Almost to Christmas

The kids have always been good about leaving the presents alone while they pile up around the tree.  Carter decided to go ahead and put one of his presents to use before opening it.  I found him sitting reading a book in his wrapped chair.

Evelyn enjoying some tummy time

The closer we were getting to Christmas the more Carter was concerned that we still needed to frost cookies for Santa.  The kids helped me make cut out cookies a couple of days earlier and we finally had the time to frost them.

They had to frost all of them themselves!  I only got to frost one.  They had a lot of fun frosting all of the cookies and did a great job.

4 months old

A few days before Christmas our Mini Miss turned 4 months old.  Due to the holidays she didn't get to have her check up until after the New Year when she was already 4 1/2 mos. old.  She coninues to be our big girl and now weighs 15 lbs. 6 oz.  That's the 60th percentile!  Carter and Audrey were both still in the 10th percentile at this age.  She's also tall at 26 in. which puts her in the 84th percentile.

She's trying to out do her brother and sister in everything.  Her bottom 2 teeth broke through around 3 1/2 months and she's working on more!

That day Carter had his Christmas party at school before getting out early for the break.  They got to do a craft, have snacks and play a game.  He also came home with a goody bag and a present from his teacher.  I got to go and help out since Chuck was off for the day and was able to watch the girls.

They worked in teams of 3 to race and see who could turn their friend into a snowman the fastest.

First Snow

The week before Christmas we got our first snow fall and the kids were so excited.  They have been asking for snow since it first got cold out.  Carter was still at school when it started.  Audrey was home and ran to every window telling me to come look.  She had to see it snow from all the windows in the house :)  It's so much fun to be back in the midwest.

We let them open a present from Grandma Debbie and Mike that day.  They got shovels!  They were so excited to put their boots and snow pants on and help Chuck shovel.  I was surprised they stayed out there the whole time Chuck did because the wind was awful.

Chuck's boss sent us this cookies by design arrangement.  The kiddos got to pick out a cookie that night for doing such a good job helping daddy shovel.

My kids never turn down good looking sweets

Christmas Programs

The kids had their Christmas program at church.  The boys in Carter's Sunday school class were the shepherds. 

Audrey's class were the sheep

All the kids did and nice job and looked so cute all dressed up as the nativity scene.  I was too far away to get a more clear pic but both Audrey and Carter are in it.

Later that week we had Audrey's Christmas program for her preschool.  She did a great job singing all the songs.  Evelyn was not happy to be out at night so I was in the back watching.  Carter took the camera and sat in the aisle to try and take some pictures for me.  He took this one.  Chuck got it all on video too.

Got a clear picture of her back at home

One with Carter too :)

Evelyn happy to be home again.

Matching

I had to take some pictures of my girls in their matching ballerina shirts.  Audrey loves this shirt since she is so into ballet.  She loves it when she matches Evelyn.

Audrey was in a goofy mood so all I got were silly smiles

Then she wanted to make a silly face

My smiley Evelyn.  Audrey wants her to take ballet one day too :)

Big brother had to get in the picture action too.  Evelyn loves Carter and laughs the most for him.  It's so cute!

Landscaping

The first couple of weeks in December the landscaping got done on the house.  The first week was the irrigation system then the landscapers followed behind.

When I got home from picking up Audrey from school the sod was being delivered.  She got a kick out if seeing all the grass rolled up on the truck.

The finished product.  They were able to plant the more hearty plants now and will be back in spring to get the rest of the plants done.

The fence is all up as well.  We are happy we did the columns for the gate.

The back patio and fence line.  The pathway leads to our deck.

St. Nick

 St. Nick came the night of the fifth and filled the kid's stockings.  When Carter came down to get ready for school he went straight for his stocking.  He had so much fun unloading his stocking I had to make him stop to eat breakfast before having to catch the bus.

 Audrey noticed the stockings right away too when she got up.  She was thrilled to find princess rings in hers!

That week Ernie came out of his box.  I don't go crazy and make him leave messes, etc.  We just have him change places every night.  The kids love it and have fun looking for him every morning.  It was a little more challenging this year since he had a lot more places to hide.  Carter was cute and would read his Christmas list to Ernie so he could tell Santa for him.