Traditions

This holiday season I have been busy. It is always harder to get things done with a new born and especially when they are nursing. I have been trying to slow down and only do the things that are really important to me. When Connie told me she was going to go out to moms and make popcorn cakes I decided I would join them.

Cause I knew they would be there to help and it would go fast. My mom picked up the groceries for me and they both worked while I nursed. Luckily after Louise went to sleep and let me get to work. 

It was fun laughing with them and listening to Christmas music. Popcorn cakes are something my Grandma Maggie and my mom would make for the family and neighbors while I was growing up so it was something that I wanted to do this year. 

And we made a lot. 

But with help it went quickly. And for wrapping I decided to keep it simple. I could have made cute cards or tags but I just decided it would be much easier to order some from tinyprints. I am so glad I did. They turned out really cute but it was super easy. Just wrapped them up with yarn. 

I used to always make hand made Christmas cards but I just couldn't this year and that's okay cause printed ones are so cute now (I don't feel like that was always the case). Plus I used Harry Potter stamps so that was awesome. 

Another tradition I have is making homemade gifts but I decided it was not wise to put that kind if pressure on myself. It is more important to enjoy the season. I wanted to get Joe a personalized memory game (wanting more games and activities and less toys this year) and I was about to order one when I realized I could make it pretty easily.

I printed onto fabric using the freezer paper method. Cut the pics out. I printed them 2.5 inches but if I did it again I would do 2 inches to I would have more of a border. 

I love the way the pictures look on the fabric.

I picked a fabric for the back and put batting I between, sewed around the edges and trimmed then up when I was done. 

They were so easy to do I decided to make them for a good friends birthday present. 

Gracie gave them to Clara at her party today, I hope she likes them. And we reused the adorable box that JennyB gave us Christmas treats in. 

So there is how I am trying to keep traditions alive, but still take it easy and enjoy this time of year. 

Sweet Christmas Tree

"I'm an Elf!" Mark, Ashley, Sam, and Scout are here! So tge other dy we had them come over to decorate Christmas trees. They (we) all love being around eachother. 

Such concentration 

I am finally starting to feel the Christmas spirit cause this is what Christmas is all about, spending time with those you love. 

Forgetting Thanksgiving

I just realized I posted about Christmas before I posted about Thanksgiving or the rest of November for that matter. Russ worked Thanksgiving day so I got the kids up and dressed by myself and went to pick up Connie before we went to my parents.  

We are all really lucky I decided to snap this picture because it is pretty much the only picture I took, besides the ones below. 

Louise was sleeping really good that day. Poor Joe; all he wants is to be close to her and I feel like all I say to him is, "don't touch her, leave her alone, don't wake her up."

On Friday (after the whole Black Friday ordeal) I hurried home and Connie helped me put together a veggie tray and my green bean casserole. Then I hurried over to my in-laws and spent a lot of time nursing and visiting and no time taking pictures, but it was a lovely afternoon as well. 

I love Thanksgiving so much. The food is nice but more than that I love the chance to be with family and pause to really really think about the things I am grateful for. And like most years the things I am most grateful for aren't "things" at all. 

Holidays

After Thanksgiving I got the Christmas decor bins out but wasn't intending to put stuff up before I got some of the house clean. While I was nursing in the other room William got to work and I came out to this:

Complete with a lego Christmas tree he made. 

They found all the Santa hats and immediately came to show Louise and I.

This girl sure does get a lot of love.

This Santa hat on Williams globe is probably my favorite of his decorations. I did change our mantle a little but mainly because I had more things I needed to put on it. 

I have been trying not to be a grinch this year. It didn't start off well because even though I hate the idea of Black Friday I made the mistake of looking at the adds and seeing that Kohl's had a lot of stuff I was getting on sale. Russ was working so Connie kindly agreed to watch my kids while I "ran over there real quick". Ha! I was in line for TWO HOURS! Ever since then I have repeatedly had to remind myself what the season is really about and not to get too stressed about getting things done. I think I have done pretty good, I don't think I have ruined Christmas yet. 

Baby is 1 month

A view of my room in the middle of the night. My room is pretty small so it made it kind of hard to make my way to the bathroom. At least they are both asleep. 

Louise at one month old. 

She got tired of me taking pictures. 

At one month she is a fairly happy baby. She will smile at us, especially the kids. She is fussy in the evenings and sleeps at night but wakes up to eat 2,3, or even sometimes 4 times a night. I try not to think about that.

Joseph the photo bomber. He is always doing this when I try and take pictures of her. 

I love her smiles and her rolls on her thighs. I love how soft her head is and how she curls into my chest. Her smell is divine unless she is poopy, then she stinks:). She loves it when we take her diaper off and will just lay there happy kicking around. 

Louise's Birth Video

My wonderful friend Kate Lines offered to video the birth and put together this beautiful video. I love it and wish I had all my births video taped. Such a sacred day to me.

Fall soup feast

Back in November we had our annual soup dinner. It was raining outside which kind of stunk cause we were planning to do it outside and had to relocate but it was the perfect night for soup and bread bowls. 

And pie!! Jessica made everyone their own mini (but not that mini) pie. 

I had tons of pomegranates on our tree this year so we used them as place cards. 

It was such a lovely evening and so easily thrown together because there were four of is involved. I love having friends that enjoy throwing a nice looking dinner party as much as I do.

And maybe sometime I will remember to take some pictures of the people cause the guest are what made it such an enjoyable evening. I was too busy enjoying myself. 

A week of Louise

On October 24th Louise LaVoice was born. Her birth story will have to wait for another time because I am still waiting for  pictures and video from the birth. 

Here we are seconds after her birth.

She was very calm and chill. This is her and I laying down skin to skin. 

This is her at my feet getting checked out  by Stephanie and Crystal. I love that she is covered in purple gloves. 

Chubby little sweetheart. 

She was (and is) a good eater. 

While I was getting checked out she was out in the living room getting to know  grandmas and grandpas and siblings. Above is a picture of her lifting her head off of pirate grandpas chest. 

Awhile after the kids went home with Russ' parents and apparently William was very restless. He couldn't wait to get back home to his new sister. 

Joseph has had a constant runny nose so he hasn't been able to hold her very much. It has been hard for him and any time he has got to hold her, he is so happy. 

Gracie sure loves having her sister here. 

Getting to know her "nother mother". The first night she was born my mom stayed the night and slept with her and would bring her to me when she needed to eat. The next night Connie did the same thing. I am so blessed. 

Cheeks! And nose! 

A few days after she was born the kids had their primary program. I didn't want to miss it so Connie and I came in late and left before the closing song and prayer. The kids did so good on their parts and singing the songs. I am glad I went. Louise did good too, she slept in Russ' arms the whole time. 

Later that day we went to my parents so that we could take a nap and have someone to hold Louise and the kids could play. Connie drove and Russ sat in the back and fell asleep with the rest of the kids. William was the only one awake bak there. 

I am just in love with this chubby little girl. 

One night Russ and the kids were out doing 4H stuff and me and Lou went out and sat on the porch swing in the perfect weather and watched the sunset. 

Look at this sweet position she is in. She just wants to melt our hearts. 

This is her milk drunk smile while I burped her. 

At her one week appointment (one day early). Stephanie had had a hard day that morning and needed baby snuggles. Good thing Louise was in a good mood and just snuggled and cuddled her. The first week of her life was busy (I didn't post about Joseph's birthday or Halloween) but it has also been peaceful and magical.