Christmas 2014

We had another wonderful and blessed Christmas this year. The boys are at such fun ages for this time of year, and are finally starting to grasp the true meaning as well...since they love celebrating birthdays its been fun to talk about Baby Jesus having a birthday.

Christmas Eve we headed to my parent's after naps. I was able to get this adorable pic in christmas jammies before we left.

After dinner and gifts we snuggled up to watch the Polar Express...four generations deep.

four generation pic. so blessed to have such wonderful women in my life.

these boys sure love their grampa!

we came home and quick put together a plate for santa and the reindeer since it was already way past the boys bedtime we didn't get very fancy. Good thing Santa really likes oreos! ;)

We always do just three gifts for the boys, and this year they were all pretty practical. The boys love daddy's new work beanie, so santa brought them some of their own, along with some new slippers!

They also each got a set of legos, to build their own jobsite.

Little miss pretty slept through all the opening and excitement, like nothing was even happening around her.

daddy spent nearly four hours assembling legos...hes the best!

We spent the rest of our day relaxing, playing and taking naps together. I just love having everyone home together and snuggling. Especially with a new baby...it just doesn't get much better!

Clarks Antics {2014}

Clark returned to us this year right after Evie was born. I always have mixed feelings about this funny little elf, but we try to keep it light and fun, and not involve any bribery/reward for the boys showing good behavior while Clark is around.

That being said, here are some of the "things" he was up to this year.

He colored on our family pic, giving the boys "reindeer horns" and beards. Mom got skipped! ;)

He borrowed the boys' nerf guns they got at a Christmas party and had a fun shootout with Santa.

He hung with our friends in the nativity scene. He loves baby Jesus too!

He toilet papered our new Christmas tree, to which Bentley said "we need to hide all our paper toilet mom!" :)

We made teacher gifts before bed one night and Clark got our craft stuff back out and gave himself some antlers too!

Do you want to build a snowman? He started the work for us on some fun olaf snow globes I found here on pinterest.

He used cheerios to spell out the kids first letters of their names - something we have been working on around here with Bentley learning how to write his own name in school.

He left us some Grinch masks to color, and wear. Harry loves the Grinch movie this year! ;)

He hid some candy canes in the boys' boots...

 And he got out all the fixins to make birthday brownies for baby jesus! :)

He didn't "move" every night this year...we think he might have gotten waken by little sis a few times and overslept. ;) Either way the boys had fun...that's all that matters!

Preschool Christmas Party {2014}



 

Last week I had the chance to spend the morning with Bentley for his class Christmas Party. When we arrived, the kids sang some songs and recited their memory work for us. And by kids, I mean everyone but mine. ;)

he was pretty busy picking his nose, and giving thumbs up...

These are his buds...

Dash, Chet, and Ian.

They're all quite the group together.



After their performance, we did some projects together..including decorating some sacks for the Kids Food Basket dinners the preschoolers brought in donations for.

We made a manger scene with his bible verse, and also made some place cards for friends and family at holiday parties. So fun to watch them use their imaginations to create things.

 

He came home with this gift for us...my favorite gifts we get.

Handmade, with love...and he even wrote his own name! :)

{{weekend/rewind}}

We spent our Friday day and night relaxing. it was great to be able to just be together and hang out before our busy weekend started!

I can hardly leave this sleeping beauty be...she is just so cute and I wanna squeeze her!

The boys crashed hard too. There is just something so sweet about sleeping babies, even when they're hardly babies anymore.

Saturday morning was a jammy day. We had a busy afternoon/evening ahead so we started our day slow. The boys are so proud of "baby sis" and love to hold her any chance they get.

Bentley asked to "hold her like daddy does" so I laid her on his chest. He then looked at me and said "can you please back up now and give me some space mom?"

...think he has heard that recently? ;)

Saturday afternoon we headed out with the Slagh side for a sleigh ride at Teusink's farm. Since there wasn't much snow we ended up on a horse drawn hay ride - and still had a blast!

Princess did great, in the moby wrap under my coat. She is not a fan of the slightest bit of cold, so I was pretty worried but she was a trooper!

