How does your Gardner grow?

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

LeBaron Nativity

We went to Salt Lake for Christmas and had a lot of fun with my family. We got together with all of my siblings on the 23rd (minus Flori, John and their families...who we missed terribly. We also missed Carrie that night. She had a baby 2 days before). It gets a little crazy these days. Do you know my parents now have 23 grandchildren? Yeah. It is one busy, loud, and pretty happy house when all these kids get together. We ate a yummy dinner and did the nativity. They had to do a drawing for who got to Mary because there were so many willing mommies:) Gracie was an angel, and Gunner was a wise man. Maisy was crying for her bed:)

Mary and I were matching and it wasn't even planned:)

Santa

We went to the mall to see Santa. We actually went a few times. They saw him in Billings, we went to see him in Ft. Collins, but the mall was a little extra busy, so we came back on a quiet day. Santa had no kids and was waving to us as we were walking through the mall towards him. It was great.

We also went to see the reindeer. They have them at a local nursery and we love to check them out every year. SO fun.

Gracie was the only one that lasted through the ward party long enough to see Santa. Gunner got super tired and was starting to ditch his clothes so Justin took him and Maisy home. Oh, the excitement.

Gingerbread

Good moms do certain things with their kids each holiday, right? I know that isn't necessarily true, but I think we all have certain expectations of ourselves when different holidays roll around.

Well, I was thinking about how I needed to make some gingerbread houses with my kids. Then, I stopped at our local Jo-Ann's that was having major sales because they are relocating. Halloween stuff was 90% off, which meant I got these houses for $1 each- frosting, candy, and house. I knew I couldn't beat it, so I went for it.

A responsible person would probably have made new frosting or grabbed some Christmas type candy. We just made them "as is". Justin said it was Pagan, and it was. But... the kids had a ton of fun.

Santa Maisy

Shoving a banana in her mouth.

Hooking her long toes on her high chair.

Loving the Christmas tree.

Do not try this at home...Surgery

Gracie got a cute little teddy bear from a girl in our ward. It wasn't long before we realized that the teddy bear had a serious injury. I told her I would sew it later. Gracie showed Justin and he was a little more concerned and faster acting. He found some thread and performed surgery.

How can I compete with this? Dad suchering up a wound with surgical instruments or mom sewing with a needle and thread?

I vote for Dad.:) You are THE BEST, Justin...we love you.

Bandie Lou

Did I tell you that I am a nanny? Meet Bandie. Her mom, Britt, goes to school with Justin and she had Bandie back in September. She asked me if I could watch Bandie at our house. So...when school is in session I end up watching Bandie in the mornings from about 7:30- 12:30.

It boosts my confidence to see that I can load 4 kids into the car to take Gracie to pre-school, but I am also really relieved when it is just me and my kids. My friend was telling me that the perfect number of kids is one less than you have. Isn't that true? I could get so much done with one less child:).Watching Bandie has been a fun and interesting experience and makes my life with three kids seem a little easier. She is a cutie. Oh, and can you tell that Gracie loves being a little mother? She is so good with babies.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Giving Thanks in Billings

Yes... this is picture overload. We had a lot of fun. This is the first time since Justin's parents left that the entire family has been together. I LOVE Justin's family. They are so great. We had good food galore, good company galore, and even had some fun games after the kids were in bed at night.