Monday, December 30, 2013

rub a dub dub {bathtime fun}



my kiddos still tolerate bathing together - though i think that those days are most certainly numbered......

hendrix thinks it is funny to dump water on blaire's head (which she does NOT appreciate)
and
blaire has been a little too interested in unfamiliar-to-her body parts.  

but for now, while they still like to splish and splash together, i thought it was fun to capture a few images of their morning playtime.




i just love this little girl's big facial expressions.  she has so much enthusiasm, and is capable of so much drama.  oh my.


and he is just plain good natured all the time.  ;)


love these eyelashes, and the headful of hair that is finally growing in!



water on my face?  this is fun!



cheesy grin?  check!




and her personality unfolds.....




honestly, with the last month including a bout of croup, an ear infection, and two new teeth.....i could really use to see more of this cheery face on this gal!  :)


love my two wet noodles.  

happy monday all!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

magical excitement!

tomorrow we start our marathon weekend of family christmas celebrations! 

my kiddos are ready!






(though most definitely not cooperative for a sweet sibling photo in front of the tree at bedtime!)  

oh well.

there are still a few more evenings left before christmas to try again!  lol

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

dressed in {christmas} best!

DISCLAIMER: 
okay, so one of my children prefers to be in front of the camera more than the other one. i swear this is not a sign of favoritism at all......i simply have more luck getting longer sessions from my one-year-old than i do my three-year-old.  
weird, huh?  
lol



this little doll face doesn't mind the camera, though she really isn't into sitting still these days.  when i placed her on top of that crate it kept her in place for a few minutes....then she realized she could climb down...





and back up. ;)  love her 'so proud of myself' expressions!

she is getting a huge craving for independence these days, and is really starting to come into her own with expressing her opinions.  she is not nearly as verbal as hendrix was at this age, and we are finding that she is constantly getting frustrated with us for not understanding what her grunts and points mean......but we are working through that.  hendrix is becoming an expert interpreter.... (i.e. blaire says she wants cookies. )


oh, and she is a reader.  just like her brother. and her mom. and i guess her dad too.  we are just a big happy family of bookworms.


she still lets me dress up that little head of hair with bows and headbands.....and thank goodness, she is finally getting enough hair to seem girly even when i don't put an accessory on her head.  it is still blonde as ever, and oh, so fine.  yeap, she definitely got my hair!  (i was hopeful that she would get daddy's curls..........oh well).



have i mentioned that she is a walker now?  she still kind of looks like this - arms out a bit stiff and awkward, sort of stumbly like she is worried her shoes will come off with each step she takes.......but it is becoming her go-to form of transportation very quickly.  

she is growing up right before our eyes.  i kind of feel like i am stretching the word when i call them my babies....


oh and this little man.  he is just that.  growing into a little man.

he is smart, and funny, and quirky and independent, and feisty and oh, so energetic (as always!) he is an expert negotiator, and he is a fierce protector of that little miss up top.  they are super great pals, and i feel so blessed to watch their relationship blossom right before my eyes.

he really is a joy to this mama's heart (and randomly, he started calling me 'mama' these last few days, which quick frankly, i adore!)



he is finally getting past that stinkin' cheese face stage (the one where he pulled out that crazy plastic grin whenever i grabbed my camera......and of course it was more often than not just too big and too fake that it made his nose all scrunched up and even his eyes all squinty.....).  
but i really love this grin.


he flashes it a million and twenty times a day.  i'm so glad that he has taken after me and decided that smiling all day really does do the soul good. ;)  
(his daddy is, bless his heart, just a lot more stingy with his smiles). 


happy holidays from my cute littles.

hope your home is full of warmth and smiles too!

Monday, December 16, 2013

santa express 2013 {holiday fun}


on friday night we went on our annual 'santa express' train ride in boone.  this is such a fun family tradition that we have shared with friends and family over the years.  this year we had a large group that included two sweet families that we just love, and my kids' cousin, aunt and uncle, and nana and papa!

(don't let that first photo fool you - the kids had a blast! so much fun, but so close to bedtime.......)



of course, this train ride is like a real life version of the polar express, so you have to wear your jammies (christmas ones are preferable!)






hendrix thought it was important to hang onto your ticket (and they even punched them multiple times just like the conductor in the movie!)  



these girls were not thrilled about posing for a photo, but they both seemed to really like the bumpiness of the train ride.....they were rather antsy with getting up and sitting down, and wanted to snack and read the whole trip, which was perfectly fine ;)



love this sweet family (my brother, sister-in-law, and niece!), and was soooo thrilled to share this experience with them!



peering out the window to see the north pole!




snacking on christmas cookies and hot cocoa.



hendrix's opinion of the trip - a thumbs up!!


oh, and the visit from santa was pretty magical!  hendrix is gripping his bell super tightly, saying merry christmas, santa!  (he even gave him a big hug!)



and don't forget the christmas stories!




what a fun way to really build excitement about this magical holiday season!

happy holidays!