Already?

I have been really enjoying every moment of Kelton's babyhood.  The fact that he is nearly six months old and I should be starting him on solids makes me kind of sad.  Not only because life with baby food is messy, but because my little guy is growing up.  When we first brought out the rice cereal he treated it like any other bottle or pacifier we've tried putting in his mouth, he spit it out.  He has a very busy tongue and it's hard to get the spoon past it while it's sticking out and wiggling.  

That didn't stop the girls from trying their best to feed their baby brother.  

  

Christmas morning

I don't know what time Christmas morning starts at your house, but at our house apparently it starts at 5:30!  Jeremy and I had been up all night taking care of Kelton and when I heard little feet running up and down the stairs at 5:30 I knew we were going to be in for a treat this Christmas.  I put on my glasses and went downstairs to see them literally jumping around the room because they couldn't wait to open their gifts.  Santa received a little help this year from anonymous little elves and the girls each had a pile of presents waiting for them under the tree.  I vaguely remember having more control of the gift distribution and opening rate in years past.  This year, however, it was a full-fledged assault on the presents.  I barely had time to notice the girls were opening the gifts, much less to see what they had received.  Each time we told the girls to slow down they looked at us like we were crazy!  Ah well, I guess some flurried excitement is to be expected on Christmas morning.  So while the picture taking suffered because of the speed of unwrapping, I miraculously took video footage this year.  Here are some of the pictures I did manage to snap.  

Cambrie made a stuffed hedgehog for McKenzie.  Her name is Poppy.

Cambrie has been asking for modeling clay for ages and was so excited to finally get some. 

 McKenzie is hugging her very own chapstick.  Now she doesn't have to sneak mommy's.

  Cambrie's obsession with frogs reminded me that I had a stuffed beanbag frog from my childhood hanging out in a box downstairs.  We pulled it out to give it new life and Cambrie is thrilled.  

From my Grandma Stratford the girls received a bag full of crafting goodies.  I can't even begin to imagine what the girls are going to create with that.  They are so creative. 

 McKenzie loves her picture of a "castle."  Even though we've corrected her to explain that it is a temple, I think that in this case it's close enough.  I think temples are castles too.  

Cambrie has been begging for cowgirl boots, and as a bonus these are blue!  

Miss McKenzie's Twilight Sparkle pony was a gift I knew would be a hit.  I have been losing McKenzie in Target for months now and each time I have found her in the My Little Pony aisle playing with this doll.  Little did I know it is an automated singing, shining, and blinking robot.  She is in love.  

I was very surprised when Jeremy gave me a gift wrapped like a sword.  I had not asked for a sword....  But when I unwrapped it I was excited to see that it was a new belt.   

He also managed to wrap a present with twine and sheet rock tape.  It was not an easy present to open and when I finally did get it open I saw old running shoes.  Wait a second...  But they were just holding the place of a new pair that should arrive soon.  Yea!  

It doesn't look like I managed to get a single picture of Jeremy's gifts.  But he got a new biking top, a new shirt for work, matching ties for him and Kelton, and new anti-fog goggles.  

We finished opening all of our gifts just in time for Kelton to wake up and then it was on to round two.  You might notice in these pictures that the sun is finally up!  Kelton's main gift was a jumperoo.  I think he is going to be very happy with it, what do you think?  

He also unwrapped a couple of car ramps, a fisher price bus and pirate ship, and a rolling ball.  Unsurpringly his favorite toy to play with was the wrapping paper.  The crinkling noise was too tempting to pass up and he could suck on it for quite awhile before it grew too soggy to play with anymore.  

Does this look like Christmas morning chaos at your house?  

While I made green Christmas waffles the kids started playing with their toys.  In their stocking they received plastics bubbles which stacked well for a great snowman.  

Cambrie made a frog with her modeling clay. 

Kelton watched his cars go down his ramps. 

And a marathon of Lego building began.  Cambrie' cruise ship was a multi-hour project. 

 The rest of the day were hung out in our Christmas jammies, listened to Christmas music, snacked on Christmas cookies, and played with Christmas toys.  I think it was just about as perfect as a Christmas as you could hope for.  Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve the kids get to open their new ornament and a new pair of jammies.  Since this was Kelton's first Christmas we were anxious to see how he would do with wrapping paper and the rest of the excitement of the holiday.  He didn't know what he was opening, but he was lucky to have two experienced sisters helping him out.  

The ornaments went directly on the tree, 

...and the jammies went directly on their bodies.  

What cute kids I have!  

Then it was onto the more spiritual part of our evening.  We read the Christmas story as the kids acted it out with the nativity.  

