Countdown to Christmas

This year the kids have had a great time counting down the days until Christmas. Each morning we read a page in our countdown book and then in the evening we open our advent calender with fun family activities. (I should say most days...Grace definitely figured out this year when things got busy we missed opening some boxes.) Once again we went to a local farm to look at their impressive homemade lights display.

We also let the kids open their ornaments to hang on our tree. This year their ornaments were based off their birthday party themes.

Even though Titus' birthday isn't until January I choose a picture that looks similar to his arm crawl move. He is having a camo themed party since he only "army" crawled forever.
It was my year to choose our couple ornament. This one is based on a funny moment we had at a marriage retreat this fall. They asked how long we had been married/together. Jeremy said 4 years. (we've been married 6 1/2 years) So, I put our 4th Christmas as a joke. He thought it was funny. Love that I have a husband I can laugh with.
Grace & Faith ready to open.
Faith's ornament was one we found when going through my Mom-o's ornaments.
Faith hangs her ornament.
Faith's ornament is Precious Moments and a little girl with a cowgirl hat on a stick horse. It looks just like her on her birthday (minus the pony tail!)Grace got an ornament with Fancy Nancy that says "Grace- Our Fancy Four Year Old" on one side and a picture of her dressed up fancy for her party on the other.

This is the one picture I have from our attempt at making sugar cookies. It didn't go very smoothly. We always start out strong and then wipe out when it comes to the rolling and cutting. I guess that is why there aren't anymore pictures. We did eat them they just weren't beautiful. Next year I am making Aunt Jo Jo take over this annual torture, I mean activity.
Here are the kids with our upstairs Christmas tree. Titus is thrilled.
Much better.
This one is cute, but once again they looked thrilled don't they?
Titus & Mommy
Each year we make Christmas treats to share with our neighbors. This year the kids and I got all bundled up and walked the neighborhood. Even Titus got in on the fun.
I'm sure Faith will love this one when she is older. The good picture has Titus' thumb in it as I was holding him and trying to take the picture. Oh, well.

Right now we have the flu (everyone except Jeremy) and are hoping to all recover by Christmas! Although it is helping me get my blog up to date.

Titus-10 Months

I love this picture because it describes exactly how I feel about Titus- Big Man. He looks so grown up in this picture sitting in the booster seat eating a snack at the table!

At 10 months Titus was just starting to get into everything...
Here he is with his bear.
Titus celebrated 10 months by getting an awful virus. He was pretty sick. These pictures are when we got home from Michigan. He officially turned 10 months on Thanksgiving.
Getting more difficult to photograph-he is on the move!
At 10 months Titus was just beginning to really cruise & pull up on his own. He also went up his first stair when we were in Michigan.
It hard to believe his birthday is just around the corner! I love my Mr. Man.

MI(A) Thanksgiving

Well, our plans to travel to MI for Thanksgiving were almost MIA. Before we left Titus got a nasty cold virus. After fighting a high fever for days and a trip to the pediatrician we called off our trip. Then we discussed the possibility of only part of our family going....and then in the middle of the discussion Titus' fever broke and he finally started eating again! Although he was still sick we decided to try traveling with a semi-sick child versus splitting up our family. Overall, it worked out great. (Minus him not sleeping at night) We always loving seeing our "Michigan family."

Titus & Meegan
The girls thought it was fun to drop things from upstairs to downstairs.
Daddy's Nana & Grace
Faith had a bloody nose the first night.
Taking a bath in Aunt Cindy's big bath tub.
This is becoming a tradition, the girls love bubble baths.
The kids on Thanksgiving day at Aunt Colleen's house.

I have lots of pictures of Titus pulled up on things.
Grace loved the dogs!


Trying to play twister with Aunty Cindy & Daddy.
Cindy has a fancy glass coffee table so we covered it with a throw blanket for Titus' safety. Here he is playing with Aunt Cheryl who tried to get him to say Mama. He was only saying Dada. Just a week laster he started saying it!!
Titus & Stephanie
The "Babysitters" Payton & Aiden We went out on a date while the twins helped babysit the kids.
Aiden loved Titus.
Titus takes his first "step."
Titus snuggled up and slept with Daddy's Nana or Nan. But it didn't last long as the dogs barking woke him up.

Kohl loved Titus because he dropped food.
Faith loved Aunt Cindy's french toast. She ate so much she skipped lunch.
I love this picture because you can see Titus dropping food for Kohl.
Daddy's Nana & Faith
Our attempt at a group shot.
Saying goodbye.

We had a great trip! (Except for lunch at Cracker Barrel ;)