Caught on camera

 

Also try this one.  I somehow can't get it on here. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF1VHnOim08&feature=youtu.be

Little brother is 10 months old

 Here comes Mr. Drooly! (as Maci calls him)

 "I now open all drawers and take everything out, taste it and throw it on the floor.  Then I see if the drawers make noise by shaking and moving them."

This is his famous grunting face.  I can't believe I got it on film.

So I started writing this a month ago and now he is 11 months old!  Today his 5th tooth popped out, bottom right. This little boy has lots of energy.  He likes to stick his tongue out of his mouth, pant, beg like a dog whenever someone else has food, laugh uncontrollably when he is tickled under his chin, a good sleeper, smiles a lot and even likes to pet the cats. He will shake, bang, and move anything that does just that.  He loves to chase his sister around the house, she runs, he crawls.  He has started taking steps.  He gets up the momentum and then gets excited and takes a few steps and then falls.  He went about 10 steps at the farm last week.  We were all impressed and amazed. He hasn't said any words yet but can clap for "Patty Cake" and wave hello/bye. 

He sleeps 12 hours at night and is taking 2 hour and a half naps each day.  He likes all food except tomatoes.  It made my day when I gave him one and I watched him immediately take it out of his mouth.  Too funny!  He is not a big fan of changing diapers, which is becoming harder each day.  He loves to splash in the tub and play outside.  Our backyard has become his new favorite.  He crawls around and sometimes takes a few steps and loves to play with the rocks.  I have to remind him often not to put them in his mouth.  Yes, he's already eaten dirt - on David's watch too ;) 

Maci sure is glad she has a brother.  Her latest fun with him is when he comes crawling down to find her, she squeals and goes and hides.  So I guess they are playing hide and seek.  She is going to have so much fun when he can finally chase her back.  Aleck always has a smile for her and wants to be around her. Watching these two interact with one another brings me such happiness.

Family Holiday Fun



Having family here for the holidays is always a treat.  What is even better is if we get in some sledding fun.

Miles. Claire, Bentley and Matt on the left. Maci, Eden and Ethan on right.

 This is a trial photo of all the grandkids.  Gpa Steffen has the real one with all of the Steffen grandkids in it.  I hope he shares :)

 A little Christmas Eve competitive fun.  All the boys arm wrestled.

 Christmas morning

 Thanks Uncle Kevin and Aunt Julie

 Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Held

 Playing with the new toys

 Daddy showing Aleck how to play with his farm toys.

 Thanks Aunt Paula and Uncle Eric for the Christmas outfit for Maci.

 

 Kevin reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

 Sarah sledding

 Hailey sledding

 Kevin getting some air

this pic reads to me

"Darn, it's over"

 

That's how we feel when family has to leave.  We sure have the best of times with you.  Some live close and others not so much.  We love each and every one of you and wish our lives allowed us more time together. 

FHE

We have recently put a strong focus on having Family Home Evenings the last month and I have found a wonderful blog that has been a life saver; http://fhein5.webs.com/lessonseries.htm This gal takes songs from the children's songbook and uses one verse per week with a song that has multiple verses.  This way, you have many weeks planned in advance, plus they are aimed to be 5 minutes long.  I chose to do her "Follow the Prophet" series and last night we learned about Noah.  We watched a short movie then built our ark and filled it with animals and Noah and his family.  Then we made it rain (squirt bottle) while Maci held her trusty umbrella.  Then we ate the infamous animal cookies.  She just loves having FHE.  She even asks what we are going to learn about the next couple of night.  She wants it more than once a week.  Phew, we are off to a great start with FHE and our toddler! Hooray! 

 

 Then comes the destroyer, I mean Mr. Curious.

Glad it was easy to rebuild.  This little guy's sister wasn't happy that he tore it down.

Good thing he is cute!

Christmas crafts

I wanted to Maci to do a craft every day for the 12 days of Christmas.  I don't think we made the everyday part, but each time she simply LOVED it. Besides, I love to watch her creativity develop. So this is a log of what she made for our home.

 

 This picture makes me laugh!!!  Sprinkles stuck to her nose! (How did it get there you ask?  Who knows, but I bet she was test tasting the buttons.)

 This was the countdown until Christmas.  Everyday she would ask if she could cut her chain.

 She helped me put up these window clings.  I love that snowman.  Not quite together but perfect for the toddler.

 David loves trains and we try to have one around the Christmas tree every year.  This is one of her favorite things to do.  This train poofs smoke when it goes around.

 This is her gumdrop snowflake.

 Have to throw this in here... She just loves cheese, that is all I can say...

 Grandma Held sent this to Maci. It is a book about the nativity story but also the scenery to put together yourself.  She loved this so much! (and now that Christmas is over, she constantly asks to get it out so she can play with it)

 This is my favorite.  I let her paint and voila!

 You can't have a Christmas without decorating cookies.  I guess she loved the chocolate sprinkles.

 And these were New Year's balls that the girls decorated to drop for New Year's Eve.

 Aleck got to wear Hailey's for a couple seconds.  That is how long he would let it be on his head.  Crafts are sure fun for little peeps.  I know Maci enjoys it.