New Year's Eve

On December 31 we had our friends over to party! We spent the evening playing and cooking, and eventually put all 4 kids to bed so we could eat and play some more. :) That evening, we took some cute pictures of the little ones in their matching jammies, and Libby got some pictures of her pal Hudson.

I love this pic because each little one holds that which he/she loves.

Maren and Xander lay together for some playtime.
This is the only picture I have of the several I took of the two of them on the gymini where
X isn't crying. He was hungry and didn't last long
in his first photo op with his dear friend-to-be.

Now that the mamas had taken our pictures, Libby decided she'd like to take a few herself. She snapped te one of Hudson with his daddy and then the two of Hudson below. We're still working on her "aim".

Post Holiday Fun

Uncle Daniel and Grandpa Larry gamely give the girls rides, horseback style.

Uh oh - looks like Libby broke the ice!

Look at this crew. Only Barns isn't showing his Blue Devil support...

Xander has some QT with Aunt Lucy

Barns insists that Daniel is his new friend (Daniel doesn't get much say in the matter)

Night after Christmas

As a gift to Libby and Aunt Em, the girls and their mamas went to a play at the Children's theater. We watched "The Gingerbread Man." I think Em had a great time, and eventually, Libby did too. She was a little overwhelmed and intimidated as the play began, but soon came to enjoy the show.

Day after Christmas Shopping

The day after Christmas, Aunt Brett and I packed up the kids and hit the mall. We found a couple of bargains, but mainly we enjoyed the morning out and Libby had fun playing with the other kids. She did spend quite a bit of time loitering on/around the golf ball very near where Brett and I sat admiring her.

Christmas Round 3

After a wonderful Christmas morning at home, we played, cleaned up, rested, and headed to Grandma Anna's and Grandpa Larry's for Round 3.

Daddy and Libby

Libby and Aunt Em. Whose smile is more fake?

Look into my crystal (bouncy) ball.



Back at home we take a few more...

Chistmas Round 2

Christmas Eve we returned home from Grandma Shelley and Grandpa Mark's house. Aunt Brett came back with us and spent the week with us. We went to the Christmas Eve service at our church, but we didn't get any pictures that night, with the exception of Xander flexing his muscles after his bath as we got ready for church.

Don't Spill The Beans, but Libby got lots of games for Christmas and we've had lots of fun playing them. One of her favorites is Candyland (mama wonders if it would be as fun if it was Vegetableland...). She also loves Don't Break the Ice. Plus, she got a few new puzzles, one of which has 50 pieces! She's quite the gamer these days... wait till you see her on Wii!

One of Libby's favorite toys was her wooden airplane, and she nabbed her little brother's (he hasn't yet complained).

Christmas Round 1

Grandma and Granddad help Libby open some gifts.

Uncle Mason cuddles with Bocephas.

Libby's face shows the evidence, grandma and Uncle Mason feed her full of cookies. Uncle Mason says, "Okay Libby, I will give you this cookie but you CAN NOT tell your mom. Okay?" Libby says, "okay." 5 minutes later mom walks into the kitchen. "Uncle Mason gave me a cookie!"

Granddad plays some Wii tennis.

The kids get some time with Aunt Brett.

Right Now?

L: I don't want to go night-night.
M: Hmmm. Well... I do!
L: Right NOW?!
M: Yup.
L: Well, you've got to clean up this house!

Christmas, Round 1

Family picture

Libby has now passed out the gifts and prepares to open

Libby offers daddy a piggy-back ride and he accepts

Xander opens a gift from Uncle Mason and Tara

Mason and Tara say their good-bye's to the little man on Christmas Eve Morning. (Mason looks pretty broken up about our pending departure.)
It's time for us to head home for more Christmas there!

Portrait of Xander

Libby takes after her mama as has developed a serious interest in photography. She loves to take pictures of the family, Barns, toys, anything and everything. Here, she captures Portait of Xander.

Alexander Grows

Alexander grows! He had his 2 month well-child check and had a pretty good report. Mama's questions and concerns were answered quite simply, Xander handled his immunizations perfectly, and of course it was exciting to hear how he had been growing. As of almost 3 weeks ago, Xander weighed 12 pounds 6 ounces (64th percentile) and measured 24.75 inches long (95th percentile). Here are pictures to commemorate some Xander milestones accomplished in December.

My little man now sleeps through the night in his crib in his bedroom. We put him down for the night between 6 and 6:30 and he sleeps until it's time to eat, usually around midnight. Then he's back down in bed until morning, typically waking between 7 and 8. Of course, there are nights when he fusses a bit more and those when we don't hear a peep out of him, but on the whole he's been a dream, no pun intended.
Here, he naps one sunny morning.

I guess this isn't a real milestone, but daddy takes a picture of Xander and mama after one of his baths. We just hadn't had a bath picture in a while!

December 10th, exactly 2 months from his birth, Xander took great interest in the mobile above his swing. It was so fun to see him enjoy looking at a toy. And, it was a hint of the development that was to come in 5 short days.

Just a few days later, on December 14th, Xander notices his hands. He figures out that he can move his arms at will and finds this ability quite fascinating!

And then, on December 15th mama was getting ready for a Christmas party and needed to put Xander down to play. The little gymini came out from th closet and needless to say, it was a hit. The little guy had discovered toys and hands and put the two together for some fun filled playtime.

Christmas Is Coming...

Below are pictures I hadn't posted in December. They're filed in a folder on our computer called "Christmas is Coming." We had snow, built a snow lady, and had plenty of errands to run...

Daddy, Libby and Aunt Em built a snow lady one Saturday afternoon while mama took care of some Christmas shopping. I took these pictures as I backed out of the driveway.

That night, Aunt Em spent the night at our home and the next day we went to church and then to one of our favorite restaurants for lunch. I had to take this picture of Libby as she was being particularly cute that day.

All that snow was fun, but Libby and Daddy had to scoop the driveway. Bummer!

Peek-a-boo! Libby and Hudson entertain one another and their mamas and Hudson's grandmommy as we do some shopping at Costco. Surprisingly, I captured a picture at a moment when the kids didn't have food in their mouths. We enjoyed many a sample that fine day, from grilled cheese sandwiches to chocolates to pina colada drinks to bagels... and more!