December Family Memories!

The more kids I have (and the older they get), the more December feels like a blur, but I tried to soak in this stage of life as much as I could and just enjoy all our traditions together.

Watching tractors crash and light on fire with Grandpa 💖

Oliver loves to sing while he plays and it's my favorite!

Grandma Lindi has a digital picture frame and we always joke about how often pictures of Hannah (their youngest) pop up. The girls were playing a game to see how many pictures would show up that didn't have Hannah in them and it was really funny.

Ashtyn and Parker had their Christmas piano concert and had a lot of fun with it and played really well.

Ashtyn has been more into chess and loves playing with anyone who will play with her.

"Doctoring" the Elf on the Shelf.

Ashtyn especially loves playing chess with Uncle Caleb.

The girls also had their theater class Christmas concert and all did really well! 

We loved watching them perform.

I didn't get a picture, but Ben and I also entered a tournament together that morning. We were on a team of four and got 3rd in the upper division. It was a lot of fun and we were happy with how we played. It was a crazy day! We were so grateful to Melissa for watching the kids all morning and for taking the girls to their practice while we were at the tournament. 

That night, we had Christmas pancakes for dinner!

And got to spend time with Jon and Amanda, who came out to see their concert. We so appreciate the effort they put into their relationship with our kids, who just adore them both.

Reading in the morning at Christmas time with the decorations and everyone asleep is my favorite.

I also let the kids get an Elf on the Shelf this year, but he only did things the 12 days leading up to Christmas instead of all of December (I also put Ashtyn in charge of it).

One of Ashtyn's favorite games this month was throwing this elf toy and then trying to replicate how it landed.

Oliver playing piano 💖

Since climbing out of his crib, Oliver struggles to nap somedays, but he still probably needs it. So then he ends up falling asleep more often later in the evening.

I was really excited to get this book! I think it's really cute!

I left it out after buying it and Ashtyn discovered it. She was so excited to find it and read it to all her sisters, who just love the book!

We also got this yard decoration this year and I love it!

Me preparing our Christmas morning scavenger hunt.

Parker drew this nativity on a white board we have.

Parker's picture.

Rylee's snowmen.

Rylee's "doppelganger"

Christmas crafts all month!

Ashtyn wanted to make her own countdowns, in addition to the regular paper chains we always make.

Rylee loved making these paper ornaments and hanging them up by her bed.

Lots and lots of blocks, especially in the winter when the kids can't go outside as much.

Ashtyn had so much fun setting up the Elf on the Shelf each night, especially since it meant coming down for a bit after all the other kids were in bed.

Ben got a pickleball machine for Christmas and Ashtyn loves it. 

We love how often we see deer, cows, and other animals in the field behind our house.

The house always feels so good when Christmas gets put away and things are back to normal.

At the end of December, I entered the third trimester. This pregnancy has really flown by! 

Parker got a facepainting kit for Christmas and has been having lots of fun learning how to face paint with it.

And the kids love the magnetic marble run we got.

New Year's was a lot of fun! 

We went to Melissa's apartment with a cheeseball Ashtyn had made and hung out for a bit before bedtime. Then we came home, and Ben put Oliver to bed while the girls and I cleaned up the house and got things ready for our New Year's party. 

We've always let the girls stay up a little later, but never until midnight. This year, we had told Ashtyn she could if she helped clean up and we ended up just letting all three of them. We started with playing games while having our special drink (we usually get strawberry lemonade) and a pomegranate. Then we did some Karaoke and played more games. When it got closer to midnight, we let the girls watch some Bluey until it was time to watch the ball drop.

Rylee was very tired (she almost fell asleep at one point). 

This was her watching the ball drop 😂

The girls loved the novelty of staying up late and had a lot of fun doing our simple party.

December was a great month spent with family and enjoying traditions together.