Christmas Eve

To get ready for the Christmas season, I made Lily an advent countdown like my mom used to do for us.  I only did 12 days until Christmas, but Lily absolutely loved it.  Here are a couple gifts she got.

 

I think Lily is going to be like me.  We both absolutely love getting ornaments to add to the tree.  Counting the one she is holding, we got around 6 new ornaments this year.  I always put the date on them and we love to talk about them the next year when we put up all the ornaments on the tree.  

CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!

 Presents were overflowing under our tree!  I love giving gifts.

We were the last of the family to arrive at Mom and Dad's for Christmas Eve.  (We had been there the day prior also, ha ha)  Dad took us girls on our annual shopping trip.  He should have never started this four years ago, ha ha!  We have expensive taste!  Each of us picked out a beautiful ring this year and I love mine!  Thanks Dad!  Mom took the boys on their first annual shopping trip and visit to a bar.  :)  I think this is a tradition that might stick.  

We enjoyed our time together and ate a delicious supper.  Then it was gift time!!!!  Kids are always first and we go in order.  It was fun to see them surrounded by presents on the floor.

 Mom made Delanie an apron.

 I love this picture.  They have all grown up so much.  I would have to stay they are a little spoiled!!! :)

 Caden got new cowboy boots and a cowboy shirt.  He loves dressing like the boys on the ranch!

 New basketball!

 Every kid with TONS of energy needs a pogo stick!!!!

 Grandma made Syd and Lily diaper bags.  They had bottles, diapers, and spoons in it.  This was a definite hit!!!  Grandma also made the three girls Hello Kitty pajamas with small pajamas for their baby dolls to match.  Lily loves hers!

 Ooooo La la!

 Uncle John and the ladies!

After the kids were done, the adults got to open gifts.  Lily and Syd wanted to sit with Grandma even though she still had a pile of gifts to open!  ha ha.  One of Dad's gifts for mom was that he paid off someone's Layaway at Shopko.  Isn't that generous?  It would be fun to see the family's face when they realize they only need to pay one penny for all their Christmas gifts!  Wow!

After the gifts, we played and got ready for church.  Can you believe I forgot my camera?!?  urgh!  The 6 kids sang "Happy Birthday Jesus" at church with the help of Gigi.  I took many picutres with her camera, so we still have their smiling faces.  They did a great job!  It was a beautiful Christmas Eve service with wonderful music.  I love going back to my old church.  There is a lot of great memories there.  After church we went to sing to Mully.  This has become a wonderful tradition with candles and singing under the stars to our precious Mullen John.  I love you Mully!  

Merry Christmas!

Baby Elsbury 21 weeks

On December 22nd, I had my ultrasound.  I was exactly 21 weeks at the appointment.  Matt and Lily were able to come also.  We were soooooo excited for this day.  Everyone asks "Are you finding out???"  No, we did not find out.  In fact, we turned away when she was in that area! :)  I would like to tell you I have a gut feeling, but I really don't.  I don't believe in the heart rate wives tale.  All I can say, it has a cute little nose!  ;)  

What an adorable profile picture.  This even made the Christmas card!!! :)

The baby had its hands by the face the whole time.  We did get a picture of its little nose and cute lips.  He/She was moving its mouth all the time.

I must have worn out the baby, here you can see it yawning!  How cute!

This picture shows the baby sucking its thumb.  I wish we would have been able to video tape the ultrasound.  It was so neat to watch it suck its thumb and to practice breathing.

 Spine!

It is absolutely amazing that we could see all 4 chambers of the heart and hear it beat.  The heart rate was 146 bpm.  

 Big sister loved seeing her brother or sister.  We wanted to video tape the ultrasound, but I guess they don't like when people do that.  

Shortly after 20 weeks, I have finally been able to feel the baby consistently.  Its funny, but the baby kicks hardest for Daddy.  Lily still hasn't felt it because she gets so impatient and disappointed that it won't kick for her.  At the ultrasound, the technician said the baby was approximately 15 oz.  I didn't think anything of that until I looked at my belly book from when I was pregnant with Lily.  At 21 weeks 6 days (6 days more than this one), Lily was around 10 oz.  So, I might be having a big baby.  Those of you that don't remember, Lily was 9 lbs. 1 oz and only 2 days late.  Yikes!  I hope I deliver in April if this baby really is going to be big.  As long as its healthy, I can't complain, right?!?  ha ha

Ugly Christmas sweater day!

We had 3 days of school before Christmas break.  I would have to say they were pretty fun.  The kids were so excited, but so were the adults!  :)  On Wednesday, the teachers wore ugly Christmas sweaters!  Look how beautiful my team looks! 

