Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread houses have been a tradition in Jay's life for a long time and so this past year we decided to start that tradition in our home. So at the beginning of December we made and decorated graham cracker gingerbread houses. It was a first for me and the kids and we had a great time. Jay and I put all the houses together (which was a hysterical pain in the butt but a memory for us to share for forever) and then we all decorated our own. The kids LOVED it and Jay and I had a really fun time too. I hope it is a tradition we keep up with because we all had a great time and it sure was a fun way to spend time as a family.

Noah's house

Alison's house

Zoey's house

Jay's house

I must put the disclaimer about Jay's house. For some reason this roof WOULD NOT stick. So being Jay, he found a way to just make the caved in roof work for him. It looks like there must have been some sort of terrible accident or something. Anyway, I just love it. It's better than anything I would have done. I would have just thrown my hands up and had a house with half a roof. He may not admit it but Jay has a good, creative mind.

Love for Sister

Watching big sis play the DS. I love when all 3 of my kids are in the same place and happy. Noah and Olivia love to be around Zoey. Poor Zoey really enjoys some peace and alone time sometimes. She really is a good big sister though and often appeases her siblings and plays with them. If they can manage to play nice they all have such fun together.

Olivia would like a turn now please.

Homemade chow mein, in our new Chinese bowls, with our new chopsticks. The kids loved it and figured out how to eat it all only using chopsticks. Way to go big kids!

Olivia pulling herself up to standing. November, just about 7 months old. She likes to suck on the edge of the ottoman by the way.

Christmas Tree Decorating

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas just CANNOT start for me unless I have watched the Macy's parade. It REALLY cannot start if I don't see Santa at the end. It has been a tradition in my life for as long as I can remember and I have never missed a year. It's just exciting for me.

Yay for Santa!

We did Thanksgiving with everyone the day before Thanksgiving and it was a great time. Because of that we went to have Thanksgiving with Jay at work. This is the second year in a row now that we have done it and we love it. We love the people Jay works with and it is nice to see them. It is of course the nicest though to get to spend at least a few moments with Jay on the holiday that he always works. We are indeed very grateful for him and for his job and that it provides for our family. Thank you for being the worker in the family my love so that I can stay at home and raise our little crazies!

I am pretty sure she is wondering why I am making her sit in the pokey dying grass.

This was at about 7 months, just a bit before she learned how to crawl.

I never realized how many freckles Jenn had until I saw this picture. Holy freckles!

Making such an effort on the monkey bars.I don't want to go down the slide.Love the mohawk!Having a nap while we walked around the park.

Polka Dots & Lollipops

Sweet baby Olivia at about 7 months. I could take pictures of this girl all day.

She prefer I NOT take pictures of her all day though. Poor tortured baby.

Her first taste of a lollipop.

She loved it!

Trick-Or-Treat

Trying to figure out what that green stuff is she's sitting on.

My crazy, yet so very adorable kids.

Our jack-o-lanterns all lit up.

Those are some cute trick-or-treaters.

Sophie says CHEESE!

This was the best house that night. If you wanted candy you had to go through the haunted house they made in their garage. The kids were scared but came out just fine on the other side.

Cutest little witch of the year.

Poor little lambie just couldn't handle all the fun. Night night my little sheep.