The kids are excited

He's back! Frank, the elf on the shelf, is helping us get the kids into the Christmas spirit. Boy, are they excited. Griffin spent all Saturday morning asking when we could get our tree and when he could take the holiday train out of storage. Brent took the boys to pick out a tree this year.

We got started decorating but it didn't take long for Gray to get bored.

This was our first Christmas in the new house so we had to rearrange some furniture to find space for the tree. We decided to put it in our living room.

This was Gray's first year to get into decorating the tree.

I found a glass peacock ornament for Ashby the other day. It reminded me of her since she was a peacock for Halloween this year.

Brent helped the boys put up the holiday train. This year we laid out the track in an oval pattern so it is a longer course.

They boys wished that the train had a tunnel to go through.

So they got a bit creative.

Mimi got the kids a small Christmas tree for each of their rooms. I put the ones up in the boys rooms. They have some really cool ornaments- plane, train, car, little drummer boy. Griffin gave his tree a hug because he liked it so much.

So naturally Gray did the same.

thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our holiday was very nice and Brent's parents were able to spend the week with us. A quick attempt to get a family pic- maybe someday we can get everyone looking at the camera:) Griffin and Gray fishing like Indians in the back yard.

Griffin helping me set the table.

Grandma was sweet enough to play Lite Brite with the boys.

Griffin was excited to have a drumstick this time around.

Brent and Ashby after we had eaten. She slept through the whole meal so it was nice and peaceful.

Breaking the wishbone.

I will post some pics of our holiday decorating when I get the chance. We had a fun relaxing week.

Ashby's baptism

We had Ashby's baptism at church yesterday. We got a few good pictures of her before she got pretty grumpy. Both sets of grandparents came in town for the big day. Here is the little lady getting ready.

A sweet smile.

The three kids before the baptism. Griffin was super proud of his bow tie.

A cute pic of Grandma and Grandpa with Ashby.

She did a great job in church and didn't cry a bit. The big brothers were very good also which was a wonderful surprise:)

Teamwork

The kids are really being sweet and playing together. Here is one of the kids reading a book together. Ashby actually stayed there for quiet awhile. Then the boys started trying to knock the leaves off this tree in our backyard. It is going to take us forever to get all these leaves up.

Monster book

Griffin's teacher is super creative and sends home a lot of fun projects that the class works on. This month they created a book on Monsters where each child made a picture and told a story about the monster they created. Here is a picture of Griffin's monster. I tried to zoom in on the second one so you can read his story.

ashby pics

Here are some of the latest pictures of Ashby doing random things. First a few ones of her on Brent's lap in his Vandy hat. The styling was courtesy of her biggest brother, Griffin.

In the bathtub looking a bit like Santa himself.

And in her new pink hat.

Catching the Girls

Yesterday Griffin came home from school saying he has been playing "catch the girls" (or alternatively "hunting the girls") with his friend, Dunning. The girls that they try to catch are Carter and Ella. Today he gave me a bit more information about this game. They all have very specific sort of super hero powers. Griffin has "web force" which is where he can "force webs out". Dunning has "jumping force", Carter has "claw force", and Ella has my personal favorite..."horsey force". Apparently Ella can "suck up horses and throw them on people". Pretty imaginative indeed.

Pictures from Lewis Ginter

One of our best babysitters, Elizabeth, recently took some pictures of the kids at Lewis Ginter. We were trying to get one of the 3 kids but it was really hard. I put some of the best ones on here. There are a lot more that you may see in the future. Ashby in the roses

The boys look like they are in a Brooks Brothers sweater ad.

Sweet little Gray.

This one might be my favorite.

A few of Griffin.

And finally a few of Mimi with the kids.