The morning was full of activities in the gym.  One of them was an opportunity for the kids to throw a pie at the Principal.  We have a 5th grader that is sick and Newell raised money for the family.  It was amazing how much money people were willing to give for such a wonderful cause.  After the pie throwing we sang 3 Christmas carols.  I absolutely loved the vibe that was in the gym that morning.  Everyone was so happy and that is how this holiday season should be!

Christmas decorating 2011

We love decorating for Christmas.  I had the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off, so we got some of the Christmas stuff out.  Lily and I had fun decorating the house to Christmas music.

 

Lily got this tree last year.  It is so cute in her room and she loves to turn the lights on with her remote. 

 

This is our tree of 2011.  We picked out the tree at Home Depot and boy was it cold!  Matt had to do some trimming and cutting to get it to be straight in the stand.  He was admiring how straight it was when *?$%&?  (choice words), it crashed down to the floor.  Yep, our tree bent the whole tree stand and was now horizontal!  ha ha.  Good thing we hadn't decorated it yet.  So, we had to get a new tree stand and decorate it later. 

 Lily chose the first ornament to put on!

 

All decorated.  Lily wanted to admire it from higher up.

 

 

Aww!

 

We are ready for Christmas!  We have been counting down the days with a paper chain that Lily made at Heather's!  :)  The first day she had it, she woke up really early and whispered to us in bed, "Can I use my scissors to cut the chain?"  :)

I hope the Christmas season finds all of you doing well and enjoying your family and friends!

Baby bump pics #1

I put off taking the baby bump pictures for a long time.  I have struggled with realizing that this was all real.  I have been so scared and worried to get overly excited.  Now, I am at peace with the baby growing healthy and I feel like I can be super excited now.  Although the pictures do not show much growth, I am sure the next baby bump pictures will show I have popped.  I feel the baby move when I lay flat.  Matt has felt it a little, but Lily has yet to feel it.  Yesterday, I had Christmas music playing on the ipad, which was sitting on my tummy, and I truly think the baby was dancing!!!  I am loving this feeling.  I have my 20 week appointment next week and then we will schedule our ultrasound.  The common question is:  "Are you going to find out what you are having?"  The answer is: No.  ha ha!  We are anxious to see our little baby and hopefully Lily will enjoy it as much as we do!  :)

 

 

Lily's preschool Christmas program

Lily had her FIRST Christmas program on Sunday, December 4th.  She sang 4 songs with her class and the Tuesday-Thursday class.  They did a wonderful job and they all looked sooooo cute! 

 She finally spotted us! :)  

 

I was very proud of her.  She sang every song and knew all the actions.  She smiled pretty and was a natural at performing! :) 

 Holding Baby Jesus

 She really got into "Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!"  ha ha

 Grandpa and Grandma made it to Lily's program.  She was so excited to have an audience!

Our Beautiful Family!  I am thinking this might make the Christmas card! :)

After the program we had a nice meal at Red Lobster.  Lily absolutely loves crab, and I guess we do too! :)  I can't believe my sweetheart is old enough to have a Christmas program.  What a joy!

Matt's Hog Hunt

Matt, Dick, Dave, and Matt P. left on Thursday morning for Oklahoma.  They hunted Friday and Saturday morning for hogs.  I asked if Matt wanted to be my guest blogger, but he passed.  Here are some of the pictures from their hunt.  Although Matt did not get anything, he still had fun.

 

I think the pigs look gross and Matt said they stunk too.  Maybe I am glad he didn't get one!  ha ha!

Playing in the snow!

Last week, we finally got the first real snow of the winter.  Lily had gotten sick at daycare on Thursday, so I decided to keep her home Friday.  It turns out, I got sick as well, so it was a boring day for the two of us.  Daddy was on his birthday Hog Hunt in Oklahoma.  It started snowing that weekend and I hadn't taken her out, but she was opening every shade with excitement of the beautiful snow.  Matt got home Saturday night (he didn't get a hog, but a couple of the guys did and one got a ram).  We were excited to see him and at that point we were both feeling better. 

So, on Sunday we played in the snow!!!!

 

Oasis was excited that someone was finally outside playing with her!!! :)

 Lily!!!

 

Although snow is not my favorite, a fresh snow sure looks beautiful!

 

Our little Eskimo.  Aunt Chantele sent the BLING hat in the mail for Lily's birthday!  :)

 

Daddy and Lily sledding in the front yard.  Lily was wanting more excitement, so Matt took her over the piles of snow on the side of the driveway.  It was so fun to hear her giggle.  She could have done that all day!

 

I think she could also eat snow all day!

 

She had a fun day in the snow.  Look at those cheeks!