(Christmas 2011)

We headed to Bozeman on Friday to help out with the lefse making. It was Clara's first year, and she did a nice job in the kitchen! We sent Cash over to Ryan's to play while we cranked them out. It's a looonnnngggg process but we managed to get five batches made in 5 hrs!





On Christmas Eve it has been a tradition for quite a while now to go to the Leaf and Bean for coffee in the am. Sadly, our usual spot had closed this past year so we had to relocate to the one downtown. This was Clara's first time! Cash and BJ headed downtown with us but met up with Keith to hang out for a bit.




Cash hanging out with Grandpa on Christmas Eve




It was Evan's First Christmas as well!! He is such a sweet baby!!!






Then finally it was present opening time! Poor Cashy had to stare at the presents under the tree and stockings for a whole two days before being able to open them. Pure torture for a 3 yr old!

{the loot}






Then the boys (oh and Clara!) were jammied up. The little boys played the pickle game, Cashy won. And each got a prize. A Matchbox car for each kiddo.



And other shots from the night...

*Clara's First Christmas*

Here is Clara all decked out in her very first Christmas dress. I have been waiting to be able to dress her up in her first Christmas dress since they told me she was actually a girl!





Hanging out with Nana...



...and Grandpa




Christmas morning in her new festive jammies from Nana



Posing with her new dolls :)

Johnny the Elf

This is Johnny. He has been sent to us from Santa. He watches over Cash and Clara during the day and flies home to the North Pole to report the daily happenings. He watches to make sure you listen to your Mom and Dad, be nice to your sister, and make it to the potty on time. Then he returns back the next day in a new spot in your house. We can talk to Johnny and tell him things, but he can't talk back. And NEVER under any circmstances can he be touched. His magic would disappear.

*Elf of the Shelf*

Clara June 3 Months

This month I am happy to report, that...(KNOCK ON WOOD) Clara has been sleeping a 5-6 hr stretch when she first goes down to bed. She goes to bed at 6 o'clock and lasts until somewhere between 11-12. It's wonderful!!

Smiles are getting easier to come by and it's just adorable! She always has smiles for her big brother, and is a happy camper when she gets up in the morning. She has become a mama's girl in the last few weeks, not letting me out of sight with out crying. I took her to the Belmont yesterday and she pretty much cried whenever anyone looked at her...

Clara is getting on a schedule these days without much effort. She takes a looooonnnnggg nap in the am and then is up for a while during mid morning and lunch time. She goes down around 1ish for her afternoon nap which is only for like an hour, sometimes less. I have gotten her and Cash to take that nap at the same time so I am able to have an hour break during the day, most days.

She is a pro at tummy time and is showing signs that she would like to be on the move! Everytime she gets on her belly, she start furiously kicking her legs and gets quite mad when she can't propel herself (or keep her head up!) She hates her carseat and takes quite a while and some music before she calms down enough to fall asleep. I have finally gotten her to take a Paci at times. She is pretty content most days to just suck on her fingers.

{Sissy}

Santa!!!

Cash was gung-ho for sitting on Santa's lap. He asked him for a bobcat and excavator. He apparently thought that if he sat on his lap and put in his request, he would be receiving his gift on the spot....hmmmm.... I explained that he had to be good and then on Christmas Eve, Santa would come to our house (when he was SLEEPING). This am, he woke up and asked if he could go see what Santa brought him! YIKES!