family guess who

I've been crafty this Christmas and it feels good. Last year I was pregnant and not feeling well but this Christmas (with the inspirational help from Pinterest...I've been on a lot this month) my creative juices are flowing again.

This first project was a personal version Guess Who for my mom. It's a family favorite game anyway, so when I saw this idea on pinterest I thought it was pretty perfect. Now we ask questions like, "Does your person live in Seattle?" "Is your person in elementary school?" "Is your person one of Grandma Margaret's brothers or sisters?" "Does your person winter in Mesa?"

Mom and I played for a while together on Christmas Eve and mostly it is just fun to think about our awesome family and look at adorable pictures. So fun.

merry christmas from ivar and elsie

Jesus loves me, the Bible!
We are weaks, but HE IS STRONG!
Yes Jesus loves me!
The Bible Jesus Strong!
Yes! Jesus loves me! The Bible!
Yeah! Sing a song Elsie! iloveyou!

foggy frost

Last Sunday we woke to the prettiest frost. I just came across the pictures and wanted to pass them along. They made the evergreens look fake. Like the frosted fake trees they sell at the store- the ones that make you think, "that is so phony!" But they were real!

"not a toy"

We have a Christmas Decoration Graveyard on our kitchen counter. It seems to grow each day. I never thought Ivar was quite so destructive, but clearly nothing is safe.

About a week ago I said to Rory, "I was in a great mood this morning. I can't figure out why I'm so crabby now." And he replied, "does it have anything to do with the beheaded angel on the counter?" Yes! That was it! Not to mention the wings, king's arm and robe and Joseph's staff.

I was really bent out of shape about the red ornaments with the wood curls that used to be inside of them, a very special decoration from my Aunt Jan and Uncle Don. I was sad about this until my sister said that her wood curls had been ripped out years ago by Mara and Sonna when they were each about two years old as well. And for some reason this brought me comfort. Maybe that's just how those ornaments look if you have little kids around.

dear elsie

Dear Elsie,
Today you are five months old. Oh my word, you are wonderful. I forgot how much I love the changes that happen after four months, but babies actually do get easier. Try to remember that when you are a mama. I forgot that even in the two years since your brother, but had even written about it when he turned four months. You never were too challenging, but something magical happens between four and five months. Life begins to feel less overwhelming again.

This month you took to your exersaucer and love playing by the christmas tree. You playing and laughing under that tree is the best gift to me. You're happy and I'm hands free. You squeal and squawk and hum to yourself, looking at the ornaments, pushing buttons to make music, spinning yourself slowly in circles with your legs.

You have lots of neck control, so I can hold you on my hip. This is so helpful for mama multitasking. You no longer love your rumblebuns (there is an actual name for this...is it a bouncer?) because you'd rather be sitting up.

Your sleep at night is getting longer and longer. This happened right after we started you on rice cereal. I think you just needed something filling your belly.

My very favorite moment of the day with you is when you wake up in the morning. You will talk and fake cough for a long time until I go into your room. And then when you see me you light up brighter than the sun shining in the window. You make me feel like I am the greatest woman on the planet. You smile and laugh and wave your arms and we gaze and giggle at each other.

You love your brother and he loves you. We work on being gentle and sharing and being gentle some more. But his favorite thing is for me to put you in his crib with him. I'd never leave you unattended, but boy does he love to snuggle with you and sing you songs. "Sing Songs Baby Elsie!"

I love you so much, Elsie. So, so much.