December

December 1st

Lily-Loo. Lily-Pie. Princess Peach. Squeaky- Grunt-Grunt. Regardless of name, we absolutely love her. Even if she will only sleep in my arms during the day! 

My church did an amazing Christmas party for the women. It was so pretty and the program reminded us of the importance of keeping Christ in Christmas and the role the  women in /his life played.

December 2nd

Always in her glasses and jewelry!

Lily and the car seat... they are NOT friends.

Jane's family got a new kitty so we went to see it. Isabel was cracking us up chasing it around the house. Then Charlotte and Isabel go her dressed in her unicorn costume. She was so happy and paraded around their house in unicorn fashion!!

Tadaa!!

Oh how I love those chubby cheeks of hers.

Isabel loves stickers and she always puts them all over her face. Always.

Daddy and his girls

Oh Christmas tree. Oh Christmas Tree.

Isabel through us off at first-- literally, throwing the ornaments like balls. Thankfully we only had one casualty. Wild child.

Isaac was really fun. He was super in to it. He wanted to know about all the ornaments and wanted to be in charge of putting the "special ones" aka glass ones on the tree. 

After Isabel's ornament throwing incident, I decided I would be the ornament hander-outer!

This just makes me smile.

The (almost- needs ribbon) finished product!

Isaac turned off all the lights and was VERY happy with his work!

It's really interesting, for lack of a better word. Watching Isaac grow. He has surpassed Atticus in age. They are very different yet very much the same. I constantly wonder how they would get along. If Atticus would have converted Isaac to his love of cars or if Isaac would stay obsessed with superhero's and battling. It won't ever sink in.

We love you sweet boy. We wish you could have been there with us to decorate the tree.

Our families tradition is to get Christmas Jammies the night we decorate the tree and a new Christmas book to read that night- When Isaac opened the present, he said, "Pajamas? That's not very fun!" HA!!

Lily was a party animal and sawed logs while we decorated and opened gifts.

December 3rd

Isabel LOVES the "make-up kit" she got from Locke Lord. She plays with it every day.

My first BIG outing with the kids ALONE. I got them dressed in their Christmas Church Clothes and took them to see Santa. I had the whole thing figured out. I pre-bought tickets (yes, you have to pay to see Santa). Had all their clothes layed out. Snacks packed in the car. Change of clothes for after. Diaper bag prepped for any emergency. And all was done before 7am so that when the kids woke up, we would eat breakfast get dressed and head out the door.

Aren't the so stinkin' cute?

So, we get to North Park Mall at 10:30am. Lily is ready to eat so I nurse her in the car. Isaac of course has to go potty so I have him go on the ground tucked in the corner of my open car door, to which he pees all over the car door. Awesome. But, I finish feed Lily, get her in the Moby wrap and the other two in the stroller (it's now 11am), clean up the pee and we walk in to the mall. Our Santa time was 12pm so I thought we'd run to one store then stand in line. We got to Santa's village and I was directed to see this guy to talk about my pre-bought tickets and where to go. I tell him that I had my tickets and just wanted to make sure I new where to be yada yada. As I was waiting to speak to him, he was handing out tickets and telling the family in front of us that this time allotment ticket is for 4:00pm today and that with as busy as they are, plan on standing in line for about two hours. In my head I'm thinking, "How awesome am I? I pre-bought my tickets!"... And here's where it all fell a part...

You CANNOT pre buy tickets online for this Santa!!

I dang near cried. Seriously. When he told me that, my eyes instantly filled with tears. I had been up since 5:30am. Nursed Lily then got to work getting us ready. Apparently, the mall, the mall I've been going to for 8 plus years is NOT called North Park Mall but North Park Center. I bought tickets ($31 mind you) to see the North Park Mall Santa. A Santa whose not even in the same state as us. The guy said this happens a few times a week that he was really sorry and to hurry and call them to see if they will refund my money. Then... this heavenly man said, "look I'm not supposed to do this, but, here, (he guided me to the a different line then the one that was eons long), I'm going to squeeze you in. It's going to be a wait but not long as the other line." I seriously wanted to kiss this guy. He had no idea how much he saved the day.

When Isaac over-heard the conversation I was having with the guy, and not seeing Santa, he almost burst in to tears too. He was so excited. So when we GOT to sneak in the "Almost to Santa Line" he was beyond excited. Isabel was too, seeing as she was doing circles on the floor in her dress :/.

He was seriously so excited!

Trying to sneak a peak!

Isaac stood there and just smiled at him and for the camera!

It was seriously one of those magical perfect moments.

They both told him what they wanted. Isaac: a video game and bicycle. Isabel a dolly.

We love you Santa. See ya soon!

