Our "Live" Nativity

An exuberant "Joseph" and contemplative "Mary" chose a baby for our nativity.

"Mary" is feeling like this baby is going to be born...soon!!
Joseph gets the "stable" ready for them to rest for the night.

Baby Jesus is about ready to be born!  World's easiest delivery soon follows.

The kids put baby Jesus in the manger.  (Check out Mary's cheetah slippers!)

Wise Men, aka: The Bears, arrive wearing hats and bringing gifts for the baby.

Meanwhile, the animals in the stable watch the happenings...
(I don't know how they were able to stay in character during our silliness, but
they were amazing.  We really should consider doubling their pay.)

We're done with our little nativity play, but Kieran wants to keep the headgear on.
We turn our attention to some favorite books from the library.
At first, Kieran won't smile for the camera.  So I tell him not to smile and...
I get this fabulous grin out of him.  Adorable!

Marisa and Mommy enjoy a good story while Kieran snaps our picture.
During our nativity, Mommy was the narrator, photographer, and donkey
that carried Mary to Bethlehem.

Christmas Time is Here!

Our Advent Calendar, details are on my Mom Thoughts blog.

One of our advent activities was to wrap presents for cousin Haley.
Check out their very focused expressions...so cute!

I let Marisa have the tape since brother got to use the scissors.  

Kieran tries to offer Marisa some advice on how to wrap the gifts.

This year I've already got all I want for Christmas. 

Our Life in Pictures...

Playing dress up with Mommy's jacket.

Tea party with Daddy

Kieran and cousin Haley havin' a blast.

Our Thanksgiving gathering of family and friends.  

Reading is... Hilarious!

Proof that she's got a helmet.  She loves it too!
(I'm referring to the previous post if you don't know
 what I'm talking about.)

Kieran was "reading" a book to his sister.  It was such a cute photo opp. so we rushed to get the camera.  Then they started cracking up over something that only the two of them thought was funny.  I don't even recall what it was.  (This happens quite often- me not remembering, and also the two of them laughing at private jokes.)  These two love hanging out together.  It's so adorable to watch them interact.  

  

Then Kieran grabbed the camera and insisted on taking a photo of us.
After a long day of parenting those two live wires, we are worn out!

I'm Trying to Remember...

They call it Mommy Brain, or something like that.  It's this phenomenon where a mother can't remember things.  Possibly a result of sleep deprivation??  I have kiddo one that doesn't always sleep through the night, another who wakes up early and makes sure I wake up too.  (This morning it was 5:15 a.m.  Hello!)  So, to fight the Mommy Brain Syndrome and remember what we've been doing every day, I take pictures.  Well, this time, Mike took quite a few of them since I was on the other side of the lens posing with the kids.  Yep, he's here with us making cookies and cheering as the kids learn to ride bikes and trikes.  We've also had fun with aunties and cousin Haley dropping in for visits.  

Kieran, Aunt Katie, & Marisa.  They just finished reading a book together.

Kieran took the photograph: Cousin Haley smiles big for her favorite cousin.
Marisa is wishing she was the one in possession of the camera.  Maybe next time...

Now Daddy is the photographer: Kieran & Marisa helped Mommy make
chocolate chip peanut butter cookies.  They were fabulous little helpers!

Table for four (including Daddy)...we'll have cookies with extra milk, please!!

Aunt Kendra visits and reads a favorite book.  We did some finger painting
during her visit too.  See my Mom Thoughts blog for pictures & details.

Brother has a bike, so our little lady needed some
wheels too!  Do not worry, she now has a helmet also
but I'm too lazy to upload the pictures to prove it.

Goodbye!!  See you next time!