"But for now, sledding is enough." - Stephen Chbosky from 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'

One day last week, Jared took a day off work and Megan and her family came over to our house. It was so nice just to spend time with them. Megan and I went to the store and made Buckeyes, Jared and Corey lifted and got some wood for the stove, and later.... both Daddies took their big kids "sledding" :)

This was Holden's first time out this year and I think he had fun, but got cold pretty quick.

Here's some of the pictures I snapped while they were all out in the snow.

Holden and Daddy

Indy wanted to play, too.

Getting a lift from Daddy

And pulling the sled back up the little hill

Handsome snow boys

Gettin' a push from Joss and Uncle Corey!

There they go!

All the sled riders

Josslyn's turn

♥

Christmas Cookie Day!

Some of my favorite things about the holidays are all the baked goodies :)

And this year, since my sister came home a few weeks before Christmas, we got to make some of the treats together. We made buckeye candies one day, and then frosted cut-outs together the next day. Well, to be honest, she did most of the decorating. I mostly made all the frosting and then watched Bridger. And mom even came over to help.... and also ended up mostly just watching kids.... which I suppose it what you get when you get 4 little ones all together!

Baby Bridger was all decked out in his Christmas tree shirt and "Ho Ho Ho" socks.... ready for Cookie Day!

Helping Mommy cut out the cookies in the morning

Good little helper :)

Holden helping Aunt Megan and Joss frost

... and this is how he helped.

Josslyn loading her cookie up with frosting - after this she was pretty much restricted to sprinkles....

And now helping with the sprinkles....

....aka, eating them. Stinker.

"Proof That Mommy Liked the Drummer"

This shirt was a gift for Bridger (from my awesome fellow members of the church choir, if you'll believe it!) and I absolutely love it.

I put it on him the other day and he just looked so cute I had to snap a picture.

Mommy definitely fell for the Drummer :)

Two Handsome Boys and a Christmas Tree♥

Our boys in front of their Christmas tree

Four months old and sitting in the rocker all by himself

Big Boys!








Oh. Be still my heart♥

Holden wanted to give Bridger a kiss

"The best of all gifts around the Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other."
- Burton Hills

...Timber!!

We got our Christmas tree!

The weekend after Thanksgiving, we went with my mom and family to go get our trees. We got to go for a tractor ride, walk around outside in the beautiful sunshine, see a reindeer, and watch while Daddy and Pap Pap cut down the "perfect" trees. It was really a good day.

Bridger had fun riding around in the Jeep carrier and watching all the "choosing." And Mr. Holden definitely had a lot of fun getting his first real Christmas tree with everyone. Uncle Tyler B even pulled him around in the tree sled for awhile :)

Excited to go get our "kimustee"

Quality time with Uncle Tyler B

A Reindeer!

Wagon ride to get to the trees!

Ready to go look a trees with Pap Pap and Mimi

Getting pulled around by Uncle Tyler B

Hunting for the "perfect" trees

Mommy and Bridger.... just enjoying the show

Looking for the perfect tree... and the glove Mimi thought she lost.

(She found it on the living room floor when we got home. Fear not.)

Watching Daddy cut down the tree

And it's down!

Helping Daddy load it up on the sled

Christmas Tree Boys

Holden lost one ride, and got a new one :)

Daddy and his helper

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." - Meister Eckhart

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year.

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's house first and later in the evening we went over to Mimi and Pap Pap's. And both boys did just great for being gone all day.

We got to see lots of family and eat until we felt like our buttons were gonna pop.

It was just a really nice day and we couldn't have had a better time.

Well.... maybe if our Florida-dwelling family members could have been here....♥

Uncle Tyler and Aunt Shanti with Baby Bridger

Yay for Aunt Shanti's new job!! (that means she won't have to miss any more holidays!)

Just some ornery little boy I know. Sneaking around the kitchen.

Momma and Bridger Dean

Uncle Tyler entertaining everyone after dinner.

It's no harmonica, but it was darn impressive :)

Family.

"We do not remember days, we remember moments." - Cesare pavese

Bridger, loving his Daddy's beautiful cousins :)

the folks♥

Naomi and Holden playing Grandpa's piano

Story Time

Pap Pap's train!

And Holden even got to drive it.... big boy.

Everyone playing cards with Holden after dinner - getting him to say the name of the animals on the cards.

High Five from Uncle Tyler B - aka Holden's new best bud :)

* * * * *

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."
- Thornton Wilder