Decorating the Tree

My kids keep track each year whose turn it is to put the star on top of the Christmas tree. But this year, they all insisted and were so excited for Sophie to put the finishing touch atop the tree. It took several attempts and a little help from dad to get it situated just right, but it was just the sweetest thing watching her try. She has definitely been a "hands on helper" with all the ornaments and such :) Just yesterday, she came toddling into the kitchen with every gingerbread boy ornament within her reach. The day before that it was all of the snowmen. And the day before that the snowflakes. What a smart girl to be able to sort like that! Nuff to make a mama proud :)

Family Pictures

We DID it! We finally did :) For several years, my brother and four sisters have talked about having a professional picture taken of our kiddos together. In the past, it seems that we were always waiting for so-and-so to be born, or in our case, for Sophie to finally come home. Well, this year, Sophie is home and no one has a bun in the oven :) A perfect opportunity! We planned this as a big Christmas surprise for my mom. We did a lot of whispering at family gatherings...trying to decide on a photographer, where to have the pictures taken, what to have everyone wear, etc. You know, it's not easy coordinating schedules for six families and outfits for eighteen grandkids. But somehow, we managed to find a couple of hours that worked out for everyone. And no one showed up wearing a purple sweater. Who would do that anyway? :) So, the day before Thanksgiving, with everyone in town, and with only a few of the kids throwing up, we managed a family picture. Phew! It actually was a lot of fun, and we were pretty well behaved if you ask me. The parents and the kids :) We laughed at the funny expressions on their little faces as the photographer positioned them this way and that way. Oh, and yeah, at the very last second, we decided we wanted grandma in the the pictures too. Oh well, so much for the surprise, but priceless if you ask me. We missed you, dad.

Pictured: Jessica, Nathan, Christian, Michael, Sophie, Amanda, Sarah, Austin, Ryan, Emma, Hannah, Bryant, Joshua, Ashlyn, Ethan, Bjorn, Issac, and Brooklyn

What do you think? Color or black/white? I love the one with grandma!

Sophie and Santa

Sophie recently met Santa for the very first time. No tears (at least not at first). I was certain she wasn't going to sit on his lap this year, but she surprised me! Christian and Michael scooped Sophie up in their arms, walked up to the big guy and plopped her right on his lap. She just sat there expressionless :) Frozen, so to speak. She patiently waited for mama to take a few pictures and then Santa lifted her off his lap. Sophie turned around, took a good look at him and began to scream! Merry Christmas, baby. Believe, Sophie, you gotta believe...

Seriously.

Seriously. I know. I called the dentist's office yesterday to make an appointment, and the receptionist said, "I'm sorry, I don't think I can schedule your appointment until you update your blog. It's been a month and a half, and it is getting quite annoying" :) So, for my new friend at the dentist's office, this is for you. And for anyone else who hasn't given up on this new mama of five :) It has been busy around here. Busy, busy, busy. Wonderfully busy, I might add. Sophie is just the sweetest, and we absolutely adore her. She is learning so many new things and is certainly, most definitely NOT quiet, shy and introverted like we were told in her referral paperwork :) She is a girl with things to do and places to go. She is a 23 pound tiny tornado who we like to call Messy Mei. She busies herself ALL DAY LONG...helping with the laundry (clean in the dirty, dirty in the clean) and things of that sort. A little lady whose work is never done. Get the idea? After she "helps" (a term used loosely here) with any sort of task, she brushes her hands together as if to say, "ok, now that's done, what's next?". One night, as she was emptying Michael's backpack of every book, assignment, pen, pencil and snack, Michael looked at me and said, "mom, I think she is taking over the house" :) That she has. Most definitely. And we love it. Even the messes. So here it is, 6 weeks in review... This might take a few days. Seriously :)