ...in with the new

And after all that Cora turned 4 months old too!

We are booked up and gearing up for the holiday season. I'm finding myself in the Christmas spirit early this year and I'm the annoying one listening to Christmas music on the radio already and asking Steve to bring down all my Christmas boxes.

Looking forward to all things Merry and Bright this season!