John "Griswold" Martin

I tease John every year about being Clark W. Griswold when it comes to our house at Christmas time, but the truth be told, I LOVE it! John takes his lights very serious and does such a good job! This was my first year of helping (did all the bushes, thank you.) and I now have a little more respect for him. Putting up lights is a lot of work! It was actually really fun. We worked on them one night up past midnight. We were trying to get them all done before a big snowstorm and before Thanksgiving. It was such an enjoyable night. It's not too often I get John all to myself. I'm already looking forward to our next years all nighter!

This photo really doesn't do our lights justice. They really do look great! In the photo one of the wreaths on the garage is missing. The garage door accidentally ripped it off but it's back up and working just fine!

One night Aunt Lana and Uncle John were bring Eleanor home and their kids saw our lights. They were pretty impressed with them and kept talking about them. When the kids asked why we had so many lights on our house Eleanor told them that Santa Clause only goes to the homes with lights. I wonder if Uncle John 's put up any lights yet??

Amelia And The Fridge

Amelia is such a funny little baby. She definitely knows what she likes and can easily entertain herself for long stretch of time. Besides getting into what ever Eleanor is playing with, her favorite thing is the fridge. She loves finding the magnets and moving them all around. We have to be careful and put Eleanor's artwork up high or else Amelia will make sure to destroy it! I have a feeling Santa might be bringing her a few new magnet toys.

Girls and Christmas Dresses

I always look forward to putting together the girls' Christmas dresses. I love seeing all the kids at church in their new Christmas outfits. This year I had Amelia wear Eleanor's dress from when Eleanor was one. It was so fun seeing Amelia in the same outfit and remembering Eleanor in the same outfit. It's amazing how fast the past 3 years have flown by. It seems like just last month Eleanor was Amelia's age. I wonder what our lives will be like 3 years down the road! Anyway, after church today I tried getting some photos of the girls. Dang Amelia is not one for the camera. I swear she tries to do everything her little body can to NOT look at the camera or hold still. She's a little pistol! Despite her little attitude, I am happy to have the few photos I got. I love these two little girl more then I can express. Everyday I am reminded of just how lucky I am to have such amazing daughters! I seriously can't imagine my life without them and look forward to all the memories ahead of us!

Christmas Dance Recital

Eleanor had her Christmas dance recital yesterday and she was adorable. She was so excited to dress up in her costume and perform on the "real really big stage". It was so fun watching her personality shine when she got on stage. The girl defently does not have stage fright. Quite the opposite actually. Just like last year, when she got on the stage her entire face was smiling and she did her little dance so well! The teacher put her in the middle of the stage because she said Eleanor knew the dance the best. That she did. All the little girls were watching for cues for the next steps. I was so proud of her!

I was also so proud of John! His worked called a monatory work day for Saturday. I was upset about it and I know John was too. But, he drove all the way from downtown to West Jordan just to watch her dance and then headed back to the office. Eleanor was beyound thrilled that he made it. She was also so excited to have Aunt Sara, Henry, Ashley and Scott and Michelle. Eleanor loves her family and I could tell it made her feel like a million bucks we were all there to support her.

Sick Mom vs Well Mom

These past few days I have been out of commission with a horrid cough/sore throat and my house has really suffered because of it! Here is a photo of what our kitchen looked like first thing this morning.

It took me a good two hours to get it looking like this and boy does it feel good. The only sad thing is that by tomorrow night it probably won't look anything like this!!

Sleepover With Cousins

Last night we got to have Savannah and Katelyn spend the night! I made the mistake of telling Eleanor about the sleepover first thing in the morning and it about killed the poor girl having to wait until 3pm for them to arrive. We waited for the girls to get to house to open the door for our advent calendar and when they opened the door they found out we were going out to Kneaders for hot coco and then on a drive to look at Christmas lights. We all decided it would be more comfy if we wore our pajamas for out little outing. The girls had a great time and they loved visiting the house with the lights synced to music. We stayed at watched at least five songs.

When we got home for our Christmas light drive, the girls put on a fashion show. Years ago when Savannah and Ashley weren't much older then Eleanor is now, I had them over and we put on a fashion show complete with a lighted walk way and audience (Matt and Lyndsay Adams). Every since then we have to have a fashion show nearly every time they spend the night. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the two suitcases Savannah and Katelyn brought chuck full of clothes for the show. The show was a huge hit and Eleanor and Katelyn were quite proud of their outfits.

I am so glad that Eleanor has been able to be close with her cousins. I still cherish all my found memories with my cousins and value their friendship. It's going to be fun watching my girls develop these lasting friendships!

Amelia

I know this isn't a big deal to most moms, but I haven't been to lucky with having my babies take a bottle and so when I see this little nugget holding her little bottle I smile! I'm giving myself until the end of the year to enjoy this little sight and then it's off to 100% sippy cups. Amelia is such a spoiled little baby and will not drink milk from a sippy cup. She'll drink plenty of water and juice but only wants milk in a bottle. Not only does she have to have her milk in a bottle, she also prefers it warmed in the microwave for 30 secs. Geeze, this little girl is so stinkin spoiled! I've never seen a baby enjoy being a baby more then she does. She honestly is so content being a baby and is in no hurry to grow up! And of course, I love it. (Now, I understand she'll have to grow up one day, but why rush it!)

Speaking of being a baby, Amelia is still not walking. She can totally stand all alone and even take up to 5 steps, but she's more content with crawling. When she is crawling towards the stairs or to something she isn't supposed to be doing, she does this hilarious exaggerated crawl and slams her hands down in slow motion. It cracks me up! I've never seen anything like it. Speaking of crawling to the stairs, the girl likes to push her limits. She knows when she is being naughty but continues doing it with a huge grin and a killer chuckle. My little perfect angle baby is making up for lost time and becoming a toddler with her own personality. She loves making people laugh and has got some great dance moves. My favorite is when she bends her left knee to the beat and shakes her head. The girl can really get moving and follows the beat perfect! I think she's going to be our little dancing queen!

Amelia gets her feelings hurt quite easily. If anyone raises their voice at her she'll throw her head down and let out the saddest cry. Just like she smiles with her entire face, she also pouts with her entire face. She has also started throwing her self on the ground while crying. Hopefully we can put an end to that real fast!!

Overall Amelia is such a bundle of smiles, laughs and joy! She seriously makes me smile 100 times a day. We all love her and are so happy she's ours!

Visit From the Christmas Spider

A few years ago we started one of my favorite Christmas traditions. The night we put the Christmas tree up and decorate it, we get a visit from the Christmas spider. Our spider was made by Mimi and Aunt Elyse and when she appears on the tree she also leaves a present for the girls. Which is always their Christmas pjs. After we open the presents and put on the new pjs we read the book 'Cobweb Christmas'. It's a great way to start off the Christmas season. I think next year when the spider makes her visit she will also decorate the tree with tinsel (goes along with the book).

After Amelia opened her present she would not let me take the pjs out of her hands. She knew they were just for her. Once she finally let me put them on her she got so upset the next morning when I went to take them off. So, she wore them all the next day as well. In fact, both she and Eleanor have lived in their pjs. When it's cold out and we don't leave the house, why not just let them stay in their pjs all day??Searching for the Christmas Spider.
Eleanor has decided to switch from using the index finger to the middle finger to point to everything.
Looking

Our very own Vanna White.



Amelia doing a little decorating and unwrapping.
Reading Cobweb Christmas

Typical Ameila.