December (Christmas time) 2016 & 2017

Since we are in December I have been reminiscing over the past. In particular the Christmas time and the traditions we hold. Knowing that Mitchel will most likely start to shift what his Christmas will look like, I find myself thinking of what is important and how to keep a lot of the traditions alive as our family shifts and expands.
Then I remembered that I haven't really kept up with the last two years, so I thought I would throw some of the highlights from 2016 and 2017 December and Christmas activities....

 December 2016

We were thrilled to spend another Christmas at home! This year August had picked out the tree and it was a tiny little thing. Unlike the year before we did not have to cut a ton off.

Mitchel got a drum that he can sit on and play...

August got a bike...

We just had to play our new game right away...

It was a big hit.

A common fixture around the house at that time...I was about to start GRAD SCHOOL in January, so cloth diapers were done. (Brent refused to use them)

Although these pictures are all jumbled around here, they do capture what this December time is like. A whirlwind of family, snow, and fun.

One of the days we decided to go on a walk in the neighborhood. Brent tucked Emmett in his coat and zipped him up. The rest of us donned our snow gear and we walked to a small burger place in town and got hot cocoa.

One of the days we drove up to Washington to visit our family friends. We stayed a couple days and enjoyed a fun filled visit...

One of our traditions, the Bennett Christmas gathering. This year we had gone to Carleen's new apartment. I didn't take too many pictures, probably because I tend to want to be more present and get pretty involved in the games and especially the karaoke.

We also went a few hikes while in town. Fresh Sherwood air...

Another festivity, our annual Olson/Baertlein Christmas gathering...

Then we move to December 2017

  We got a more normal sized tree last year. Again, August was the one to pick it out.
We set up for Christmas and then headed to Portland for our family get-togethers...

 

This year Carleen hosted again, but in her new house. It was a lot of fun spending the day snacking and playing games. Although there was a very long game of phase ten that almost consumed our night...

Got some awesome PJ's

Karaoke time again

WE went to Jay's house, but it was quite a slick and scary drive over. I went and picked up Annette and took her over to Jays. After scaling Jay's lawn to get to his house we decided it would be best to probably head home instead of staying. It was snowing all the way from Portland to our house. My Dad was accompanying me over the mountain and he was spending Christmas Day with us. We had to stop and put on chains...obviously Brayden was a huge help.

And that was our last two Christmas experiences. Roughly.

SIDE NOTE: From 01/2018
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Dear future me,

One day you will look back and laugh at yourself I'm sure, but for now I know you feel disappointed. Don't be. I know you thought that having a fourth baby would be a piece of cake and keeping up with school, house, family, and blogging (yes even the documenting of the family stuff) would be easy. For all intents and purposes it has been. You have done a great job balancing 4 boys, 6 schedules, starting grad school, and keeping up with housework and family nutrition goals. Give yourself a pat on the back. Don't worry about retracing the last several months trying to remember every subtle cute detail you wanted...(that's why you have the baby books as back up). Take a breath and take it all in. One day it will be you and Brent on a quiet piece of land watching the sunset uninterrupted and be looking back over your blogs and photo albums, and it WILL have all been worth it!  Keep up the good work Mama!

Smooches,
Present you
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So...the last few months have gotten away from me. I know we've had several little and big family trips, holidays and some birthdays in there. It has been amazing.
Some days I have wanted to bury my head in the sand and not exist...but other days I have OWNED IT!!

Halloween was pretty low key. We dressed up and watched Halloween movies with our grandmas and grandpa. August was so excited to pass out candy. Poor Emmett did not really get to go out and strut his Halloween stuff, but there will be plenty of time for that in the future.

Thanksgiving was awesome. I decided with the baby I really wanted to stay home this year and all of my family decided to come out. It was great to be hosting and having extended guests! All the boys had so much fun with their cousins and Emmett got tons of love. The food wasn't too bad either.

Christmas took some fancy maneuvering this year, but like always we made it work. The boys and I headed up to Portland a week early to spend time with Grandpa and our aunts and uncles. Brent only came up for Christmas Eve. Then we all headed home together and were able to have our second magical Christmas morning at home!

New Years was a little bit more down to earth. We had company and made a fancy nacho bar! The kids played and ruled the house. Our company left around early and Brent, the boys and I rang in the New Year falling asleep and cuddling. (Except for Mitch who went to a party at his friends house)

Then Grad school started and I have been non-stop reading, writing, and shuffling schedules around once more! Yay life...