Christmas 2011

We broke the rules of bedrest just a little bit and kept tradition of Christmas Eve at

Grandma Denyse and Grandpa Mark's.

I love this picture of Clayton and Grandma!

Parker's not quite sure what to do with his cousins that don't respect personal space.

Stationary set from Uncle Chris and Aunt Alicia was a favorite!

Grandma Denyse & Grandpa Mark with the grandkiddos

 Christmas Day



Stanley's and Staley's with Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Ken

Brooke insisted that she be in charge of a vegetable for dinner.

Christmas Tradition requires a picture of the kids in their PJ's.

Christmas Adam

On the Duggar's show the other day they mentioned that they call the day before Christmas Eve, Christmas Adam because Adam came before Eve.  I like that.  

And with that information, these were the events of our 2011 Christmas Adam.

Mike was given some awesome basketball tickets to watch the Badgers courtside.  Uncle Chris, Grandpa Mark, Grandpa Ken and Uncle Kenny had a good time.

Back home we frosted cut-out cookies

Christmas Traditions

Picking out a Christmas Tree at Riehle's Tree Farm

 

Daddy's helper.  Lincoln loves watering the tree...
actually, he loves to do anything daddy is doing.



Christmas Cookies

The boys were great kiss unwrappers.

 

Singing in the Children's Program at Spring Creek Church

Making Gingerbread Houses

Thanks Cake & Bake for hosting and eliminating our clean-up!



 Country Springs Holiday Light Display

Chicago Trip

With the anticipation of a new baby and my restrictions, some of our Christmas traditions have been just a little different this year. Mike & I thought it would be nice for the older kids to have a day off of school to spend with daddy. Brooke, Clayton and Mike took an early train down to Chicago to spend the day. They had a great time at the Lego, American Girl and Disney stores, enjoying lunch at the Rainforest Cafe and finishing with a horse drawn carriage ride through the city.



Fun on the train!



 

Inside the carriage

Top bunk...here he comes!

Clayton is FIVE and we've been talking for months now how exciting it will be when he turns 5 and gets to sleep on the top bunk.  Most of the hype has been because he'll need to move to the top bunk out of "necessity" so that Lincoln can assume the position of the bottom bunk...hence making room for Baby in Lincoln's old room.  Clayton's been a bit hesitant about sleeping up there...we'll see how it goes!

He had a great birthday and currently loves all things Lego and Angry Birds.

Ready, Set, GO!

For Halloween, we had several families from the neighborhood over for pizza before heading out to trick or treat.  My hope was for a group shot pre-treating, but before most of the adults even had their coats on the kids had already raced forward and finished 3 houses.  Everyone had a great time and collected enough sugar for weeks to come.  Our family had....

Dr. Brooke Stanley

Bumble Bee Transformer Clayton




Lion Lincoln

 


Who, for the record was the first lion to not cry when having his whiskers put on!



SEVEN! How did that happen?!



As Brooke went to bed on October 28th, she asked, "Take one last picture of me mom while I'm SIX."

Birthday Breakfast Tradition
We made a new favorite of ours.  Brownies with oreos and rollos layered in the middle.  Nothing like a sugar-high to start the day off right.

It wasn't Brooke's year for an official friend birthday party, but we did honor her request to go bowling with a few of her closest friends.  The girls had a great time bowling and then enjoying some dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.

Every year I cannot believe how a baby who starts off at 4 lbs connected to many monitors and tubes is now a 7 year old in the first grade! 

Pumpkins!

A little bit of carving....a little bit of painting.  Clayton especially wasn't a big fan of scooping the goop from the pumpkin.  Brooke had very grandious plans for her design - a bit past mom's ability.  And Lincoln was content to just be a part of the action. 





  

Happy Halloween!

Backyard Smores

We received notice that Mike's credit card he uses for all his work travel was discontinuing their rewards program and that we should watch for a check in the mail. Originally the plan for that account was to take a nice vacation, but since it'll be a while since we do any traveling as a family of 6, Mike decided that chairs and a bonfire pit would be a great option to promote some family time. The kids LOVED sitting out there and enjoying their first round of smores. Another great idea daddy!

The newest addition is a...

GIRL!

Originally our ultrasound was scheduled for Sept 28th, but after some bloodwork came back showing us that we were at high risk for spina bifida or some other sort of bodily opening the date of the ultrasound was bumped up. Praise God that from the pictures that were taken, there were no signs of spina bifida (exposed spine), gastroschisis (hole in tummy), cleft palate, cleft lip or other "holes" in her body. We know that God has all the days of this little girls' life in His hands and we continue to trust in His sovereignty.

Profile pictureHer footLove that she's lady like already with her legs crossed

And best of all....a healthy spine.

First Day of 4K

Ever since his summer school session Clayton has been talking about 4K at Willow and how he gets to go this year. Yesterday we met his new teacher, Mrs. Hoffa, dropped off school supplies, took school pictures and he did a little craft project with his teacher while I filled out some paperwork. Turns out he's in the same room this year as his four week mini-session this summer to "Get Set for 4K" - that helps for sure.

Clayton was ready to go this morning. He wanted me to take his first day picture on every boulder in the front garden. "Just one more mom" and at the end he said, "Okay, mom let me look at those and see how I did." He proudly walked down to the bus stop hand in hand with Brooke and got on the bus no problem. I just picked him up from the bus stop and he told me about his day. I asked if he wanted to do it again tomorrow. "Yeah, mom, that was AWESOME!" I'm so thankful his first experience with school was a positive one.


The CREW. I love how they all insist on holding hands to cross the street together.

Lincoln is ready to go too! He's funny with taking his backpack down to the bus with the kids. All day long if you ask him where Brooke or Clayton is he'll say, "BUS!" My pediatrician brought up the fact that in their little heads Brooke and Clayton are probably riding around on the bus all day. He sees them get on and then they magically reappear at the end of the day from the bus. I had never thought about it that way, but so true.