Trees...

This year we put up two trees. We have a small 4 foot artificial one that we used for all of the kiddos ornaments...beads...and handmade stuff! Paige especially enjoyed laying underneath this tree and playing!



It's amazing to me that she is almost 6 months already...I love watching her carefully take in everything around her!

Christmas Parade

As usual, I have not posted in almost two weeks; and what a crazy two weeks it has been for us. We have had a blessed Christmas with activities, friends, food, and celebrating the birth of our Lord!

The local parade was the beginning or our Christmas festivities!



The weather was threatening rain...but that did not dampen the boys' enthusiasm for the parade!



Beads...candy...and Vexcon was the talk of this parade. We hadn't heard of Billy the Exterminator until we moved here. But he is a local and probably starting to be national celebrity. We thought we were taking a picture with him. Turns out this was his brother...



The boys were so excited that we could still get one with Billy! We are hoping this is our ticket to fame! On the way home, there was a lot of talk about "meeting someone famous" between the older boys.



Even Paige enjoyed most of the parade. She did not, however, care for the loud sirens compliments of the local police, fire, and ambulance stations.



Even though the parade was very lengthy, the boys never really lost interest - especially Eli!



Paige got pretty tired of staring at me...and was happy to have Daddy hold her so she could face out and have a better view! Don't blame her for her mismatched outfit...she needed her hat, but didn't have a clean matching outfit...Mommy's fault!

It's All in the View!

I love looking out my back windows in the morning and seeing this view. With this view I feel like I live out in the country by myself...when in reality I live in mini suburbia with hundreds of other people! With this view I forgot that there are construction workers (and outhouses) all around. With this view I forget that my life is crazy busy!! With this view...if only for a few minutes...I feel calm, peaceful, and serene!



I especially love seeing the three crosses to the right. Not sure what they mean to our neighbors, but I know what they mean to us! We are so thankful for this view!!

Bobcat Badge...

Zach was so excited to receive one of his first awards at Scouts...the Bobcat Badge...



Unfortunately Daddy didn't get to see him receive it. Not quite the same to have Mom there!!

Fall Festival...

I just realized that I hadn't posted any of these pictures from a Fall Carnival that we attended. The base has a very active home school group and this was one of their events. The kids had a great time!!



There were about 15 games set up. Each had candy for a prize. We let the boys get candy on their first round, but after that they had to for go the prize!





This is the first time the boys have been interested in face painting...it was very exciting for them. Zach chose the "Vexcon" symbol. Which for those of you who don't know is a very popular pest control company here in Louisiana...also a very popular reality TV show...







Eli was dead set on orange hair paint...thankfully it washed out easily! I'm not sure how orange hair would have gone over in Sunday School!





Nothing exciting for Paige to experience. She slept in the baby carrier for most of the time...the boys would have like to see her have her hair painted...but that might have been a bit excessive!



Eli won most of his games...not sure if he was cheating or not?

Baby's First Christmas...

Thanks to a friend from Mississippi this sweet little girl will be right in style here in the South!!



This little smocked dress is the perfect addition to her wardrobe...especially when it is what ALL the little girls are wearing around here! I'm not sure that we wouldn't be wearing this if we lived in Colorado, but "when in Rome, do as the Romans do," right? I do have to admit it is VERY cute!



The only thing missing is a red and green bow!



We are so thankful for this little sweetie! She will make our Christmas extra special this year! One more "Baby's first Christmas" ornament to hang on the tree this year!