Christmas Day

Christmas morning, we got the kiddos up around 7:30.  When we told them Santa had made a stop at our house, Charlotte started crying.  Sat on the floor and wouldn't move.  So after a bit of coaxing, and reminding her that Santa was no longer at our house and she wouldn't have to see him....she came out.  She and Emery were both super apprehensive.  Until they saw the gifts anyway.

 Clint's mom has been in Colorado with her mom, so we invited Grandpa Joe over to open gifts with us.  He and Emery had some fun with her babies.  She is obsessed with babies right now. 

 Proof that Ivy was with us:

 

Grumpa and Clint's infamous camera face.

 After opening presents, we had some yummy German pancakes with bacon and then spent the day playing with new toys.  Later that day we went to my parents to play, eat dinner and open presents with everyone.  We also read the story of Christ's birth from the Bible and sang a few songs.

 I LOVE having family in town.  And when I say in town, I am including Amber and BJ's family.  Because even though they live within 30 minutes of us, we never see each other!  It's absurd.  We missed having Kris, Brenna and their two cuties with us.

 And I wanted all three of this same shot in here because of Audrie's photo bomb.  She looks so happy and excited to be jumping in.  Oh, and Clint looks thrilled.

 That's a lot of kids.

Christmas Eve

 Our Christmas Eve tradition continues. 

The girls got to open one gift and we decided one of grandma and grandpa Overton's would be a good choice.  The girls LOVE their blankets and even though Christmas has come and gone, the appeal hasn't worn off.  They sleep with them and play "Look at me, I'm Mary" (as in Mary and Joseph) and pull each other around on them.  And now Emery won't go to sleep without her "goggie blanket".  (doggy)

 Clint snapped this little nugget with my phone while I was taking pictures of the girls.  For some reason I LOVE it.

 The girls told me what to write for Santa and each signed their name.  Charlotte thinks this: CTTEOHL is how you spell her name.  And when you try to help her spell it the right way, she has a minor hissy fit.  So I pick my battles. 

 And about 30 seconds after the girls were in bed, Santa came.  It took him all of five minutes to get everything ready.  Score!

Four Months

How is my baby four months old already?  

It's crazy.

She is such a happier and easier baby than she was last month.  Phew!  I was going a little crazy there for a while.  She is sleeping 12 hours at night and only wakes up occasionally for her pacifier.  She takes a few good naps during the day and is for the most part so content to just sit back and watch the girls play.  She hates tummy time.  She hates sitting in poop.  She barfs a lot, especially when I'm full of milk.  Like the second she stops eating it comes spewing out and usually ends up all over me.  She is teeny tiny!  Her four month check up isn't for a few weeks, but she is around 10 pounds right now and still in 0-3 month clothes.  She barely makes a peep, no matter how hard we try.  Just yesterday and today she has started to coo  a little but aside from that we can't get her to talk to us yet.  She has started to reach for toys from her mobile and plays with her toes a lot.  We are all wrapped around her little tiny fingers and love her so so much.

 I have to include this one just to show what was going on while I was trying to take these.  Major wrestling match, and I think Clint lost this round.

Santa

The visit to Santa is always an exciting affair with our ladies.  

It seldom disappoints.  

Just for laughs, let's review....

 2010

 

2011

 2012

2013

 We are lucky enough to be friends with some unbelievably gracious people who open their home each year to ANYONE and offer yummy treats and a photo session with Santa for free.  It's close to home and perfect for my little cry-ers.  They set out Santa's sleigh and everything.  It is so awesome.

poor Charlotte.  She was frantic.  Not only did she take off down the street in a full sprint to get away from us, but she was practically hyperventilating.  I feel bad for making her get in the picture.  Kind of. 

Sage

I totally love seeing the school work Sage has started to bring home lately.  It makes me so happy to see things like this:

"We set up the Christmas tree.  I scraped my foot."

 Apparently this says, 

"I went to the beach and played with my friends in the sand."

 Mrs. Hinderland, her sweet teacher, crocheted little booties for all the kids in her class.  Wow!  I was stunned.  I thought it was such a thoughtful gift, and Sage is IN LOVE with them.

 We went to the little Cottage Fair for this quarter and watched her sing her little heart out.  She makes the cutest nervous/happy face I ever did see.

 

I went to help out at her Christmas party this past week, and talked for a bit with her teacher about things.  I've been noticing that Sage really struggles with number recognition, sight words, and focusing.  I think all of these things come with time, but her teacher mentioned the same concerns to me.  She said that while Sage is far from a discipline problem, she has a very difficult time staying focused and paying attention.  She is quiet, but very easily deterred from whatever she is supposed to be doing.  It takes her FOREVER to get things done, and this isn't just at school.  She has always been our "slow poke".  She takes an hour to eat each meal, has to be reminded a thousand times to get dressed, get shoes, get backpack, etc.  She gets so easily distracted by the tiniest things.  So at school, she won't be talking, but if anyone else is, she is listening to the conversations going on instead of working.  Mrs. Hinderland said that she will look at Sage and can tell by the vacant look on her face that she isn't "with" the group.  So I'm not totally sure what the solution is, but I'm hoping that we can work with her on these things.  She is the lowest in her class and because of Common Core, she will be held back if she can't get her numbers and words figured out.  So I'm a little freaked out.  I'm really going to work with her over the break on stuff.  Buuuuut, I don't have a ton of patience and have been known to make her cry while trying to help with homework.  So we will see.

It broke my heart a little to hear these concerns from her teacher though.  A parent never wants to hear that their child is slower or not doing great in class.  I think because I know how sweet she is and I know how hard she tries, I just can't stand the thought of her ever learning that she is "slower".   Or whatever term should be used to describe it.  I just want her to succeed and I want to do whatever I can/should be doing to help her.  I love my girl so so much.

Charlotte's Preschool Program

 My sweet little angel was an angel in her preschool program.  She is the only angel with a blue sweatshirt on.  Yes, I'm THAT mom.  I'm such a slacker!  I have good intentions, but somehow always end up running out of time on pretty much everything in my life lately.  Anyways, she loves her preschool teacher, Mrs. Olsen, and LOVES going to school twice a week.  She has become so animated lately and likes to talk nonstop.  She is so sweet and loving and aside from the occasional "You're not my best friend anymore Mom!", she is a dream.  She practiced her speaking part "I come to bring you news of great joy!" over and over before the program.  She was so proud of herself, and we were too!  It was super cold this night and I was huddled with Sage and Emery on my lap while Ivy stayed toasty in her car-seat hidden behind us.  Clint wasn't able to get home in time for it, but I got a few videos of her so he could see her in action.  We sure love our little C.

December Happenings

 This month has killed me.  It's great and I love the season and yadda yadda yadda.  But I'm so ready to relax a bit.  I'm not cut out for being on the go all day and all night non stop.  I have no idea what I'm going to do when my girls all have activities they have to participate in.  Before I start moaning and complaining too much, here is a glimpse at what we've done:

Went to our ward Christmas party and ate a lot of nachos!

 Decorated some ridiculously hard sugar cookies.  My recipe musta been flawed because they were pretty nasty.

 

 we hid this damn elf every night.

 We made gingerbread cookies.

 We read lots of books.

We pretended it was cold.

 These two partied in their rooms every night.

 We posed at the Temple lights.