{new}

our newest.

we love him. 

we are excited for a new year with FIVE! Woah! 

happy new year! 

{afternoon}

sometimes there is a calm at our circus.
the kids will pair up and play kindly.
Cooper was napping & I sought out Miss Presley & her brothers.
I found some sweethearts playing under Presley's windows.

 

{christmas morning}

this was our first ever christmas just us.

Rod & I both decided we never wanted to do it again.

There is something so warming and comforting about being with family at christmas time.

We sure had a merry christmas though.

The children went to bed after we read scriptures, had a sing along & ate sugar cookies. we set some out for santa and put some carrots out for the reindeer. Rod had to work. So we decided to celebrate his birthday on christmas day after our big dinner. The kids made sure to taunt him with songs about his age though as he tucked the boys into bed. 

We got to work so that we could get to bed before santa arrived. around 11:30 i went to complete my rounds. checked on presley. stark nakey. to be expected. so i re-diapered and clothed the babe and gave  her curls a kiss. she looked darling in her new jammies from santa. next the boys room. 

i quietly started to open the door, but there was something...or someone in the way. T tried to be a sneak and scurry up his bunk, but he was caught! i assumed he was listening for the jolly fellow and gave him the eye while telling him to get his tale in bed! he obeyed but gazed out his open shades in hopes of spotting rudolph. 

We snuggled cooper a few moments more and nestled him into his crib in our room. 

we fell asleep after a busy day of for and play.

around 1am Cooper boy woke for a feeding. i wanted rod to have a goods night rest so i decided to go down stairs to nurse. and what did i find on our kitchen table? a spread! fruit salad, toast, waffles, juice. a breakfast! what sneaky elf had done this?! i knew right away! and i felt a bit bad for scolding him to get in bed. Tre had not stayed up to hear santa...rather to wait for mom and dad to hit the hay so he could surprise us with breakfast already made. my darling darling boy!

i finished nursing and playing with little toes and returned to bed with a big smile at the thought of what a sweet son we have.

morning came and the kiddos put on bathrobes and tore through their stockings, eating anything chocolate in their path. they did not slow as they opened present after present. Tre played santa this year as Rod was helping wee ones open, and i was bouncing a fussy cooper.

T loved his iPod mini and britton hit the lego jack pot! maddox played dress up right away as a knight. Presley had a tea party tree side with her new dolly, kit. cooper was content with his snuggles.

the big surprise for our kiddos was the piano. let the lessons commence! 

we sang songs and made a mess in the kitchen while little helpers cooked our christmas dinner.

Tre tapped out tunes on the piano...playing by ear silent night for us. 

we finally celebrated rods birthday and even made him feel better about it by putting some smaller numbers on his cake. not sure that worked however! he was still a bit of a grumpy gus about another birthday and the attention. love that man! 

it was magical! 

one of those days i understand heavenly fathers plan more clearly,

and fall in love with my family all over again. 

{making up for lost time}

With the hustle and bustle of thanksgiving, Madd's birthday, Coopers BIRTHday, Coopers return to the hospital, school projects galore etc. etc... I never found a moment to do a single christmas activity with the kids. We made up for it when school got out for winter break. we did the baking, the light seeing, the jammies, the video about Christ's birth, the giving, the movie nights with cocoa, the eating, the christmas parties. It felt good to soak in the season & the kids. Sometimes Ill look at the bigger 4 and think how much I miss them. family dynamics always shift with a new babe, and not to say that is bad...because its not at all. It just changes things. Presley & I just cannot snuggle as much as before. She is handling it far better than me. and Maddox all of a sudden is fully out of diapers at bedtime and acting all big (and sassy--saying "duh" all the time. we laugh it off though.) Britton is still britton. nothing phases the boy. We joke that he wouldn't even notice if we all disappeared. He is a sweet guy that one. T I think feels a bit more responsibility. Somedays he's all about it, but others I can just tell he needs to be 8, and just 8. & I let him. Having all 5 in arms reach this winter break has been loud, and silly, and full of head bonks, and kisses. 

{5 & Santa Claus}

Last year we went to our neighbors house for a visit with Santa & friends. It was a real treat. (see HERE)  When our little buddy Luke delivered the invitation for this years party we were pretty excited.  Maddox fixated on this party & let us all know he was IMPATIENTLY waiting. I love how excited he gets about things...most of the time.  

The kids raced down the hill to the G family home & were quick to pair up with neighborhood friends. When Santa came Presley was glued to his side. She brought a lot of laughs to the watching neighbors. T informed me after the party that he feels too big to sit on Santa's lap, but he did not want to be rude. sweet boy. I tad him its perfectly okay to give Santa a good hardy handshake next time. 

Santa handed out presents & even entertained the idea of taking a picture with all 5 of our children. Santa had a hard time believing they all belonged to me. (its okay santa, i feel that way too somedays.) 

It was nice to mingle with friends & kick of the christmas break in a fun way! 

We sure love it here...glad Santa already arranged a day to visit next year. Gotta book Santa early! He is a busy guy! 

here they are...Cooper slept through almost all...he even slept through santa snuggling him...but funny thing is..Cooper boy smiled while in twilight for the picture. great timing cooper! 

{school}

I love the kids' school, but man alive! why do they hate me?! This week Britt was star student of the week which meant a poster about britt (which I actually planned ahead & made & had printed at a print shop a few weeks back) & a letter about what makes him special (I made a book. no really a book with pictures that I read to his class. they loved it.) & eating lunch with the turkey & his 22 class mates. We also hosted a stuffed class pet, Clifford  & documented that too. 
 & then to top it off T had an economics fair where he had to make & market a product (non food item). we made lego soap which was super fun & cute. A poster was made for the day of the sale (again I had planned ahead thank goodness!) all money made goes to a charity here in the city. T had a blast & we brought Maddox with us to the school to see the boys & shop around. 
Thats a lot to do while prepping for Christmas, having birthdays & helping a newborn be happy.
but we survived...until Friday when class parties are in full swing!
We SO got this!