Merry Christmas

We've had a great December. We loved celebrating all the traditions of the season. The highlights- decorating, making cookies, ginger bread houses, family parties, etc. The part we want to forget- passing around the stomach flu to everyone in the family (except Blakely). We were lucky enough though to be well for Christmas. One of my favorite gifts this year was Blakely sleeping 8 hours through the night on Christmas. Woot woot! We feel so blessed and we love this special time of year! We love all the fun traditions and excitement, but we feel so grateful for the life of our Savior and to be able to take some time to remember Him.

Decorating the gingerbread house



Making cookies


Acting out the Nativity scene
(Porter was confused and thought his costume meant he could wrestle and he tried tackling the performers) silly boy :)


Blakely's first Christmas


getting spoiled




cute cousins

Christmas morning

Santa

We saw the lights and Santa with the family. The kids were in heaven. Harper told Santa she wants "lots of mermaids to fill the whole place." Porter wants a "dinosaur." And Kynnady wants "american girl dolls, an i-pad, bike, clothes, and on and on." Good thing they have all been really good this year. We had a special treat on the wagon ride because our nephew Jackson was asked to help and he safely "drove us." We had a great night with family that ended with delicious hot chocolate.

1 month

Blakely turned one month today. Time has flown by. She has brought so much happiness to us. She is the sweetest baby girl. She sleeps (pretty) well, eats well, and usually only cries if she needs a feeding or a burping. Today her cord finally fell off. I was beginning to think her cord might stay on so long that it might keep her from wearing a bikini in her teenage years. She had a huge hematoma in her cord. It obviously didn't really affect her, with her weighing 8lbs., but with all that could have happened I'm so grateful she is here and healthy. We love her so much. She is just what our family needed!

toothy grin

Kynnady lost her second baby tooth. It needed to be pulled out because her permanent tooth was coming in behind it. Good thing Grandpa Rick is a wonderful and PATIENT dentist because she was really nervous and almost didn't let him pull it. After it was was over she was really proud and said it was fun and didn't even hurt!

Blakely Taylor Close

I can't believe its almost been 2 weeks since our little, sweet, Blakely was born. We adore her. She has been a super great baby and we can't get enough of her. The kids love her. Kynnady and Harper are great about holding and loving her and Porter gives her the sweetest kisses. I love these cute pictures my dad took of the kids meeting their sister for the first time.

Blakely

Porter


Kynnady

Harper

The Close girls

Our family

So in love

11-2-11
Blakely Taylor Close
1344
8-0.1 lbs
20.5 inches
perfect in every way!

reflections

Kynnady participated in her school's reflections program. The theme was diversity means... She painted and colored a beautiful picture. She took first place and is moving on to the district level. Way to go K-bear!

Halloween Fun

We had a scary witch, a dragon, and a cute little monster at our house this year. All day Kynnady was pulling funny (scary) faces. This year we were able to enjoy in all the Halloween fun- carving pumpkins, the school Halloween parade, visiting grandmas, visiting cousins, enjoying yummy food with family, and of course trick-or-treating.

cake

I had a friend bring me this beautiful birthday cake. It was delicious. I just loved this picture of the girls admiring it. I'm sure they were wondering why their mom's cakes don't look that pretty.

the buck

Ky loves hunting season and we were so happy that he got a buck this year. The kids went crazy over it. Don't worry if you didn't have a chance to check it out we will have a beautiful European mount of his antlers and the hide tanned in about 6 months. And we are happy to share some meat-any takers???

Fall Fun

We have been loving the beautiful fall weather. We have been able to go on lots of bike rides and play outside a lot. A few days ago we took the kids to a corn maze and let them play on a giant slide. It was a perfect afternoon.