December

Ok...here is my princess.  Isn't she just perfect? We weighed her on Tuesday at the doctor's office and she is 10 lbs 7 ounces! Already up almost 4 pounds from birth!! Isn't that crazy (and sad)?  I seriously think about having another baby on a daily basis.  More than that actually.  I know, I'm strange.  Most people don't love being pregnant, giving birth, or having a newborn.  But I love all of those things. Ahhh.  I will just enjoy her for now though.  Her and her ridiculous gorgeousness.

One day Brian went to Costco and got us a tree.  We were going to pick one out at a tree lot but we found out that they are super cheap at Costco so....off to Costco he went.  Hunter and I decorated it during nap time.  It was fun to decorate it with him.  Maybe one day he will learn that putting all of the ornaments on one branch isn't that cute.  Until that day, I will stealthily distribute his ornaments around the tree.

The day we decorated the tree Meema came over to see the kids.  Landon is kissing Aspen (his favorite pastime) and Meema is holding the princess.

And here they are showing Meema how to play the piano.

On Monday the 19th we went to Disneyland for FHE.  We saw the McPhies there and joined them for some rides at California Adventure.  It's funny that Hunter won't ride most of the rides.  We stood in line for a good amount of time for Toy Story and then Hunter and I walked off, while Landon and Brian went for a ride.  He is like this about most rides and I don't know if I should push him to ride or just let him not ride.  I know he would enjoy it if he would try it, but he's stubborn.  I wonder where he got that trait?

On the carousel!

Daddy and Landon on the carousel

The week before Christmas Hunter had one day of fever.  He just laid in bed and slept all day.  So did Aspen.  So here they are sleeping together :-) Cute, huh?

My little cupcake (check out the matching hair clip)

Watching airplanes in Landon's room.  A favorite pastime.

My little elf.  Oh my gosh she is amazingly adorable!!!

Yay! Tessa is here.  Brian's sister and her family came to town a week before Christmas.  We saw them every other day and Hunter was in heaven.  He adores his cousin (who is 6 months older than him.)

Tessa loved holding Aspen, and Hunter was making sure it was known that this was HIS baby sister.

Landon had to get in there too.  Isn't he a snuggle? We took Aspen right after this because Hunter and Tessa were fighting over holding her.

Landon's friend, Emma, turned 2 at My Gym so we had to go and play for awhile with her.

Here we are at circle time.

Aspen is dressed up for church.  Isn't she amazing? Don't worry, I got new bows for Christmas that match this dress a little bit better.

Handsome hubby and his beautiful baby

Me and my baby

Bathtime! Hunter and Tessa wanted to do everything together.  Landon does whatever his brother does.  Tessa's poor little brother was left out because he didn't follow the big kids around and Landon did.  So Sawyer spent a lot of time with the adults.

Dinnertime!

We took the kids down to the beach to run around for awhile (in hopes of exhausting them.)  They ran laps on the beach and were exhausted when they were done...so we fed them cupcakes.  Aren't we responsible moms?

Hiding

Vicki is watching them play.  Landon is by my side (where he usually is these days.)

Crash! Landon and Sawyer playing together while the big kids were at My Gym camp.

And then there were 4 in the bath tub.

All 5 cousins! Landon (23 months), Sawyer (20 months), Tessa (4 yrs), Hunter (3.5 yrs), Aspen (6 weeks).

Aunt Vicki loving on the little munchkin.

Me and my little cupcake.  Isn't that little headband adorable?!  I think I need a Minnie Mouse headband.

Landon and Sawyer playing the piano.

Landon pushing Sawyer in the car.

The moms and our babies.  All 5 of them!  It's amazing that just a few years ago there was only 1 baby (and one in my belly) - how fast time goes.

We went looking at Christmas lights on Christmas Eve, as was my tradition growing up.  The kids are still at an age where this is fun, as opposed to torture, like it was for me and my brother.

Wheee!!

Family photo while looking at lights

My little angel.  So sweet!

Christmas Eve = present time!! Uncle Nate is monitoring the presents.

Everyone is excited.

Even Aspen! Best present in almost 2 years.

The siblings: Jeff, Vicki and Brian

The scene after Santa visited.

Hunter on Christmas morning after church.  They still don't really get the idea of opening presents.  Every time they open something they want to play with it.  Oh well.  There were a lot of breaks in present opening.

Daddy was setting up the train for the boys.

And Landon was helping.  We could not get him to change into his matching pjs.

And then we set up Landon's train.  He is obsessed with chop choos (or froo froos as he calls them.)  Look at that smile!!

For Christmas dinner we had the McPhie family over, along with my in laws.  All the boys ate at the table together and then went upstairs to play so the adults could talk.  It was remarkably relaxing (especially given the 7 kids in the house.)

After opening gifts on Christmas.  Do you think he was tired?

Hunter modeled his new Woody pjs for us.  This kid is obsessed with pjs and changes into pajamas every chance he gets.

This little girl is amazingly adorable.  What a chill little superstar.

Landon and his stocking.  He just discovered 10 bouncy balls!

And he discovered the bouncy balls too!!

And her stocking is bigger than she is.

Hunter was singing her "a little baby song" - he is so sweet to her.

My kids are wonderful, my hubby is amazing, and the gift that the savior gave to us makes me feel so blessed to be a part of his church.  I'm thankful for my life and for the fun time we had this Christmas.  I'm most thankful that this year, Christmas actually had meaning to me, as opposed to just being a fun time to exchange gifts.