Only a few more days until Christmas and things around the house are busy. Avery celebrated her 7th birthday today...she had a great day. I've been working a bit again so that's keeping me going, plus I've been doing lots of holiday baking.

Benjamin is doing great. He had his 18mth check up last week and he weighs 27lbs 6oz and is 31" tall. He's getting so big. Every day I notice him reaching new things. He can get stuff off the counter, climb on the couch and press the water dispenser button on the fridge. Its crazy how big he is. He seems to be fighting something right now..he's been very mucousy and I don't know if its just his Asthma acting up or if he's fighting a cold. He's acting normal, not wheezy and doesn't have a fever. So we're just watching and praying that its nothing. He hasn't gotten worse over the past two days so that's a good thing. I'm nursing him like crazy too and that will help for sure.

I'm sending out a holiday prayer for all of you...that your Christmas will be wonderful and you will be safe. Give your loved ones and extra squeeze as life can change in an instant. Merry Christmas.

Although its not looking much like winter yet, we do have a small amount of snow. Benjamin was so small last year he couldn't yet enjoy the snow. This year is a different story. Yesterday I dressed him up in all his gear and sent him out with the girls. He seemed to really like it. At first I wasn't sure how he'd feel since the first time I put snow on his hand he kind of whined and shook it off. But it was all good. He had a great time with his sisters.

Things are good. Not to much has been happening around here. We've been busy as usual. Benjamin is doing great. We haven't had any issues with his health so I feel blessed. He's had a bit of a cough, but nothing more. I know there is lots going around so we're keeping our fingers crossed. We haven't put up the Christmas tree yet. I think maybe tomorrow. I'm worried about Benjamin getting into it...but with some firm redirection I think he'll be ok. I'll post pictures once we are done. We have a busy weekend. Avery's birthday is coming up on the 21st so we're doing her party this weekend. We have to do the girls parties outside of the house to avoid 8-10 extra germy kids in the house. Avery chose a gymnastics party so it should be fun. Other then that I have nothing to tell you. Next week Benjamin has his 18mth check-up so I'm interested to see how much he weighs. I think he gets a needle too :( poor boy. Anyways, I'll post some pics and an update too. I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season.

Our Christmas pictures turned out pretty good. I went in without any expectations. I figured pictures with a 17mth old could go either way. Thankfully he wasn't crying, he wasn't smiling either, but I consider them a success.

Things around the house have been busy as usual. Benjamin and I have done sme Christmas shopping together, which has been a total disaster. I don't know why I thought taking a 14mth old shopping would be a good idea, but it wasn't. He definitely has a mind of his own and doesn't care where mommy is...he just goes. Needless to say, the rest of the shopping was done online which makes the world a better place :)


The Christmas season is in full swing and I am loving every minute of it..well every minute I don't have to be in a mall or near Walmart :) I have finished my Christmas shopping and am looking forward to the next few weeks as we gear up for the big day. I love Christmas and everything that goes along with it. I feel so blessed and am just so looking forward to being with my family. Over the past year and a half Christmas has become so much more, which I never thought was possible. I always thought I treasured every minute, but now realize I didn't. This year I will not be caught up in the madness..shopping is done and now I can relax. I can just focus. I am so lucky, I am so blessed and I am so thankful. This Christmas is also going to be hard...most of you know my niece passed away unexpectedly in January. Christmas will have a different tone..and we are struggling to come to grips with that. I find the girls becoming more emotional as Christmas approaches and I wish I could just take all their tears away. I feel so helpless. We have decided to buy Mekena a gift still and donate to the Angel tree, for a little girl her age..maybe that will help a little. Please pray for our family as Christmas will be so difficult this year.

Our niece...

A few pictures from around the house.


This shirt says it all.

Who needs hands to eat?

So helpful.

There is not to much going on around here. We had a busy weekend and got to go to the santa claus parade. The kids had a great time...

Benjamin is doing great. I wish I had more to fill you in on, but I don't. Life is good and we are just enjoying our family.

My little monkey is getting bolder and bolder every day. He's exploring and climbing and just being a boy!!!

The weather has been great so we've been spending a bit of time outside...just hanging out.

I love my kids...they are amazing. I'm so lucky.