Ready for Christmas?

Tucker is really excited for Christmas and we have been practicing hard. We have put up lights, sat on Santa's lap, sung Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (about a million times), watched Mickey mouse's Christmas Carol (twice), made cookies, practiced opening presents and packed... I think we are almost ready.

Tucker sampling our practice run for cookies for Santa. The cookies were a success!

Tucker was taking a nap when these presents from Aunt Judy arrived. I wasn't thinking when I put them on the couch. When Tucker woke up his eyes lit up as he came out of his room and said "presents?"

Since we wont be opening presents at our house for Christmas I let him open them when Dusty got home. He was really excited with his "wild" animals... the elk, moose, bear and deer all live in the barn now (they are hunted regularly).

Practice run on opening presents..... done.

Packing to visit Grandmas' and Grandpas'.... Done. 

Well... notice the kids are in the bag and not clothes, so it looks like Mom still has a little work to do... but Tucker sure looks ready.

Santa's Lap

This week Tucker and I talked alot about Christmas. We sang Christmas songs and talked about sitting on Santa's lap. At the ward Christmas party on Thursday Tucker was so excited to see Santa. He told us what he wanted to ask Santa for and then we went to stand in line. Tucker was more than willing to go sit on Santa's lap, but at the last minute he froze and wouldn't say a word to Santa. He is really proud of himself, however, because other children were crying... he has been telling me ever since that some kids cried when they saw Santa but Tucker didn't cry, "Tucker not scared Santa".

Tucker got right up on Santa's lap and pointed to the box with the goodie bags. 

Kimber wasn't as excited to see Santa.

December 1st-5th

This Week:

Dusty went back to school after having a week off for thanksgiving.

We put up the Christmas decorations

Tucker helped out around the house. He also gave his rocking horse a hair cut when no one was looking.

Kimber lounged around the house. She had a check up on Thursday. She now weighs 6 pounds and 10 ounces and she has grown 2 inches!

Mom and Tucker made cookies

Tucker loves his sister. Sometimes she needs protecting from all of his cuddles. Love my family and Loving life. Hope everyone else had a good week.

Baby Shower

The ladies at work threw me a baby shower on Wednesday. I really love everyone I work with, everyone seems to get along really well. Kimber got some new clothes (which she'll have to grow into), some cute blankets and a high chair. It was nice to get out of the house and talk with everyone. 

As soon as we got home Dusty and Tucker set to work assembling the high chair. Dusty loves a project and this was just too tempting to pass up apparently. Tucker has claimed the high chair as his own for now, which is ok because Kimber probably wont be using it too soon.

Kim wrote her card on a napkin from the room. I think Nurses probably do more writing on napkins than paper. SMILE

Clothes for Kimber 0-3 months... it doesn't feel like she will ever be that big.

Alyssa, Katie and Kim. Alyssa was Kimber's nurse, Katie (my boss started my IV), and Kim was my nurse (she's pretty pumped that we named our little girl KIMber)

Kimber slept the whole time

Dusty and Tucker didn't waste any time getting the high chair put together

Tucker leaning off of the chair to yell at me to stop taking pictures

Grandma and Grandpa Orr

Grandma and Grandpa Orr came up for Thanksgiving and stayed until Monday. They stayed at the Holiday Inn which meant free swimming EVERY NIGHT! Tucker really loved that. Tucker even stayed at the hotel with Grandma and Grandpa for a sleep over... and from what Grandma said they had lots of fun. 

Grandma loved holding Kimber.

Grandma and Tucker helped me around the house.

We took a trip up to Spokane and stopped at Cabella's to see all of the "stuffed animals." The boys found a an elk hunting game... Tucker thought that was really something. Dusty is planning to stop there on our way down South so Tucker can play the game again.

Tucker didn't fully grasp the concept of the game... so Grandpa aimed and Tucker pulled the trigger. Tucker can get so serious sometimes... note the concentration on his face.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great this year. Grandpa Clark, Torie, Grandpa Orr and Grandma Orr were all up for the feast. I learned something about myself this Thanksgiving: 1) I am a little bit of and over-achiever (which had me stressing) and 2) I'm a little bit of a control freak... interesting.. who knew? I was planning to take a lot of short cuts this Thanksgiving to make it easier on myself... but I just couldn't bring myself to do it (I did however use stovetop stuffing... gasp!). And again my poor husband was left to talk me back to sanity as I stressed out the night before... poor Dusty gets stuck with that job a lot. As usual the stress wasn't needed... because everything went pretty well... I hope.

The Thanksgiving spread, buffet style because our table was too small.

HEY a picture with me in it!

Grandpa Clark and Tordie

Tucker was So exited to see Grandpa Clark, I think Kimber was too, but she's hard to read.

Torie and Kimber (yup, somewhere in that ball of blankets is a little girl.)

Tucker really enjoyed playing with Aunt Torie... he called her "Tordie."

 

Grandpa Demonstrating his roping technique. Tucker was so exited to be roped, he would hide in the bucking shoots and say "outside," then come bucking out of the shoot to be roped. Tucker would run right back to the shoot for another go before Grandpa could recoil the rope, so when Tucker would say "outside" Grandpa was unprepared. Tucker would run and then tell Grandpa he had "missed." 

Tucker practicing his roping technique. He still needs a little work at it, his technique involved throwing the rope down and waiting patiently for the unsuspecting prey to walk into the loop.

Sorry about the blur. Video on my camera doesn't focus well

Grandpa brought with him a BIG red barn, which now lives in the living room. Tucker loves playing with the barn and showing it off to his friends. So far both Dresden and Max have been quite impressed with barn. Tucker plays with the barn everyday, and as far as I can tell... all of the animals sleep in stalls and Tucker sleeps in the loft... my job is to shut the lid.

Kaylie sent up our green baby chair with Dave. Not sure what it is called but it helps babies learn to sit by themselves I guess. Anyway, Tucker immediately started calling is a saddle, and if you look it even has a saddle horn! Tucker insisted Torie help saddle his horse. Good thing Torie was there because I have no idea how to saddle a horse. Note the saddle blanket, saddle, breast collar and the other strap that goes around the middle. Thanks Tordie.

We are really looking forward to coming down for Christmas!!!

Pictures of Kimber at Gritman

The nurses at Gritman always take pictures of the babies to post to the Gritman website, they also give a CD of the pictures they take to the parents. They were nice enough to take lots of pictures of Kimber for me. She is a beautiful little girl.

Tucker and Kimber

Tucker loves being a big brother and taking care of Kimber

Tucker is so good to Kimber. 

The only thing cuter that a sleeping child is two sleeping children. Tucker and Kimber fell asleep on the couch together shortly after Grandma Val left. 

Grandma Val

Grandma Val came up to visit us this past week. It was really nice to have her here to help with Tucker and keep me company while Dusty finished up this week of school. I really appreciated the yummy meals she made for us, particularly the Wackadoo Chicken (partially because it was really good and partially because I really like the name!) Tucker really enjoyed playing with "Bam Val" and I can see why... she knows just how to play with and entertain a: "farmer, cowboy, wrestler and relentlessly active little boy." - just a guess but I think she may have had some practice previously. Thanks for coming to see us "Bam Val" come anytime.

Grandma Val Holding Kimber at the hospital

Grandma made us a DOUBLE batch of cookies!!!... Tucker helped

Grandma Val and the Grandkids

Grandma Val demonstrating her skill in roping bulls.

Playing with Tucker