Its the BEST time of the Year

Its the BEST time of year...It just makes you wanna jump and shout. Lets get excited. 

We did a lot this season but the best thing was spending time learning about the birth of our SAVIOR - Jesus. What an amazing plan God had to bring us Himself in the form of a baby to ultimately be the Lamb of Sacrifice needed to atone for our sin so that we can live forever in eternity. I mean who wouldn't shout for JOY!

We started decorating the weekend prior to thanksgiving. Maybe even before that. The one perk of an artificial tree. New spot this year. 

all decorated

up close

A panoramic view of our house during this season. Don't mind the pile of laundry that needs to be folded, the toys on the floor and the cupboard doors wide open. The joys of the season.

The kids decorated the entire downstairs tree with no help from me this year. 

We watched lots and lots of Christmas movies. Elf. The Grinch. Home Alone. Charlie Brown's Christmas, Christmas Vacation (adults only), Rudolf, Frosty, 

I did an awesome advent study with shereadstruth.com - Amazing! You should definitely check out their studies. Plus as a family with did Ann Voskamp's unwrapping the greatest gift. It was great too. A little bit above our littles but they really enjoyed the stories and hopefully next year we will do the Jesse Tree with it. 

We baked english muffin bread again for our neighbors. 16 loaves and that wasn't even everyone. Thank goodness I still had the tags we made a couple of years ago. 

I flopped a batch of popitee for Shadd's teachers. Never add baking powder when it calls for baking soda. Plus don't start it at 9 o'clock at night. Duh.  Second batch much better. 

making treats for shadds classmates

We crafted. Nativity scenes. Peppermint play dough. Christmas Chains (which they totally did all by themselves - really no help at all from me) Amazing. Ells cut and Shadd stapled and counted)

We sent out Christmas cards. These two were quite the helpers. If you didn't get one sorry. I ordered only 70 and well my list has more on it than that, whoops. Here is a copy of what it looked like.

And lots and lots of wrapping. One of my favorite things, I think. Is there a job for that? My friend T and I would love it. Plus I have a really cute crew.

Funny Story

First day of basketball - we told the kid he needed pants on. So this is what he came up like. I guess he isn't too well versed in how to dress for the gym quite yet. We got quite the chuckle though.

If you can't tell since everything is black. His shorts are on over his pants.

Christmas w/ the snowbirds

After an early morning wake up call for some crazy black friday shopping with my momma and sis - we hosted christmas with my grandparents and my family. The live down south in the winter so we squeeze it in prior to their departure. 

With  two kids three grands, three grand spouses, and eight great grands it gets a bit  crazy but oh so fun.  my grandpa made us (each family) a game board and game. it is super fun. 

here are some pics from the celebration. 

the greats got all the kids piggy bank and bags of coins.

 notice sage...he loves to try his gifts on. stripping down naked to get into his new jammies immediately. a theme throughout each christmas. he gets it from his daddy. D is always trying on his stuff in the middle of opening presents. i guess they just like to make sure the giver knows how much they like it.

Gingerbread House

Every year the cousin on d's side make a gingerbread house. this time aunt k even made it homemade. no kit for this family of bakers. oh no. it turned out beautiful and there is a ton of help.

My new frame

Check out my new frame...doesn't it just look fabulous. If you don't own an Adamo frame. Well you definitely should. Our friends make them and well they are the perfect statement piece for your home. I love mine. Thanks T and M. It is beautiful!

One of our favorites - hot cocoa

Bball season

Shadd played I9 basketball these last couple months. He had fun. He improved. He lacks some aggression and maybe the reason for the game. But he follows directions, guards his guy and has really enjoyed playing.

team pizza party

zephen 4 months

can he seriously be four months old?  wow. i gotta kick this weight loss thing into gear. i mean who still has weight to lose and these winter months and holidays help a ton, right?

well we definitely hit this development milestone around here. we are back to sleeping like a newborn. yep. awesome stuff. web says he's go so much going on up in that little noggin of his and can't get it out as he isn't quite sitting unassisted or crawling around this place yet.  well I'm hoping we get back to a solid stretch soon because the bags under my eyes are really not beautiful.

but we are all smiles. still spitting but chatting and cooing up a storm.

he's getting big but still drowns on this thing. 

he is trying new things like saucer (chewing is the thing) and the johnny jumper (which he just swings around in)

but our biggest milestone is reaching, grabbing, chewing. so typically he can be found like this.

                                                

and his attention span and awareness has amped up. he loves to watch the bigs and talk with the people in the room.  he is full of smiles and captures others attention with his gaze just like sage can.  

his entertainer...check her out! 

he is growing up fast and as i type this he is siting her blowing bubbles, drolling and chatting it up so maybe next month he will be sitting and playing with a pile of toys already.