Making Up for Lost Time

Moments like this melt my heart. Josh and I kept talking for several weeks after the move that it is just so good to see the girls with our family and how excited we were to get to do this more often. We're excited to get to give them the gift of family (and also to our families the gift of us being closer). Several people mentioned over Christmas that Brooklynn had really "come out of her shell". Brooklynn is REALLY shy. Even around family she is just not the same Brooklynn she is at home. Whenever we made the drive to visit, she would take a day or two to warm up to everybody, (and also recover from the long drive and lack of sleep, etc.) and then we would have to leave. Now she was already warmed up and we could just enjoy everything. It was wonderful.

Thanksgiving at the Ashley House

After a bit of decorating the Bean Christmas tree we headed to Fort Wayne to see my family. Everyone else got there in the morning so they got right down to business when we got there and my parents passed out early Christmas presents. It was one per family and it was a Charlie Brown Christmas book that talks and plays music. So cute. 

Uh uh....Gabby, stop teaching Josie how to eat paper.

"No Josie, THIS is how you eat it." -Gabby

There ya go, Josie...Gabby will be so proud.

Breakfast before church. 

Brooklynn is very sweet and gentle with little Josie. I guess her feisty attitude towards Gabby is just a sibling thing.

Josie is learning to roll.

She also is trying so hard to crawl...she doesn't go anywhere yet so she just looks a little bit like a seal. It is so stinkin' cute.

Decorating the Tree

We decided not to do our own Christmas tree this year because of our crazy move. This little tiny tree I'm holding is our only tree...just to have a little bit of Christmas with us despite all the chaos of moving and packing. I always love decorating the tree. There is just something so magical about the Christmas season blossoming before your very eyes, coming together with family, listening to Christmas music, drinking some hot chocolate. Aaah. 

 Andrew kept playing this little trumpet Christmas tree ornament. How silly.

These two were inseparable. They even decorated the tree together.

 Brooklynn and Daddy.

 Gabby kept looking at the tree like, "What is this DOING in here? We're not outside!" It was pretty funny. 

Christmas Tree Farm

Off to the tree farm again! For the last few years we've gone to this same tree farm after our old one closed down. We've had really good luck here. 

The kids are immediately excited once they see the HUGE blow up Santa.

Did I mention Brooklynn kept hugging Adeline ALL WEEKEND? Well...she did. It was precious.

 

 Cousin shot (minus Gabby)

 What a cute shot of Brooklynn with her Aunt Charity

 Adeline was a trooper since she didn't feel good. She hung out most of the time on this wagon.

 But she did get a little snuggle time in with Uncle Josh

 Aunt Erin got lots of wrestle time

 This was going to be our Christmas card picture...but alas we haven't sent it yet so we'll take a different one.

 Brooklynn's nest

 My girls (Don't worry, Gabby was snuggly in the wrap under my Peek-a-ru most of the time and just took a quick photo op.

 Bean Cousins by the trees

 Our little angel

Brooklynn kept pretty busy pulling the wagon around. It was pretty tricky over all the roots and stuff...but she insisted.

This tree took especially long to cut down. So much for leaving early for the tree farm. (Although I tried to tell everyone that it takes this long EVERY year.) At least it was fairly warm out.

Notice the blue trunk...it was very sappy...and the home of SEVERAL mice. Poor guys.

 Time to go home...but not before we tackle Uncle Josh some more. (And Daddy)