Christmas 2012

The day before Christmas Eve, we got together with family and Aunt Jennifer got to hold Rachel for the first time!

It was fun seeing how big Baby James was getting, too!

Christmas Eve, Nathan and Luke made some more cookies.  :)

And we filled the stockings before bed.  I finally got Rachel's done!

Christmas morning, we opened stockings.  The kids were all in their Christmas pajamas - Rachel's really into it.  :P

Sleeping through the festivities as we opened presents from under our tree.

The boys each got each other a large car in that boy's favorite color - they loved them!

Opening stockings at Grandma Hughes' house.

Rachel's stocking gifts - I love the pink!  (Rachel's really excited about it, too - can you tell?)  :P

After we were home again from the Hughes Christmas, we let the boys open their last present - a fish tank!

Rachel in her stocking!  She's such a tiny thing at 3 weeks old.  Jonathan was much bigger at 3 months when I put him in his stocking for a picture.

We went to Scooter's Jungle the day after Christmas, a group gift, like the year before.  We took Jonathan on the slide - he wasn't too excited about it.

Our boys playing air hockey.  They had stools there to stand on for the shorter crowd - very helpful!

We even took Rachel down the slide!  She wasn't too impressed.  :P

Playing with Jonathan's new train track.

We went bowling with all the Hughes family.

Aunt Jennifer giving Rachel one of her supplemental bottles.

We got some fish for our new tank!  The first inhabitants: Finn, Duncan and Sally - one for each kid!

And, after over 4 years of stitching, I finally finished Superman!  We had it framed nicely and gave it to Brian at our SCV Creative Christmas dinner.  Such a satisfying relief to have it done!

Family Time

The night after my parents flew back to Oregon, I went to a Christmas candy making party and brought Rachel along - girls' night!  Aunt Sandra got to hold her for the first time.

My blue-eyed boy - little and big at the same time!

Rachel's two week appointment.  She still wasn't gaining weight like she should have, so I was told to supplement her with formula.  My mommy's heart broke at that, but we wanted to keep her healthy.  After her tongue-tie was clipped and she started gaining weight better, I eventually was able to supplement her with bottles of my milk, then not need the supplements at all.  Praise the Lord!

Enjoying our girl, awake and alert, in the dark, winter evening.  Happy two weeks old, Rachel!

Oooh!

Aunt Jessica holding Rachel for the first time.

A trip to Babies'R'Us isn't complete without a sit in the Elmo car!

Happy boy!

Oldest and youngest - love them both so much!  Luke continues to be a very sweet big brother.

Buddies on the couch in Broncos blankets.

Maloney Visit

Waiting for Grandma Maloney and Aunt Jennifer to get here from the airport for their visit!

Aunt Jennifer gets to hold Rachel first.

Now it's Grandma's turn to hold her namesake for the first time.

All three kids in/on the shopping cart.  :)

Mommy's little Love Bug!

Aunt Jennifer and Grandma made some easy Christmas cookies with Luke so we could still have Christmas goodies even though I wasn't ready to do a lot yet.

We hung up our stockings!  Rachel's wasn't made yet, so our mantle still had just four stockings.

My little sweetie.

She looks so tiny!

Very interested in looking at Jonathan.  :)

Grandma & Luke mixing up some peanut butter blossom cookie dough.

I helped roll them, dip them in sugar & top them with kisses, since that was easy to do sitting down.  Standing activities still wore me out pretty quickly.

Joanna brought us a meal one night.  I think this is the time she told us her news that she was pregnant again with baby number 4!

My dad joined the Maloney visit for a couple days, and enjoyed meeting his newest grandbaby.

During Rachel's first Hughes family dinner, we celebrated Sophia's 6th birthday.

More baby holding - this time with her eyes open.

Modeling the new hat Grandma Maloney made for her to wear when we walk to drop off Luke at school on chilly mornings.

Luke & Jonathan enjoying Grandpa time!

A fierce game of Battleship.

Multi-tasking.

An early "Christmas morning" present opening with my family.

Sleeping through the festivities.

Our family Christmas card picture.

Grandpa & Grandma with all the grandkids.

Aunt Jennifer with her niece & nephews.

The solo picture of Rachel we used on our Christmas card / baby announcement.

Snuggling with Grandpa.  The boys have pictures like this with Grandpa also:

Luke

Jonathan