School Program

Every year the GLCM School does a Christmas program for the parents. 

All classes participate-- even Christopher's Toddler 1 class. 

Here are the Toddler 1's lining up to enter the chapel.  They sang "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."  Really, the teachers sang the song with the parents' help.  The toddlers were content doing their star hand motions.  Very sweet.

Someday Richard will forgive us for the reindeer sweater-- only kidding.  He actually loved it.  Cousin Lambie, his faithful friend, decided to sing in the program.

Birthdays = Fun

We celebrated several birthdays in December.  Daddy and his brother Scott, Cousin Carson, Aunt Kim, Aunt Mona, Grandma-Grandma (97th!!!), our friend Reagan, and our friend Cody.  We are probably forgetting to list a few more too!!!  Here are some highlights:

Daddy only wears silly hats for us!

Richard was afraid that the fire from the candles would burn him.  Christopher tried to grab the lit candles.

Richard performing his rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" for Daddy on the baby grand.

Our friend Cody (4). 

This kid's got cake eating skills!

Our friend Reagan (6).

Richard was intent on riding the parachute ride at the birthday party.  It lifts you up in the air and drops you several times.  He loved it!  Mommy and Grandma are quite excited that he's "one of us."

White Family Christmas

We working backward in time.  Christmas is celebrated with the Whites the weekend prior to the holiday, and we had a GREAT time with everyone this year.  We are blessed with loving family.  Richard and Christopher are surrounded by wonderful people in their extended family. 

Richard was pleased that he got to sit on Nana's lap to open presents.

 

Christopher loves his train from Liz and David.

Christopher and Carson (5) were snack buddies.

We have recently started the tradition of decorating gingerbread houses. 

Fortunately, none of the houses were condemned this year.  The five oldest boys (Wilson, Jackson, Carson, Preston, and Richard) and Aunt Liz worked diligently on their houses.

Richard sat and ate sprinkles for a good 30 minutes.

 

The boys adore their Aunt Mary Ellen.  Mommy attempted to take a good picture, but the boys had their own ideas.  At least we tried.

Our Denver Family

We were so excited to spend Christmas with our Denver family this year.  It had been way to long since the last visit.  Our hearts are always with them, but it was nice to be together this year.  Richard and Christopher got to bond with their cousins and uncle.  Richard learned more about our guardian angel, his cousin Gabby, and now has some grasp of who she is in our world.  Christopher soaked up the attention of his Godfather.  We were very blessed this Christmas!

Painters-- not paint eaters!

One of the neatest places that we've been is the Denver Children's Museum.  We had lots of fun activities to do, but the most fun was teaching Christopher how to paint.  And how to not eat paint. 

SNOW!

Richard and Christopher saw their first snow this Christmas.  They visited family in Colorado and played several days in the snow with their cousins and uncle.  Thanks to our Colorado family for such a memorable trip.

Santa!

We were at Central Market yesterday, and what a surprise to see SANTA CLAUS!  Christopher and Richard were happy to let Santa hold them, but you won't catch them smiling! 

Santa asked what Richard wanted for Christmas.  Richard said, "A red and white striped present."  That makes it pretty easy on Mom. 

Christopher let Santa pick him up out of the stroller and gripped his candy cane prize all the way home.

Dear Santa,
We will have the cookies and milk ready for you on Christmas Eve.  And carrots for the reindeer too.
Love, Richard and Christopher

Sweet Christopher

Sweet Christopher,

Lately your life has been filled with milestones.  We've seen lots of teeth from you in the last few months-- six of them in October and November.  You've been such a trooper through the teething process.

You've picked up some new words.  In addition to Mamma and Dadda, which you still like to scream from your crib in the morning, you've added More, Juice, This, and Ball.  There are many other noises that you think are words, so we expect many more soon.

On Grandma's birthday, November 28th, you took your first steps on your own at the Central Market Park.  We were so excited to capture this moment.  You had been walking holding our hands for months.  We were thrilled for you, and you were so proud of yourself!

The days are going by so fast, and you are quickly turning into a little boy.  Thanks for all of the baby hugs, slobbery kisses, cuddle time, and even all of the little bites and pinches along the way. 

We love you,

Mommy and Daddy

 

Grandma's Birthday

We ambushed Grandma on her birthday morning and roused her out of bed for a Birthday Jammie Party!  Grandma was such a good sport.

We loved the fruit bouquet that Uncle Tom sent!

Thanks for sharing your special day with us, Grandma!

Oh Christmas Tree!

There is no shortage of help when it comes to putting up the Christmas trees.  We helped Grandma with the upstairs tree on Friday!  What fun!  Christopher was very good at taking the ornaments out of the container and handing them to everyone.  Richard did a great job hanging ornaments on the tree.  No worries, they are all shatter-proof plastic.

Christopher was very busy as the site supervisor.  He was doing a lot of standing, but no walking on Friday.

Richard was the chief tree designer.  Anything to get on a step stool.

Almost Disaster!!!

Richard found a gingerbread house kit in the pantry, and on Thanksgiving we built our house.  There were many of pieces of candy to put on the house, some big, some small, and hey, some just right to fit in our NOSE.  Richard got four pieces up his nose before Mommy noticed.  Conveniently, Daddy got the whole thing on camera... instead of stopping Richard from doing it.  Hhhmmm.  Grandma helped us push the candy out, and we were saved from going to the emergency room.  Catastrophe averted. 

Building our house.

Eating some candy?

Putting it in our nose!  Is Mommy watching?   Nope.

Showing Mommy now, but not scared!

Grandma helps to save the day!  Let's not do that again, okay?