Pinata

This year I decided to do a friend birthday party for Alan. Alan decided he really wanted a pinata so we found a balloon and some newspaper and made our own. It was a fun, messy project. At first the boys were a little hesitant to get their hands dirty but after they started they loved it.

Gingerbread Houses

The boys have looked forward to making gingerbread houses for a long time. They were excited to decorate their own houses with the large assortment of candies that Grandma and Grandpa provided.

Reed helped Conner with the frosting and Conner added the candies

Alan, adding some red frosting:

Conner's finished product. He put a big gummy snake over the house to protect it:

By the time Alan was done it looked like it had snowed candy

Me with my finished product:

Micah had more fun just playing with Grandpa. Here he is hiding behind Dad's legs:

Oh no! Here comes Grandpa with the shoe!

Christmas 2011

I am not exactly sure why, but I have had the hardest time coming up with the motivation to catch up on my blogging. So here is Christmas - only a month late!

We traveled up to my parents house this Christmas. It was fun to visit with family and share Christmas together. On Christmas eve we went and saw the live Nativity that the church puts on and then we went and looked at Christmas lights. After that we went home and put out cookies and milk for Santa and then we gave the kids an early present: new pajamas! We got a quick picture by the Christmas tree and then it was off to bed:

Conner, Micah and Alan looking so cute in their new pjs

Christmas morning Micah woke up at 6 am but the other two slept till 6:30 or a little later. We got everyone else up and then we looked in our stockings to see what Santa brought:

Micah was really excited to find candy in his stocking. As soon as he found his chocolate snowman he started trying to open it up.

Alan just found his kinder surprise egg and is pretty happy:

Conner opening his stocking:

Micah showing Grandpa his new ball:

Then we had breakfast and moved into the living room to see the Christmas tree and presents. Micah got a stuffed animal and a little kitty the moves when you chase it. Alan got a plane and some Legos from Santa and Conner got 2 airplanes:

Micah got a little cow flashlight that moo's when you push the button. His brothers were so happy to give it to him and he loved it

The boys gave each other dinosaurs

Micah got a hold of his chase-me-kitty and decided to carry it for a while, maybe so it couldn't get away

I love how excited Alan and Conner got to watch the other one open a present

Showing off their new books:

Sitting with Uncle Drew and admiring the new movie, Cars 2

Christmas is so fun with kids, I love watching them get so excited about everything. Reed and I got spoiled too: we got a new dishwasher! Hooray!!! Our old one left a white film on our glasses so they always looked dirty, but not anymore! Reed installed our new one and I am amazed how quiet it is. It was a great Christmas!

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving Grandma and Grandpa Bassett came for a visit. Grandma helped the boys decorate cute little turkey cookies:

The finished products:

Yum!

We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner with them and our neighbors, the Porters. After everyone left my parents came that night to do a little black Friday shopping (and to see us of course). It was fun to see both sets of grandparents in a 4 day time period - Thanks for the visit!

On the Go!

Micah started walking when he was 13 and a half months old. He was different from our other 2 in that he started taking a few steps here and there right when he turned a year old. He would take 2 or 3 or 4 steps and then fall and then crawl the rest of the way. Sometimes he even stood back up and took a few more steps but he never lasted more than 4 or 5 steps. He did this a lot but he was very tipsy until 13 and a half months. Then he just seemed to get it and he started walking more than crawling. Now, 2 months later, he is starting to run everywhere. It is so funny to see him swing one of his arms back and forth as he runs - I guess it helps him with his balance? He is eager to keep up with his brothers and loves to run after them.

Bath Time

Rub a dub dub, three boys in the tub:
I don't think we will be able to do this for very long - its getting kind of crowded!

Hello Winter

Our first snow came in the first week of November. It wasn't much and we haven't had hardly any since then either. Oh well. We went through the annual "find your boots, mitts, hats and snow pants and see if they still fit and if not, can they be passed down to a brother?" The boys had fun shoveling the walk:

Go Alan Go!

Micah - probably wondering what all the white stuff is and why anyone would want to be outside when it is so cold.

The snow didn't last long but the boys made the most of it. They made one snow man and they started on 2 more before they got tired.