New Year's Eve

 Our New Year's Eve party was from 7-8pm. We cut out cookies with new baking sets from Grandma. Grandma had no idea how much enthusiasm there would be over cookies. Wow! There were some energetic, excited, busy children. Maybe it was just the fact that Aliza was loud and didn't stop talking to even take a breath.

 After the cookies were baked Daddy and Grandpa were invited to the kitchen for the party. Then it was down to the basement for rough housing with Daddy before bed. It was too funny listening to Aliza and Josiah scheming on how they were going to attack Daddy.

Family, food and fun! A perfect New Year's Eve party for me.

Snow!!!

 We are celebrating Christmas with Jeremy's parents. There was snow on the ground when we arrived and more snow was falling this morning. We bundled up and headed outside. I did a good job bundling up the children because we were outside for a long time! Of course, if you know my children, if they have shoes on we are doing good--let alone 2 layers of clothes, coats, hats and gloves!

Josiah had an absolute ball. It is next to impossible to get a real smile from him for the camera, but I got one today! He is coming to throw a snowball at me and I just snapped away.

 Anna, on the other hand, got cold. She didn't keep her gloves on and her hands were freezing. And she wouldn't keep her hat up so the snow that was falling just made her hair wet. She was happy at the beginning though.

 I know you can't see a hill here but there is a slight decline in the yard that we used for sledding. Jeremy was superdad.

 My father-in-law caught us kissing. I guess after 11 years of marriage and 3 kids we are  allowed to do that! =)

Aliza liked to sled with me the best. When the sled stopped she leaned back until I fell over and we laughed and she'd jump on me. And then we'd get up and throw snow balls or... dog pile on Daddy.

Aliza said this morning was the most fun she had EVER had playing with Mommy. 

The boogie board was a hit too.

 Grandma made a snowman. I'd say it turned out most lovely especially given two mischievous munchkins who would have loved to knock it over.

 Then Uncle Joel came this afternoon and they were back outside for boogie board rides.

 Josiah was constantly eating snow. She said it tasted sweet. At least it's water...

 It is bitter cold and windy tonight. We'll see what is in store for us tomorrow!

Creations

 During our Thanksgiving visit with Jeremy's parents, Karen laid out a bunch of pieces she had picked up at Goodwill and Brandi and I glued them together to make new creations. This was, of course, Pinterest inspired, but what isn't nowadays?!

I gave my Mom a tea cup bird feeder for Christmas. Grandad put mine out today.

These Christmas plates were fun to use on the Christmas Eve table.

 I showed my Gramma these pieces today. When she saw the one below I think her breath caught a little bit. She said the larger plate is a fostoria piece. She said she liked it, but I suspect she thought I was a little bit silly.

I like them and they were fun to make.

Christmas Day

 We had a wonderful Christmas celebration. We were home this morning and spent the rest of the day with my family. Here's our day in pictures:

Anna unwrapped a bitty baby and promptly wanted to undress her.

 

Aliza was pretty surprised to receive an American Girl doll. Marie-Grace. My father-in-law called me one morning and told me that the Today Show was featuring American Girl on their Steals N Deals special. I went straight to the computer. They had 2 dolls and a bed for 60% off. I have never seen these dolls on sale. I bought both of the dolls and the bed. I figure I have pre-paid some other occasions and today she got the doll. To say I was excited to get in on that sale would be an understatement.

 Josiah found a construction set in Toys to Grow On catalog. He has looked and looked and looked at that catalog. He was positively confident he was getting this for Christmas and it was hard to wait! He played with it all day. In fact he hardly ate anything today because he couldn't sit at the table long enough to eat. I think there are something like 180 pieces in the set. He was awesome about sharing with his cousins at Grandma's house.

Aliza and Josiah started playing after we opened presents and I think it would have continued all day. When I told them it was time to get dressed to go to Grandma's house I got a dirty look and whispers of "Let's ignore her."

It was nice of Anna to hold her doll while she played with the preferred iphone.

 On to Christmas with the Sheats family:

 Dad read the Christmas story from his phone. It seemed strangely out of place somehow.

 Gideon.

 Janell made the children chalkboard mats out of chalkboard fabric. So cool.

 Aliza and her doll were inseparable. In fact, I was to answer to "Grandma" because the doll was speaking to me. lol.

 Lydia.

 Boys and their Legos. More fun.

 Lalaloopsy still never fails to bring a smile and giggle of delight.

 Aliza had gifts to give and reasons for buying her gift. She bought Grandma slippers "because Grandma is always busy in the kitchen and needs slippers to relax." It was priceless to go shopping with her. Her chatter and logic and reasoning is awesome.

 I sat in this chair and held my nephew, Ezra. He fell asleep in my arms so I held him...

 ...and held him...

 and held him. And then my Gramma made me give him to her otherwise I would have kept on holding him.

 We sat in this circle for hours. I love it. I can never figure out how it takes us so long to open gifts, but it does and I'm thankful for every single person in that circle.

Beginning to Feel Like Christmas

 I can't believe we are only a few short days from Christmas. I have a bunch of presents to wrap yet. My family keeps getting bigger and bigger. I didn't count how many people I bought presents for this year! It's fun though. I enjoy the process of preparation and anticipation and then it's all over so fast.

Our community has a potluck dinner each year that we enjoy. A gentleman sets up his train set and Santa makes an appearance after dinner. Anna wanted to say hi to Santa, but that's as close as she got. She buried her head in Daddy's neck, hung on tight and when Santa asked her what she wants for Christmas she said "Mommy."

A long time ago...in the 1990's!!...I lived in Oregon. Every once in a while I think of the West Coast fondly and reminisce about the coast or the big trees or the locally made cheese. I was talking about Tillamook cheese a couple months ago and Jeremy looked up what it would cost to ship some across the county. Shipping was outrageous. The story is that one of his clients was hosting a party and mentioned to Jeremy that she needed some good cheese. He told her she needed Tillamook cheese. While Jeremy was fixing her computer she ordered Tillamook cheese and convinced Jeremy to order a variety pack for me as well. They split the shipping and when Jeremy brought this home to me I was very surprised!

Confused

 We seem to be a little confused as to the time of year around here. There are blooms on the forsythia bushes and we are flying kites.

It doesn't seem like it has been warm enough to warrant blooms. I'm not sure what is going on here. Upon inspection, it appeared to be only the new growth that was blooming.

The paper kites started as a phonics project and ended up as physical education. Two days in a row now, the children have run and run and run flying their kites. Aliza was in pajamas most of the day. Don't judge me!

 Josiah got tuckered out from all the kite flying!

 To add to the seasonal confusion...yes, Josiah does have on shorts and a t-shirt.

 Let's not tell his Daddy about this. Josiah was using his hand drill to dig tunnels. He said, "I'm giving the moles a head start because there might be a mole that doesn't have a house yet."