Baby's First Christmas

Christmas this year was great- it was hard not to go overboard on gifts for the girls- they're so darn easy to buy for.






We had Christmas at my mom's house on the 23rd. It was a really nice, laid back evening.

Emerson got a Backyardigans t-shirt from Grandma Margaret.

Emerson got a doll house and LOVES it.

So do Easton and Griffin.

We headed up to Iowa on the 24th and opened gifts with them for about 5 hours. You can see how it might take us awhile to get through all of those.

Ryan's brother, Chris, got engaged the day before to his girlfriend Courtney, who we all adore. She fits right in- I'm so excited to have another sister in law I love! That'll make 3!

My girls before bed leaving milk and cookies for Santa. Emerson said that she was sure Santa would share his cookies with her...
... and Easton.

Santa never left notes for Jonathan and me but evidently he's not in such a hurry on the farm. I thought this was pretty cool.

Emerson and Easton's presents from Santa Christmas morning.

Easton's first experience with whipped cream. She's going to destroy her smash cake on her birthday...

Uncle Cole and Emerson being silly.


On a sidenote- I have officially turned into my mother. Emerson is in the "but why?" stage (lovely) and I say about a dozen times a day, "because I said so!" One of the many things I swore I'd never say but here we are.

Also- Easton started clapping her hands yesterday which is the cutest thing ever.

That's all for now- 2011 has been treating us well so far- just getting back into a routine and still putting Christmas presents and decorations away. I'm in the early stages of planning Easton's birthday party which just blows my mind how quickly it's approaching but I'm really looking forward to it.

Kalidescope with Will...

... and she's crawling! Easton's been a master army crawler for months but she just figured out how to put her knees underneath her and she's taken off. We've gotten gates back out (seems like we just put them away). She's a busy body!

My mom and I took Will and the girls to Kalidescope last week. It was great- Emerson is still a bit young but took Will's lead and loved it. She really enjoyed painting her crown- I'll have to get her some paints.

Sharing "dirt and worms."

Easton got upgraded to a big girl seat. My back had had enough with lugging around a 19 pound baby in the bucket seat. She loves it and it's the last car seat we'll have to buy. Woo hoo!

Emerson's Christmas Recital

Emerson's Christmas program was so adorable. I was nervous she wouldn't want to go out on stage but she did and was one of the only ones who actually did the dance. I swear- I'm not being a stage mom :) Anyway- so cute and I'll post a video as soon as I figure out how...

Emerson and Courtney before the big show.

Easton Claire enjoying herself.

Not the best picture but you get the idea.


Here are Emerson and Courtney practicing the dance at the parent watch night a few nights before the big performance. Enjoy!

December Fun

They're starting a band. I just love Emerson's one glove, one shoe look she's rockin'.

Easton LOVES to feed herself. She does what we call the swoop... ...and stuff.

Easton and Hadleigh look more like sisters than Easton and Emerson do, I think. Funny how when kids are just 10 months apart it seems like an eternity but it's neat when the age gap starts to close and they can begin playing together.

So Emerson has the big "e" above her bed and poor Easton had nothing. I saw some letters in my Pottery Barn Kids catalog and they were made of twigs. We have an abundance of twigs in our backyard in a pile that Ryan has made so I randomly showed him the picture and one Sunday while the girls and I napped he whipped up an "E" for Easton.
Seriously- how great is he? It actually turned out better than the magazine picture. He'll make you one for the right price... :)

Helping me set up our nativity set.

Emerson was in the program at church and they sang two songs- she did great. I always think she's going to be shy in new situations but she never ceases to amaze me and just adapt and hop right into whatever activity is going on. It sure makes my life easier as I'm dropping her off different places.


Emerson's parent watch night at dance class was last night and let me tell you, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Without sounding like a stage mom (which I totally already am) she was just amazing and listened to her teachers and did what she was told and did the best bear crawls and log rolls I've ever seen. It's always fascinating to see your kids in social situations to see how they interact around other kids and how they obey adults. I'm hyper-aware of her because she's not put in those situations very often. I can take a moment to give myself a quick pat on the back because she is one well-adjusted and sweet little girl. Her first recital is tomorrow night and you bet I'll be taking a million pictures... I'm such a proud mama.