Santa Babies

I spy Preston....

Just Because

This is our lovely tree. It looks the same EVERY year. Even though every year we bring home a new one...fresh. It starts out kind of straight and then the kids start playing with the ornaments and bumping it and it slants big time. I love our tree none the less. I love the memories tucked in the branches and the stories behind the ornaments. I love that the kids decorated this tree and made it their own. Normally a slanted tree would bother me but this year there is something tender about our slanted tree. (It's slanted sideways and backwards. It's quite severe) Did you notice all the ornaments hanging on the bottom?? Normally that would bother me especially because it looks awkward and droopy towards the bottom. But this year I let it go. I didn't rearrange it. I love it the way it is.

See it's just so crowded and clumpy along the bottom all the way around but that's okay. What does bug me is that Santa left the tag on that ornament front and center, that supposidly was baked gingergread straight from Mrs. Clauses kitchen until Madilyn pointed out to me that the tag says Kohls on it. How did that happen?

Fat AND Happy

As I write this post it is 9 degrees outside. That is ridiculous. We had our first official snowfall today and Cody was so happy! He loved making snow angels with Daisy.

I love to watch Emma and Daisy together. As clumsy and large as Daisy is she is very gentle with Emma. Not so much with Madi and Cody. I don't know why she is so much calmer with Emma. They would do this all day if I let them.

Chapped lips and "superhero hair" I'm learning to embrace boyhood and I love it.

Look-alikes

This Face

This face is simply irresistable. There is no other way to put it!!

I love everything about this little boy....EVERYTHING. His almond blue eyes, his long eyelashes. the crease in his chin. the dimples on his hands, the rolls on his legs and back of his soft neck. His tiny toes and perfect ears, his rosy cheeks and double chin. his soft downy hair. His long skinny fingers. His button nose. He's chubby and squishy and happy. Need I say more??

I love all my kids the same but I'm just sayin.....This Face.....

We are so Thankful

We had a really fun Thanksgiving. I spent most the day on wednesday in the kitchen preparing for the big feast. The kids were a big help too. Ryan was at work so it was up to me and the kids to get things ready. Our menu included: Turkey , mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, peach jello salad, rolls, stuffing and for an appetizer we had a cheeseball and a veggie tray. For dessert we had a peanut butter pie for the kids and a pumkin pie for Ryan and I. We have enough food to last us a week, that is if we can stand to eat leftovers for that long. It was such a great day. We played games and just enjoyed being together. I have so much to be thanful for!! I have been blessed in so many ways. I am so very thankful for my kids. I am so thankful that they are all happy and healthy. I don't know what I did to ever deserve them. They give me purpose in life and teach me more than I will ever be able to teach them. I am thankful for a devoted husband who will do whatever it takes to provide for his family. I am thankful for his constant love. I am thankful for my parents and siblings that I think about and miss everyday!! I am thankful to have a warm home to live in and live in such a beautiful part of the country. I am Thankful, so very Thankful for so much more but you see, my time is limited when blogging with 4 little kids. So I need to finish while Preston sleeps and the other 3 watch Frosty the snowman. Madi, Emma and Cody set a Turkey trap to see if they could catch a Turkey. They decorated the box and left bread crumbs all around. It was close, They almost caught one but he left a note and treat and then escaped.

Don't you like Codys shoes? He was in to big of a hurry to go upstairs and grab his shoes so he grabbed Ryans basketball shoes since they were sitting by the door.

Now, these 2 girls I found wandering the streets holding a sign that said "will work for food" so I gave them each a "greenscapes" shirt (courtesy of Uncle Matt) and put them to work in the kitchen. They are cutting veggies for the cheeseball. They did such a good job I decided to put them in the shower, brush their hair and keep them as my own. They clean up nice :)

Halloween: Oakeson Style

OK, so here is about 100 pictures for you..... I was just trying to get a picture of the girls wings. I love how Cody centered himself just right in the background, ready to attack his sisters. I didn't realize he was in this shot.

