Christmas time!

We had to wait for Daddy to come home from work before we could open any presents on Christmas morning and it was so great! We looked in our stockings and then read from Luke 2 and then we sang Christmas songs and then watched a movie about the birth of Jesus Christ. It was such a pleasant way to start our Christmas day. Then Daddy came home and the present opening began. Here are some of the pictures that were most fun from that morning.

 Cape made by Grandma for Sullivan.

 The kitty Eleanor wanted from the Glaittli's.

 High Heels!!!! for Penelope from the Glaittli's.

 Sullivan's own tool set. A dream!

And make-up for Penelope from the Glaittli's. I didn't get a picture of Penelope's make-up job on herself but this one of Eleanor gives you an idea.
Oh What Fun!

Re-do

On our way to Glacier for my birthday, my friends and I stopped to explore a consignment store in Cut Bank. I had never been there before and I was amazed at all of the goodies to be had. I saw this table top that was all beat up and decided it would be a perfect coffee table in the basement where it would get beat up some more. :) So, I bought it and refinished it and Aaron added legs for me. It is a great little coffee table and the kids really enjoy jumping off of it onto the couches. Not the prettiest coffee table in the world, but oh so fun. 

Well, after I told Aaron about the never-ending prizes to be had, we made a trip together to the consignment store. This chair was one of our purchases. I think we paid $20 for it.

And this is what it looks like now. I loooove it! I have the perfect place for it. . . . once the other projects are finished in that room, that is.

What a before and after! I can't believe how different they look.

Don't you just love making things new again?

"Gingerman House"

We had a fun time making gingerbread houses for FHE on Monday. (It always seems that I only have pictures of my girls scantily clad but they love dress-ups and wear them most of the day. I don't think Eleanor would ever put on regular clothes if she had the choice.)

 Sullivan had so much fun making his "gingerman house."

 And isn't it beautiful?

It seems Sullivan likes to dress-up too. These are his new "fog boots." He loves them and wants to wear them all of the time.

Girls Room

A couple of months ago we decided that we would move the girls downstairs because we needed to do some work in the closet in their room upstairs. So I have been slowly fixing up their basement bedroom. I didn't think it was that different until I looked at these photos that we took before we bought the house. I removed the wallpaper. (So glad they primed before they put the wallpaper on. Removing it was a so much easier.)

So here is the room with the wallpaper removed, walls a neutral color and the closet doors and trim painted white.

And now with the girls' stuff in it. Aaron made the beds a couple of years ago and we really love them still. We don't have to have a dresser in their room because the baskets under the bed hold all of their clothing and shoes and decorative pillows when not in use. I made the little signs over the girls beds with their names and my sweet friend, Colleen, made the tissue paper flowers for the girls. The little picnic table was once outside and multicolored but it was getting pretty weathered so I sanded it down and gave it a nice new coat of "berry blush." The carpet is still not my favorite but it is in good shape and will stay put for a very long time.

The girls have adjusted well to sleeping in the basement and they love their new room.

What number am I?

All day on her birthday Eleanor asked me, "What number am I?"  Don't know why 4 was so hard to remember. :)

I usually let the kids pick what they want for their meals on their birthday but I try to persuade them to have pancakes for breakfast so I can stick a candle in it. As you can see, breakfast burritos won out for this birthday girl.

"This is the best present ever!" 

 Oh the joy!

 More joy!

 Doubled over with excitement.

She had other presents to open still but they had to wait for 5 minutes of jubilation. 

I had no idea a kitty purse would make her so happy.

Love my 4-year-old!