My BIG Boy!

Landry will be turning 8 months old next week! I can not believe he is growing so fast. He is full of personality, and he loves his mama. He is learning new things every day, and I am having a hard time documenting it all on film! He loves to clap when we say, "Yeah, Landry!" He gives high fives, he gives the BEST slobbery, open-mouthed kisses, and loves to Bonk heads with his dad.

He has 4 teeth... The top two have just broken through this last week. I'm not sure if teething is the reason, but this boy always has his tongue hanging out. It's pretty funny! He laughs when we stick our tongues out at him.

I added this picture just because he has the most delightful smile. 

Recently, Landry has learned how to scoot on the floor. As of the last couple of days, he has learned how to scoot forward. But before then, he could only maneuver himself backward, which presented a few problems: First, he'd constantly get stuck under the living room couches, and couldn't move forward to pull himself out. Second, he can't see what is behind him, only what is in front of him, and he couldn't manage getting to those things. But, being the smart boy that he is, he devised a plan to be able to see what was behind him. I got this shot of him up on his hands and tip-toes. Once he's up, he opens his feet, puts his head on the ground and peeks through his legs to see what is behind him! Then he gets back down on his belly, and scoots himself backwards until he finds what he saw through his legs! What a cutie- pie!

My girls seriously eat Landry up! He is definitely not lacking any attention at this house full of women! McKaylyn is the best helper with him. She knows how to make his bottles, has rocked him to sleep a couple of times, asks occasionally, if she can change his diaper, and loves to sit on the floor and play with him. when he cries, she is the first to go and see what he needs. She adores him... and I just have a feeling that he feels the same toward her.

Santa Stopped Here!

We LOVE Christmas morning!

Our favorite part is watching the kids! They get so excited that they start shaking! They have to really concentrate to be able to focus on just one gift at a time. So cute.

Jason was spoiled this Christmas. He got a Swarovski spotting scope and tripod to use out on his hunts. Annie and Justin gave him a nice carrying case for it. Now he's all set up! The best part was that I was actually able to surprise him this year. He totally thought he was getting a gun safe. Ahhh, victory. So sweet! Jason also spoiled me this year. He built a beautiful Headboard for our bed that matches the dresser & night stands he made last year. I also got a jewelry armoire, a buckle gift card, a Hollister coat, and a beautiful picture frame collage to hang on the wall. He is so great! My mom bought us a Bosch Mixer, (so I can work on my lack of baking skills...)

and Jason's parents bought us a Patio furniture set! Yeah!

McKaylyn was so busy checking out all the goods, that we could barely get her to look at the camera!

This is my favorite picture! It's hard to see in the background, but the girls are checking out the new swing set that Santa Clause brought! Delaney was so excited! The girls bundled up and tried it all out as soon as we were done opening gifts!

Landry Boy was so busy playing with the wrapping paper and bows, that he didn't even care about his new toys!

Delaney got her Dora bike and Big Minnie Mouse Toy that she wanted! She also got a stroller, highchair, swing and car-seat for all her baby dolls. She was so fun this year! I think she was more excited than any of the other kids on Christmas morning! She went from one thing to another, and kept saying," Look at this Mom! Did you see this, Dad? Look what Santa brought for us!"

The kids are always excited to open their jammies on Christmas eve! This year the girls were excited to get some soft robes to go over the pajamas.

Jason is in charge of Christmas photos, cause I like to be down on the floor, helping the kids open and figure out their gifts!  We had a great time! Maddisen was searching every square inch under the tree, finding every gift that had her name on it. She ripped them all open, without hardly even looking up to show us what she had gotten! You should have seen the pile of wrapping paper right beside her.

Getting in the spirit of the season

I just got these pictures of the kids back last week... they will be used on my christmas cards this year. I think it is so fun to get everyone dressed up and pray that they are all happy and awake when the time comes for pictures! I feel like I am just scrambling this year to get everything done for Christmas that I need to. It is so hectic and chaotic during this month for us. but all the running is worth it. we get to go to family christmas parties and connect with family members that we rarely get to see, go to the ward party that is always so fun for the kids. We get to take the kids to see Santa and watch their eyes light up when he says that he has exactly what they are wanting. We get to use Santa as leverage in order to get our kids to behave and do their chores! Jason and I get to have some rare time together while we do our christmas shopping. The season is here, and this year, I am just so grateful that we are in the position that we are in. Jason has more work than he knows what to do with, we are all healthy, happy, and warm. We have plenty of food and coats and gloves,a roof over our heads, and most of all, plenty of love in our home. My kids have a great dad, who would sacrifice anything to make sure they have a happy childhood and life. I am so blessed. So... bring on the crazy! I can't complain about one thing. And, to all our friends and family members that make our life so fun and memorable, we wish you all the happiest of holidays, too!