After the ride we went for pizza and then headed to Posma's for Christmas. Bentley was very excited to see his cousin Craven.

Sunday we slept in, after a big afternoon and late evening, and little pretty only got up once in the night! Yay!

Sunday afternoon we headed to my parents for the Essenburg party - where Evie was clearly the wild one! ;) She is always happy in her daddy's arms.

We came home to un box the rest of the boys' gifts and then spent some time together before bed. This poor girl is never ever going to get any alone time. Any time I lay her down, all three swarm her. I have to say, it is pretty precious!

Here is to a quiet week off school and just one last Christmas party with just our family.

One week old

Sweet little pretty -

It has been one week, one amazing week, since you joined our family. From the moment you were born, you were just the perfect fit. You are very laid back, very content, and a great sleeper. You love to snuggle, especially with your daddy and you have to warm, all the time. 

You have been smothered in love by your brothers. Anytime we set you down or you are laying in your swing they are very quick to sniff you out and kiss, poke and touch you.

They have to be close to you.

This has quickly become your night time routine, between your dinner time feeding and bed time feeding. I am not sure who loves it more, you or your Daddy.

You have totally stolen his heart, he wears the biggest grin when you are in his arms.

And typically, you are the most content by him, too.

you sleep like a champ. you are up about two times in the night to nurse and quickly fall back to sleep, most of the time.

Big Bro Bentley is your protector. He always makes sure that Harry isn't too close, or hurting you, and he gets upset when you cry. At dropoff at school this week all the kids in his class and their moms were peeking in your carseat, and he quickly made his way right up next to you to make sure everything was okay. He is so proud.

I cannot wait to see how you grow to know and love your brothers too. But for now, I am going to soak up all the snuggles, cuddles and baby squeaks i can - I know these days will too soon be over.

{{weekend/rewind}} first weekend home.

Our first weekend home as a family of five was the perfect blend of relaxing and eventful. We had some visitors in and out as the weekend went on, which we love. Auntie Chels came to visit friday afternoon. Evie shared all the snuggles with her.

We hung home friday night, enjoying our new bundle and watching Christmas movies on TV. Saturday morning started early for us. I feel like a new person since giving birth to this little girl...im full of energy and feel amazing! I got the boys ready while Evie slept and then they all snuggled together while I got ready. They are quickly proving she will never get far out of their sight!

We headed out for her newborn pics. Here is a sneak peek I snapped with my iPhone. I can't wait to see the real ones! :)

Saturday afternoon called for big naps for us all, and another relaxing night at home together. I cant lie, hanging at home with my loves around a fire would be a bit more "snuggly" if there was some snow on the ground!

Our hearts are all so full, being home together and caring for and getting to know little Evie, that the boys even stop what they are doing to randomly hug and tell each other they love one another. We could not be more grateful for these blessings God has entrusted to us. They are so amazing!

After the boys went to bed, Evie actually had her eyes open for a period of time and spent some time bonding with Daddy. These two are quickly falling in love, and I couldn't be more excited. Evie is happiest and sleeps best in her daddy's arms. And daddy smiles biggest, then too.

Our sunday looked like this. I was able to get some things done around the house and spend some time on the floor playing with the boys while Dad and Evie got some more snuggles in. 

We had afternoon naps and then headed out for our first family christmas party of the season. Evelyn's first ever! Of course, I had to get her dressed for the occasion, complete with boots with the fur. ;)

After the party, we put some wiped out boys (and their new toys) to bed, and gave our girl a bath. She wasn't such a fan, but she handled it like a champ.

I successfully got up, got four of us fed, dressed and out the door to school this morning, ON TIME! If I do nothing else with this gloomy Monday, I will consider this day a win.

Clark is back!!

After Evie's first night home, we woke up to find Clark had returned to be with us for Christmas! He was under the tree with the note above and some new robes for the boys...they were so excited.

Bentley wasted no time building him a chair out of legos for his seat on the mantle. We are anxious to see what funny antics Clark has in store for us this season!

Stay tuned!