Christmas Party

Saturday night we went to the Radiology Dept. Christmas Party. This is the first time that we've been on a "date" since....well, I can't remember! So thanks to Lindy for watching the kiddos! Of course, they had to join in on a picture, even though they are in jammies.

The party went well but man, can those older doctors talk! We didn't even get to take a bite of our food until after 9pm!

My big belly was a great conversation starter...

One of the waiters, who was really very sweet & attentive, cracked me up by telling me "Man, my sex life is out of control...I have 7 kids!" (ranging from 50 to 23 years old, so you can imagine how old he was). "Whoa!" was all I could manage to say, haha!

I made Bryce stop so I could take a picture of this huge tree (sorry for the fence, but it was way to windy to get out of the truck) anyway, it's so big & colorful...I just love it!

Santa

Aunt Lindy came up Friday after work because she so nicely agreed to babysit the kids Saturday night so we could go to a Christmas party : )

So Saturday morning we went to see Santa and it did not go as I had hope...And Brinley was not the bratty one this time!!

See our family picture below?

Unfortunately, this is the Ben that showed up for Santa... He wouldn't even take a picture with us!

So, Brin was the only one who visited with Santa this year.
She was so sweet (although she wouldn't wear the adorable gymboree jacket sweater that matches her tights!) she talked to Santa and told him she wanted "toys" and has enjoyed coloring in the book he gave her.

Complete strike out on getting a picture of the kids together with Santa :(

I have one of Ben looking completely unamused at 5 months then him crying the next year and Brin crying the year after that (Ben wouldn't go near him) then last year only Ben because Brinley wouldn't go near him! LOL- We'll see how next year goes...

Here's Brin & Aunt Lin at lunch

And Ben having a better attitude & showing his new skateboard trick after we got home.

Advent Calendar

Love this Eric Carle advent calendar! My MIL got it for the kids, not sure where she found it. It's adorable, and doesn't involve candy - which is what I love best about it! Every day they open a new window to reveal a new little ornament for the tree.

The kids love it & my little secret is...to keep them from fighting over who gets to open it, we only do it every other day so they can both open a window : )

Emily Elizabeth

I had just read Brinley "Clifford's Thanksgiving Visit" and at the end he & Emily Elizabeth were reunited after spending the holiday apart. (Yes, I know Thanksgiving is over but try explaining that to a 2 year old.)



Brinley: I don't like Emily Elizabeth.

Me: You don't like Emily Elizabeth?

Brinley: No.

Me: Why?

Brinley: I just don't like her.


Hmmm....

Snow!

We had our first snow yesterday!

It was sooo cold, 24 degrees when I picked Ben up from school & I (with some degree of mommy guilt) waited in the carpool line to pick him up instead of getting Brin out in the cold but I was there extra early to get a good spot (and alleviate the guilt, haha).

It was super windy but some of it stuck... Our patio snow table...

And Ben decide to investigate part of our fence that was blown down but as you can see, he wasn't dressed and made a hasty retreat back indoors : )

I'm shameless

Today I signed up for my Target baby registry...yes, it's my 3rd child : 0 but I wanted the $20 gift card you get for starting a registry (plus the kids loved scanning stuff!)

New Game

Too cold to play outside?

Okay, how about a puzzle...maybe some play-doh...candyland?

No, my crazy kids found a new game to play - let's put blankets on our heads and chase each other around the house!!! haha

Here's Brinley about to walk into a wall...

Ben chose a much shorter blanket to play with so he definitely has the advantage.

Running through the kitchen (it's a short trip through my microscopic kitchen)

Luckily no one was seriously injured : )

Our Tree!

We got our Christmas tree Saturday night and it was kinda late, but the kids were so excited and couldn't wait to decorate it. Brinley has a box of ornaments that she has been carrying around since before Thanksgiving - lol!

Anyway the lights weren't finished because they took a couple of tries, but the kids started adding the decorations ... I love this "plumber" shot (forgive the dark spot). She would not stay dressed that day (like a lot of days so this is a big source of friction for us lately - especially the socks & shoes). She also changes her clothes all day and this was her 4th pair of pants to put on!

Ben, after his bath, trying to get a few ornaments on before going to get dressed (the lights are done this time). Can't wait to embarrass him with this someday : )

Finally, on Sunday, fully dressed kids

and a finished tree!

Okay, I have a confession...this is our first year to have a tree skirt! Horrible, I know, but I just haven't found one I like (besides the $70 from Pottery Barn) then spotted this one at Target with 5 snowmen and since we are soon to be a family of 5 (and I love snowmen) I just had to get it!