Merry Christmas 37 days later

Here is my long overdue post on Christmas.  We had plans for some family to come and visit, but they got sick and we have a newborn-so we ended up celebrating our favorite holiday with just our family at home.  It was spectacular.  The boys are so fun and love Christmas, so we had a ball.  We had a great Christmas Eve program with Adam and Elana's family that focused on the Savior.  It was wonderful.  Then we put the monkeys to bed.  Then I got busy helping Santa and Keith got to work on my present (he painted our room yellow for my Christmas gift).

All of the boys loved Santa this year, except for a little 2 year old who shall remain nameless.

Mack had the most adorable Santa Claus outfit that I may or may not have let him wear to church.

The older boys sleeping together on Christmas Eve.  They really wanted Mack to join them.

But I wouldn't allow it.

Soon after the littles were sleeping, Santa delivered this beauty.  Funny side note:  today I got  one of those sweet sheets of paper at the pediatrician's office that lets you know how to take care of your child.  One of the papers said, "don't let your children ride on an atv."  How about drive one?  Or be pulled behind one?  Hahahaha.

My tree really struggled this year.  We will be getting a new one next year for sure.

Santa really enjoyed those treats.  Mrs. Claus did too.

We always get cereal with our stockings.  Also books.  And McDonalds gift cards.  And oranges/apples.  And toothbrushes.  And lots of other good stuff.  Keith and I also fill each other's stockings.  It's a fun little tradition.

Benson and Griffin got new bedding and a sick wall sticker of the BYU stadium.  That's what you get when Santa owns a  sign business.

The kids got a roller coaster too.  We are all about safety around here.

And here they are getting started on Christmas morning.  They all slept until 7:30 or so.  Side note: Feed Griffin breakfast next year before opening gifts.

Unwrapping the roller coaster which has provided us with lots of entertainment.

That's a lot of kids.  Sitting in my newly painted room.

Opening cool presents from Grandma.

Leo's favorite present.

Holy mess batman.

We had a very snowy Christmas eve and Christmas day.  It was so fun.

Those boys have a fun dad.  Sweet Grinch pants Keith.

Griffin was and still is pretty terrified of the 4 wheeler.

I got a tri-pod for my iPhone for Christmas.  Here we are testing it out.

The feet of Mack's Christmas jammies.

Leo sleeping at lunch.  In his high chair.  Too much playing I guess.

Having way too much fun in the snow!

We had a great Christmas and feel so blessed.  I am certain my kids would have been happy to  get anything from Santa and are so sweet and grateful for their presents.  We have had lots of fun with their toys since then.  Keith and I even rode the little 4 wheeler for date night once.  Haha.

We hope you had a Merry Christmas too!

A little about Macky Moo

Our little Mack Lee is just over two months old now.  Although I am sad that his tiny tiny newborn days are over, I am enjoying having my sleep back.  He started sleeping through the night and is such a smiley little guy.  He is a 100% mamma's boy and I love it.  He giggles and grins like crazy if you pay any attention to him.  His favorite spot is my elbow hook/nook (is that what you call it?).  We recently took him (and all of the kiddos) on a little road trip to Boise.  He didn't make a peep the whole way there or back.  What a stud.  He is a pretty calm little guy, but definitely prefers to be held and snuggled.  He has a pretty loud intense cry-I think he got that on purpose, so that I can hear him crying when all the other kids are making noise.  Let's be honest, my house is pretty loud.  All of the kids love him and we all call him Macky Moo pretty consistently (or Leo, we can never remember which kid is who).  He had his two month check-up today and he weighs 11 lbs. 7 oz and is just over 22 inches long.  Still just a little tike.

If I could use one word to describe my feelings for him, it would be OBSESSED!  I just love him and feel so happy to have him in our family and out of my belly.  Yay for Baby Mack!

Just hanging out in his favorite spot.

If I had to choose a child that he looks like, I would say Griffin.  But I still think he has his own look and is a good combo of all the other boys.

How precious is that grin?  I pretty much stare at him all day and make a lot of ridiculous noises/faces so that I can look at that smile.

I wish I had a recording of Leo saying "MACKY MOO" in his sweet little voice.

And his eyelashes are longer than mine, so that's cool.  Love you Mack Lee.

He is five.

