A Little Christmas Morning Video

Just a little something I put together from the video we took this morning.

December

So far this month...

Michael went to Washington D.C. for work.

The kids ate fried chicken in a hotel bathtub (don't ask).

Michael went to Puerto Rico for work and couldn't find a surf shop to rent a board, despite perfect waves. Poor guy.  :)

Laura turned 27!

One of the things Michael got me for my birthday was a big set of cookie cutters. 

I've been practicing putting them to work.

Chandler is a big fan of my new hobby.

Since Christmas break began we've been playing at the park, going to a local (and sadly underwhelming) train museum, venturing to Disney, and exploring a nearby walking path. 

Benjamin is perfecting his sitting-up skills.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Family Pictures 2011

I love family pictures! Although the process itself isn't always a walk in the park (especially with 3 little monkeys), we've always had great results thanks to awesome friend photographers.  I love these! Thanks Angie and Keith!

In this one we were trying to recreate a picture from when we were engaged (the picture from back then is just below).  Holy cow! We definitely look older. Ha ha. Too funny!

These last few I just had to share because they are just TOO funny! This is reality in all it's glory! :)

He's showing off his muscles.

Yeah, the ground wasn't too comfy.

My favorite.  :)

Christmas Card 2011

I promised Laura that I'd keep it shorter than last year's. But here's a quick review of our year. We love you all!

(and you can play it in HD if you watch on YouTube - just click the YouTube button on the bottom-right of the video)

St. Augustine

We had such a good time at Ponce Inlet, that we decided to go yet farther north today to check out St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States. Little did we know, we got there just in time for the city's Christmas parade. Once we saw the bands, bikers, Tea Partiers, animal shelters, and St. Nick, we moseyed on over to the old fort. I've been to the Spanish fort in Omoa, Honduras probably a dozen times, and this fort was similar, just probably a third of the size. And since we're apparently into lighthouses now, we then drove over the local lighthouse only to find that Chandler and Benjamin would not be allowed up. Chandler was heartbroken until we convinced him that the Ponce lighthouse is not only taller, but way cooler anyway (we'll be back soon). It was again, a fun weekend.

Thanksgiving Trip to Ponce Inlet

We had a blast at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. The kids made it up first and were quick climbing all those stairs. Here are a few highlights.

 

 

   

 

Jessica

Some of Jessica's cousins answered these questions and she was excited to do the same.  Here's a little about Jessica.

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY

1. Jess
2. Jessi
3. Jessica

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW

1. Hello Kitty
2. I don't have anything else I'm wearing right now
3.

THREE THINGS YOU WANT VERY BADLY AT THE MOMENT

1. A Lalaloopsy Doll
2. Craft Stuff
3. A cooking kitchen

THREE PEOPLE WHO YOU HOPE WILL DO THIS

1. Sydney
2. Kate
3. Natalee

THREE THINGS YOU DID LAST NIGHT

1. Kyler came over to our house
2. Played Tarzan
3. We pretended that we were in the ocean

THREE PEOPLE YOU LAST TALKED TO ON THE PHONE

1. Daddy, when he's gone on trips
2. Grandma and Papa
3. Grandma and Grandpa

THREE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO DO TOMORROW

1. Go to church
2. Go to singing time
3. Go to Primary

THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE DRINKS

1. Pink lemonade
2. Tickle Juice (soda)
3. Water
(4) and milk

THREE THINGS THAT MADE YOU SMILE TODAY

1. Chandler
2. Benjamin
3. Kyler (last night)

4 Months

Time is zooming by and our little Benjamin is getting less and less little by the day. This boy sure lights up our home.

He's a little chunk compared to Jessica and Chandler at this age. His 0-3 month clothes are long gone and the 6-9 month stuff is fitting better and better by the day.

Length/Height - 25.5" (75th %)
Weight - 14 lbs 10 oz (50th %)
Head Circ. - 16.5" (50th%)

These are almost identical stats to Chandler... at 6 months old. Let's just hope Benjamin doesn't pass him up anytime soon.

(sorry if I'm giving anyone hives with the half-blurry picture)

Benjamin is always talking up a storm and I swear he tries to imitate what we say half the time. He rolls from back to front, but he's still working on going the other way (darn that tummy-time). Just recently he's been grabbing things and shoveling them straight to his mouth. Most of the time he gets super frustrated at those toys that are just so crazy appealing, but won't fit in his mouth quite right. 

This little man is always drooling and still hasn't outgrown major spit-up issues. I had a soccer-mom friend trying to convince me that he was teething.  But seeing how Chandler was toothless at a year old and Jessica wasn't much further ahead, I'm not holding my breath.

He's getting better and better overnight, occasionally giving me a full night's sleep, but more often he wants one or two feedings in there. No complaints here.

He ADORES his brother and sister. I think his favorite thing is when the two of them come over and give him lots of smiles, love, and attention. He just smiles and laughs.

We sure love our little Benja-bunnies! Our home just feels so much more complete with him around.

Dinner in France

This month it was Jessica's turn to choose a place for our daddy-daughter date. When she heard there was a French section in Epcot, it was an easy choice. Because we were going somewhere "fancy," she wanted to dress the part.

Traffic was horrible, but we made it just in time for our reservation. She loved the halibut, fries, french bread, and especially the crème brûlée (just not the top, which I was happy to finish off).

 (she was a little shy with strangers taking our picture)

Then we were off to explore Epcot. 

 You can tell we've been in Florida too long when Jessica is freezing in 67 degree weather (here in the London section). That was swimsuit and sprinkler weather back in Idaho.

 Our favorite was some lemon soda from Israel. 

 We had lots of fun in Norway.

 By Italy, it was way past bedtime. We got to Morocco and then France, completing our circle "around the world." Needless to say, she was out cold within a minute of getting in the car. But I think she had a good time with daddy and I sure love every minute I get to spend with my little girl.