mini photo shoot {Jordan}

Monday, December 5

{Santa hat}

Today I attempted to take some pics of Jordan in front of our undecorated Christmas tree.
He was all half working with me but I did manage to get a few I love.
I was able to get a couple of real smiles from by letting him shake his head crazy like while i said, "shake, shake , shake."  Then I would say stop and he would stop with a smile on his face.
We were indoors which makes it more difficult to get pictures that aren't blurry
 (especially when subject won't hold still for 2 seconds) because of less light.
 But I am happy with what I got :)

 

Here is an example of the rest. 

 I love these too since they show off his personality!

A hunting we will go

Saturday we headed out to Stoney Ridge Farm with the most of my family to hunt for our perfect Christmas tree.  It was a lot of fun being able to go with everyone.  I took an abundance of pictures and narrowed them down to this bunch to share!

{Jordan loved watching the machine that tied up the trees}

{mom and dad with Chuck's little tree they got for him}

{first picture with all the grand kids}

There was a nativity scene complete with live animals including Moses the Camel!

{Family  Picture
Jordan is giving himself antlers because my dad was being silly to get him to smile}

After everyone found a tree for their family we headed back to the cars and had a tailgating party!  My mom made pizza rolls in the shape of a tree, bread sticks, cookies, and hot chocolate.

{pizza roll Christmas tree!  I hope this because a new tradition}

This is the second year that we have all gone together to get our trees and I love it!  I love that we added the tailgating this year.  It was a great way to end the morning!

Christmas Countdown

For the past few years we countdown to Christmas using an advent calendar I made.  I come up with a list of activities, print them, and cut them into strips. The activities change inside each year though a lot of them do stay the same.  It is a process to come up with a list and then arrange them in the days that will work best.  I pull out my calendar and arrange them according to the day of the week and what we have already going on a certain day.

Yesterday I did all this.  I put the slips of paper in their proper day.  Made a list for me to have on hand so I know what is coming each day.  And place them all on the fridge.

I try to keep the activities as family activities that we can all enjoy doing together.  This time of year is super busy so it is nice to all come together for an hour and sped that time together.  Some nights are so busy that the kids get to enjoy candy!

Here is what are activities look like this year.

1st- a Christmas joke & candy

2nd- watch a Christmas movie as a family

{Elf}

3rd- Lighted Christmas Parade

4th- Hot chocolate with dipping spoons (we will make spoons together)

5th- Gingerbread houses

6th- decorate cupcakes and enjoy!

{It's my birthday!}

7th- Candy

8th- Read about the meaning of the candy, do an activity, and eat candy cane ice cream

9th- Take pictures with Santa beard

{silly, fun family time}

10th- Make Christmas rice krispies

11th- Joke and candy

12th- Cover table in giant piece of paper and all draw pictures together

13th- Each of them will open a gift 

{a new book!}

14th- Picnic dinner by the tree

15th- Candy

16th- Christmas movie and ice cream sundaes

17th- Surprise!

{instead of going to bed we will load them into the car, get ice cream at DQ, and drive around and look at lights}

18th- Each person will write two nice things about each family member on pre cut out stars! Share them aloud and display

19th- Write a Christmas story together.

20th- Each of us will write a letter to someone telling them how special they are to us.  

21st- Let kids pick out games to play as a family

22nd- Sleepover by the tree and watch Christmas movies

{with cousins}

23rd- pizza and a Christmas movie

24th- Read Christmas story before bed

The kids really look forward to this and so do I! 

Day to Day on Facebook

Here are the day to day happenings of November as recorded on Facebook!

November 3 via mobile-Hoping he wakes up soon so we can play!

November 4 at 8:56am via mobile- Just realized been listening to the same song on repeat for the last half hour. No wonder I was starting to like I was going crazy.

November 5- Had a fun evening at the Lynden Lions game with the family

November 10- thinking of carter today

November 11- Getting ready to head to Seattle with Jana and Cohen! Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers today that we good news about his heart and lungs!

November 13- Jana is putting together packages for NICU parents for the holidays!! Want to help let us know!!

November 16- Still raining at my house....never mind it just turned to snow! But I am sure you all know that :)

November 16 

- So very excited that Michelle's teacher said, "Yes, I would LOVE to make the care package idea a "giving" opportunity for our class before Christmas." Michelle is excited to share all about Cohen to her class!

November 17- Spent this morning at Jana's cutting out stockings and cuddling Cohen! Love my Thursday's and being able to spend time with them!

November 17- Warming up for first church league basketball game!

November 18- the kids are having a sleepover in Michelle's room! Love hearing them talk, sing, get along, and have fun together!

{Kids playing their DS games at their "sleepover"}

November 20- sometimes we just need to cry

November 22- Thankful today that the jeep escaped being hit by branches not once but twice!

November 23- Actually went to the gym today to work out in preparation for tomorrow! I am now ready to feast and relax!

November 24- I am blessed with the best family ever and so very thankful for them!! Had a wonderful day hanging out with them, relaxing, eating, getting crafty, taking a TON of pictures, lots of cuddles with Cohen, and I loved watching my dad play basketball with his grandsons.

November 25- Did my black Friday shopping here in Lynden this morning with Jana and Cohen! Had my coffee now I am going to pull out all the Christmas stuff! Wish me luck!

November 25- He has been playing in this box all day! Think I know what to re wrap for Christmas after it is done at Michelle's school!