Christmas 2011

 This year, we didn't put any presents out until Christmas Eve. Call me crazy, but I didn't want to pull Shiloh away from the presents 50 million times a day, nor did I want to re-wrap everything.

Christmas Eve, we went to Jeff's Grandpa and Grandma Long's house. Of course I don't have any pictures, I never remember the camera!

Christmas morning the kids woke up to this.

 Their Santa presents

 We waited to open presents until after we went to sacrament meeting at church. First we took a family picture while we were all dressed up still. And Grandpa and Grandma Borders went to church with us then came back to our house to open presents.

 Shiloh was ready for a nap, so after she opened her present from Santa, she took a nap, then got up and opened her presents.

 Mason got Battleship, or Shipwreck as he calls it.

 

 So happy to get a musical toy.

 All she cared about was this little ball of wrapping paper.

 Loving this toy too because it plays music.

Christmas night, we went to my parents' house. We sang songs, watched the Christmas story on DVD, opened presents, ate food, and had a great time visiting with everyone. And again, I forgot the camera.

Like brother, like sister

 The other day I walked in the tv room and found this:

 

She's learning young!

Run run run as fast as you can

you can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!

We decorated this gingerbread man. Then at his arms and legs so he couldn't run away. The rest of him ended up in the garbage. He wasn't very tasty.

Chattin' it up with Santa

 Every year, Santa visits the fire station Jeff volunteer with. The firefighters take Santa out on the float to visit all the good little boys and girls in the area. We got to see Santa on Saturday before he went out to make his visits.

 Shiloh and I waiting at the station for Santa to get there.

 Way to go Shiloh! You had to keep up with the family tradition didn't you?

Mason and Cooper chattin' it up with Santa.

Great videos

My step-mom, Debbie sent me the link to one of these videos. (The top one)  I thought it was great. This guy has some real talent! Here are a few more of my favorites. (He has over 40 videos on youtube.)

Christmas fieldtrip

Last night, our family went with one of the families from our preschool to the greenhouse at Manito Park. They have it all decorated with Christmas lights. It's really beautiful! Then we went out to dinner at a 50's restaurant on the south hill called Hoaggins or something like that. They had really good food!

Look what we can do!

Yup, we can put a small pony in Shiloh's hair. Exciting!

Mason's 1st Grade Winter concert

 Last Tuesday, Mason had his winter concert at school. Here are some pictures and videos of him performing. They all did a great job. I got a little teary eyed thinking about how fast Mason is growing up. I don't like it!

 

Count down to Christmas

 Every year the boys and I make a count down to Christmas chain. They look forward to making them, so much so, that they start asking me if we can make them before Thanksgiving.

Crafty-ness

 Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend a Super Vinyl Saturday my friend put on. I made this really cute count down to Christmas out of wood blocks, paint, scrapbook paper, and vinyl letters/numbers. I love it and am so happy with the results.

My latest project around the house has been this wall. After getting new family pictures done, I knew I needed to re-do this wall. I added a few more bigger pictures, painted a few wood frames black, made the "Borders Family" sign with vinyl, as well as the 13th article of faith subway art with vinyl. I am loving how it all turned out!

Oh Shiloh girl

I love this little girl. Her eyes, her hair sticking out just after a bath, the way she smells after a bath, her fingers constantly in her mouth, her personality. I love everything about her. Here are a few pictures of our sweet girl from a few days ago.

 She has been standing on her own more and more, and for longer periods of time. Notice she kind of took her fingers out of her mouth to smile. How nice of her.

 Cooper had to be in a picture with Shiloh while she was standing up. He's is so proud of his baby sister.

Then, that same night, we had spaghetti for dinner. Her dainty side came out that night. She didn't make nearly the mess Mason made the first time he had spaghetti.

"finger"--her favorite game.

Here is Mason the first time he had spaghetti. Look how similar Mason and Shiloh look. Everyone thinks Shiloh looks like Cooper, which I think was true, but I also think she is looking more and more like Mason everyday.