Preschool Christmas

Jax's preschool had a Christmas program last weekend and it was such a blast! Each class did a performance at a different time, so you could go just to see your kid's class. They also had the classrooms beautifully decorated and set up for different activities. There were multiple crafts, cookie decorating, hot chocolate, and even a band singing Christmas songs. 

Of course the best part was watching Jax's class sing a few songs. Getting a bunch of 3-year-olds to sing and do hand motions is something like herding cattle. It was ridiculously adorable. And made even better because Jax had a speaking line in it. 

"And this will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger"

Luke 2:12

 (No, she didn't actually have any... just in case you were judging me ;) )

Insta-Randoms

My heart is still so heavy for the lives lost in Connecticut. I am grieving for the mommies and daddies who will be without their babies this Christmas. I have been hugging my babies extra tight this week, reminding myself that although they may frustrate me, I praise God that they are still here with me. They can be called Home at any time and each day is a gift. 

I am thankful for this beautiful girl who is starting to sit up on her own... although she only lasts about 2 seconds. 

And this handsome boy who had a speaking line in his preschool Christmas program.

This was Lexi watching the football game in our hotel room at Disneyland.

She also helped us drive home ;)

And she's trying so hard to roll onto her tummy.

Ryan got a hand-me-down trampoline from a coworker and Jax is obsessed! 

PS-the helmet was because he was riding his bike... although it may not be a bad idea since the trampoline doesn't have a net

This sibling love is undeniable. It makes my heart so very happy!

Christmas goodie-making in full swing. Gingerbread men, fudge, and toffee. Nom nom!

There has also been lots of baby food making

Hey, beautiful girl!

Jax and his friend Aiden. I took them to our neighborhood park last week. This was the only time Jax was happy. He spent the rest of the time crying because because Aiden "wasn't letting him be the leader". My kid is bossy, y'all!

And this pretty thing wore her first real dress to church on Sunday. It's such a pain to put her in dresses since she's so little, but I have a few that I wanted to get at least one use out of. Her Christmas one is SO cute!

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies : Hey, that's Pin-tastic

Today I'm linking up with AP over at I Love You More Than Carrots.

It's an attempt to get all us Pinterest-y people to actually do some of the things we have pinned. I honestly feel like I'm pretty good at looking through my pins and doing some of them. Yesterday I made these Chocolate Peppermint Cookies and they are out-of-this-world yummy! I did a little recipe adjusting so mine are actually triple chocolate... because you really can't ever have too much!

First off, you must find these guys in the store... but ideally your husband will grab the "chips" version and not the whole, individually wrapped ones. 

And this is where I went crazy. I added white chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips to the recipe. I wanted more chocolate and a little less mint (but don't worry, there's still plenty of mint flavor)

The dough is VERY stiff, so you'll need to roll the cookies into balls and the flatten them with your hand. Make them pretty flat because they won't expand much. 

And VOILA... delicous pepperminty, chocolatey goodness.

I might have eaten three four within hours of making them. 

Here's the recipe...

1 1/2 sticks butter, softened

2/3 C sugar

2/3 C brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla 

2 1/2 C flour

1/2 C cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 C Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips

3/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 C white chocolate chips

Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined. Add dry ingredients and mix well. (My mixer was struggling by the end of this). Use a spoon or spatula to stir in chips. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop cookies, then roll into balls. Put on a cookie sheet then flatten well with the palm of your hand.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

5 months old

Lexi Nicole is 5 months old!

This month was fun because we took her to Disneyland for the first time. She rode most of the rides with us and even tasted some cotton candy (Don't judge ;) Although it was Ryan's doing, not mine...).

She's had a few tastes of other foods, but nothing consistent. She has had bananas, applesauce and butternut squash. She seemed to like all of them pretty well, she's just working on figuring out how to swallow them instead of pushing them back out. I'm planning on making some rice and oatmeal this week for her, so hopefully those go over well too!

Here are a few stats for the month...

-She wears 3-6 or 6 month clothes, although the 6 month clothes are still a little big

-She wears a size 2 diaper but it's getting pretty small

-She loves being in her exersaucer and has figured out how to move around in it a lot more

-She is so close to rolling from back to front, she just needs to get her arm out of the way

-She has also starting hiking up her legs when she's on her tummy... like she's attempting to crawl. What the what?!

-I finally transitioned her to her crib at night. She did great. It was much harder on me than it was on her. She's so far away now :(

I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of Christmas fun with my girl and then we have her 6 MONTH appointment in January. Where does the time go?!

Disneyland at Christmastime

Ready for a picture overload from The Happiest Place On Earth? Well here it is! We spent last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Disneyland and had the BEST time! Jax was in heaven because we were there with our Army friends from North Carolina, and he loves their 6-year-old daughter Taylor. And Lexi was on sensory overload the whole time with all of the amazing things to look at. Jax is about an inch short for the bigger rides, so we rode all the ones that didn't have height requirements (there are a TON), which meant that Lexi got to ride too. She loved all the lights and colors. Both kids did great the whole time and we all had so much fun!

Day one... matching shirts and smiles all around

Christmas Magic parade on Main Street

How beautiful is the castle?!

Day two... more matching shirts and more smiles. 

(This was the day that Lexi had TWO major blowouts, and I had only brought one extra outfit. Who would have thought I would need two? At least girlfriend got a new Disney outfit out of the ordeal. Hooray!)

Last time we were there, Jax wasn't big enough to drive these bumper cars in Bug Land. He was pretty happy he could do it this time!

Cars Land is amazing. It feels like you're walking through Radiator Springs!

This boy loves hair. Always has. He spent the whole trip playing with Taylor's hair. It was pretty cute... and just a tad creepy. 

Woody was super hyper and could hardly sit still for a picture. Jax thought it was hilarious. 

All of the Christmas decorations were beautiful.

4 adults and 6 kids made for a very busy, but fun time.

Our friends left early on the last day so we spent the afternoon and evening enjoying our little family of four. The last thing that was did was ride Small World. It was a great way to end our trip. The whole ride is retrofitted for Christmas and it's beautiful!

This boy walked all day for three days and didn't take any naps. We were very impressed! But at the end of each night he was ready to CRASH! He didn't even make it out of the park before he fell asleep in the stroller. 

We are already planning on taking him back, by himself, for his fifth birthday. It was something that my parents did with me because I was big enough to ride all of the rides, and I can't wait to do it with Jax as well!

Family Pictures

We did family pictures over Thanksgiving and I am in love with them. I wanted to have some for Christmas cards and to replace some frames around the house. They are the first nice pictures we have of our newly-established family of four. 

Here are some of the best ones...

We also did some extended family pictures....

Cousins

Ryan's side of the family

4 generations of Hansen men

 Stay tuned to see which ones made it on the Christmas card!