December 23 - Cookie Baking

Icabod's Hiding Spot: I guess he wanted to be on our elf page too!

Today Andlie played outside with her friends and Hazey invited Parker over to play with him! I told them they could have a snack if they showed me their cutest smiles.

Family Calendar: Tonight we baked our sugar cookies we made earlier today! We are getting ready to frost them tomorrow for SANTA!!!!

Cute little Cros is getting so big and so strong! He's officially grown out of his 0-3 month onesies and even most of his 3-6 month ones. He was talking to the animals on his blankie while having some tummy time tonight!

 

Light the World: Jesus was a peacemaker and you can be one. We need to make a donation refugees in war-torn nations.

December 22 - Ice Cream at Riverwoods

Icabod's Hiding Spot: Silly little elf replaced a couple of our pictures with his!

"Hi, my name is Crosby. I was born 31 days early, but now you'd never guess it."

It's a really good thing Bryan has work off so we can get lots of super important things done.....

"I'm so so so so tired, but Mom is so nice and cute and I love smiling."

"Mom! Look! I made a car for Nora!"

Family Calendar: Color elves together! And then we went down to Riverwoods and got some ice cream & enjoyed the lights!

"Mom, this light (warming lamp) turns our faces pink!!!!!"

Nora said the family prayer tonight. All by herself. Along with some cute other stuff, she said, "Thankful that Bret's truck can not break. Bless me to be good so I can get presents."

 

Light the World: Jesus showed gratitude and so can you. We missed today too, but this one seems easy. We'll write thank you notes to someone we appreciate.

December 21 - School Sing & Grampa Puppy Visits

Icabod's Hiding Spot: Today we woke up & found that Icabod had put Rudolph noses on all of us on our family picture! He even found a picture of Cros to put a nose on! And he had one on too!

Family Calendar: Today we went to see Haze & Andlie sing their Christmas songs they've been working on at school!

Did something new today. I did all of my grocery shopping online yesterday afternoon and then went during my scheduled pick up time and picked them all up! Didn't even have to get out of my car! I think this means I'm never going grocery shopping inside again. Yep.

We've LOVED having Daddy home! We love that he gets to take a couple weeks off of work for Christmas!

I tried putting Cros to bed around 9:45. Finally around 11:00, I gave up and he ended up on the floor smiling next to me.

Finally got him to snooze about an hour later.

 

Light the World: Jesus forgave others and so can you. We sort of missed today because we were having fun visiting Grampa Puppy who stopped by on his way to Logan! BUT, perhaps we can light the world another day by being kind instead of right for an entire day.

December 20 - Class Parties & Santa

Icabod's Hiding Spot: He was hiding in our jingle bell wreath by our cards holding two new pink candy cane ornaments for our tree!

Family Calendar: Today I went & helped with both Haze and Andlie's class parties! I always love being in the classroom!  First was Haze's party and I was having so much fun that I forgot to take pics! I had fun at Andlie's party too and even got a couple pics because I never get to help in her class! In both classes, we played "Sink or Float" and everyone LOVED it! (Should be noted that Bryan has the next couple weeks off work and was able to tend the little kids while I helped at school.)

Tonight, the kids each painted some red marker on their noses! Rudolph kids!

Family Calendar: Visit Santa at the mall! The kids loved it and were happy & giggly and so excited when we got to the front of the line.

 

Light the World: Jesus saw potential in others and so can you. Today we were very mindful to let the kids help prepare lunch and dinner. We also made sure to let them help clean their own messes up. Ha! I told them that if they could keep the house clean for a day tomorrow without being nagged, I would take them to get ice cream!

December 19 - Santa Army

Icabod's Hiding Spot: He must've thought that we were funny with our mustaches yesterday because he was hiding on our wall with a tiny tape mustache and he had made a couple for Nora's dolls too!

Tried on Crosby's cute little blessing outfit today and snapped some pics of the handsome little dude.

Almost every time Bryan & I hug, Nora finds her way in between our legs and then asks for us to hug her together.

Family Calendar: Go on a ride and look at lights. Tonight Bryan found something really ..... odd - a Santa army on someone's front lawn. And is that a ghost on the bottom row on the left? I mean.....

 

Light the World: Jesus calmed the storm and so can you. Today we taught Andlie & Haze how to get out of their bedroom window if ever there was a fire.

December 18 - Tape 'Staches

Icabod's Hiding Spot: This morning we woke up and found that he had drawn a picture of his girlfriend and then hidden by the easel!

Bryan & I have been doing "Light YOUR World" where we have been doing things for each other. Today I took a picture of the beautiful flowers Bryan brought me this week. Other fun things we've done for each other (to name just a few):

Bryan bought me neon socks

I wrote "Nice butt!" on the toilet seat

I've given him secret gifts in his wallet, car, at night, etc.

We've both written notes on the bathroom mirror

We've done chores for the other

This afternoon, Andlie & I went to Riverwoods and took some pictures of her in her baptism dress.  She's so beautiful - inside and out.

 

Tape & Sharpies = An hour of giggles & fun!

Family Calendar:  Mail Christmas cards! Everyone in the family helped put stamps, return labels, and labels on the cards! Daddy & Andlie stuffed them last night and Daddy got them in the mail tonight!

For past year's cards, go here.

Light the World: Jesus honored the Sabbath and so can you! Today we (except sick Haze) went to church for the Christmas program! We even got a picture afterwards!

Chandi: Wearing neon socks from Bryan, but shoes got immediately kicked off as soon as I walked through the door (after ditching Sunday School). (Have I always been this short?!)

Bryan: People call him Hot Bryan for a reason.

Andlie: Just admitted (through giggles) that her candy cane was sticking to my dress in this pic.

Haze: Wearing clothes that are almost too small and no shoes. Standing on Bryan's feet. Had to ditch Christmas Sunday cuz of stupid sickies.

Nora: Smiling happily because she had been bribed with M&Ms after she ate a "wrong candy cane" ("hot" peppermint) and cried.

Crosby: Rolling his baby eyes and wondering what in the hell we're all doing outside in 20° weather.

Bonus: Everyone is smiling AND looking at the camera!!

This is my beautiful, perfect chaos. Merry Christmas Sunday!