Activity Advent

 

One of our many Christmas advents is to do an activity as a family (we also have to remember to turn Santa's buttons, take an ornament out of a mitten, glue a cotton ball on Santa's beard, and eat a chocolate kiss). It provides a chance to continue or create traditions together. I'm behind on sharing pictures of Christmas stuff, so it's going to be a bunch!

Day 1 was the Polar Express re-enactment at preschool and the book. Day 2 we tried to find a living nativity, but never made it. (Last year we went to the one in the Provo Tabernacle, but since the fire we didn't know if they would do it outside and could never get enough information from the city. I did hear about this neat one in Alpine--maybe next year!)

 

Day 3 we went to buy our tree! I absolutely love this tradition my family has done since I can remember.

There's nothing like running through the fresh trees, playing hide and seek and trying to find the perfect one.

 That Saturday was spent stringing lots of lights, inside and out.

We had to trim quite a bit off the top to fit our star. The girls had so much fun hanging the ornaments. I love having the tree up... the fragrance and light really make it feel like Christmas!

Day 4 we wrote letters to Santa. The girls absolutely love anything related to paper, pens, stickers, and envelopes.

Day 5 we went to the American Fork Symphony concert, where Mike's brother John performed on the cello, and Maddie's dance company performed parts of the Nutcracker. It was so fun for the girls to see big ballerinas.

Santa even stopped by at the end and directed the audience in singing Jingle Bells!

We did a few things that I don't have pictures of... Day 6 we watched a sweet Christmas movie (made from this book) and ate popcorn. Day 8 we made a craft, and I'd tell you more about it but it's a gift!

Day 7 Mike played Christmas carols on his trumpet and we sang to Grandpa Andrews via Skype.

Day 9 we visited a cousin who is in bed recovering from surgery. Day 10 we went for a family swim at the Legacy center, always a favorite!

Day 11 we braved the cold and visited Temple Square to see the lights.

 It was beautiful, but Ella literally turned blue with cold.

We were only able to send Christmas cards to family this year, but we hope all of you good friends out there are having happy holidays!

6 Months Old

Sweet baby Ty is already 1/2 a year old. Can you believe it??? He is such a joy to have around and we already can't imagine our family without our Buddy.

Noelle recently took some photos of our family, and in honor of his age I thought I'd give you a preview with these individual shots of Tyler. We couldn't get him to give us one of his huge shiny smiles, but I certainly think he looks handsome!

 He is getting really good at sitting up now! These were taken a few weeks ago and the various stages of the balancing act crack me up.

 He's doing so well with his eating! He has tried rice cereal, applesauce, carrots, and green beans and scarfs them all. The only thing he won't eat is rice cereal with formula mixed in, funny kid!

He loves his sippee cup, and really anything else he can get his hands and gums on. This week has been rough because he's getting TEETH! I see two little pearls peeking through on the bottom, and he's not happy about it. A sad baby means a harried momma. But I still love him.

Ella Bella is 3!

 The long awaited Kitty Birthday began at Grandma's house with a family party over Thanksgiving weekend.

 Happy Birthday dear Ella, happy birthday to you!!!

 Grandma gave Ella a Hello Kitty Sleeping bag, which was loved right away.

 

Hello Kitty!

 Cousin Emrie gave her this favorite... a kitty that really meows, purrs, and slurps a bottle.

 Right on cue, Ozzie kitty cat walked through the birthday mess.

 This girl got everything Hello Kitty you can imagine. And this card she has been carrying around the house... and the car... and Walmart.... that meows the Happy Birthday song.

 As always I love to document the whole birthday... what my little Ella looked like at age 3 from morning till night! She was in her sleeping bag but it must have slid off during the night.

 Sleepy cheese.

 So excited about the requested Life breakfast cereal  and all the decorations!

 Yummy after a bath, feeding her kitty and back in her pj's because...

 We rode on the Polar Express for preschool!

 What a cute hot chocolate mustache.

 The preschool kids loved helping Ella celebrate!

 Ella picked out these fancy pink flower cupcakes herself.

 Landon, Dana, Daxton, and Bodie came over for the birthday dinner. Ella thought hard and requested raviloi.

 It was so hard for her to look at her presents all day and wait till after dinner, but she did it! She kept saying to herself, "I can wait for Bodie."

 Hello Kitty slippers! And more kitty spoilage!

 The day ended with a double piggy back ride to bed.

 All day today the girls have been playing with the school set Maddie gave Ella. Love things that occupy them for hours!

Ella is a little dear. I just love her. I know I bragged about her recently, so I'll just say a few funny quirks about her. She is in a collecting stage. Her windowsill is always full, and always changing. She is loving adjectives right now and ties them out to our delight: "Mommy, you're so lovely. Maddie is pretty and Daddy and Ty are handsome." She is still in a why stage and says "Why?" at least 50 times a day. She has the cutest little voice, pretty blue eyes, soft little kisses, and a feisty temper! We're so glad she's ours.