19 weeks

The start of a BIG belly!

Princess & Guitar

We spent hours playing princesses and the guitar. I am a guitar hero!!!

Christmas & Winter Break

Our Christmas was Merry. We spent a lot of time at home hanging out together. It was very relaxing and fun....Enjoy the photos, mom!

CHRISTMAS EVE

The kids were adorable in their nativity costumes. Didn't my sister do a great job? Interested in one for next year?

WRAPPING PRESENTS

CHRISTMAS MORNING

I loved the bedhead, the goofy smiles, and the shear joy in my children's faces.

MOMMY PUT CHRISTMAS AWAY...

Ethan was not too happy about Christmas being over.

Christmas Activities

We have had a busy December. I have been really busy with work and Ryan has been busy finishing up his schoolwork for a NICE long winter break. We tried to fit in lots of Christmas crafts and activities. Be ready for an explosion of photos!

Polar Express to Chicago

We told the kids the metra was the Polar Express

Making Wrapping Paper

The snow does not seem to stop....

Waiting for Polar Express

Making Gingerbread Houses

we made the house 2 weeks ago and lots of candies are now missing...hmmm

friends Amy & Lucy

Holden & Karrie

Decorating the House...

BIG Christmas Tree @ Macy's

Santa @ Macy's

he was the sweetest Santa. he spent a couple minutes with each of them.

Christmas Sunday

Holland said she felt like a princess

Christmas in Chicago

German Market in Chicago

if you have met Holland, you see this on a regular basis!

REAL Christmas Tree

It has been years since we bought a REAL Christmas tree. This year we decided to drive to a farm up north and cut down our own. It is our new family tradition...

waiting for the Thatchers....

Wagon ride to tree farm

Twins and Kalem playing in the snow

The most perfect tree we could find. Most of the trees were so short and missing lots of branches. Oh well!

It was a pain to cut down, I wouldn't really know because Ryan and Trevor were doing the real work. All I know is it was freezing and the hot chocolate and donuts waiting for us at the barn was comforting.

who cares if it is a little sparse on top.

Once it was all decorated, it turned out so pretty! We love our little Christmas Tree.

Don't you love this song?

When I was little, I remember Christmas music did not begin playing on the radio until Thanksgiving Day. However, the kids and I have been listening to it for a week now. I can't believe Christmas music is already on the radio. It is just me, or did it come early this year? I feel bad for Thanksgiving - it is almost forgotten between Halloween and Christmas.

Anyway, I recently heard a Christmas song on the radio that took me back to 1985. I clearly remember one of my sisters lip syncing to it during one of our "star search" re-enactments. I won't mention any names, but you know who you are.