Christmas #2

Yesterday the kids presents from Grandma and Grandpa arrived, it was fun having a 2nd Christmas!! Thank you!

The girls each got a doll that came in a case with doll clothes that my mom made. Sure enough Maelie's favorite was the princess dress

and Kyla's favorite was the cat costume. They also came with pajamas, a dress that matches their Christmas dress, another dress, shoes, and wands and tiaras!

here comes trouble

Merry Christmas

O Holy Night

Washington DC Temple lights

This year we are creating our first family Christmas - it's our first Christmas we haven't been visiting family so we are all alone. I know it sounds kinda sad, but we are using this year to figure out our own traditions. Mostly, it is becoming a combination of Rogers and Stanford family traditions. My favorite family tradition is going to see the Mesa temple lights on Christmas Eve. So... we drove to DC yesterday to see the temple lights! We went out to eat, then went to the temple lights, then went swimming and played at the hotel. Then we drove back home this morning so we could have Christmas Eve at home. Tonight we are having a ham dinner, a live Nativity, singing Christmas songs, going to see lights, and opening up our pajamas.

Oh - And last week I made a gingerbread house at mutual and the kids had fun smashing and eating it! :)

We really hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! Love you all!!!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

My amazing mother made the girls their Christmas dresses and we love them! Maelie is really excited about them being sparkly! She walked around the church halls today holding her skirt out for all to see! And thanks to Taani for the cute hairbows!

Thanks Grandma!!!

Jaxon sacked out after a car ride!

helping me organize the kitchen cupboards!

Jaxon taking steps - we don't call it walking yet - he sure is trying to take off on his own more often now!

Maelie loves performing for the camera!!

the past few days Jaxon has started shaking his head like crazy and then cracking up when we shake our head, it's pretty cute!

Merry Christmas

Yup, I'm 27 and all grown up now :)

Kyla loves painting, Jaxon loves the toilet paper! Yesterday was my 27th birthday and I LOVED my cake! It was a mint ice cream cake from Meyer Dairy!! So yummy! And really cute - orange frosting - can't get much cuter than that!!! Thanks, Jonas!!!

Jaxon was really interested in my present, I think he is going to like Christmas next week! I can't believe it's only 6 days away!!! The kids are really excited and Jonas and I are really excited to play SC - sooooo fun!! And yes, I had a really good birthday and it feels great being 27 :)

Beware of the Dog House

My friend Kristi emailed this to me, I thought it was worth watching!

Beware of the Dog House

You better watch out!!

We went to Victorian Bellefonte on Saturday and the kids had fun seeing Santa Claus and doing all sorts of fun free kids activities.

Maelie jumped right up on Santa's knee to make sure he had everything right!

Jaxon is already skeptical of Mr. C and pulled on his beard, yup it's real!

Kyla needed a little help from Daddy and sheepie

I tried to convince Maelie she wanted something Christmassy on her cheek but she was dead set on her heart! - but I guess a heart is Christmas right?

You can't see but Kyla got the cutest little Christmas tree on her cheek

There is a creek just out back, isn't it cute?!

And little Jaxon pie is getting into EVERYTHING!!!

And one thing I learned this week, don't do your Christmas shopping early when you have little kids, they change their minds!!!! In fact everything Maelie told Santa is not what she wanted a few weeks ago when we did our shopping, hopefully she will change back in the next little bit...???

tidbits

I am finally doing it! After only losing 5 pounds between June and November, only sorta trying, Jonas made me this totally simple calorie counting program on Excel and I LOVE it! I weigh in on Fridays and I am really close to being at a healthy weight so I am excited! I have been doing this for almost 4 weeks and in the first 3 weeks I lost 10 pounds! For me, that is really good and it feels great to be in control and on my way to my goal weight!!!

Kyla has been extremely difficult the past few days. Well last night I went caroling with the YW and then we came over to my house for hot chocolate and Kyla was just loving it. She was being all cute and everyone was saying how sweet she is. Jonas and I were sitting there thinking, Who is this girl??? hahaha, I know that sounds kinda bad but she is really difficult around us, but no one believes us!

This morning after I said the family prayer, Maelie said, "That hurt my tummy when you said that big prayer." Translating for you, this means, Mom, that prayer was way too long and I was getting really bored! Sheesh, kids!!!

Jaxon had his 9 month well check today. It was his 2nd time to the dr this week since he has ear infections. He is now in the 75th percentile for both weight and height. He weighs 22 lbs 12 oz and is 28 7/8 inches tall. He's definitely bigger, stronger, and faster than his big sisters!!

9 months...

and 4 steps!!!

Jaxon has been standing by himself for a LONG time these last few days and today I got in front of him when he was standing and put my arms out and he took 4 steps until he reached me!!! Happy Birthday Cute Boy!!

Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer

Wednesday night we spent 3 hours at Sam's Club so we could get new tires put on our car. We all went because we thought we would only be there for about an hour and thought it would be fun to browse around and get hot dogs for dinner. When they finally got the tires on our car we were so ready go go home!!! Now we have tires that have a 10 rating for driving on the ice - that feels much better! Why is it so many extra expenses pop up around christmastime?!?

Friday Jonas made a trip to the DC temple, which is an all day thing. He had an awesome experience there and said it was an amazing temple! I look forward to taking a day by myself and going in a few months when Jaxon switches over to cow's milk! :) The kids and I had a good day at home - we made christmas cards and chocolate chip cookies.

We have an awesome thing going on with the only other family in our complex and ward with 3 kids. We watch their kids one weekend and they watch our kids the next weekend. We love date night and we actually love having their kids over, the kids really enjoy having them come to play!

Saturday night we went to the nativity display at the church. It was pretty awesome. Maelie also sang in the program.

gingerbread house

Last night we made a gingerbread house! Maelie and Kyla loved decorating it and didn't eat it, haha, I'm surprised!!! They did love it when Jonas squeezed the leftover frosting in their mouth!