Best Big Brother

Jackson is such a good big brother. He needs to be recognized for his helpfulness more often. One day he told me he wanted to feed Gray. So he did. It only lasted a minute or two, but it was his own idea. Recently, he has decided giving Gray and Clara rides around the house is fun. He uses either the laundry basket or the tipped over piano bench. C and G really like their rides. Clara especially thinks it's cool. She has this little smirk on her face during rides like, "I am so cool riding around right now." I love watching Jackson play with his younger siblings. He is good at being the oldest child.

Craftiness

During Troy's night rotation, I decided to go craft crazy. Troy working nights was not my favorite, however, having lots of time to work on projects was nice. The satisfaction from finishing lots of projects is what kept me going through the crazy month. That, and Baby Signing Time. (You can see Clara and Gray glued to it below as they pull apart the DVD cupboard. :)

Some of the projects I worked on: a burlap Christmas tree skirt, glitter stocking monograms, gold glitter monogram ornaments, map ornaments (featuring places we've lived and visited, those were really fun to make.), pom-pom banner, Christmas card holder, bling thumbtacks (I made these from some ugly rings I bought off Facebook in Arizona. Troy helped me cut them up. He liked that project as much as I did I think. What is it about guys and demolition?) And a corner gallery wall in the basement. I'll have this house decorated the way I want it about a month before it's time to take everything down and pack it up again. :)

December 2013

December, December. In December, Clara had a pajama party at school. Jackson made us the cutest Christmas present at preschool. Clara looked super cute in her snow boots. We all had lots of fun with the reindeer antler headbands I found at Dollar Tree. Jackson pretended to be Santa and asked Clara and Gray to be his reindeer. They didn't get it. :) We decorated the Christmas tree together. We visited a ghetto-looking Santa at Walmart. That is what you get when it is free. :) We practiced the Nativity with the Primary for the ward Christmas party. Jackson had to be convinced that it was cool to be a lamb. We went to a super fun adult white elephant party at Lexie and Aaron Mortensen's house. We died laughing. Troy, Jackson and Gray dressed up in sweet hats. Gray learned how to fall down the stairs. We got a Christmas package from Helen Francis. (My kids basically have a third grandmother. So lucky!) Clara jumped into the bathtub while her Dad was in the shower. And she was thrilled about her accomplishment. And a picture of my friend Stephanie Wagner doing singing time with the Nursery and Clara eating it up. It was a good month.

Jackson sooo happy about Helen's package. 

Christmas Day

Christmas Day. So magical! Jackson woke up at 3 and was convinced it was morning. He was pretty sad when I took him back to his bed. Luckily, he fell back asleep until 7. That's kind of sleeping in for us. Nice! When he came in the second time, I asked him if we should go see if Santa came. He said, "He did come! I already saw." Jackson barricaded Clara in our room until I was ready with the camera for everyone to come out to the tree. (Note: I was still getting used to the new camera on Christmas, hence the nice shadow in some of these pictures. Thank you, camera strap.)

Jackson went straight for the presents from Santa. Clara went straight for Santa's left over cookies. I could totally see her thought process. "Someone left me a cookie! Awesome." She kept saying, "Mmmm" and walking around with her cookie making a mess and loving her freedom. She ended up with a cute green frosting mustache.

Jackson was thrilled with the airplanes Santa brought him. (Characters from the movie, "Planes," which Jackson loves.) he has decided he would like to be a pilot someday. Side note: recently Jackson got very upset and told me, "Mom, I want to be a drive airplanes, but I have to get big and it is taking so LONG!" (Said with lots of arm throwing and despair.) poor kids dreams are being dashed. Ha.

Clara and Gray liked their presents from Santa fine, but they were more distracted with all the paper than anything else.

Troy and I gave the kids a dress-up box for Christmas. Jackson was super excited. He liked the Policeman outfit the most. He put it on and wore it the entire day. Clara likes it when we dress her up too. I can't wait until she's a little older and likes it even more. I love dressing up these kids of mine.

I'm glad we were able to celebrate later so Troy could be with us the whole day. It was a great Christmas!

Gray and Clara have loved throwing the pieces if this nativity set off the fireplace all month long. They treat it like it is one of their chores, anytime it is put away, they pull it down. Ha. 

Clara didn't care much about the car Santa brought her at first. But now Clara and Gray play with it a lot. Actually if Clara ever notices Gray playing with it, she is sure to steal it from him. Poor youngest child. 

We did a web cam session with grandma and grandpa Barneck so we could watch each other open presents. They were kind and waited to open the presents we got them until our later Christmas date.

I re-framed Clara's baby picture (the old frame broke.) and framed one for Gray too. When Clara opened hers she grinned and immediately gave it a big kiss. So adorable. Good thing my fast new camera caught the moment. :)

Jackson got Troy a case for his phone for Christmas. It was from the dollar store and doesn't fit his phone. Jackson was just sure his Dad would love it! So cute.