Mom...

take a "chichure" of me!

Bode is always wanting me to take pictures of him.

He will set up something and then scream for me to run and take a picture.

Sometimes they are cute and posed...

Others kind of boring...

And sometimes are just a bit weird.

And then there is bug. She has been taking steps since Thanksgiving but they were sporadic and never more than 10 steps at a time. She knew that crawling was much faster.

Not now!

She has decided that walking is the way to go. She can now stand up without holding on to something for balance. Since she figured that out she has decided walking is fun.

She is getting better and better.

I think all she wants to do is run and follow her big brother around.

I have been enjoying my early Christmas gift from my husband. I got a gym membership. I know this my not sound like a great gift but it is exactly what I wanted. Well to be truthful I want my prebaby body back and unless I work out it will never be here again. It has been so nice to get away from the house and the kids and do something for myself. I have been struggling for the last little bit. I had been feeling like I have lost who I am. I love my life and wouldn't change things. I do feel like I have lost myself though. I do the same things everyday, clean, laundry, take care of kids and in between all of this I forgot to take care of myself. Jeremiah is always so good to make me slow down and try to take care of me. I am so thankful to have him. I have loved going to the gym! (lets see how long that lasts) It makes me feel like the person I used to be. Strong and confidant, not weak and well flabby. Working out is defiantly a mental booster. Now to really work on losing this baby weight. (well it has nearly been a year, I guess I can't call it baby weight anymore) Ok, this is rambly. Time for bed.

Win you some Down East Basics goodies...

Go here to enter...

Christmas Tag...

1.WRAPPING PAPER or GIFT BAGS? Wrapping paper for sure. I love buy new rolls every year.




2.REAL or ARTIFICIAL TREE? Real all the way. I am not opposed to an artificial tree. I just love trekking into the woods and finding the perfect tree.



3.WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? During the first week of December.



4.DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG? I like the taste of it but only in small portions.



5.FAVORITE GIFT AS A CHILD?An American Girl doll. I might have been a little old for it but I really wanted it. I still have.


6.DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? Yes we do! I got it last year. It is the last item we put up. Bode loves to put baby Jesus in the "barn".



7.HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Family. I am horrible at gift giving.



8.EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Bode.

9.EMAIL OR CARDS? Cards. Which reminds me I need to order them and get addresses!

10.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? "I can't put my arms down" Best Christmas movie ever is "A Christmas Story".

11.WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS? The day after Christmas.


12.FAVORITE THINGS TO EAT DURING CHRISTMAS? The Christmas bread loaf my mom makes.



13.WHITE LIGHTS OR COLORED LIGHTS? White Lights!



14.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" by the Drifters. It puts me in such a Christmassy mood.


15.TRAVEL FOR CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? Stay home.


16.CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER? Nope. Not even going to try.


17.ANGEL OR STAR ON TOP OF THE TREE? A Star.


18.DO YOU OPEN PRESENTS CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS MORNING? New jammies on Christmas Eve. Then presents on Christmas morning.

19.MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR? The Crowds!



20.UP EARLY OR SLEEP IN? I sleep as long as the kids will let me.



21.ARE YOUR GIFTS FROM SANTA OR MRS.CLAUS? Our gifts are from Dad and Mom. Santa brings the stockings.


22.DO YOU TELL THE CHRISTMAS STORY? We are starting that family tradition this year.


23.DO YOU LEAVE COOKIES OUT FOR SANTA? Yes. (we kinda forgot last year though)


24.FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITION? Cutting down the tree, being with family, watching A Christmas Story... I like it all.

I tag you. Yes if you read this, you are tagged.

On the hunt...

for the prefect Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

Our family tradition is to pack up and head to mountains in search of our imperfect tree in the woods.

Bode loves to ride in Grandpa Dave's big truck.

Some of us are not as active on the search as others.

We took quads this year to go deep in the woods to find our trees.

They didn't help us find a tree but they sure were fun.

And there it is... our imperfect, perfect Christmas tree.

Even Laine woke up to see our tree.

Bode had a blast running around in the snow.

Then we played "spot the three year old the the woods".

I hope we can always plan to get our tree this way. I remember doing it as a child and those are fond memories. I hope my kids feel the same way.

Happy Turkey Day...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at the Papa house this year. I love to get together with family.

I think the company is better than the food.

Some little kids didn't make it to the actual dinner.

Nice... got to love my boys.

Laine celebrated Thanksgiving by taking her first steps.

Jett celebrated by having his first taste of mashed potatoes.









I am not to sure he was a fan...

Even all the men pitched in to make the meal a success.

I am so very thankful to have this family!

Just in case...

you ever need underwear.

Just check the end table by the chair.

Apparently that is where Bode likes to keep his underwear.

The end...

I don't really like the title of this post but it is true. Not just the end of competitive sports for Lee but for all of us. My parents have been FAITHFUL supporters of their children in athletics for the last, well, gosh 20+ years. It started when Pete first played sports and ended with Lee. They have driven thousands of miles to watch all of us play. And I am not joking when I say thousands of miles. They bought a motor home when Pete played football in Wyoming. They went to many of his games. We went to Utah to watch Tim hurdle a meet. They racked up lots of miles watching me play at EA. And more recently they drove to Wisconsin to watch Lee finish out her volleyball days.

Lee's last game at GCC.

Me, Lee and Jill at Lee's last game. Love these girls. Lee and I were joking the other day about friendships. I am horrible at being a friend. I get caught up in my world and forget to keep old and new friendships going. So we both came to the conclusion that God gave us sisters because we needed friends. I am glad to have two best friends. PS, Lee why do you look so tall? For the record I am the tallest sister by at least 3 inches. Give up Lee, you are done growing. We all know you are on your tippy toes.