What we've been doing

The Shaw family has stayed pretty busy these past few weeks and I can't believe the end of January is here. Where did the month go? We've spent our time staying busy with work, church callings, daycare, boy scouts, piano lessons, and most recently, being sick! Seriously, we've gotten everything this winter: colds, pink eye, ear infections, and influenza. One good thing that has come from sick kids is I've gotten to spend plenty of time cuddling them.
Here are a few pictures of what we've been doing.

 Tate got his own camping chair for Christmas which he uses to watch movies. And for this picture, clothes were optional.

A few weeks ago, we watched our friend Keisha's baby, Paisley. Ayden loves to play with her and is a big help with whenever he gets a chance. So he was really excited when she came to our house. He was the first to hold her and didn't want to let go, even though she was ready to be free and roll around on the floor.

We were given several fun family games for Christmas and we've enjoyed having family game nights. We had cookies and milk while racing our pieces around the Monopoly Party board.

you got something in your teeth Ayden!

I think Ellie lives off cereal. That girl's food repertoire is not very long. Chicken nuggets, macaroni and cheese, and most breakfast foods but especially cereal. That's what she has every morning

Tate has been recovering from his flu and ear infection and the doctor recommended he stay out of daycare until next week. So Spencer and I have been taking turns being home with him. Today was my day and he is doing much better. He's back to playing and being his crazy self.

Wanna know something about people...

We've been working on reading with Ellie and doing sight words. Every time we ask her to get a book to read with us or to get her flashcards she whines and complains. Tonight was no exception.
Our conversation went like this:
Me: Ellie, go get your flashcards so we can work on them.
Ellie: Why? (said in whiny voice)
Me: Because we need to work on reading.
Ellie: Mom, you wanna know something about people? Here, let me tell you the truth. Not everyone likes to read.
Me: You're right.
Ellie: And I don't like to read. I like to color. And that's how it's always gonna be.
Me: That's fine, but you still need to know how to read.
Ellie: Urgh, fine.
 Oh Ellie! You are sweet and funny, but you drive me nuts sometimes!

Dentist

The kids had dental appointments this week and it was Tate's  first time going. He was excited and happy to go. Ellie volunteered to go first and got her x-rays and teeth cleaned with a smile on her face. Ayden was more apprehensive but was fine after the x-rays were over. Tate hopped right in the chair and was so good while the dentist looked in his mouth. He held his mouth open wide like an alligator, because that's what Ayden told him he would have to do. He told me after, "I did it momma, I held my mouth open like an aldigator".

They left with a smile on their faces with a new toothbrush and toothpaste and prize. I left with a smile on my face because not one had any cavities!!

A bed for Baby Jesus

This Christmas Eve our family is making a bed for the Baby Jesus. All day long, as we do acts of service, kindness, and love we will put pieces of "hay" in the manger to make a soft bed for Jesus. When I explained it to the kids, their sweet faces lit up with excitement. Immediately, they jumped up to start their service to someone else. Ayden unloaded the dishwasher and Ellie cleaned up the living room. And they have been speaking very kindly to one another and trying to find other ways to put the hay in the manger.
 
I remember doing this one year growing up and thinking it was so special. I'm excited for our family to have this tradition. I love the feeling of peace and love that is already filling our home. I thought this idea would go along perfectly with The 25 Days of Christ that we've been doing. It's a great way for our children to understand the true meaning of Christmas: serving and loving others the way Christ did.

Birthday Not Forgotten

Spencer and I have birthdays only 3 days apart and about a week before Christmas. We don't usually do anything big, just a dessert and dinner of choice. The kids always make us special posters displaying our old age and loving words. But other than that, we don't make our birthdays a big celebration. 
But this year, Spencer went outside the box with a big Surprise.

I LOVE the Forgotten Carols! It's one of my favorite Christmas stories and we've made it a tradition to watch it on DVD every Christmas Eve, but I've never seen the live play. So I was VERY excited when Spencer presented play tickets as a birthday gift! He's been planning this for 2 months, what a sweetheart. It was so fun to watch it live and to see the tiny changes that happen in live performances. I think I had a smile on my face the whole time. Well, except during the song Mary Let Me Hold Her Baby, I bawled through that. Tears were streaming down my face! But I always do, no matter how many times I hear it. It reminds me of special people in my life.
We had so much fun going out together and sharing this. It was the perfect gift. I love that Spencer knows me so well!

What we've been Up to

These last few weeks have gone by so quickly and I haven't had time to blog all that we've been doing. Here's a long post (sorry) of what we've been up to the past few weeks. 

I LOVE putting up Christmas in the house and always want to get it up right after Thanksgiving. Spencer...not so much. I tease him that he's a Scrooge. But this year, I did get the Christmas tree up earlier than December 1st and Spencer was willing to forgo his "scrooginess"  and get lights up on the house. 

last but not least, the star on top

 We've also been getting to snuggle with Katie's baby, Kaleb. He is known in our house as "baby Kaleb" not just Kaleb. If you leave out the "baby" part, Tate goes "Kaleb what?" until you fix it and say the whole title. 
Ayden can't get enough of him and will hold him as long as he can.

 Ellie loves holding him too and especially loves his toes. "they are so tiny" she always says! I love that she's wearing curlers in her hair for this picture. It was in preparation for a Christmas Party.

 We also have had a few family parties to attend. The first was a bowling party with the whole Shaw family. 

goofy boy!

 All the kids had a lot of fun, Spencer is included in this category too. He played in a game against all the men in the family. I'm not sure who won, but I do know it wasn't him. All his hours of Wii bowling did not pay off. 
Ayden didnt want to have to use the ramp and wanted to bowl all by himself. Half way through his game, I think he came to understand the value of the ramp for little arms!
Ellie loved it, and no matter if she hit a pin or not was just happy that her ball made it all the way down the lane. 








 Our next family party was with my Aunt Paula and Dave Millett. She's not really our aunt, she's my dad's cousin, but we've always called her Aunt Paula. And they were kind enough to invite us to their family party. Santa even made an appearance. Tate was the only one who didn't want to sit on his lap.

Ayden asked for football cards

Ellie asked for Tinkerbell fairies

Tate was too nervous to sit on his lap, but he did whisper to Santa what he wanted while I held him, which was football guys. 

I was able to help in Ellie's class for her Christmas party. My neighbor Keisha and I put the party together and it turned out pretty cute. The kids got to make reindeer headbands and Christmas ornaments using their fingerprints as snowmen, and of course decorate cookies. Their teacher invited all parents to come for small Christmas concert.

Ellie loves singing so this was her favorite part. It's adorable how they all paid special attention to their teacher for their hand actions. I love Ellie's face in this picture, she was so excited! 
Miss Andrus does a wonderful job with her class and we are so thankful Ellie has her as a teacher.

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We've had a very busy month and are looking forward to some days together as a family. The kids have been doing our advent calendar and "count down to Christmas" blocks. We also started a new tradition called the The 25 Days of Christ.(see the link) Every day has an ornament that corresponds with a scripture, picture, movie, and quote about Christ. It's been a wonderful thing for us to do together every night. And the kids love it, they always ask what ornament is next. We would recommend this for everyone. We wish everyone a beautiful holiday and can't wait to enjoy ours!

watching Christmas movies together