Merry Christmas!

This will be my last post for a couple weeks. We'll be out of town until after New Year's. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This year's Christmas card

Here's my mantel since we don't have a fireplace

My big tree

3 months

My baby girl is soon to be 4 months... the day after Christmas. She's holding her head up really well and rolling from tummy to back. She gives pretty smiles and really wants to laugh, but just can't find that belly laugh yet. It's kind of a cough sound when she tries. She has found her hands and chews on them all the time. I catch her with her thumb in her mouth quite often, too. She's starting to drool so it's time to get out the bibs. Overall, she's a pretty good baby. She sleeps well at night, but we have yet to figure out a daytime nap routine. It'll come.

I have this picture of Hunter at 3 months and I've been meaning to get a similar one of Peyton at the same age. I've been dragging my feet all month and today I finally did it... less than a week before she turns 4 months. Phew, at least I got it in there.

(This is a picture of a picture. I couldn't find my digital copy.)

Hunter's Christmas Program

Hunter's Christmas Program was on Thursday. It was adorable! His class sang Jingle Bells and Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus....in case you can't understand them. They did so well in front of all those people. The 4 years olds each recited a line either by themselves or in pairs. It's hard to believe Hunter will be able to do that in 2 years.

Here's the video (thanks to Hunter's classmate's mom for sharing with me!)

All dressed up and ready for his stage debut!

Singing Jingle Bells

Singing Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus

After the program

Trying to catch up

Not much time for blogging lately so let me share a bunch of pictures to catch me up.

Hunter doing what boys do

We can use the Bumbo seat now!

My new favorite picture

She's grabbing things

We made Christmas treats last weekend

My sweet girl

Christmas jammies

Some that didn't make the cut

Here are some pictures that didn't make the cut for our Christmas card this year. I used 5 pictures on our card this year so you'll have to wait to see those :o)

A long time friend

While home for Thanksgiving we were able to see my friend for over 20 years, Gerri and her kids. She lives in NC now so it's been 2 years since I've seen her. Hunter and her youngest son, Gage are just six months apart in age. The first time the boys met they didn't interact too much, but by the second visit they were having a ball. The pictures will show that for sure.

Here we are with our kids. We're missing Gerri's oldest though.

Gage's daddy is serving our country in Iraq on his FOURTH tour. We took this picture just for him.

Brotherly Love

Hunter truly loves his sister. He likes talking to her, touching her, and knowing where she is at all times. He loves to tell people, "It's my baby Peyton" or "It's my baby sister". He tells me she's cute and gets a kick out of her when she talks and smiles. So far he's been a great big brother and I expect nothing less in the years to come.

Outtake

So sweet

A couple days shy of 3 months here

Our Thanksgiving

I have a lot of pictures to share this week! We had a good weekend in Jacksonville with my family for Thanksgiving. My mom had her 3 girls and 5 grandkids all in one place so naturally we had to take a lot of pictures! Who knows when it will happen again.

3 generations - My parents, 3 daughters, 5 grandkids, and 1 son-in-law

All 5 grandkids ages 3 months to 25 years

Our family picture

Resemblance

So many people say they think Peyton looks like Hunter or me. Here's a picture of them at about the same age.

And here's me a few months older. I don't have a picture at her age right now.

Girls

Peyton has one girl cousin, Ella, on Heath's side of the family. She's about a year and a half older. It won't be long before they will be able to play together. They're sure to be tough with all the boys around!

We never go anywhere without a bow :o)

Aunt Tiff knows how to get some smiles

Ella

Thanksgiving Feast

Yesterday was Hunter's Thanksgiving Feast at school. Parents and anyone else are invited to come have lunch with the kids. When we got there the kids were dressed up like Indians and they sang a song they'd been working on.... well, half of them did. We were so proud that Hunter stood there and participated singing the song. Video is at the end of this post.

I made Hunter a turkey shirt (Uncle Ronnie should love that!) for the occasion. This is the face I get accompanied with "CHEESE!!" when I pull the camera out these days.

I told him to say 'spaghetti' here and got a better smile

Dressed like an Indian

ICE 2009

Last night we went to see the ICE exhibit at Gaylord Palms hotel. Grandma takes us every year since we can get in for free. I think this is our fourth year maybe? ICE is made up of 2 million pounds of ice and takes dozens of men months to complete. It's pretty amazing and they do some new things each year. Last year Hunter wasn't a fan of it. It was cold and there were a lot of people the night we went. Last night was perfect. We prepared him ahead of time showing him pictures and telling him it was going to be cold and that he had to wear a hat, gloves, and big coat. It's all he talked about for days prior. Last night there was hardly anyone there which made it much more enjoyable for everyone.

Here's what Hunter thought of it last year. Look how much he's changed!

This year he was all smiles!

In the ice cave

He must have gone down the slide at least 20 times!

Amazing Nativity Scene

The boys before we put on all the heavy stuff

My boys

Cute walrus

A big Santa