Jack is five months old!

Well this month went fast. Jack is sitting up...but only for very short amounts of time but still sitting up....crazy! And we brought out the exersuaser for him to enjoy and just yesterday we got out the Johnny Jumper...but not photos yet. Hard to believe he is ready for all these things. No teeth yet, but lots of smiles and laughter. He loves the outdoors and just last week I took him to Portland on a shopping trip...he is a very good shopper....for now:)

New Years Eve

On New Years Eve....we spent the night at home...but in true New Years Fashion...we (the girls and I) dressed up and then we all played games and the kids went to bed and we stayed up to watch 2010 arrive...well I was awake...brent was in and out of sleep:)

Jack Alexander is four months old!!

yes its true he is four months old....and very fun. He is still a very good baby. Loves to play alone or with others. Loves his sisters and always smiles for them. Loves Christmas lights and being outside. Can roll over but will only do so if absolutely required. Has survived our first round of winter colds. Sleeps from 8ish till around 7 in the morning...the last one is my favorite.

Getting bigger every day

still has blue eyes

dressed for church

after a bath

Christmas Cheer

Here are a bunch of photos from our Christmas celebrations...Enjoy! setting up the train set

opening gifts

taking the first look at the American Girl doll

Ella

checking out the goods under the tree

checking out the stockings at Grandmas house

singing a few songs

Our kids by the tree at Brent's parents house

Family photo...Ella would not look at the camera...

Jack with Kim and Keith...cousins from PA

I love this new toy mom!!

laughing at his new toy on Christmas

Brent and Jack on Christmas morning

Christmas morning

Jacks first Christmas!!

Christmas Eve...Jack was ready for bed and ready to eat.....poor Jack

Getting ready to go look at Christmas lights....our family tradition on Christmas Eve....usually we go after church but Ella was sick (though she does not look it here) so we stayed home.

All Dressed up and acting crazy

Leah's pre-school program

she was the Shepard...and had a little solo(well she sang along with the CD but did so very loud so it was sort of like a solo) mostly she just loved having a mic to sing into:)

Cute girls ready for the show:)

Leah tells Jack the Christmas story nearly every day.

making gingerbread houses

making Christmas cookies

Jack in his first leading role in one of Leah's plays...Baby Jesus

Zoo Lights....we try to go to this every year...this year it was a bit cold but we did okay....as you can see from the family photo and when Leah was on Brent's shoulders....she got a bit chilly. Jack did the best...I think he may have even been a bit hot:)

Here is the first of a few posts with photos of our Christmas cheer. Enjoy!

Oh Christmas Tree....

On Thanksgiving weekend we set out to find our tree....it was a little adventure but fun. We went to a little tree farm and picked our tree. They had three lots and we found ours at the bottom of the third lot:)

The finished product.

"the tree" in its natural state.

Each of the little ladies found what they thought would be our perfect tree. Leah likes the really tall ones and Ella wanted a pink one. Again showing us how they think very differently.

Ella setting out on the tree hunt

This is on Thanksgiving day...Jacks first Thanksgiving:)

A funny story

Last night at dinner, Leah asked me what included means. So I start by telling her an example of how to include her friends in games and playtime and all that. Then talk to her about how nice it feels to be included in stuff and how that is a way to show love to others and how that makes God smile. She listens and responds as I talk to her....all the time I am thinking...what a good teachable moment...she is really getting this. Then at the end she looks at me and asks" so is that like batteries included? Cause I heard that on TV and wanted to know what that meant." Kids....they are soo funny and always keep you humble:)

Three months

Jack is three months old! Time does fly....mostly because I seem to fly around all day trying to keep up with everyone:) He is spending more time awake and interacting with us...very fun. He has started to grab and play with his toys and squeals with joy when he finally gets them to move, sing, or wiggle. Still loves his sisters and when Dad come home. He also really likes our Christmas tree and laughs and smiles at it when we hold him close to it.

Rainy Day

it has been a bit rainy here soooo we often pull out all the play dough and make an afternoon of it

The finished product...Leah tells me its a Christmas tree with the Nativity and some pink stars.