A month long update...

Life is good. I am so blessed with such a wonderful family! We have had a great month. I cannot seem to update the blog as often as I used to. Our three little ones keep me busy!

Here is 'a BUNCH', as Jorgen would say, of pictures of our family this past month.

Slumber party in Elsie's bed!

Shelley l.o.v.e.s babies. She always has and continues to surprise us with the things she does with babies. Shell is also good with real babies. She loves to feed Elsie her pureed food and manages to get a lot of it in her mouth. It is a huge help to me during the busy dinner hour trying to get dinner ready and Elsie fed. I love my little helpers!

Elsie is such a joy! I cannot even tell you how sweet and wonderful this child is. She loves her adoring brother and sister and we cannot get enough of her bright eyes and curiosity!

Els has never had a bottle but has pretty good instincts nonetheless.

Jorgen and Shelley had a slumber party with the babies. Jorgen is the mastermind behind all creative play in our home. He is so fun and such a wonderful brother. Shelley just loves him and is always hanging around by his side.

Shhh, a tired mother needs her beauty sleep.

This is Elsie's transitional move from sitting to laying on her tummy. She definitely has her mother's flexibility!

Shelley went through a couple week phase where she was obsessed with her fingers. She would name them all day long (her favorite being her pinkie!). She still points out the names of them on other people and toys. Yesterday, she realized that Mr. Potato Head had most of the same fingers as her. But she could not decide which one he was missing, tall man or ring man. :)

Here's Shell showing me her pinkie.

And for the record, Shelley is officially POTTY TRAINED. We tried potty training when we first moved here but she was not quite ready (two days with zero successes) so we waited a month and then tried again and wow, what a difference. She picked it up immediately (must have been the juice infiltration on day one) and I did not even have to ask her if she needed to go. What a dream! Way to go Lady Shells! Just one babe in diapers is so nice!

Jorgen LOVES to conduct music! And our whole family loves watching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert DVDs (the Brian Stokes Mitchell one is our favorite). I love Christmas time!

Shelley dances around the whole time, most often with a baby in tow.

I think it is so funny how Jorgen and Shelley love to smile the same squinty-eyed smile!

Elsie's favorite chew toy = Shelley's tiny baby. I am glad Shelley does not mind her soaking it with her slobber.

My funny guy!

Elsie got her Christmas present early, a $3 jumper from a garage sale. She is hilarious in it, just jumps all over the place. Jorgs and Shells are quite entertained by it! They are still learning that it is not a swing :)

We love Texas fall and winter weather! Lots of leaves and warm days. We have had fun playing outside and enjoying the warm days.

We love kisses from Daddy.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. Part of Justin's family came into town and we had a blast with them.

Jorgen and I made these cute turkeys for our neighbors.
Jorgen had fun decorating his own.

When I was on my mission, I had a member make matching hats in a few different sizes. I love what they remind me of and how adorable the children look in them, but they look adorable in everything...especially with pumpkin muffin crumbs on their face.

Ok, I hesitated posting this, but I think it is just too funny. Justin and I went shopping for the first time on Black Friday. We bought a trampoline for the children for Christmas and gave it to them early since we will not be here for Christmas. They love it, love it, love it. I am so glad we bought it.

Now to the picture, the morning after Justin set the trampoline up, Jorgen and Shelley were getting dressed and I realized they went outside...before they got their day clothes on! Hilarious. Jumping in the underwear!
Taking a break...

A close up of a cutie!

Els likes to bounce on it as well, and she also loves being tossed up in the air!

Brothers with their babies:
Justin and Elsie, Miles and Cyrus.

Nana and Papa gave the kids their Christmas presents early since we will not be with them for Christmas. Here is Elsie opening her present. I love the wide, excited eyes!

More Jumping....

Before Papa and Nana left, I caught them reading to the kids. How sweet!

Elsie is just, well, adorable...in every way!

And she is strong too! If she was wearing something tighter, you would be able to see her tummy off of the ground. She loves to do these push up/hover moves. She can now scoot around and army crawl wherever she wants to go. It is only a matter of days when she will be crawling, turbo speed. I am NOT ready!

A darling bunch!

We had a few days in November that felt like summer. It was so nice playing and jumping outside. They love the trampoline so much and I love how much they enjoy it together.

Elsie just enjoys being with everyone. She would play outside in her exersaucer while we jumped. I have just as much fun as the kids on the tramp. They are pretty encouraging because they think I am some sort of hero when I do tricks :)

Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down our very own street! Our neighborhood does an annual Santa party with donuts, juice and crafts. It was great fun!
Waiting for Santa's grand arrival...

Jorgen was so excited to see Santa and wave to him.

Jorgen and Elsie sat on Santa's lap but Shelley wanted nothing to do with the strange guy. Maybe next year.

I think Elsie thought he was a little strange too. She got a good grip on his beard and I was worried she was going to pull it off.

Jorgen and I got to go on a date to our Ward Christmas Celebration of Christ. We had so much fun together. At one point, he looked up at me and said, "Mom, I want 'YOU' for Christmas!" Can you tell we have been listening to a lot of Christmas music! A few days earlier the song "All I want for Christmas is You" came on and Jorgen asked what it meant. He sure knows how to charm a lady now! Good thing he just uses it on his Mom. Later on during the date, he told me, "Mom, this is the best date EVER!" I love my boy!

Shelley got to break out a new dress that her aunt Natalie gave her for her birthday. Elsie has a matching one and I cannot wait for her to fit into it! We did a little photo shoot and I just cannot believe how old she looks. My darling girl, Shelley Eliah!

I'm two!

This picture is so Shelley!

Handsome TJ Hansen!

We finally bought a bunk bed for Jorgs and Shells off of craigslist. I love it! It was such a great deal and matches their dresser. Last night was their first night in it and they loved it.

Justin and I had fun at his work party. We carpooled in the van with some friends and had a great time! At the party, there was great conversations, great food and dancing. I made my sweetie go out and dance with me. It was so fun. I love my honey!


And lastly, if you are ever missing baby Jesus from the manger scene, I think I know who has it...

Merry Christmas!