Christmas Card 2014

Two of my favorite Christmas movies are "A Christmas Story" and "Elf".

So, without further adieu, here is our Christmas greeting to you:

I hope the family photo is self-explanatory in reference to the first mentioned classic film.  The following quotes from Buddy the Elf describe well our family members this year.  

"I'm sorry I ruined your lives and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR."

Oh Henry!  The life ruining part does not apply at all, but the cookie smashing is fitting for our sweet tolddler.  Give him a granola bar, and it will be smashed and found in sticky little pieces all over himself and the house!  He is helpful and sweet and learning new words, such as "No!" and "Don't!" and "Mine!".  We just can't get enough of this little guy!

"We'll make snow angels for 2 hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle!"

"We Elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."

Both quotes fit our Avery to a T!  She is five and busy and strong and physical!  She knows what she wants and will make it known, and it's usually sugar or snuggles that she wants. =) This year she is enjoying our preschool co-op with 3 of her sweet friends.  She is also dabbling in an Angelina Ballerina tap/ballet class as well as swim lessons.  I noticed she spent most of her last lesson trying to have a splash war with her teacher.  We love this girl lots!

"Buddy the Elf what's your favorite color?"

Tate turned seven in October and is one social and curious dude.  He loves anything with friends, geography, and will ask no less than 127 questions per day, at least half of those questions pertaining to geography.  He is a sweet big brother and son and we love this kid tons!

"So good news. I saw a dog today."

I just had to throw that one in there because it's my favorite.

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"

That's me (Shelly).  I sing and celebrate and decorate and enjoy cheesiness.  I also keep busy by chasing the 3 rascals, serving at church, and subbing in the schools when Eric has weekdays off.  

"I just like to smile.  Smiling's my favorite."

Eric is the nicest man ever.  That's why I married him and he hasn't changed!  He's a hard-working dad who loves his family and sports talk radio.

We hope that you all have a marvelous holiday season with much focus on the reason for the season.  I believe in Christ and am so thankful for His Gospel in our lives.  I am also grateful for all the blessings in my life of family and friends and their love and support and great examples always.

Happy Holidays!

with much love,

the Hibberts

p.s. Here are some fun pictures of the boys, and evidence that Avery is a sugar-fiend.

Focused

Gingerbread house construction was a 3 day process here this week.  When the dough was shaped, baked, and "glued" in place, these kids were ready to finally get their fingers into the candy!  I love it when they are this focused on a task.

Sunriver Thanksgiving 2015

Mom and dad rented a home for a family get-together in Sunriver last weekend, just before Thanksgiving.  Everybody except for Trav's family came and enjoyed the beautiful scenery as we hunkered down in the heated indoors.  Some people braved the weather to get out to sled, hike, run around the playground, swim, and go tubing.  The cousins had a fabulous time playing together, and we all got a kick out of watching the 3 babies pal follow each other around the place.  They especially liked the big table.  Ian wore his Iron Man costume non-stop, and I hear he even slept with it by his side.  Luke got to pull the lever and push the button on the garbage truck! As always, it's nice to spend time with the family. 

Holiday PJ's

It's November 17th and I could hold out no more!  So, I pulled out the discounted adorable pajamas I bought and wrapped for the kids a month ago and let them rip it open.  There are few things more adorable and festive than little children in matching Christmas pj's.  This warms my heart =).

p.s. Grandma was so kind as to babysit the two older kids today while Eric and I drove Henry to Spokane to have his hernia inspected and surgery scheduled for next month up there at the Children's Hospital.  Grandma bought Avery this new doll and Henry has really taken to it.  I love that he's in a little doll stage and will grab a doll now and then to tote around wherever we go. 

p.p.s.  Since I brought up the hernia, I feel I should explain.  An infant, or toddler hernia is different than an adult one.  From what I understand, there's a small hole in there that usually shuts up by the one year old mark.  But some babies, like Henry, have a hole that doesn't shut on it's own and get larger, letting fluids and bowel in and out.  It doesn't seem to hurt him, but it does require surgery to stitch up.  

Who Needs A Dog?

Avery was previewing her outfit and accessories for an upcoming birthday Fancy Nancy tea party, when she noticed snow falling outside.  She exclaimed, "My pumpkin must be having so much fun!"  I had to document that crazy pumpkin having loads of fun.

This morning when Henry awoke, I decided to give him a lathering in lotion instead of his usual water bath because he has the same itchy dry skin that I enjoy during these winter months.  Anyway, I put him on our bed to let it soak in and he crawled to the foot of the bed and rested at the base there like our very own sweet puppy. =)

 

Haircut

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Henry had another haircut on Sunday.  He is 20 months old and looks so much more grown up with this little trim.  We can't get enough of this little fella.

Trick-or-Treat

We let Henry tag along with the kids as they trick-or-treated on Halloween night.  Our friend, Hayden, was also with the older kids.  I spent most of the time trying to get the perfect shot to go with the caption, "Why did the chicken cross the road?".  I didn't ever achieve the perfect picture, oh well.  I like the picture of Henry looking back at the cat that was following us.  He was pretty much darling and so happy to be running around with the big kids.  He made it up to some doors, but wasn't interested in candy.  If they would have been handing out pouches of baby food, then he would have been ALL over that.  The kids had lots of fun and ate lots of candy, which was all gone by November 1st.

Costumes 2014

Here's the kids before the school Harvest Festival.  Tate threw on a tiger costume, nice and easy.  Avery was a Barbie cheerleader, and Henry was the chicken.  Tate was a chicken, too, at one year old, and I don't think the chicken costume fit Avery when she was that age at Halloween time.