What We Love About December

It's the most wonderful time of the year... for many reasons. Here's what we're loving most about this December:

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care... Four of them this year ♥ 

Christmas stickers and Christmas stamps...

Stickers for everyone (including Malone!)...

Best seasonal candy: White Chocolate Peppermint M&M's! If you haven't tried them yet, do yourself a favor. Go out and get a bag and try (just try!) to make them last longer than two hours. Exclusively at Target. And one of Michael's biggest work projects this Christmas season. A home run if you ask me!!

Time with special visitors (aka Mama's helpers!) while Michael was in Europe for work...

Getting dressed in her "snow swim suit," as she kept calling it, and chomping at the bit to play in the white stuff!

Thankful that Michael arrived home safely from five days in Amsterdam and London just in time for our first big SNOWSTORM (and the debut use of his snowblower!)

Singing in the rain is cool, so why not swinging in the snow? :)

Some of us like the indoors better - Kendall prefers her Sophie teether over the snow (for now anyway).

It's nice to have time for indoor experiments and activities including indoor bubble-blowing (red!), seasonal crafts, and painting. We've also baked lots of cookies for our friends and teachers. 'Tis the season!

Can't you just hear this little girl singing, "O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree..." in this picture?!

Playing, playing, and more playing! Kendall seems to be developing more and more everyday. Her hands are working overtime to grab and pull objects toward her.

She's also getting more acquainted with the Bumbo chair and her bunny friend.

Sister time! It warms my heart to see these sweeties playing together. Kendall loves watching Katelyn bounce all over the place and Katelyn loves to say, "Hi, honey" or "Hi, Kendo" in a soft voice to Kendall and bring her toys.

It sure is fun to share the infant activity mat with a sister...

or dolly friends... (this was Katelyn's arrangement, as you may have guessed ;)

December also marked the start of dance class for Katelyn. She was thrilled to be joining a dance class - after all, dance parties still happen regularly at our house and Angelina Ballerina is a favorite show.

Another holiday tradition is searching for our Elf on the Shelf every morning. Katelyn named him "Arthur" and each time she wakes up from either a nap or a full night's sleep, she asks: "Is Arffur in a different sffot (spot)?" It's fun to search for him and so far, Katelyn's favorite spots for him were in the fridge guarding her yogurt, making a snow angel with flour, and resting in our wreath like a hammock. We also made a Santa craft and add a cotton ball to his beard every morning until Christmas.

In the midst of our busy December, we are making certain to slow down and enjoy the wonder of this special time of year while reminding ourselves the true reason for the season. As Katelyn said in her prayers last night, "Thank you, Jesus, for baby Jesus, baby Kendo... and Julie's tree." (Our neighbor across the street has a beautiful outdoor tree that we admire with a million colorful lights on it.) Thank you indeed.