playing

cold and rainy/snowy.... means staying inside and playing with new presents!

Christmas!

Christmas morning wake-up!

she was not sure why I was taking her picture... haha

a baby doll!  she loves her!

Connor got new games for his leap-pad

new plane and car

little Candy Cane girl with Mom

legos with Dad

playing with new toys

We left our house on Friday at 6:30, and drove straight to the Sanders' house for some cousin time.  This is the best picture I have of all five - sorry Peter...

ties for Bill!

Lightning and 'Mater!  So exciting!!!

We stayed with Grandma and Pop-Pop.  Sleeping under the train board - can you see the excitement?

Saturday morning we saw Uncle Paul and Aunt Sandy and then had the train Open House in the afternoon.  I just enjoyed the visiting and didn't try to take pictures on Saturday. :)

Sunday after church we had gift exchange and lunch with the Hoffman side of the family.

Brooke loves Ethan!

Connor and Kylie played the afternoon away - with Kylie's new bird and birdcage.  Connor had fun, and didn't want to stop to get his picture taken... haha.

 Monday we spent the day at Pap and Mawna's.

reading Skippy Jon Jones

playing and crawling around

being engineer of the train was a highlight of the trip

Whew.  Lots of fun!  Merry Christmas for all! :)

Merry Christmas!

Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

 

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

No more let sins and sorrows grow
Nor thorns infest the ground
He comes to make
His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found
Far as the curse is found
Far as, far as the curse is found

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders and wonders of His love

Seven Months old!

since we don't have any official Doctor's office stats to share,

I thought I'd share the photos I took of Brooke ~ even the "bloopers" ~

hey - a good one!

another good one!  (minus the teether toy, but she almost always has something in her mouth these days, so it's a good way to remember)

At seven months, Brooke is taking two naps a day plus a little snooze in the early evening.  She is eating baby food and semi-solids; bananas being a favorite.  She can *CRAWL* which is making my life a little crazier, haha.  She is very curious, likes to 'dance' while Bill is whistling, and blows bubbles.  She shrieks with delight about anything Connor does, and we're still waiting for some good laughs.

Santa?

Santa's Cabin in our town

The reaction upon entering the cabin.
Plus crying, and then hiding behind Dad.

So Brooke was the "brave one" and sat on Santa's lap.

She loved him!

see the love?  :)

Connor did talk about Rudolph with Santa...

but then Santa had Rudolph's bells and that was also so exciting it was scary.

Connor told Santa that "You can bring me whatever you want and I will love it."

"You can surprise me.  I will like it, I just know I will like it."

The best part of the whole thing for Connor was getting a bag of chips and a candy cane.

We'll see what Santa brings next week! 

Crawling!?!?!

Yes... Aunt Alison helped this along.

She still is trying every day at home to be a crawler.  She gets about this far and then gets back on her belly.  Her arms need a little bit more strength before she gets any farther - thank goodness! 

lots to be thankful for

arrived in Mars before too much snow had come at home - thanks to Bill's snow day from school!

And some pictures from the visit...

playing outside

baby's first Thanksgiving!

trains after dinner

babies learning how to make candy... ;)

the only picture of both Connor and Brooke together! :)