Life with the Leonard’s: December 2013

First Snow of Winter 2013, COLD, and Getting our Christmas Tree...

We got our first snow of the winter on December 2nd. It was about 2-3 inches and beautiful! Then the weather turned bitter cold with highs in the single digits a few days and lows below zero with wind chill. It was beautiful but way too cold to play outside. The day went to get our Christmas tree it was a whopping 11 degrees. I bundled everyone up, went to Klickers and picked out the 2nd tree we looked at. Then to McDonald's for lunch to warm up and home to decorate. While we were decorating LeAnne kept tell me how much she loved me and how this was the best day EVER. Christmas with kids in the house is so magical. This year our tree is the bomb. John got an actual working tree train. The track is mounted on the tree and the train actually goes around. LOVE it!! Christian is having a lot of fun pulling up on the cage we have around the tree and looking at the lights. He gets the hugest grin on his face and bounces up and down. It's adorable! LeAnne has been a SUPER big sister when it comes to helping with Christian and the tree.

Christmas Kick off, Santa and Sugar Plum Elf

The day after Thanksgiving Grandma Marcia, LeAnne, Christian and I went to check out Christmas kick off in our little town. We looked in some shops, enjoyed some music, popcorn and went to see Santa. All was going well for both kids to have their picture taken with Santa but as we waiting in line Christian pulled LeAnne's hair and she had a major meltdown. There was no consoling for convincing her to have her picture taken with Santa so just Christian had his picture taken with Santa. He looked so adorable in his little Santa suit and he got his first taste of candy cane.

December 1st Santa sent LeAnne a scout elf to keep an eye on her during the Christmas season. LeAnne named her else Sugar Plum Elf. She watches LeAnne all day long then flies back to the North Pole at night to report to Santa how she is behaving. Then every night she flies back and hides in a new location.

Sugar plum Elf taking a Marshmallow bath

First Santa picture & Candy Cane

LeAnne and Sugar Plum in the light

Thanksgiving and Christian's 7 months pix

We spent this Thanksgiving at my mom's neighbors house Glenda/Tom with mom. It was a lot of fun and so amazing to see how well Tom is doing. He collapsed into his wife's arms on October 11th and died. She did CPR, thought for sure he was gone, was flown to hospital in Spokane where it was discovered that he has Sudden Infant Death Syndrome but the adult type. The doctors were amazed at his recovery. They credit his wife doing CPR that he was still alive. Most people they see with this condition don't live or are vegetables. Many tests were done and doctors flew n from all over the country to talk with him. A pace maker was put in and he came home a month after he went into the hospital. A real miracle for sure! Praise God!!

Earlier in November Grammy Sally and Grampy Ron came up for a visit. It's always great to see them. LeAnne had so much fun playing with Grammy and I was shocked that this visit Ron actually held Christian.

Christian is now commando crawling very quickly and starting to put his knees up to crawl, He is the happiest kid, he is sitting up much better, has found his voice and is such a content baby.

LeAnne got an award from school for running laps, and excellence in reading and math! I met with her teacher for her first conference the beginning of November. We are on her way to the conference and she asks me why we are going to see her teacher. I explain she wants to tell me how you are doing in school and your behavior. She gets really quiet and then says "I punched a kid the other day". OMG it was so funny but then I was like WHAT why did I not hear about this. She said Mrs. Wamble took care of it. The conference went great. She is doing well in all her academics and doing better socially and emotionally. I told her teacher about our conversation on the way there and she said yes that did happen and we handled it. Her only low scores on her report card were socially, getting along with others,and respecting others. Her teacher said she is doing better, less emotional breakdowns and they will continue to work on social skills. I am so happy we kept her in Kindergarten another year. She is doing first grade reading int he first grade classroom so I met with that teacher later that week. She is doing well, told me she is a sight reader and gave me some worksheets to work with her on sounding out words skills. I am very proud of our girl!

Tasting his first cookie

Eating Blueberries for first time

Hat day

Loves to hear sister read

From Cloth diapers to Sibling memories and anything I else I can think of...

I got a bit behind on our family blog so I am going through photos and a downloaded copy of my Facebook status to try to capture some family memories. In May 2013 I ordered 3 custom made embroidered diapers for Christian from Sweet Southern Bums and after waiting what seemed like forever I finally got his diapers the beginning of October. They're adorable! See pix below. In the meantime upon John's request I ordered a custom made WSU cougars diaper from Click-a-doo-dipes located in Spokane. She was excellent to work with and quick. I was so happy with how the diaper turned out I decided instead of waiting to get back on the wait list for Sweet Southern Bums I would ask her to make me a custom Police Officer diaper using one of John's old shirts and badges. She was amazing to work with and the end result is AWESOME!!! John was so happy with it he was showing guys at work pictures of the diaper and I loved seeing the smile on his face. :-)

Precious kiddos

Daddy and his kids having fun

Love these overalls

WSU Cougars diaper I had custom made

Daddy & Jr Officer Leonard

Fire safety

I had these diapers custom made

Learning to sit up

LeAnne's 6th birthday

Here I am again to update what's happening with our family. LeAnne turned 6 on October 11th. I made her favorite dinner, Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. Then we had cake and ice cream with JoAnna, Aunt Katie and Jakobi followed by gifts. She got to open her gifts from Daddy & I, JoAnna and Grandpa Larry. She got a new doll house, a Barbie Car with a Barbie & Ken, a recorder which she loves, and some cute dolls. She got spoiled once again, so many new toys she didn't know what to play with first.

The next day we went to Jumping Jellybeanz for her party with family and friends! She had a blast playing with her cousin Jakobi, a few friends from Dixie and one new friend from Dayton. It was so cool that her teacher from Dixie, Mrs. Pickel came. She is the nicest person.

It was another awesome birthday! I can't believe our little girl is now 6 years old. She is growing up way too fast. I love her so very much!!