Lucy's 6th Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUCY!

Before Anna Kate went to school, she really wanted to give Lucy her present, which she planned and picked out herself - beautiful "big sis/lil sis" heart necklaces.

Lucy requested a snowman cake. How'd I do?

Good thing, because for the first year, since her birth in sunny Las Cruces, NM, there was literally NO snow, and it was probably 40. That's very warm for us this time of year. 

Peter and Myra helped us celebrate!

This year, Will has been very interested in helping blow out the candles on other people's cakes. (I'm already looking forward to his birthday, especially since we are through Dave's and Lucy's. . . . .)

One candle left to go . . . .

This "Fijit" that Lucy's cousin Madeline sent was (and still is) a h-u-g-e hit with Will. 

It entertained him the rest of the night.

Julie, Lucy's new American Doll stole Lucy's heart.

Dave's (34th) birthday

First Snow

Winter this year has been, well, fantastic! (from this southwesterner's point of view)

We have had literally next to no snow. 

However, we did have a little bit of snow a couple of weeks ago. 

Here's the proof.

 

 Daddy walked everyone down to the hill in front of the Academy. 

Will did not enjoy this as much as everyone else! But he did survive!

 And, we cut Will's hair. I have been the one hesitant to do it. I didn't want to say good-bye to his curls! But after one particularly challenging bath and grooming session, I said, "let's go!" 

Dave took me up on the offer. And our little guy looks so much more like a little boy!

He loves books. On this evening, he was periodically reclining on the pillow behind him and flipping through my book (Boundaries with Kids . . .. that's the kind of month we've had around here! Seriously, it's one of my favorite and helpful books!)

And we're still getting into the action with Twister!

Christmas morning 2011

For those who wonder what Christmas morning looked like around here, here are some pictures.

Like most families, we have breakfast together - cinnamon rolls, bacon, quiche, juice and lots of coffee.

Then, stockings, which unlike my family growing up, are not wrapped for the most part.

Once Will saw his stocking, he carried it around and wanted to get in to it. It was so fun!

 Jasmine, Anna Kate's doll, really made out with some nice new things this year at 

Anna Kate's birthday and Christmas!

 Once Will opened up his truck from my grandmother (Great Grandmother Smith), he was uninterested in anything else. Finally, all we had left (besides that basket of folded laundry) :) was a couple of things for him. We kind of forced them on him.

 He re-engaged with this big box, actually laying on top of it to reach the other sides to open it. A set of old-fashioned wooden blocks awaited him. 

 And he got right to work! And this is a little bit of what the living room looked like as things wrapped up. Lots of things around and lots of wrapping paper, boxes and children playing!

 The girls got Twister. Oh! So much fun! If you don't have this game for your older kids, I totally recommend it! Even though Lucy and Samantha's legs have a hard time reaching from green to red, we have a great time playing and laughing! (And since Samantha is only learning right from left, I put a sticker on her left hand and her left foot, and we are good to play!)

Do you see Will?

 He always jumps right in like that - stretching legs and hands on to circles and showing us his "moves." So precious!

We had a super fabulous time with the Andresens for Christmas dinner at their house later in the day!

Christmas cookies 2012

I was thrilled when Will wanted to join in on the Christmas cooking-making fun! We brought the step stool over to the counter, which provided the perfect height for him, and I had out the smaller rolling pins, and he jumped right in, like he had done this so much before!

 rolling

 Daddy lets us "in" on the picture taking!

 I have to say, I am a big fan of the apron, even on days like this one, where I'm not dressed fancy (do I have days where I am dressed fancy? That's for another time!), I love the apron! And so when Will pointed and reached for an apron of his own out of my stash, my heart leaped with joy! Luckily, this one is yellow with a bumble-bee! He waited so patiently as I got him all suited up!

 and then we went back to work cutting out cookies.

 After church on Christmas Eve, I tried desperately to get a good picture of the kids all dressed up! Most of them, for some reason, were fuzzy! bah! humbug! And this one, Anna Kate wanted no part of - silly faces? No thanks, she said. But Samantha and Lucy wanted to be silly, and Will thought it was funny to watch. Lucy is still holding her glow stick (a brilliant move on our church's part - giving young children glow sticks instead of candle or empty hands for the singing of Silent Night!)