The kids do so so so sooooo good. And I promised them a sees chocolate and play time after. We went upstairs to get our chocolate fix, and bought a little box of sees for the nice man that let us in, then headed to the turtles (you Texans know what I'm talking about). Isaac and Isabel climbed and slid down for a good 30 minutes!!

December 4th

No cute outfit is complete without a Christmas tutu! 

Eric and I went went to a really fun Ugly Sweater Christmas party- Eric was one of the runner ups!

Lily was our cute side kick and was AHHHHmazing.

December 5th

Christmas light glasses, compliments of Auntie Jenny. They are AWESOME. Wherever there is light, you see, for Isaac, a reindeer. And for Isabel, a snowman. They are super fun.

Saturday nap time with Daddy.

 She is just so sweet.

I cannot get enough of these sweet girls.

On our way to "Bethlehem Revisited" and Lily was not having it, so I got to chill in the back of the van with the kiddos! She is my only baby that has taken a paci (she doesn't love it but likes it) and it is a LIFESAVER. Atticus found his thumb at 3 months. Isaac was 8 wks. Isabel 9 wks. Lily is  6wks so we will see if she stays a paci girl or finds her thumb again.

Bethlehem allows an opportunity to step back in time 2000 years, walk the streets of ancient Bethlehem and observe the reenactment of the night of Christ’s birth, complete with Mary, Joseph, marketplace vendors, craftsmen, tradesmen, clergy and many more, as live animals.

The boys were happy to help crush the olives!

Blurry pic but Isabel loved her new head piece!

Lily was in the Moby Wrap snug as a bug!

Isabel was so cute and wanted to see each "shop." She would say, "What's in dere (there)?"

It was a really cool experience.

After that we went in the cathedral and listened to a group of very talented young ladies play Christmas carols on their flutes.

December 6th

Early Christmas presents from Grandma Lori....

Isaac got a LEGO Advent Calendar.

Isabel got a Frozen Vest and Christmas book.

Clearly, both were VERY happy with their gifts!!!

"YAHHHHHH!"

THANK YOU GRAN!!

December 8th

Isaac really wanted to make Christmas ornaments so while Isabel napped we got our our beads pompoms markers and glue!

December 9th

Love our little peanut!

"Cheese!"

December 10th

Fun at the play place before we saw the tree!

Isaac and his buddy Riley played for over an hour before they were ready to see the BIG Christmas Tree!

Lily.... slept!

Galleria Mall Christmas Tree

Watching the ice skaters!

Lunch at McDonalds- don't you love our centerpiece!

December 11th

Sister Love!

Lily is still learning to love Isabel's love ;) 

Love this ornament from from Bethy and Becky. I read it almost every time I pass the Christmas tree.

Doing a little shopping at Ulta. Isabel kept grabbing stuff. Bystanders were laughing but she was driving me bonkers. Seriously picking up everything!

Isaac was too busy playing with the kids to get in a picture.

Our ward Christmas Party. Yummy food. Pretty musical number and sweet message about the meaning of Christmas. 

December 12th

Doing jobs to earn Christmas money!

All that cleaning wore them right out!!

Letters to Santa!

Dear Santa, I would like a boxing video game, a new basketball, a bicycle and chocolate chips to put on my face... Crazy kid!

"Christmas glitter" to get it to the North Pole.

That afternoon we served along with three other families and volunteered to be "Bell Ringers." It was a great opportunity to serve and teach our kids about giving and the real meaning of Christmas. 

"It's too loud!"

Just kidding!! 

It's all fun and games till you smash your fingers with the bells.

Cutest Bell Ringers I've ever seen.

Isaac loved handing out candy canes to those who donated.

Love his smile.

Isabel is SUCH a girl. The second she wakes up she wants to get dressed and have bows put in her hair. She didn't want to wear a Santa hat because she didn't want it to mess up her hair and bows!

CANDY CANES!

She tried to put them in the bucket!

How could you refuse this cute face?!

Hard at work!

"Jingle bells. Jingle Bells. Jingle all the way!"

Our time was up and the Zollinger family was taking over!

December 14th

Snuggled up watching a Christmas movie!

Ginger Bread Men Cookies- Isaac had been wanting to make ginger bread cookies for awhile so we finally did it. We mixed. chilled. rolled. cookie cuttered. baked. cooled. frosted... Isaac takes one bite then says, "Ummm. Actually mom, I don't like ginger bread cookies. You can have the rest!" Little pill. It's the journey I suppose!

Love this crazy goof troop.

Our kitchen helped slept on the job!

 Time to decorate...

Isabel thoroughly enjoyed decorating!

'Tis the season to be Jolly fa-la-la-la-la... la-la-la-la!