Triple bunk

Our old bunk beds lost a crucial piece in the move, so we decided to replace them with a triple! Guest space!

Isi was super helpful as usual

Flappers

The girls made hats out of pipe cleaners and feathers and I told them they looked like flappers. So I showed them what that meant and Lucy got everyone motivated to be costumed.

All the pictures we saw him had people with furs and Boas

Christmas tree hat

"When I baby, I wear Christmas tree bean-bean on my head"

Christmas gifts

Max got play doh stuff and Isi grabbed his half eaten apple and went to town

Charlie got some art he'd wanted

And they all got some good outdoor stuff: soccer balls, frisbees, badminton, and took it right out

Christmas gifts

Here are some fun things the kids got:

James loves his new bow and arrow! This is why he wanted to move.

Max got a backpack his dad will wear on hikes so he can keep up

Family pictures

Then we stepped into the backyard for a mountain picture

Christmas!

We live streamed Mass from the parking lot and went in for Communion. But first, matching clothes!

All she wanted for Christmas

Two front teeth!

A tisket, a tasket

A baby in a basket

What we’re wearing

Max packed all his clothes in his suitcase and carries it around the house. He's ready for gran-gran's house, he says. He even got diapers for the overnights (he's diaper free at nap now! Woot!)

This is part of a play. Why she's an astronaut/fairy/dinosaur was not explained.

Max likes this shirt so much he says he's going to wear it on his next birthday, which is his highest praise.

Baby fun

She will climb to you 

Or higher than you

Cats

You know what the kids have spent hours this week doing? Playing in the neighbors' yard with their cats. The lovely neighbors, who have 10 grown children, told them they can come by whenever they want - so they have. Even after James threw a toy for the cat and it landed in the gutter! We're planning to get a couple outdoor cats to keep mice away in the spring, and it's clear they'll have plenty of company. 

Buddies

Right now Max  has nap time in my room in this fun pack n play. Does he climb in and out? Sometimes. But he's also quiet and I don't have to lift him with the back I injured yesterday when he pulled my chair out right as I sat down.

It also has a bassinet, and side that goes up and down! It's great. And he talked his sister into visiting.

Man I love these two.

7 kids and a cat

I hope this bed is rated for 7 people. Also, that's butterscotch's favorite nap spot. Charlie leaves the blankets in a comfy pile.

Christmas trees

Everyone made a tree in art. Charlie's has a stand and is next to the wise men. Tessa's looks like a cactus. James's has a cardboard center, Lucy made two, Nora's has 3 parts and made an advent wreath too, and Max's (on pink paper) is very modern art in its approach to what makes a tree.

Cookies

We decorated gingerbread! Someone asked to take a picture of Max, and so he's the only documented decorator. Doesn't that frosting look dangerous??

Baby fun

She cried until I got her out of her high chair, and then she reached over and grabbed her food. Also, she loves to watch herself. "what a pretty baby that is"

Look! Charlie can take her for a ride!

Gingerbread house

You may recall we like to decorate a gingerbread house for Our Lady of Loreto, which remembers Jesus' house in Nazareth being moved (by angels?) to Loreto. I bought a pre-assembled one, because I am smart.

St Lucy’s Day

We were greeted with much cheer

Snow fort

Grandma sent a set of snow block molds and it was perfect for the fort. There isn't a lot of snow, so they fill sleds from all over the yard and drag them over.

We just can’t even

With this adorable baby

Crowns

Nora made crowns with little cuts like combs so they'd stay in 

All kids

I got a picture of all the kids in the backyard today 

Heckuva view! Then Nora could no longer contain her sadness that someone had rubbed frost in her face after she started throwing it at people.

Sisters

"Take our picture Mom!!"

Dino Max