Larsen - 5 months old

These pictures were taken earlier in the month when Larsen turned 5 months old.  She is such a happy, sweet baby.  She laughs and smiles so easily, especially if Anders is around...

Random pictures from week the first week of January

Playing with his train table that is still in the middle of our family room...

Larsen was his landing strip for his new plane...(his idea, not suggested)

 Sweet, funny boy...

 The past few weeks I have thought daily, "Anders is such a good big brother"...he wants to make her happy when she is crying, he shares his toys until I ask him to get Larsen her baby toys instead, he entertains her during tummy time, and he finds her pacifiers when I need one.  Such a great big brother...

Grandma & Grandpa arrive for Christmas

During the week after Christmas, Grandma flew in for several days before Grandpa then arrived for the weekend.  Here are some cute pictures from their stay...

 Anders bringing Grandma her Christmas present...

 Larsen & me while out on a walk with Anders & Grandma...we walked down to the new construction to see the paver, dump trucks and more.

Larsen in her Christmas PJ's

On Christmas day I took these pictures of Larsen.  She's wearing her Christmas PJ's and her new headband (Christmas present from Aunt Katie & Uncle Chip)...

It was hard to get Anders to take a break from playing with his new toys, so this is the best we got...

Christmas Morning 2011

Anders woke around 7am on Christmas morning and headed downstairs to see a Polar Express train set spread out on the dining room table.  During the month of December he watched "The Polar Express" dozens of times -- it easily was his favorite movie and sound track, so he was thrilled.  After playing with that for a while, we finally coaxed him into the family room to see the Thomas train table and all that Santa brought.

 Taking it all in...

 Larsen knew she couldn't have the candy cane that Santa brought, so she tried to eat Chip's hand.

 Playing...

 and more playing...

Our Christmas decorations

After Thanksgiving, Mom and Dad helped us decorate the house...I don't think I could have pulled it all together without their help.  Took these pictures Christmas Eve...everything was so pretty!

 Beth Allen made me this sign, loved it!

Christmas Time 2011

We celebrated Christmas at our house this year.  It was a huge blessing to not have to pack up and travel with Anders & Larsen.  So Mom and Dad came up a few days before Christmas to help us prepare, and then Katie and Chip arrived the day before Christmas Eve.  We made Christmas cookies, hung around the house & went to Opryland hotel to see the lights.  

 Rolling out cookie dough...

 NOTE: our rolling pin is a bottle of port...

 Getting messy & having fun...

 Ta-da!