The most wonderful time of the year! It's hard to beat December, and this was a really special one. I know we're in the good ole' days... mailing letters to Santa and listening for him on Christmas Eve... December meant Christmas Tree the elf, the Nutcracker, the Polar Express, Santa's Bag, plenty of hot cocoa and visits with Santa.
Christmas lists were a big deal this year and Lily rewrote hers a few times to get it just right. Lily asked for a balance beam and a polaroid camera. Charley asked for a fairy house and a Fancy Nancy doll, and Briggs got his first truck and some baby toys.
Happy 5 months B! Our smiley boy is taking everything in, making bubbles and trying to talk, rolling around all over the house and almost sitting up. Baby gate ordered!
It's been a wonderful, special, sometimes crazy year. Merry Merry!
 |
| Christmas Tree the elf! Took me a while to get on the elf train, but I have to say it is pretty fun... the girls LOVD finding our elf every day. |
 |
| Getting ready to pick secret Christmas gifts. |
 |
| Nutcracker (by the way, this sweet girl moved back to town)! |
 |
| Christmas Tree did NOT lose her magic! Phew (see above). :) |
 |
| Artwork in the church advent devotional (and Lily was especially proud to have her picture chosen for the cover). |
 |
| A spontaneous sweet Christmas letter Lily wrote for Charley. :) |
 |
| Practicing the princess wave on the horse drawn carriage. |
 |
| Tree time! |
 |
| The one! |
 |
| First ornament on the tree. :) |
 |
| Christmas cookies (plus one of Christmas Tree's finer hiding places in the background). ;) |
 |
| Sharing cello with Lil's class. |
 |
| An early snow!! Well... an early dusting. Either way, it counted in their eyes! |
 |
| Making Charley a Christmas present... a picture of all our Christmas preparations. :) |
 |
| Happy 71st Birthday, Grandpa! |
 |
| The REAL Santa pic! |
 |
| Our penguin family -- Lily, Briggs, and Charley. ;) |
 |
| Charley's choice. |
 |
| Christmas playdate for Charley's class, and big sis got to tag along. Good to see old friends (and this guy). |
 |
| Hogan said "When she's talking casually to Santa while drinking a juice box, we've seen Santa too much." Haha! |
 |
| Ready for the big Gingerbread house at the Ritz. |
 |
| Gingerbread houses at school. |
 |
| They worked so hard on this Santa sleigh. Just wanted to remember it. :) |
 |
| Christmas playdate! |
 |
| Caroling. |
 |
| Charley's art (this is Carson)! |
 |
| Happy 5 months, B!!! |
 |
| First time eating food (he is loving his real food, btw)! |
 |
| Lil showing B the Christmas mobile she made him. |
 |
| Polar Express with Grandma & Grandpa. |
 |
| Christmas Tree's letter back to the girls, answering all Lily's questions. "Is James H. Elf your brother?" (Lily's school elf.). "Do elves have cameras? What is it like being an elf?" |
 |
| Merry Christmas! |
 |
| First one up with me. |
 |
| Hanging with baby cousin Hunter. |
 |
| Ice skating (last thing on our Christmas break bucket list)! |
 |
| She wound't touch the ice last year but loved it this year... she didn't stop happy screaming the whole time. |
 |
| Happy New Year! |
Here's to a year of health, happiness, and more sleep. ;)
Peace, 2018. Thanks for lots of great memories, and of course our little guy!
