The other photos I uploaded to photobucket but forgot to stick in any post as of yet

Kaleb at one month and 6 weeks

I took a bunch of photos when Kaleb turned one month old and meant to post one or two on facebook but that never happened. So here are his one month photos.

And then as of today officially he is 6 weeks old. I'm not sure why that is a milestone, but it seems to me like something special is supposed to happen at 6 weeks? Maybe that's just in my mind because that is when I have my last dr. appointment associated with the pregnancy/baby. That's at least a milestone for me.

And finally, I got a haircut. I had 5 inches taken off. So far NO ONE has noticed. Or at least nobody has said anything. I am waffling between thinking I look really cute and thinking it makes my face look fat. (of course I didn't post any photos of me looking like I have a fat face, but believe me, I look in the mirror sometimes and think to myself that I better stop eating that ice cream in the freezer.)

More Snow

These are photos from two different days. The first day was so cold and the kids only stayed outside for maybe 15 minutes before they came crying back inside. The second day was last Saturday I think and the weather was warm enough that I could take off my gloves (derek's wool socks, actually, because I lost my gloves) and still be warm. It snowed again today but with the sun most of the new snow has melted I think. Still, we are living in a very deep and ever growing winter wonderland.

Christmas

Christmas Eve. The dinner - Rodkal (red cabbage - it's sooo good!), cauliflower soup, and fish. Plus cranberry juice and 7up to drink, and a braided bread wreath for dessert.

The stockings... I had to make another stocking for Kaleb, even though he didn't get anything - well. He got a clementine and a candy cane, both of which he didn't get to eat of course.

Christmas morning. The kids opening their stockings.

Christmas morning breakfast. Little smokies (Derek used to call them little stogies), scrambled eggs, and homemade applesauce. The applesauce, all warm and chunky, is the best part.

Opening presents. Joshua bought (with my money) a replica of the Mayflower for Derek and Derek loves it. Abigail got a Snow White dress, Lukas got some blocks, Joshua got a bucket of art supplies (his reaction was "I just LOVE being HAPPY!!!") I think he liked them. We also got other presents but I just took photos of those. Oh yes, Derek also got a chainsaw.

Then we went to Midway for Christmas afternoon and evening. More great food. More great presents. More great company. We had a little Christmas program before we opened presents. Heidi and her family performed 2 songs on the ukelele, my kids sang "Kommet ihr Hirten, "Still Still Still," and "O Tannenbaum," with me on piano, Janelle read the new book "the Christmas Train" by Thomas Monson (I think that is what the book is called.) We all sang a few hymns and then Rob read the Christmas story out of the Gospel of Luke.

Derek's entire family (his parents, siblings with spouses and children) were there, plus my sister-in-law's sister-in-law joined us as well, which is always nice. Tessa is fun to talk to. It was a big crowd. We had Tessa take our picture but I was too slow and didn't get my camera ready in time so I'll just have to wait and have someone email one of those photos.

It was a very nice Christmas. We had a lot of fun, even if it was loud and crazy. Maybe that's what made it  fun. It will still be Christmas time at our house for awhile because we can't get into our garage to put our tree away due to the huge snow drifts blocking the entrance. I figure as long as the tree is still up, there is no point in putting away all the other Christmas decorations. We might be celebrating Christmas until Valentine's Day this year :)