'Tis the season

 We've been making the most of this snowy Christmas season. 

I am not a snow fan, but I try to indulge the kids in their love of the stuff. Jamin and I spend one-on-one time every evening. The other day, he suggested building a snowman. We bundled up and headed out.

The snow was too icy to pack easily, so we made a little guy:

 "Now I need to take a picture of you!":

 True to 4-year-old boy form, Jamin then "killed" the snowman... and ate his nose:

 I even played reindeer:

 In the meantime, Libby picked up Travis' winter cold. She seems to feel very yucky:

 Travis is generally better, other than a residual cough. His favorite activities now include playing in the snow, stripping ornaments off the tree, and coloring pictures of baby Jesus:

He has actually adored anything nativity for the past few months. We're guessing he picked it up at church. Now that Christmastime is here, he begs me to "color baby Jesus!" several times each day. Free online printables rock.

Halls = decked

The dining room, kitchen, and living room also have some holiday touches. We kept it fairly simple this year.

There's something magical about decorating for Christmas-- even when the ornaments mysteriously migrate off the tree.

Snow days

Last Tuesday, I looked out the window at the disappearing snow. I realized that-- amidst recovering from surgery-- I hadn't yet taken Travis out to play. Jamin was at school, and Libby was napping, so we enjoyed some playtime... just the two of us.

 Who says you can't golf year-round in Idaho?:

 Travis probably ate his weight in snow, and he laughed while throwing handfuls at me.

 I was especially glad that I'd taken him out to play when the next day called for rain and 40-degree temperatures. Imagine our surprise when we woke up to this:

The patio table gives a clear picture of exactly how much we got:

The snow kept coming... and coming... and coming. Schools closed all through the valley, including Jamin's and Scotty's. Jamin spent most of his day outside.

I stayed inside with the babies. Travis had a fever and a cough, and Libby didn't have a snowsuit. But they still managed to have plenty of fun:

 Despite daily forecasts of rain, we keep getting more and more snow. It's definitely a winter wonderland here!

Letters to Santa

Yesterday morning, we had a bit of a lull. The Christmas music and chilly air told us this was the perfect time to write letters to Santa.

Jamin is our long-time Christmas veteran, so he jumped right to it on his own. "Dear Santa, I have been really good this year. -Jamin." Then he drew a picture of the camera he wants:

Travis and Libby are still learning about the man in red (and they can't write), so they needed a little help from Mama:

 Jamin also helped Libby by writing her name (backwards, just for fun) and tracing her hand:

 The letters-- stamped, addressed, and ready to go:

They can't wait to see St. Nick in person on Saturday!

Self-portrait

Jamin asked to use my camera the other day. Among the many pictures of toys, he snapped this self-portrait:

 While it isn't the most flattering photo, there are a few things I love about it. First, it captures the green in his eyes. Jamin inherited Scott's gorgeous hazel eyes, and you can occasionally see that hint of green. It totally melts my heart. 

Second, the angle of this picture shows the bone structure through his nose and cheekbones. My brother, mom, and I have those same features. They haven't been as prominent in Jamin's face in the last couple of years, so this photo was a neat reminder. 

There's something special about seeing your family in your children, whether it comes through their looks or their personality. Those traits meld together with their individuality in such an incredible way. I think that's what I love most about this self-portrait of Jamin: it highlights the balance that makes him unique.

Jamin also took this adorable picture of Travis:

 Gosh, we love these boys.

Look who's walking... kind of

 Libby took her first step about a month ago. Unlike our boys, she wasn't overly eager to advance to full-blown walking. She stands independently often during the day; sometimes she takes one or two steps, and sometimes she doesn't. Most of the time, she takes one step, intentionally wobbles to all fours, and crawls.

For the past few days, Libby has also really tried to walk. She steps five or so times before losing her balance. 

Oh, and she has two more teeth (with another two on the way):

 Our teensy baby is turning into an extra teensy toddler.

Gratitude

This has been one crazy blur of a week. Throughout it all, we have felt a strong sense of gratitude. We're thankful for...

1. Mutti (my mom). We don't see her often, so her week-long visit was a real treat. She helped with the kids and the house while I was a doped-out slug. I only wish I'd felt better. The kids had a blast with her! Travis keeps asking, "Where's Mutti?" Jamin actually cried when he found out she left this morning. Thanks for coming to visit! 

2. Jeannie & Charly. They also helped a ton! We truly appreciate all that you did, from watching the kids to picking up the slack at Thanksgiving. You're amazing!

3. Libby's first official word. She says, "Uh-oh" all the time and knows what it means. Kind of a strange first word, but we're counting it!

4. Travis' sense of humor. His funny antics brighten our day.

5. Jamin's imagination. He is just so creative and smart.

6. Toradol. Vicodin made me feel awful, and over-the-counter meds didn't help at all. My new prescription is making such a difference.

7. Thanksgiving. It was great to spend that time with friends and family. Thanks to everyone who came!

8. Leftovers. Specifically, Thanksgiving leftovers. Mmm!

9. Christmas music. We upgraded to Pandora One and are decking the halls to unlimited carols, jingles, and hymns.

10. The end of the semester-- followed by a 3-week break-- in a few weeks. Scott is working his tail off, and we can't wait to spend more time with him.

Happy belated Thanksgiving!