Grandma and Grandpa Wallis!

At the beginning of the school year, we had a visit from Grandma Tony, Grandpa Jim and their fur kids, Friday and Taco! They brought their new fifth wheel where they slept at night.  We had a wonderful time together.  We enjoyed visiting, playing scrabble, going out to dinner, shopping, and the kids enjoyed all the gifts they got too!

 

School Fun Run!

This Fall, Jackson's school had a voluntary fun run for all students grades K-6 in the district.  He decided he wanted to participate.  He worked really hard everyday by exercising and practicing! It was really neat to see how serious he took it too.  I think he takes after his Grandpa Michael in his love for running!

Christmas Memories!

This year was a very merry Christmas! Our home was filled with cheer, and all were happy and healthy! Some of our very best memories included:

1. a four day visit from Grandma Peggy, Grandpa Kevin and their 'fur child,' Tully!

2. the beautiful Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church

3. the wonderful Christmas dinner Grandma made

4. our church working together, providing for and helping the needy families in our community

5. watching the kids expressions as they opened some of their very favorite gifts (and their eye rolls as they opened another pair of socks! )

6. baking cookies, pies and decorating the gingerbread house with the kids and Grandma

7. watching our favorite Christmas movies with friends, including, "The Christmas Carol," with Jim Carrey, which is our favorite version 

8. our towns Christmas parade and Festival of Trees, where the kids got their picture with Santa (except Lucy who didn't want anything to do with him! :)

9. Jackson's Music Class going to our local hospital, where he played, "Away in a Manger," and sang carols  for the permanent residents there

10. our church's Children's Christmas Program where Jackson was a sheep, and he sang, "Do You Hear What I Hear,"  (This one was bittersweet because Chloe was supposed to be an angel, and sing too, but she was too sick...fortunately, she was a good sport about it - poor thing!)

11. Having another WHITE Christmas!

"Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree..."

 

Grandma and Grandpa are here!

Baking with Grandma!

Stockings hung with care

One more stocking for Chloe's cat Lulu!

Our friend, Anne, makes Poinsettia Bread for us every Christmas

Happy Birthday Lucy!

Yesterday we celebrated Lucy's second Birthday!  She woke up to decorations and balloons all over the house!  Jackson, Chloe, Able & I stayed up the night before wrapping her gift, blowing up balloons and making the house look festive!  I made her a Big Top Cupcake (of which the top fell apart! Opps!)
 Owell, she's only two after all (I was MUCH more upset than her {shrug}). I used the chocolate cake recipe out of one of kids favorite storybook, 'Little Bear's Birthday.' It was delicious - next time I just need to cook the top longer.

I let Chloe frost and decorate the cake, and I think she did a beautiful job!  Lucy was very impressed too!

Lucy you are like cinnamon & sugar!  Your would way rather play tickle with brother, 'Jackie,' or dance with sister, 'Cookie,' than play with any, no matter how new, colorful, shiny or talkative toy.
Your usual day consists of waking up, calling, "Mama, Dada, Mama, Dada," (over & over) jumping up down and getting so excited when we come to get you out of bed.

 Then you get seated at the breakfast table in your high chair with your sippy cup & breakfast to watch your favorite show, 'Sesame Street,' (which you call, "Elmo!") When it's time for them to go, you say goodbye to brother, sister & Daddy when they leave for the day.  You like to be in charge of opening & closing the door, and you don't close the door until the car is out of sight and you have said goodbye and blown kisses at least twenty times!
You love to go on walks with Mommy.  You think your stroller is the coolest! 'Jackie' & 'Cookie' think you look like your in a space ship when your all bundled up in it with the cover zipped up!  It does look like something from outter space when you get hungry for a snack & stick your little hand out for a cracker!  It always makes us giggle to see you do that.  On cold days when we bundle you up to go outside, we can't put a hat on you because when you get a tiny bit tired you have to twirl your hair, so, you wear a headband instead! Mittens are also a problem for you because you are a thumbsucker! I have gotten smart and cut all the thumbs off of your gloves which makes us both much happier!

If it were up to you, you would cuddle all day and you can't get enough storytime! Sometimes I think I'm going to loose my voice from so many books!  Your favorite thing is to twirl your hair, suck your thumb (except when you pop your thumb out of your mouth to turn the page), cuddle with mommy & read a story together. You love to be held and to play with my hair, which is why I keep it long.  You have enough hair now to put in pig tails!

We call you, 'little bug,' when your hair is this way, because it reminds us of little anteanas.
You finally take baths now in the bathtub!  The kitchen sink was getting much too small to hold you! When you saw your dolly getting a bath in the big tub, you were ready to go too, now you cry when its time to get out!
Amazingly, you are already using your potty chair!  You don't take no for an answer when you have to go either! You say, "pee, go pee," over and over until I take you to the washroom.  I don't remember any of the other kids pottytraining this early!  I sometimes wonder if your trying to keep up with the big kids!
Lucy, you have been such a joy to us! You are a natural nurturur.  Even though your only two, you 'Mother,' all of us with your sweet & gentle ways.

You love to tuck, 'Jackie,' & 'Cookie,' into bed with hugs and kisses! If it were up to you, you would all share one big bed, so that you could snuggle!  You are very senstitve and really disslike any crying in the house, it makes you very sad.  You hate to see anybody get, 'boo boos.' If they do, you offer an instant hug & kiss to cure.  Your favorite song is, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and you love to be sung to every night while your rocked.  Your brother learned it on the piano for you.  When he plays, you rock your doll and sing it to her.

You may only be two Lucy, but you have captured all our hearts! God has blessed us with a happy and healthy little girl! When you fold your hands to pray with us at night, you sometimes make us giggle! You usually think the prayer is a little too long, so when you've had enough you say, "Amen," (only you hold out the 'A' sound for a while as you nod your head enthusiastically!)  Happy second birthday Lu-Lu! We love you!