Holidays are here!

I know we all experience it...the rush and excitement of the holiday season! We hit the ground running this week! We started the week off with decorating our tree on Sunday night. The kids had so much fun. They were getting along, singing Christmas carols. I just loved how they "oohhh'ed and ahhhh'ed" over the ornaments and shared with each other the history they knew about each one...who gave it to them, why we got it, when they got it or made it. Wish it didn't have to end, but we ran out of ornaments and room on the tree!

Abree was very careful with her placement of ornaments. She had a favorite spot on the tree to put them as well. Monday morning after she was at school, I had to do some spreading out. I found a couple limbs with 3-4 ornaments stacked on them. :)

Gunnar made it very clear which ornaments were his and that they should all be on the front of the tree! We had to remind him regularly that we must decorate the entire tree. He just giggled with excitement all evening. He was just singing away all night. As soon as he got his sisters going on one carol and it was done, he'd jump right into another! (He was also a huge help in getting the tree up and ready to be decorated. He also helped Mom get all the decorations out of storage. Mom couldn't have done it without him.)

Ashtyn was the "spacer" constantly rearranging to make sure every part of the tree was covered and some areas not overloaded. She was such a big help. Tonight we're decorating the rest of the house, but she isn't too happy about that as she'd rather be on her way to Tacoma! (We'll address that later!)

Gage even got in on the action watching intently as his siblings ran around the room trying to make a silly green tree look pretty! He just bounced away and smiled as they sang and ran back and forth.

And, as you can see, the decorating was absolutely exhasting! He couldn't take any more!
He felt the way Mom feels each night as she stays up trying to get all the holiday tasks done, she doesn't do last minute well!

And, when it was all said and done, the girls decided their brother should take a little vacation and spend some time in the tree decoration container as they were getting ready to send it back out to storage. They thought it would be delightful if they could just pack him away for a few days! Silly girls, Mom rescued him...but I think he liked it a little!


Monday...brought Abree's dance Christmas party and watch day! She just loves that she is finally able to dance after all the years of watching big sis!

Tuesday...brought Ashtyn's Bible Study and Cougar basketball. It was a late night for all of us, but so much fun to root on the Cougs!

Wednesday...brought Gage officially being 5 months. Best part of all, he got to try cereal.


Not to sure with that first bite...

But that was all it took to convince him that cereal was alright. He literally didn't spit much out and began swalling immediately. He was opening his mouth for the next bite. Never had a little one do this. Usually the first feedings, I was wearing more than the kids ingested!

More??!!!!!!

He's really liking it. I'm sure he'll be 20 lbs very soon at this rate!


Wednesday also had us squeezing in 4-H sewing of stockings for those in need in the area and then the annual school Christmas concert. They all did a fantastic job...my kids love to sing! Abree was very easy to hear in her preschool group. Her siblings continually remind her to SING LOUD, and the darling did. Gunnar did a great job, knowing all the words to every groups' songs after sitting through all the rehearsals. Ashtyn had a really fun, upbeat solo that she nailed. Shhh...don't tell her I told you, but she was accepted into the Washington State Honor Chorus which will train and sing in February!

I just love getting the kids dressed up in the Christmas outfits. Don't they look nice! Gage was also dressed up by worn out by the time this photo was taken. He'd had enough.

Thursday...we finally got to be home for most of the day. Abree and Mom went to Colfax shopping for one of her preschool teacher's Christmas gifts. It was fun!

And, today...Friday...Abree has her last day of preschool and will start her Christmas vacation. It will be fun to have her here all day every day. Tonight we will finish decorating the house for the holidays.

Tomorrow we will rise very early, load up in the suburban and drive to Tacoma to cheer on the cousins as their team plays for the state football championship. The kids are bummed we didn't leave today...the team did!!! :P Our boys don't play until the late game tomorrow night so they've been assured that there will be plenty of time to get there, see friends and get ready to cheer loud. They've got their eye black ready to go! (Thanks, Justin!)
We have been praying that the boys will win. It would be so wonderful for Justin to win a state championship as a captain and leader of the team. And, especially wonderful, for him to win a championship with his brother on the team. GO CATS!!!!