We could be in Trouble!

Although Celeste can't technically crawl yet (she is so close, but still drops down on her stomach and scoots after starting to crawl) she certainly gets around the house just fine.  She is exploring every room, getting into things, she loves to look at the Christmas tree, and is now venturing towards the stairs. 

I figure I have about a week before she figures out how to get up on that first stair and then we WILL be in trouble!

Happy Thanksgiving

We did Thanksgiving with just our family this year.  It is a great time for us to just spend time as a family.  We were busier then we expected this year.  On Wednesday we went to a movie and out to dinner.  It's become a tradition and there are always great movies to see this time of year.  We saw Arthur Christmas and it was so cute.  It was also great that when we asked Anna Elise and Calvin about the movie that they 'got' the message and understood the point to the movie. 
On Thursday we watched part of the parade on TV and then Mike and I got busy in the kitchen.  The only problem with doing Thanksgiving by ourselves is that I have to cook EVERYTHING!  I made the pumpkin pie and rolls on Wednesday morning so that just left the Turkey breast (yes we cheat), stuffing, potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, jello, and cranberry sauce for Thursday.  Later that afternoon we all went to the park so the kids could ride their bikes and enjoy the beautiful weather. 
On Friday we were able to go see an IMAX movie about building the railway across Canada and see the model train exhibits at the Science Museum (membership has it's *free* benefits)!  I also did some Black Friday shopping - going to CVS at midnight on Wednesday night (well Thursday morning) and to Target at midnight on Friday morning.  We also hit several other sales and did some online shopping.  The kids were able to get presents for each other and it feels good to be done with my Christmas shopping! 
On Saturday we decorated for Christmas.  The kids don't think they can wait another 4 weeks for Christmas to come!

While eating Thanksgiving dinner we went around the table twice and said what we are thankful for.  Here is what everyone said:
Anna Elise - farmers
Calvin - Thanksgiving (so we can eat this food!)
Madeline - watching the parade
Lilah - Mom & Dad, no wait, Anna Elise getting baptized
Mom - Daddy, Anna Elise, Calvin, Madeline, Lilah, and Celeste
(Anna Elise asked: Aren't you thankful for yourself?  I said: I'll let someone else be thankful for me)
Dad - Momma
Anna - wheat because I like bread
Calvin - our house
Madeline - Celeste
Lilah - Celeste too!  and for myself
Mom - for Jesus
Dad - that momma is thankful for Jesus

We are Thankful for our health, our home, our family, and our Savior! 

This and That

Anna Elise goes to Activity Girls now and she loves it!  It's only every other week so the second time she was suppose to go - we forgot!  She was crushed!  They made lip gloss and she was so sad to miss it.  Her awesome leader gave me the recipes and leftovers and we had a lip gloss party at our house with my girls.  We didn't go get the special containers to keep it in, but the girls had fun doing it.  I think I've found my craft for next summer at my mom's house (so somebody please remind me of this next summer when I'm trying to find something to do!)

While the girls were making lip gloss, Mike took Calvin to get a much needed hair cut.  He looks so cute with fresh cut hair!

 Madeline kneading her raspberry lipgloss

 Anna Elise's vanilla lipgloss

This little cutie is now in a real crib.  She has napped in her crib from the begining, but usually sleeps upstairs in my room in her pack n play.  It took three nights, but last night she slept downstairs in her crib all night for the first time!  Anna Elise is excited to have her in her room now.  I'm excited to put the pack n play away!



This is the man that Madeline made the other day.  I though it was so cute!  I'm not sure why he is standing in front of the door, but he gave me a good laugh!

Anna Elise's Baptism

 Anna Elise turned 8 in October.  We waited to have her baptism in November so that her grandparents could come participate.  It was a very special day.  Her Dad was able to baptize her with her grandpa and my Uncle Jim as witnesses.  She was then confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, with the bishop, her grandpa, my Uncle Jim and our old home teachers Brother McIntosh and Brother Bjorn standing in the circle.  Her grandma and Calvin gave talks and her two primary teachers said the prayers.  There were a lot of friends and ward members that assisted and came to show their support.  Anna's Grammy wasn't there but she passed down Anna Elise's baptism dress from her older cousin and gave her new shoes and a pretty hair bow.  Anna Elise felt special and I felt loved and supported!  Thank you everyone!  We are so proud of Anna Elise's decision to be baptized and of the other good choices she makes. 

Grandma & Grandpa

Grandma & Grandpa Allen came for a visit this past weekend.  We were so excited to see them! They came on Friday night just in time to say Hi to the kids before bedtime.  On Saturday we went to the Science Museum and watched an IMAX film on the Hubble Telescope (very cool) went to McDonalds, and played outside.  Madeline learned to ride Anna Elise's bike with out training wheels, which meant that Madeline's bike (with training wheels) was available for Lilah to ride.  We had some very happy, fast wheeling girls this weekend.  On Sunday we went to stake conference and then had Anna Elise's baptism.  My Uncle Jim and two of my cousins, Merry Brooke and Tara were able to come down to visit my parents and be there for the baptism.  On Monday morning my parents had to leave and we had to return to real life.  It was so fun to have them here, even though it was only a couple of days.  We LOVE family to visit and welcome anyone and everyone!

 Grandpa throwing the football with Calvin.

 

Grandma feeding Celeste.

Grandpa helping Madeline ride her bike.

Lilah riding her new bike.  Notice her new haircut?  Madeline gave it to her.  So much for growing out her bangs! 

Half Way There!

Our little Celeste is half way to 1!  She was six months old last week.  I can't believe how fast they grow up, the more I have the quicker they grow!  She is movin' right along.  When she started scooting at 4 months she was too small to really pick anything up off the floor, now she is finally figuring out how to pick up small objects and get them into her mouth!  We are trying to keep the floor cleaner!  She gets up on her hands and knees, but then drops and scoots.  She follows the kids around and scoots into the kitchen looking for mom.  She can also sit up for a while, but prefers to be moving.
We tried to banish her from the kitchen table, but it made dinner miserable for everyone, so she is now back on the table in her bumbo for dinner but with her tray on (since she can get out of the bumbo) and a carrot stick to keep her happy.  She still steals silverware and knocks over milk, but she is happy!  She loves attention and action.  She is very curious and watches everything.  We are working on solids, she sometimes eat applesauce, cereal, and sweet potatoes, but she does not eat peas! 
 

Halloween

On Friday we had the ward Fall Festival.  We had a chili cook off and Trunk or Treating.  We all had a good time.  On Saturday we were unable to go to the pumpkin patch because it rained all day and was very cold.  On Monday Mike took the older 4 out trick or treating in the neighborhood.  It started raining about 15 minutes after they left, but they braved the weather and got their loot!   Cleaning up soaking wet costumes is not fun, but I'm glad they had a good time.

  Madeline as a 'sock hopper'

Calvin as a skeleton.  He had a cool mask he wore on Monday - but there were no masks allowed at the ward party so he settle for some face paint.

Anna Elise as a witch (she just lost a tooth, it goes perfect with the costume)

 Lilah as a princess (she smiles like that now when you take her picture)

 

Our adorable little pea pod Celeste.