Next we read some Christmas books that helped reiterate the reason for the season.  

I hope that as the years go on that my children understand how much love there is during the holidays; love for each other, love for our Savior, and Heavenly Father's love for us.  There really is something special about Christmas and how it brings us closer to Christ than ever.  Before they hopped into bed to await visions of sugar plums, they left a plate of cookies for Santa and told our elf Holly what they wanted for Christmas one more time.  I love putting kids to bed on Christmas Eve because their is so much joy and hope in their eyes before they close them for the night.  I can't wait to see their excitement and make new memories in the morning.

Snag the moment

When all three kids are smiling at once, it doesn't matter that you just stepped out of the shower and are wearing just a robe, you grab your camera and snag the moment.

White paper

My girls go through more white paper than anyone I know.  They love making cards.  They love making crafts.  They love drawing pictures.  I admit that many of them lay in forgotten piles, but I thought I would share some of my recent favorites.  .

McKenzie wrote a card for me!  I was taking a nap at the time so she did this all on her own.  She has become a lot better about writing her letters and is very interested in what sounds they are all making now.  What impressed me the most however, was that she wrote "Mom."  She was so proud of herself.  

She is also totally into hedgehogs.  This is her interpretation of a hedgehog.  

When the girls were separated that first week of December, Cambrie sent McKenzie a letter.  She knows her sister is in love with hedgehogs so that's what she included in her note.  I just thought her encouraging letter was really sweet. 

 Cambrie is into foxes.  Honestly, I don't think my fox drawings would even compare to hers.  

And Cambrie has been practicing her writing in school.  Most of the time her stories read like non-fiction books, but this one actually has some action and personality.  Oh yes, she is also really into frogs and blue poison dart frogs.

Breakfast with Santa

I love breakfast with Santa.  I love it because my kids get so excited to see Santa Claus. This year McKenzie ran right into Santa's arms when she saw him.  Perfect moment!

After a round of "Ho! Ho! Ho!" Santa read a new story, "The Sparkle Box," as well as the traditional, "The Night Before Christmas."  

Then it was time to choose an elf to hand out candy canes as the kids came up and sat on his lap.  This year Macady was the elf, and I have a feeling Cambrie is going to want that job in the next year or two.  Kelton is still too young to be scared of Santa.  He sat on Santa's lap happily slobbering all over a candy cane.  I'm pretty sure he asked for more time with his sisters that he loves so much and for the chance to eat solid food soon. 

 McKenzie jumped up on Santa's lap, then immediately became shy and hid behind her hands.  We were able to get her to put them down long enough to tell Santa that she wanted a "wawawoopsy" for Christmas.  It's a good thing Santa Claus is magic and can get the kids their wishes even if he can't understand what they're saying.  

Once her younger siblings were taken care of, then Cambrie sat on Santa's lap.  She asked for Littlest Pet Shop toys and non-fiction books.  

The girls were very anxious to eat their candy canes but I made them wait until we snapped a family picture with Santa.  

I love looking at the pictures of my kids taken with Santa each year because it's really easy to see how much they've grown.  

Family picture

Rogers family picture (three kids smiling at once...these are going to be harder to get :)

All of the grand-kids, spouses, and great-grand-kids.

After Santa left it was time for the cousin gift exchange.  We started at the youngest grand-kids, which meant that Kelton was first.  He has started reaching for toys and apparently sparkling wrapping paper counts as a toy.  I can't wait to see him Christmas morning!  

He received a car driving toy which is perfect since he can now sit up and play with it. 

Even Dantley thought it was cool.  Either that or he was bored out of his mind waiting for Cayde to get home in a couple of weeks.

 McKenzie has alternated between wanting My Little Pony toys and Lalaloopsy dolls.  Her cousin gave her Mint E. Stripes, and she has loved it so far.  

Cambrie couldn't wait for her turn.  She only had to wait six kids or so, but it was way too long.  What to her wondering eyes should appear but a Littlest Pet Shop.  Cambrie always loves the gifts Macady gives her.

The girls were both thrilled to get exactly what they wanted.  They then spent the next three hours playing with their toys with their cousins.  

 Since we won't be at the family party on Christmas Day, Jeremy't grandparents gave us our gifts early.  The kids were surprised that they each got a $5 bill.  McKenzie is just starting to understand that money buys things and she told me, very emphatically, not to lose her bill.  

 Just as all the commotion was coming to an end, Cambrie came running upstairs with her mouth hanging open.  Her tooth had been bumped and was bleeding, so we pulled it out.  She is one tooth closer to becoming completely toothless.  At least her bottom teeth have started growing in!