Sweetheart Bat

Sweetheart Bat #2

Watch out, here they come!!

Batman!!!

I Love this picture

"can we go already?"

Cody wouldn't look up. He was to busy loving his "buddy"

Cody is soooo protective. It is adorable to watch them together.

Smile Preston!!

Trick-or-Treat!!

Those cheeks...'nuf said

SERIOUSLY?!? There was even more. You should've seen what I picked up off the floor. It's not everyday that I take a picture of my garbage can, but I couldn't resist. Can you believe it? This was all inhaled in a matter of minutes and they still have huge piles left.

What a fun night!!

THE END

Eagle Eye

Madilyn received the principals award for excellence, also called the "Eagle Eye Award" She was also chosen by her teacher as a top ten student in her class. She is so smart AND beautiful. A hard combination to come by these days. Her teacher loves her and always tells me how sweet she is. This is what the award reads:

"Because of you our school is a better place to learn. You have demonstrated through your action that one person can make a difference. I applaud you for what you have accomplished and look forward to hearing even more great things about you in the future."

This is a big deal. It is the highest honor. She also got this award in first grade. Madi is doing excellent in school. We all know what a great reader she is (5th grade level) She can read 205 WPM. Her teacher says she probably won't score much higher than this as the vocabulary gets harder....We'll see. Most adults read about 150 WPM. Way to go Madilyn!!

One year older and wiser too...

Emma turned 6. I can't believe it!! She insisted on Halloween cupcakes, so that is what she got. She wanted to decorate them so I let her go to town with the frosting, candy corn and sprinkles. Emma had a super fun day. She didn't have school because it was the end of the quarter but we liked to believe that everyone had the day off because it was her b-day. She got lots of fun stuff including a pink barbie bike.

"How does the Piggy eat??)

The day ended with a bath and a tummy ache.....One to many candy corn cupcakes. Oh, to be six. Happy Birthday little Bugsy!!

Sweet Boy

Not Forgotton

Don't think I have neglected sweet Emma. Stay tuned for birthday pictures.

Our Weekend

Saturday was a big day for Madilyn.....She was baptized She was so nervous.....

but she was so brave, in fact she was the very first baptism of the night. When all was said and done she wanted to do it again. She said it was "fun" (I can't quite figue out what she is doing with her toes.It looks like she is missing one)

A couple of days ago she asked me if she could wear goggles when she was baptized. She went on to ask if it would be okay to wear goggles if they were white and had angels on them. She makes me laugh. Since she has been acting like she is 16 lately and being a little sassy, her question reminded me how innocent she truly is. We are so proud of Madilyn and her decision to be baptized. What a good example she is for her younger sister and brothers. She was beaming the rest of the night.

Oh, the cake. We couldn't get enough of the cake. SO good.

The famous ugly, big (did I mention ugly) BROWN couch that is the back drop for all the pictures. Here are the kids with their cousin Harlyn. I'm pretty sure Harlyn (10 months) and Preston are the same size.

Just a random picture of Madilyn holding a butterball, I mean Preston. When he is fussy and I'm trying to finish the dishes or something she can help out for about 30 seconds before her arm about falls off because Preston is so heavy.

Cody asked me the other day if we could keep Preston or if we had to give him back. How sad that he had been thinking that we had to give him back. I told Cody he was ours forever and that he was a part of our family. Ever since that little conversation Cody cannot get enough of his "baby budder" He smothers him with sticky kisses and is always super gentle and sweet to him. As "tough" as Cody is he amazes me at how tender he is with Preston. It is so cute.

Madi on her daisy diva cruiser. I know some of these are random but that's ok right?? We had such a nice weekend. It went by so fast. Thanks to all the family who spent it with us. Sorry I didn't slow down and take more pictures of grandparents and Aunts and Uncles.

Brotherly Love