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). =(

Having fun

A few highlights from December in Pennsylvania.

Everest found another purpose for Mexican Train Domino tiles.

He decided to write Leaf and Aurora's name, but he ran out of tiles. Being the resourceful boy that he is, he got a stack of Uno cards and finished her name.

One of the boys favorite past times, playing in pillow cases. They use them for all kinds of things, Leaf was running around the house in this one.

Papa went with us to Hershey's Chocolate World. He and Leaf sat in the back of the car and Everest and I sat in the front. If you are ever in Hershey, Chocolate World is worth going to and it is free!

The cows that sing throughout the ride.

Everest had a great time watching how chocolate is made. This place has some meaning to us, because Papa put in the duct work. He got to show the boys all the work he did.

There is an enormous tree the boys wanted their picture in front of. (yes it is blurry, it was really dark in there and I had a hard time focusing.)

Decorating Nonnie's tree. Leaf put all the ornaments in this one spot.

Everest helped and, of course, he put all the ornaments there too.

Mom's Montana nativity.

Skiing in Indiana?

Yes, we got snow today (Tuesday). It was beautiful and made us miss the mountains even more. We made the most of the day. When Nathan got home, we took the kids cross country skiing through the neighborhood.

Everest did very well. We acquired a pair of skis from friends in Utah before we left. He did not get to use them at all last year.

Nathan had all 3 kids. He was wearing Aurora (who fell asleep immediately after Nathan put her in the pack)

Leaf enjoying the ride!

After about 15 minutes of skiing, Everest was ready to ride instead. He took his hat off..check out his hair! He is so cute. He loves it spiked.

Nathan working hard. I know he does all the work around here. We switched and I got to tow the kids for a while.

The other day, Nathan and Leaf put straw on the hop plants to protect them. (Nathan's other babies). Leaf wanted to be like daddy. (Nathan wears a ski mask to bike to school when it is frigid outside.)

Eyes

My children all seem to have beautiful eyes. Teresa took this picture of Aurora while we were out Christmas shopping. It didn't matter what my boys were dressed in, everyone called them girls. Aurora wears most of the boys hand me down, but people usually know she is a girl.

My beautiful Aurora.

I have found my toes....

and my heel.....

actually my whole foot is good!

Leaf was so excited to get a bath in Nonnie's sink.

It was all fun, until he wanted to swim. He got water everywhere.

He has amazing eyes too.

Aurora's turn in the tub. I think she got a bath every day while we were at my parents.

Hanging out enjoying the tub.

Chewing on Nonnie's arm. Doesn't she just melt your heart?

As hard as the boys were as babies, she is making up for both of them. I couldn't ask for a better baby.