Preparing for Christmas 2011

Oh Christmas Tree! This year I made the executive decision that I wanted a fake tree. Ben didn't put up too much of a fight so we went to Target and picked one that we could both agree on. In the store it looked on the ugly side, and wasn't as full as I wanted it to be. Once we got it setup, I couldn't be happier with it. I don't think that the person that set up the tree fluffed out all of the branches of the tree. There are hundreds of those things to fluff. Katelynn liked the box and Mark made sure that we put the tree together correctly. I also decided that I was just going to put lights on the tree without the ornaments. I am glad I did that since the day after we set it up Katelynn knocked the tree over and a couple weeks later she did it again. 

Katelynn did make sure that we turned on the lights on the tree everyday and she would decorate it with the Little People Nativity set. We did acquire a few more decorations throughout December that I put high in tree that Katelynn would point to and want to play with everyday.

Katelynn and I went to the Clovis Light parade. Which was going fine until the parade started. All that she wanted to do was run up and down in the street and wouldn't stop and sit so, we left the parade early again. Maybe one year we will make it through the parade. I did make little powdered doughnut snowmen that were very cute and very gone! They went so quick that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the final product. Katelynn helped me to make the snowmen and some cookies. I also caught her eating the candy cane marshmallows and the rice-crispie treats. Mark was just as cute as he could be throughout it all.

For Ben's Birthday this year I did the "12 Days of Ben's Birthday" Starting on the 16th. He got a few lego things, a lego book, and Big Rig. Jelly beans from Jelly Belly, a couple of board games and stuff I can't remember. He was very surprised by it.

The Swann's came over for dinner one night and Tara and Brynne were able to help make gingerbread houses. This year the set came with five little houses and I think it worked out great since you got to design your own house and they weren't too big. I think Tara, Brynne and Katelynn had fun making them. 

I also took some pictures of the kids at Primary and here is the picture I took of Katelynn.  

Mark is 3 Months

Yesterday Mark had his 3 month birthday. I just love him. He usually is in a good mood and is such a mellow little guy. He is wearing 6 month clothes very well now and should be moving on to size three diapers soon but I hope to use up the size 2 that I have left. He eats about 6-7, 4-5 ounce bottles a day. Sometimes he will just eat it all and sometimes he will only eat 3 ounces, which is just fine since he isn't lacking in the growth department.
His naps are a work in progress. He would just love to sleep on me or Ben for his naps all the time but that isn't going to happen. He usually takes at least 4 catnaps a day. I can't wait for him to stretch those out. He falls asleep in our arms and then we put him into his crib and he will wake up in about 20 minutes with an average sleep time of 45 min to an hour. Hopefully, something will get figured out.
Today we went to the Dr for an immunization and he is now 14lbs even. He is me bald headed, blue eyed, bowling ball, baby boy. And just as cute as can be.
He likes tummy time so much better than Katelynn ever did. He can hold his head up at about 90 degrees and will look around for a good 5 minutes. He loves to sit in his bouncy and kick to make himself rock. He also loves to bat at the over the head toys he grabbed onto one of them octopus legs and was tasting that. He smiles so much and is starting to giggle.




He also rolled over from his tummy to back three times yesterday. I didn't think it was a fluke, but he hasn't done it since, so maybe it was a fluke.

For a special treat yesterday Mark and Porter met. Porter was one day old. Katelynn had a runny nose so Ben and Katelynn stayed home while we went to Kevin and Beth's for a quick peek at our newest nephew. Boy, what a difference three months and 7 lbs make, but boy is Porter a cute little thing with a ton of hair.
Porter was singing "Popcorn Popping"

2011 Thanksgiving 2

We had Thanksgiving Dinner with Ben's family on Thursday. It was pretty mellow, well as mellow as it could be with 8 grandkids running around. It was great that it was nice enough for the kids to be playing outside. There is a cinder block path in the backyard that they were having a good time walking across. Uncle Caleb gave the kids some oranges to eat and I think that they were a little sour. Mark slept for most of the time. 

We did take a couple minutes and take a family picture of most of us. John and Ammy were in Colorado, Porter was still in Heaven (for three more days), and RW was taking the pictures since he doesn't like to be in the pictures. It is wonderful to see all the growth and changes in our family over the years.

Thanksgiving 2011

Before we left for Legoland I commissioned myself to be in charge of cooking the bird this year for my families Thanksgiving. I got the recpie from Our Best Bites (I get quite a few recipes from there). So, I had to get it thawing before we left so that it would be ready by Wednesday night. Over the years it has become our families tradition to have Thanksgiving on the Wednesday night. It just seems to work out best that way. I had never even thought of brineing a turkey before but the blog post made me want to give it a try. So, the bird was brined and then cooked and then eaten so fast there was no leftovers! It was the best turkey that I had ever eaten. I don't know what everyone else thinks but I am hoping to do that again. 

Ben Carved the turkey. Ever since I can remember my family always has an appetizer bar for family dinners. It usually consists of: Potato Chips, onion dip, Mike's Salsa and Chips, Veggies with ranch dip, Ritz, and maybe some other random stuff. It is one of the things that we look forward to on family dinners. And I have gotten a picture of Mike at that bar quite a few times now! Aunt Sarah and Damien trying to console Mark. Katelynn playing with the puzzles. I was wondering why I had a random picture of Jesse then I looked closer and saw what was on his feet. Cinderella's Glass Slippers! There were two pairs of shoes that night and Katelynn, Max and Jesse were wearing them. 

Getting together is always a fun and crazy time especially when Katelynn is there.We all survive though.