Picture Catch Up

I can't believe I never posted pictures from Christmas!  Here's a little picture-catch-up from the past month.




We enjoyed seeing both Heidi and Dave... and then Carrie!  Heidi and Dave are expecting a baby this summer, which is SUPER exciting!!!  We can't wait to find out if it's a boy or girl.



Carrie showed the kids how to make super simple 24 hour bread using just a dutch oven.  It was delicious.



Mom showed the kids how to make candy cane cookies, a tradition started by my Dad's mother a looooong time ago.



At some point we had my sweet niece for the day.  Here she is cooking with "the crew."



And did I mention we made gingerbread houses with friends??



 I only gave myself one tiny second degree burn with the molten sugar-glue I used to adhere the graham crackers together.

On Christmas Eve we went to church with Mimi and Papa and back to their house for presents.

On Christmas morning the kids were sooo patient.  We waited until almost 10 to open presents.





Lucy was predictably most excited about her Doc Mcstuffins Mobile Cart.



Elliot was so-so about his new carseat but loved his garbage truck.  And poor Oliver... we couldn't find his fire truck!



I thought I remembered it coming in a box several weeks before, but it was nowhere.  He was a good sport, not knowing that he was missing any gifts.  Finally Carrie saved the day and spotted the plain brown box in our bedroom by the dresser.





Oliver was delighted with his new truck. And his new backpack.





And he loved his new baby book and wanted it read to him multiple times.



Another big hit was a preschool microscope!  Elliot's had a great time finding stuff to look at in it.  I'd like to bring it with us to a nature preserve when the weather is nicer.  No light means no plug or cord, so it's super easily transported.



Papa came over a couple days after Christmas to practice a magic trick.  It was pretty fun.



The kids were tickled.



I love this picture.  It reminds me of so, so many pictures I have of various grandparents reading to the kids.  I am so lucky to have people in my life who are eager to read to my kids and to talk with them and play with them.



Lucy and Charlie are pals.  She loves to get him out of his crib after nap time (actually, Elliot does too).



I love how he looks up to her.  So cute.

We've been enjoying Marble Run.  What a fun game.  

We have to play it when Charlie's napping or else he tries to cram all the marbles in his mouth and die.  

Here is Oliver doing his two-at-a-time dance.  I love the way he dances.

I wonder if they still make Mouse Trap.  That game was awesome.  I should look into that.

I purged a bunch of toys the other day.  Nearly gave me a panic attack to have to say goodbye to some of the toys Lucy loved as a toddler, knowing that stage is over for her and Elliot.  

But the wooden trains, of course, survived that round of elimination.  

When the kids aren't trying to kill each other, they really enjoy playing with these trains.

That about catches us up.  Sorry for the overload of pictures.  Who am I kidding--I love blog posts with tons of pictures.