Tess at 8 months

Tess turned 8 months on December 30th. She weighed in at 16 lbs and 12 oz.

 She learned how to wave!

 She thinks it is hilarious that she has a sign on her tummy!

 And she started to crawl at about 7.5 months!

 It is a nice wounded soldier maneuver, but she is getting faster!

Sick!

After Christmas the entire family got SICK! Tess started it and then the boys got it and then I got it. Matt had the sniffles for about an hour but that is pretty much all he ever gets! So, the week after Christmas this is how we spent our time.....

Hanging out in our jammies watching movies and playing video games! (I think this was the first time Tess was dressed in a week!) It is a good thing we got Mario Bros for Christmas. All of us play that game! The boys were impressed with my skills.

The cold was bad enough it perforated my ear drum. That wasn't fun and still isn't fun as I can't hear very well.

Christmas 2011

Christmas day was lots of fun. The boys got up early enough that we could unwrap all our present before 9am church! They got leapsters (we are avoiding the DS bullet), a few video games, (which have been our favorite so far, even I will play Mario Bros!), some legos and beyblades.

Here is the Santa loot. The boys got beyblades and Tess got a doll!

Ethan loves his new Star Wars legos.

Cole loves his beyblades.

Tess slept right through opening presents and even went to church in her jammies!

Her favorite part was the paper.

And the tag on the doll!



Everyone is wearing their Christmas cracker hats!

Christmas Activities 2011

We started out with the Redmond Lights. We had never been but it was a lot of fun. You start at city hall and walk a lighted path to the mall. There was a lot going on! For some reason the boys are afraid of sitting with Santa, particularly Ethan, and so they were thrilled that Santa came and they could shout their list to him while he waved from the rooftop.

The boys enjoying the lighting ceremony.

Tess did great and slept almost the entire time.

Ethan loves to smile big for the camera, even with food in his mouth.

There was even a reindeer!

The ward party was GREAT! The decorations were amazing and there were lots of fun activities and things to do. The food was also delicious.

We went to our ward party which was fabulous

Tess does not sleep if something is going on but finally wore herself out at7 in line to see Santa!

How can you be afraid of this nice guy? 

Tess was the only one that visited Santa this year and even she was asleep for the event.

We went and saw Happy Feet 2 in 3D at the IMAX.

And went up the Space Needle. (love the photoshopped background!)

Then we went to the Botanical Gardens with our friends the Seamons.

The kids liked looking at the cool lights.

The boys by the dragon!

The fam!

We decorated or rather ate a gingerbread house.

We spent Christmas Eve with friends, good food and a nativity.

There was also a pinata for the little peeps!

Cole made the first crack in the pinata.

Ethan's program

Ethan's preschool always does a little Christmas program. It is really fun to watch! They sing a few songs and then Santa comes to visit. We almost didn't make it to his program because they were told to wear "fancy" attire and Ethan can barely take wearing nice clothes to church. After we got into the car without him he decided he would put his clothes on and come. He pulled it together and did a great job. Ethan really enjoys singing and actually knew most of the words and actions.

Tess gets tubes

Tess had been having ear infection after ear infection so we went to an ENT. He recommended tubes and they happened to have a surgery opening the next week so we took it! They put in the T tubes so they won't fall out which should get us through the next two years. Tess was a good sport and didn't even cry when they took her back.  I was only in the waiting room for about 20 minutes and they came and got me. She woke up crying but she soon settled and we were on our way home. Since then she hasn't had any more ear infections!

Richland and Kingston

We traveled around for Thanksgiving this year. First we went out to Richland to eat dinner with Matt's mom Anna and new husband Ron. It was delicious food that included tamales. We even got in a little black Friday shopping.

Then we headed out to Kingston to see my cousin and Aunt. The kids love the ferry ride and enjoyed playing with my cousins boys.

This was Tess's first ferry ride. She seemed to enjoy it!

I'm not sure why, but my kids seem to think rabbit ears are hilarious!

My cousin Shayne and Aunt Barb

Sleepovers

We exchange babysitting with our friends the Christensens and our kids love it! It makes for 7 kids all at once and a big party. We always head over to their house so we can spread out a bit.

There is Jayne who adores Tess and anything girlie. However, she holds her own with the boys and can shoot a nerf gun like nobodys business!

Then there is sherpa Sam, who my boys want to be like! He is such a great sport and plays with them nonstop.

And allows them to pull, tug and climb all over him.

I can't forget to mention he also cooks and will even take care of his brother Jake!

Ellie will help out with any of the kids if needed and always makes sure she compliments any successes. She told me that I was really good at getting 7 kids ready for 9am church!

Then there is Jones. He is one funny kid! He adores Tess and gives her kisses and hugs at any chance he gets.

We learned really quickly that he wasn't allowed to sit by Tess when eating because he would toss all of his food on her tray.

Merry Christmas 2011

Tess at 7 months

Tess is now 7 months! She weighed in at 17 lbs.  

She is getting so tall!

She can be very serious sometimes!

She is interested in everything and wants to grab everything she shouldn't have.

She got her first tooth on November 30th!

She has had two more ear infections so is often found like this!

She is still a very happy baby!