Pre-Christmas Randomness

My mom bought us all these really great star "names of Christ" ornaments and I asked her to send mine out early because I was hoping to have a wreath to put them on for my front door.  You may or may not remember that my front door gets wicked hot when the sun beats down on it.  Especially because I have a storm door trapping in all the heat.  I've had problems with wreaths before but I guess I just still keep trying anyway.  I bought a tree branch evergreen wreath the day after Thanksgiving at Lowes that I thought would be awesome.  I put the ornaments on it and hung it with a red ribbon from the door.  It looked very festive, fresh and I loved it.  Then, the next day or two I started smelling something weird.  Turns out the sun was scorching my live wreath.  The needles were crispy and the evergreen was less green and more brown.

So I took it down, took off the ornaments and thought I'd buy a fake green wreath instead.  Good idea, right?  I thought so too...but alas...


Again I smelled something a little funny to discover that my wreath was melting. Definitely NOT so pretty.

After this I gave up on a wreath and have settled on putting jingle bells on the door instead.

My mom made this really cute sweater for Ben.  He loves it.  But maybe a little too much.  I'm worried he's going to stretch it out and ruin it.  But this day I did stop and take some really cute pictures of it.

 

Also, when he crawls around on the couch this is what his hair does.  Every time.  And I love it every time.

I guess I know my kids have reached toddler hood for sure when they empty all the lids out of this particular drawer and take a seat.  I have a very similar pictures of Isaac doing the same thing.

 

Baby to Toddler

I just still can't believe this guys is a year old.  Where did that year go?!?  He was such an easy infant that at times I think he has actually gotten harder and it's gotten more difficult to have two kids.  And sort of not at the same time.  He is much more able to play and does a pretty good job at playing independently.  He went through a really needy stretch recently, but seems to be a little better this week.

The other day I was walking back from the mailbox with Isaac and Ben in tow.  Isaac was marching through the snow a few paces ahead of me and Ben was walking beside me slowly while I was holding his hand.  I looked at Isaac and then at Ben and thought how strange it was to have these two boys.  It felt so weird to have a toddler and a pre-schooler and to think of myself as being as old as I actually am.  Anyway.  On with the 1 year old pictures and a few things about Ben.


Look at those chompers.  He is working on 4 molars that caught me by surprised because I was looking for his second set of teeth on the top.  Still haven't seen them but I've definitely seen the upper molars and can tell the lower gums are swollen.  I do think the second set of  upper teeth are on their way too.  No wonder he is more clingy, that must be miserable.

 

This Ben just doesn't stay still.  He is all about climbing on these chairs lately, and then often right on to the table.  

He loves to play with Isaac.  Whatever toys Isaac is playing with, Ben wants, and vice versa.  He also really likes to read.  He has finally gotten to the point where he will cuddle up on my lap and sit contently through a few books.  I like that.

He's actually pretty good at these shapes too.  

Ben is starting to talk quite a bit more.  I'm not sure anyone else would understand it but Jacob and I do.  His newest words are touch down and hot chocolate.  Jacob started singing and dancing to the Polar Express son "hot chocolate" and the kids LOVED it.  They were laughing and dancing too.  When he stopped Ben said "hot chocolate" and started bouncing in my arms.  It was so funny.  I'm sure he's got a few other new words but I can't remember them right now.

He's sleeping pretty well at night but recently started waking up earlier than I would like.  I'll deal with his sleep disturbances after Christmas.  I don't have the patience or desire to do any crying it out or other training right now.  Maybe I'll be more inclined after the holidays are done.

And here is the collage of all the monthly photos.  Kinda glad I did this but also glad it's done.  I'll have to come up with a new way to make sure I'm taking enough pictures of these kiddos though.  Definitely click on it to make it bigger.

We all love Ben. Jacob and I love how cuddly and loving Ben is.  Isaac loves having a play mate.  They are so cute together.  They play pretty well together lately.  We've also been putting Ben on Isaac's bed with Isaac while we read stories and say prayers at bedtime.  They are so funny playing with each other and snuggling together on the bed.  It's adorable.  I'm sure when we eventually move them into the same room there will be all kinds of shenanigans.  I can't imagine our life without little Ben in it.  He is such fun and brings a calm (usually) to our home that I greatly needed.

Happy Birthday again Ben!

Gingerbread House Completed

I think my boys were in treat heaven tonight.  We had a lot of fun for our FHE.  Decorating the gingerbread house was a good time.

 

While Ben may not like cake, he loves cookies and candies.  L.O.V.E.S.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe kind of a wierd picture to include but I kind of love the look on my face while talking to my little 1 year old.  We were talking about his love of m&ms.

 

Isaac says he'd like to eat it all "someday."

Decking the Halls

These boys were so excited!  Thrilled really.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They had a ball with the gingerbread too.  But I must admit, it made me crazy.  Isaac kept eating the dough...like a ton of it...way more than was good for him.  I kept taking it away from him and telling him to stop and I was losing it.  I think if we do sugar cookies or gingerbread again I either have to be okay with chaos and a huge mess, or make the cookies all the night before, when they are in bed, and then just decorate together.  And in my frustration I said something like "We are never doing anything "fun" like this again."  I'm hoping the memory for the boys is still a fond one despite my frustrated outbursts.  Parenting fail!  Then I felt horrible while we were watching the Christmas devotional and Elder Rasband was talking about the mother who made gingerbread for her children out of squash just so her kids would have something in their stockings on Christmas day.  Ugh....Oh well.  The actual decorating of the gingerbread house the next day went much better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll share our Family Home Evening gingerbread house decorating later.

 

 

Yep, we have our tree on a table this year.  Ben would destroy this thing otherwise.  Actually, who am I kidding, Isaac is just as hands on this year.  I threatened to take them all down today.  Again, I struggle with the patience...ugh.  I hope we survive this Christmas season with positive, happy memories despite me and my inadequacies.  My poor family!