December

Well it is looking like I will be lucky to get one post done in the month of December.  It has been a crazy month with lots of Christmas parties and get-togethers and lots of busyness with shopping and cooking and all of the stuff that goes into the holidays!  But, we are doing well.  Here are some pictures of what we have been up to the last couple of weeks.
My good friend Jennifer Taylor took some family pictures of us to use on Christmas cards.  It is hard to get a good picture of five people, but with the magic of Photoshop we made it happen. Thanks, Jennifer!  Can you tell whose head got swapped? !!!!

I felt we really needed a picture of Jon and me, so Jennifer took one for us.  As I got out our Christmas stuff this year, I hung a card from each year that we have sent one.  It was so fun to see all of the different phases of our family.  We look a little bit older now than we did in our early Christmas cards.  We will blame the age on the three kiddos- makes it worth it!  But, aren't we still a cute couple?!

I love this picture I snapped of Luke.  He is a sweet laid back third child!

Here is Abby enjoying her sucker after our little photoshoot!

Every year when we put up our Christmas tree, I bribe the kids to take some pictures in front of the lights of the tree.  This year the bribery included candy and counting down from 10 to 0 and then chasing them around the house.  When I catch them they have to pose again for a picture.  This technique worked well.  I was able to get a little bit more of a natural smile from Caleb and Abby because they were loving the chasing game, and natural smiles have NOT been the norm lately!

 

Here are a few more of Luke playing around the house.  He just had his 18 month checkup at the doctor.  The results are that he is a healthy boy with a big head, a normal weight, and a bit on the short side.  He is doing great lately.  He seems to be learning new words daily and has an obsession with buses and airplanes.  He is a good eater and loves to have oatmeal every single morning just like his brother Caleb.  He likes to be held and is a cuddler!

Love our chunky cheeky teething boy!

 

Abby, baby number 2, is getting so big!  She loves to practice writing her name and spends a ton of time coloring and drawing and doing artsy things.  We are working on controlling our emotions and not throwing fits.  I think that all of her fits relate in some way to lack of food or sleep.   She still loves to wake up, drink her cup of milk, and then proceed to refuse meals and want snacks all day long.  We are working on that big time!  For the most part though, she is a sweet girl.  She will be four in a little over a month!

 

Last of all, here is a little update on Caleb.  He is liking school, becoming more silly and outgoing, obsessed with Angry Birds, and reading really well.  His little Kindergarten choir sang in church this week.  He really didn't want to be up there in front of everyone, but he did a great job!