First bites

We started giving Aurora solid foods. She wasn't sure about it at first.

She would cry and then grab the spoon, push it into her mouth until she gagged and then she would start crying again.

After a while, she got the hang of it. She wants to do it herself, and yes we have started using a bib to feed her.

Saying Good Bye

It is always hard to say good bye. This year leaving PA was a little more difficult for Nathan. We decided to spend Christmas in PA with our family so we could help Nathan's mom (Bonnie) get ready to move. She has been in the house for over 30 years! She and Jim bought it as newly weds. It was a 200 year old farm house. Over time they added on to the original farm house. Unfortunately, Jim never lived to see the house finished. Nathan spent many years working on and finishing what Jim had started.

This is the house. The original farm house is the middle section. They added the green house, kitchen and master bedroom (sliding glass doors).

Leaf playing in the upper part of the greenhouse.

 

The barn/garage across the street.

Bonnie and I in the kitchen. Nathan was actually taking a picture of the beautiful chandelier he installed. It was in my parents house when they moved in. We thought it was someones 8th grade metal shop project, but then we found a manufacturers sticker. To top it off, we put colored bulbs in it. (Bonnie's Amish neighbors are buying the house and ripping out the electricity so I am sure they will not keep the light either.)

Saying goodbye to the house and Grami.

The last time the Mentzer's will see where daddy grew up.

It was hard, but necessary, the house is way to big for Bonnie. She will be starting a new adventure soon.

Going Home

As we were packing the truck for our (according to mapquest) 10 hour drive, we knew the kids needed to get rid of some energy. When Nathan was little he had these scooters. We brought them back for the boys and they turned out to be the perfect things for getting out wiggles.

Everest found a motorcycle helmet too, and HAD to play with it.

Do you remember these scooters from elementary school? I loved them.

Leaf got a turn with the helmet. Both were a little too big for him.

He had to hold the helmet up to see.

His feet almost reach. Everest was scooting all over the driveway. In the 30 minutes they were outside riding the scooters, Leaf may have gone 10 feet on his own. It didn't matter he had fun trying.

Gator

Aunt Liz and Uncle Jordan got Lily and Cece a gator for Christmas. We were over the next day and the boys could not wait to try it out. They had a blast driving all over the yard. It was so cold that day, they only stayed out for 15 minutes.

Victoria got a huge remote control car. She had fun driving it around while the boys road.

Cheese! I don't know that Leaf got a turn to drive, but he sure had a good time. Thanks Lily and Cece for letting us play on your new toy!

Inside reading with Grami, getting warm by the fire.

While we were all sitting around enjoying the fire a log was touching the glass and it make a loud pop and then cracked. I had to take a picture. The broken glass was beautiful, it looked like a butterfly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COUSIN LILY!

Gift

My aunt Raegan made these for Christmas dinner. I thought they were very cute. I have a hard time resisting veggie pizza. Rae also makes awesome dips. This one proved to be very good!

Look how well I can hold my head up! (Aurora is 4 months in this picture)

The best gifts are having those we love with us. And it is always fun to have an enormous bow on a babies head!

Leaf trying so hard to figure out the Wii controls.

Christmas day

Good morning!

Leaf's first words were not, "Did Santa come?", "Can we open presents?", nothing like this. His first words were the same as every morning "Up Nonnie."

Of couse, she couldn't resist, few people can. He is just so cute!

Waiting patiently for Papa so they can open their stockings.

Everest tore through his stocking in lightning speed. Leaf pulled out the first two things...a flash light and head lamp, and he was good for an hour.

Aurora's new sunnies.

Aurora doesn't need much, the handle of a bag will do just fine.

Papa has a way with babies.

Leaf got a chefs hat and wanted daddy to wear it.

He also got food and dressings for his kitchen. He and daddy had a blast changing the lids.

Everest and Leaf had fun learning how to play Connect 4 with daddy.

Thanks to everyone for a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas eve

Our Christmas eve tradition is to open one gift. When we were little it was always my gift to Teresa and hers to me. As we got older it was a gift from mom, matching pajamas.

I made really cute pajama pants for the kids for Christmas eve and no one wanted to wear them.

This is as good as it gets with 3 kids.....1 is looking, and the other 2 do not look terrible. I call that success!

Love for Aurora. Full body hugs, one of the boys favorite things to do with their sister. She is going to be a tough little girl.

3 kids and a tree!

Mentzer family on Christmas eve.

The boys chose to open gifts from Nonnie and Papa.

WOW! Ironman shoes.

Score for Nonnie and Papa. Spiderman shoes for Leaf!

The boys had so much fun running around in their new shoes. Especially Leaf, these are his first light up shoes!

I am very cool!

Aurora enjoyed the ribbon that was on my mom, sister and my pajamas.

Cousins

We spent some time with Nathan's sister and her family. They bought a new house, but they are working on it before they move in. We played with cousins and had lots of fun running around the open spaces.

Cece.

Lily.

Tori.

The kids climbed up into the extra space in the closet.

The kids had so much fun in the closet.

Aunt Liz spiked Everest's hair, it was much cooler than when mama and daddy do it.

I realized, we have very few pictures of baby James. He wasn't feeling good over the holiday so I never even got to hold him (we didn't want to get Aurora sick too). =(