Oh Christmas Tree!!!

My mom gave me a cake pan shaped like a Christmas tree, so we had no choice but to go ahead and make a cake! Laney helped me spread out all the icing and then she did all the sprinkles! Then the boys helped us eat it!

Miles is all the time pulling his hair! I know that this sometimes has to do with ear infections, which might actually be the case. He just got over double ear infections with one of them rupturing. Poor little guy. He never fusses at all! He never tugs at his ear. He never runs a fever, but then all the sudden he has goo coming out of his ear. This is the second time that it has happened. I am going to really start paying attention to the hair pulling in case it is related. I kind of think that he is just being his silly self!

This girl loves her Grommy!

Sam's signature head tilt!

Time for the brothers to start UN-decking the halls!

Laney and Tessa

I have said before how much Laney adores her cousins, but it needs to be said again. She absolutely is crazy about them. She talks about Claire and Tessa all the time and she gets super excited at the idea of spending time with them. Jess called the other day and asked if she could drop Tess off for a little while so that she could go to Claire's Christmas party at school. When I told Laney Tessie was coming over, she started racing around the house getting things ready for all of the games that they were going to play.
They ended up outside "cooking" with flower pots and dirt. I am so glad that I snapped some shots of these sweet cousins!

Bookends!

The brothers love to go outside in the backyard. Laney and Tessa were playing out there the other day and the seized the opportunity to bolt out the door. Standing in the doorway like this, I absolutely can not believe how big they look.

The boys were in such happy moods the other night just before bed. Miles was turning the wagon's handle into a makeshift slide while Sam sat inside and played peek a boo with me from behind the couch.

Walking in our Winter Wonderland!

Last week Laney followed me into the garage to change the laundry, saw the wagon and became convinced that we needed to take a walk. It was about 40 degrees ouside, so I really tried to persaude her that we really needed to do something inside instead. I was not successful.
We had just been given these awesome puffer jackets by Grommy, so I decided that it was worth a shot. We got all bundled up, loaded in the wagon and made our way out!! It was so much fun!! We were on a hunt for Christmas yard decor. Laney got so excited everytime we saw a sprial-y tree, some wooden yard art, and especially when we got lucky enough to see a blow up decoration!!!! Her favorite was an "Egg Santa," which was a blow up Santa face that really kind of does look like an egg because his entire bottom half is just his beard. She told the egg Santa what she wanted for Christmas and waves to him whenever we drive by. We have been on two more winter walks since this one. We are hooked!!!

Laney takes very good care of her brothers in the wagon. They actually do a great job since they are buckled in nice and tightly. But if they start to lean or anything, she lets me know and tries to get them settled.

SEE!

Walking in our Winter Wonderland!

E.T. ????

Grom's set up all her Christmas stuffies on the fireplace, which we have had to completely barricade off from the boys. They love to climb up on the bricks and just crawl around looking for danger!!! Laney made it past our blockades, sat down amongst the stuffies and told me that she was a stuffed animal too!!!

Playing Inside!

It is so cold outside these days, which means not so many trips to the park, playing in the backyard or taking walks. My sweet children don't mind. They love playing inside. Laney creates all kinds of games for me and the boys to participate in with her. And the boys are seriously so content to just play around with thier toys, with some plastic cups, Grommy's measuring spoons....whatever!
So here are just a few pics of some cute inside play!
I have to say that I love love love this picture of Sam Bones!!! He is smiling his sweet smile and looking for some fun. He has such a happy personality.

Our Bug.


Speaking of personality.....this guy has got it in spades!!!!

No cooperation from the littlest Lew here, but Laney and Miles were giving it their best shot!

Decking the Halls!!!!

When we got back from Nocona, Lezlie had all her Christmas decorations up, and the tree was lit and ready for ornaments. It was so exciting!!! Laney was ready to join in on the decorating action. We turned on some Christmas music, made some hot chocolate and got to work! (Laney loves turning on the Christmas music. At least once a day she says, "Uh-oh! I think we need some music!" and races over to Grommy's CD player to hit play!

I found these little snowman window decals that I bought last year after Christmas. Laney had a great time arranging them and re-arranging them on the glass door. We have since had to move them up high out of the brothers' reach because they like to rearrange them as well.

Laney got to help Grommy hang up the stockings. She and the boys each have their own hand made stockings from Lezlie and Aunt Hailey!

Onto the tree!!!

The boys really wanted to "help." In this picture, Laney is holding like five ornaments because she is protecting them from the boys.

After we finished decorating for the night, I gave the kids these little countdown calendars that have a little chocolate behind every door.

This is Laney's attempt at a smile lately when I ask her to smile for a picture. Poor thing! She really is trying, but yikes! This is what most of our family pictures looked like when we tried to take Christmas pictures.

There's the real deal!!!!
I broke the boys' chocolates in half so they weren't sugar highed right before bed, but it looks like it was still a mouthful for Sam!!!

Cona!

Since Todd was off for four whole days in a row, we had time to make a quick jaunt to Nocona to do a little thanks giving with our Cona family!
Sam was delighted to have Pops' finger for almost our entire time there. He is becoming quite the little walker these days, taking about 8 steps at a time. A couple of weeks ago, on this trip, he was a little more apprehensive about stepping out on his own, but he would go a mile if he had a finger to hold. Pops might have actually walked the equivalent of a mile with him around their house and in their yard!

This silly smirk is fast becoming Sam's signature look!

The boys were having a great time with this plastic lid. Sam was cracking Miles up while he played with it.

Like I said, Pops walked at least a mile with these boys.

Big Sister in her matching jammies!!!

Pops and the boys got one last squeeze in before we had to hit the road. How many days til Christmas????