Decorating the Christmas tree, and new ornaments!

This year getting the tree up was quite a long process for some reason.  We had tons of light trouble, and we had to just work on it here and there in between things.  After about a day and a half though, we were finally able to really start decorating it.

I always really look forward to blasting the Christmas music, and getting the ornaments out for the kids to hang up. They get so involved and we have such cute conversations as we work. It really is a magical time.  I used to think I wanted a fancy, themed and beautiful tree, but then I realized that I love the experience of letting the kids decorate it with their special ornaments, homemade things, and ornaments from fun family vacations, etc.   I love the personality and kids touch.  Someday my kids will be grown, and the tree will be perfect and uniform, with fancy ornaments - and I'll miss these years and these trees so much.

So after the kids went to bed, I'll admit I did move a few things around, but not before I captured their work.

They love the Elf on the Shelf tradition and were looking forward to getting the tree up so he would start coming.

Olivia thinks the ornaments are pretty cool.

Then came the time for our annual tradition of opening their new tree ornament.  Olivia went first.  She, of course, had lots of help to open hers.

She was obviously very excited for her "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament. 

She proceeded to swing it around for quite some time.

Bentley was very excited about his Spiderman one.  He moves it around quite a bit on the tree.

And Eden was pretty sure that she was getting an Elsa ornament because she loves her so much.

And she was right - and very happy about it!

It's such a fun tradition and I love that we can look at their ornaments from years past and remember the things that they were really into at the time.  They really look forward to finding their old ones too and putting them on the tree.  I love these kiddos... life would be so sad and boring without them.

Family Pictures!

It is so great to have a photographer in the family!  Jesse does an amazing job, and puts so much work into these photos for us.  I love the backdrop and the way they turned out.  I'm grateful to have these beautiful pictures with my family to capture the memories! 

The sun was pretty bright and in our eyes at the beginning of the shoot which made it tricky, but by the time all the separate families were done and it was my parents turn, the lighting was absolutely gorgeous.  I love the way this picture of them came out.

I didn't like the standing pose as well as the sitting one, but Eden was really cute in these.  She has the best poses.

Cutest, happiest baby ever.  Getting good pictures of her is a breeze.

I love this one.  I feel like Eden has such a mature soul and you can see that here in her eyes. She looks strong and angelic at the same time.  Beautiful.

My cute boy.  I adore his personality.  I love his smile and wish I could capture that sometimes, but getting these where his personality shines through is so perfect.

Thanksgiving Extravaganza!

This year Thanksgiving was with the Malarsie side, and we had a crazy, fun time!  We were so fortunate that everyone was able to come home so the whole family could be together.  It was a full house - 11 adults, 15 kids, and 4 dogs, two of which had to be separated at all times (Quaker and Holly)!  Thank goodness my parents house still manages to fit everyone.  I don't know how... but it works.

Also, fortunately, the weather was fairly nice so the kids were able to get outside and play quite a bit.

Grandma set up a snowball fight for the kids.  They wore shower caps with whipped cream squirted all over the top and they had to throw white cheddar balls at each other's heads to try to make them stick.  It was hilarious.

Bentley and Sophie were on the same team, but he just kept following behind her and throwing them at her everywhere she went.  It was very cute and funny.

Eden, Kadence and Wren

Bentley, Carson and Sophie

Lincoln, Austin, Brody, Carson and Bentley

Bentley and Sophie

Olivia was very entertained by this large box of rubber duckies

It's so cute to listen to the conversations these kids have.  They are funny.

Grandma had lots of fun new play dough toys. It was a huge disaster.

Jesse was doing her nails and attracted a little buddy.  She didn't know how much Eden loves getting her own nails painted.

Even Olivia joined in on the iPad fun.

Precious little Olive.

Grandma also had t-shirts for each of the kids to tie dye.  They had lots of fun.

Wren and Eden were very anxious to wear their new shirts.

Eden and Jack.

Every year at Thanksgiving, we all write down something we are thankful for in our Thanksgiving book.  It's been fun to look back and see what people write over the years, especially the kids.

My handsome boys!

Grandma is super woman. If she wasn't the one holding the kids, they were always holding on to her!  It was probably a long week for her.

Grandpa cooked the Thanksgiving turkey on his Traeger grill and it was the best turkey I've ever had.  Delicious.

Brad heard about a bakery that make bread in the shape of a turkey.  For fun, he had to try it out.  We decided once was enough though.  It looked cool, but not very tasty.  Especially compared to grandma's homemade rolls.

Our large group gathering to pray before we filled our plates and began the feast!

Eden LOVED the sweet potato casserole.  She has a texture issue so she usually doesn't eat anything like this, but she ate so many helpings of "smashed potatoes" as she calls it. 

Our annual Thanksgiving day family picture.

Why have just one trampoline when there is so much fun to be had on two?!

Erin graciously offered horsie rides to all the kids.

Such a cute picture of Eden and one of her favorite people ever.

I love the baby snuggles when I can get them!

There was a lot of game playing throughout the week too.

Olivia getting some bonding in with Michael.

These pictures got a little out of order, but on the morning of Thanksgiving, my dad took all the kids on a hay ride.  Eden was excited to tell me about all the different animals they saw as they drove around. This has become a very fun tradition that the kids love.

Thanks Jesse for the cute picture!  Some of us stayed behind and worked on food for the big meal later that day. Next year I want on the hayride though!  That looks like way more fun.

Since we aren't together for Christmas this year, the cousins also got to do their Christmas gift exchange.  They were very excited of course. We started from youngest to oldest which worked well. The little ones were distracted playing with their new toy so they were better about not "helping" everyone else open their gifts.

Sophie gave Bentley some Legos and he was very excited about it.  He gave her a cute little "thank you" hug which she welcomed whole heartedly. Precious.

Eden got some Lalaloopsy figurines which she has loved.

It will be so fun for Olivia and London as they grow older.  I'm glad they have each other and hope that they will be good buddies.

Jade was awesome with the babies.  I definitely wish I had Jade around my house on a daily basis.

That looks rather cozy.

Grandpa had the brilliant idea to hook both swings up instead of just one.  Now we can get two kids for the work of one.  These swings never stop moving it seems like.

Olivia and Jack.

I'm so grateful for this crazy big family of mine.  I love being with them, making memories, and giving our kids the opportunity to foster relationships and grow up together.  There's nothing like having a family you love spending time with. I'm so grateful for them.  Happy Thanksgiving 2014!

Each day in November we wrote down what we were grateful for and taped it to the door.  It's so fun to go back and read all the good things. Bentley's were mostly all about Darth Vader. :)