Q

Loved this picture of Q with his youngest granddaughters on Christmas Day.

Christmas Morning 2013

Levi was VERY excited about Christmas morning.  He was awake by 5:45, singing songs to his sister.  They were sharing a room, because Kevin's family has been visiting.

It took Levi a few seconds to find "his stuff".  Once he finally saw his Nintendo 3DS...

Since Levi got a new game device, Kara Jane inherited Levi's old Leapster Explorer.  She got a new backpack for it, though, with a couple of games.

The "wardrobe chest" was also her gift, with a few dress-up outfits inside.

 Dress-up outfits mean dress up of course.

Liza slept in.  Once she finally woke up, she and Kara Jane enjoyed her new activity table.

After breakfast, Kara Jane decided to play with the Little People nativity scene.

Then it was stocking time.

Liza Roo got a new remote.

 Levi was excited about Monsters University.

Kara Jane was just excited to open presents.

She did like her new outfit, too.

Levi liked his new Skylanders PJs.  Kara Jane was excited about anything Sofia.

After we saw Liza Roo's reaction to the toddler princess Cinderella that Kara Jane got from Aunt Kathy, we knew that she needed her own princess.  So, she got her first princess, Baby Belle.

This picture below was during stockings; the kids each got a bunny from the Sara Jane Project.  Our babysitter started the project and has spent the past month in Uganda spreading the love of Jesus, including giving similar bunnies to boys and girls there.  We've been praying for her daily since we knew about her trip, and Levi loves to tell about her.  I sent her this picture of the girls with their bunnies.

Merry Christmas 2013

Our family of five after Christmas Eve service.

Liza Roo's First Birthday Party

The theme for Liza Roo's first birthday was Winter ONE-derland.  Here's her smash cake - made of course by CC!

I wanted to use snowflakes, because they're ONE of a kind.  The majority of the snowflakes were ones that my grandmother Greer crocheted.  What a gift to have a piece of her at the party with us.

Cupcakes were also made by CC.

Rather than having ice cream to go with the cupcakes, we had a hot chocolate bar.  Audy made the hot chocolate.  :-)

Liza was excited about the cake,

but she wasn't sure what to do with it.

She kept looking at me like, "Aren't you going to feed me?"  So, I tried to give her a bite to get her going.

That helped a little bit.

Happy 1st Birthday, Liza Roo!

I can hardly believe a whole year has passed.  Liza Roo is absolutely precious.  She loves her brother and sister.  I love to hear her following them and squealing.  She still does not like many strangers, particularly men.  Her bottom two teeth are in and her top left tooth is breaking through.  Her hair is lighter than Levi's or Kara Jane's.  Her smile is contagious.  She loves to poke her chest out when she's excited.  She's somewhat of a pickier eater than the other two.  She loves Cheerios, though.

Christmas in Madison 2013

We had a great time having brunch with my dad's family before Christmas.  Levi had been counting down to getting his first presents.  The girls were excited about their gifts, too.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Levi's Christmas Program 2013

Levi was pretty excited about his program and having so many people there to watch him - his aunts, uncles, cousins, even Khaki and Q made the trip to see his performance.

The kids sang bunches of songs - at least five - complete with motions.  It was VERY impressive - and FUN!

Levi even had a speaking part: "We celebrate this season so dear; come one, come all, Christmas is here!"  He did an awesome job.

This face was his typical face between sets - lips pursed.  I asked him on the way home why he did that.  He replied that his music teacher told them they needed to be quiet between songs, so this was his quiet face.  Love my boy!

Decorating the Tree 2013 (Part 2)

We needed to hang the red and silver balls on the tree to "finish it" - that is to make it look a little more decorated.  Levi and Kara Jane wanted to do the work while I got their breakfasts ready.

Any guess for who hung the majority of the red and silver balls?  Hint: the thumb sucker is a decoy.

 

I couldn't bring myself to move any of them or the snowflakes. 

Decorating the Tree 2013 (Part 1)

Kara Jane had fun putting up the snowflakes.

Shoe Shop

After baths, Levi and Kara Jane have started going into our closet and finding shoes for themselves in the "shoe shop".  My kids and their imaginations.  Love it!