Dearest Griffin,

On January 13, 2013, you turned five.  For some reason, I never ever think you will grow up.  I expect your older brother to get older, but not you and every year I get a shock when your birthday comes.  If I could describe you in one word, it would be intense.  Everything you do, you do with intensity.  You hug with your teeth grit and eyes tight shut.  You clean like a whirlwind and mess up like a hurricane.  You play video games as close to the television as possible and bounce and jump as if you were in the game yourself.  When you sit by me, you try your darndest to put as much weight on me as possible.  You wiggle like crazy when it is time for bed and while I read you a bedtime story.  When washing yourself in the tub, you scrub intensely and like to stay in until the water is frigid.  It takes you at least 100 years to get dressed or get your shoes on or buckle in the car.  You love to test my patience.  You are scared to sleep alone and snuggle your brother Benson every night.  You forgive instantly.  When you decide to be grumpy, it is difficult to convince you otherwise.  I would say your favorite person is Benson.  You will always choose to sit by me at church or a restaurant.  You love to wrestle Leo.  You like to pat Mack's belly as hard as you dare and squeeze his cheeks and tell him how much you love him.  Your dad parents you best.

This year you will start school.  You are so smart, I know you will do well.  You love to have "school" with mom and never complain.  I hope you will make good friends at school.  When Benson talks about his school friends you always say, "I can be their friend too.  I will just tell them my name is Griffin."

You still have a very LOUD and high-pitched voice.  You weigh 37.4 pounds.  You are built like a rock, like a Jenkins, like your dad.  Your eyelashes are the longest I have ever seen.  It is nearly impossible to get a picture of you where you are looking at the camera or that isn't blurry.  You tell me every week before church that you hate church and come home every week and tell me that you love church.  You are always so grateful for anything you get and you never expect anything.  You love food.  All food. except for anything minty.  You eat every meal as if you have never eaten before.  For your birthday, you wanted to go to Olive Garden and have your very own chocolate cake, and you almost ate it all.  You love to eat noodles and almost always request two bowls of cereal in the morning.

I am so glad you are in our family.  You bring so much intensity and I love it.  I love you Griffin Bishop.  Your name is so noble-you have so much to live up to and I don't doubt that you will.

Happy Birthday bubba!

Love,
Mom

Update!

1.  Keith and I started bootcamp.  We are so sore that we want to die.  Like can't kneel down to pray sore. Let's hope it is worth it.  We loved spending Christmas at home with just our boys and we threw an awesome New Year's party that ended at about 10:30 because we are old and cool like that.

We are in the middle of finally decorating our Master Bedroom.  Keith has painted it and put up new curtains.  We are searching for a bedspread/headboard/nightstands.  It is terrible.  I hate making decisions like that.  Also, Keith got himself a ridiculously large television for Christmas.

Boy #1  Benson's front tooth came out.  He also recently had some awesome dental work done and was a total trooper-the dentist is the worst right?  The kid didn't even flinch.  He got a 4-wheeler for Christmas and loves it.  And he is a rocking helper-well as helpful as a boy can be.  He loves kindergarten and telling really awful jokes.

Boy #2  Griffin is the baby whisperer, he is constantly kissing Mack and beating up Leo.  If it were up to him, he would play video games (aka Star Wars) all day.  He says the longest prayers ever, they are so sincere and thorough.  Also, this boy is cavity free!

Boy #3  Leo is the cutest kid ever, seriously.  Keith and I say constantly that there has never been a more adorable child.  He is hilarious.  He talks nonstop.  He loves to drink milk and hates eating anything with any nutritional value.  He had a rough few weeks after Mack was born but is adjusting well now.  He asks to do his peeps in the potty, but mostly just because it's fun.  He calls Mack, Macky Moo or Paisey in a really high pitched voice.  He loved Christmas and singing Jingle Bells.  He is still ball obsessed.

 He fell asleep in his high chair on Christmas.

Boy #4  We love our little Macky Moo.  I never want to put him down and I pretty much don't.  He has started smiling and has slept through the night a few times. If he wakes up, it is only once and generally around 4 am.  He loves to eat and loves his mom.  :)  He melts all of our hearts.  He had a fussy week or two, but seems to be doing much better now.  Keith gave him a beautiful blessing on Sunday. He blessed him with a tender heart (he does have a tender little spirit) and to be a good man and priesthood holder and learn from his brothers and their different personalities.  He is putting on some good weight and if he is awake-he is smiling.  We love our little sweet boy.

Four kids is just plain crazy.  Crazy good.  

We are so blessed.