Life with the Bauers: December

By far, December is my favorite month of the year. So many activities, so many traditions, so many memories. Admittedly, our December started out a little rough...You have the adjustment of a new baby, lack of sleep, and everything else that goes along with that. Then Anniston was sick for 8 days with a fever that turned into pneumonia. Add to that Eiley doing a beautiful dance that landed her forehead into the fireplace and a first trip to the ER, add to that the busyness of the holiday season- extra school activities, parties, and coordinating the gifts. In the midst of it all, we did manage to find some joy and have some fun along the way!

Anniston at Jake's office getting checked out when she was sick. She looks like a teenager here.

Here we are waiting in the car for Anniston's prescription to be ready...and Ben is climbing around in the car and all of a sudden starts screaming..."AHHHHH I'm going to fall in sick bowl!!!!!" In the midst of having a very sick little girl and a newborn in the house, it was a welcomed comic relief.

Before and after stitches pictures. This girl is so incredibly brave and tough. When she fell, I was in the middle of nursing. I laid Livi on the floor and picked up my sweet girl. Jake and I jumped in the car with her and Rara saved the day by coming to watch the other three. We got to the ER and she had to get five stitches. She watched Donald Duck to keep her distracted...she cried a bit, but didn't fight or scream or anything when she had to get tied up or get her shot. I couldn't believe it. After it was all done, we headed to Braum's for some ice cream....ice cream makes everything better. Meanwhile Anniston was holding down the fort at home giving a bottle for the first time. It was a memorable night for sure.

She's a big sister now. Can't believe it.

In the midst of the craziness, we still have time for a little bit of art.

I got to sneak away and get a little date with Eiley one day. I love her so much.

They love her.

She loves Cinderella.

In this season, I always want to remember how incredible my friends were. They showed up big time. This is just one meal of several brought to me. A home made cake, home made salsa, home made cinnamon rolls and homemade creamer for breakfast, casserole, salad...it completely blew my mind. My friends showed up. They visited me at the hospital, offered to do my grocery shopping, bring me meals, threw a sip and see for friends to meet Livi and bring gifts and words and scriptures for her, brought me coffee when I was having a hard day, I could go on and on. I am so incredibly grateful for the way they rallied around me this first month.

At Anniston's school, they have a bear called "Hug a Bear" that gets to come home with you and participate in all of your activities with you for a weekend. It's a big deal. This is Hug a Bear doing advent, painting, and getting medicine since Anniston was still taking her antibiotic. I think he had a fun weekend.

Making cookies.

Love this girl. Healing up good.

Fun with Gigi. The kids always look forward to the day Gigi comes.

One of my favorite things about December is getting my Christmas "She Reads Truth" book. It has scripture throughout the month, but it also has recipes, crafts, and beautiful artwork. I love picking it up every day and I love the way it prepares my heart for Christmas. I look forward to this splurge that I buy myself every year!

This is a picture of my first trip to Target with all four kids. I looked ridiculous. Eiley was wearing a 4th of July outfit with no coat and it was freezing outside, she also had sucker all over her face and stitches in her head. As I was getting the kids out of the car, someone drove by and yelled "you've got your hands full"...which was clear. In the end, we were successful...I made it out with all four kids and what I came for, which was candy...for myself.

Sweet babe. Nobody is going to accuse me of not taking pictures of my 4th born. :)

The kids always love their Christmas Gingerbread party. They get to sit on Santa's lap, they get to open their stockings with gifts from all of their friends, and of course get to eat some yummy treats.

One of our very favorite Christmas traditions is getting to do Polar Express. We hide a golden ticket, and then we wake the kids up after they've gone to sleep, take them to Lolli and Champ's house where we eat lots of treats, watch Polar Express, and wait for the "train" to arrive. The train is a trailer with hay and Christmas lights on it pulled by a car. Josh is the conductor and he's awesome. Then we ride along and sing Christmas carols. Love this so so much.

Making treats with my favorite little guy.

Christmas jammers and cartoons in Mom and Dad's bed.

Popcorn and hot chocolate and a movie.

Buddies.

Clearly, December is FULL of traditions. One of them is Gingerbread house making with Rara. I love this. We get a date, and the kids and Rara get some fun memories.

Sleepy dude.

Getting every last drop.

Dad and his babe.

Advent one night.

Christmas Eve morning...it all started with some Christmas pancakes, that the kids clearly helped with.

That evening we went to our Christmas Eve service at church. Livi Bea got to wear her "Liv" dress as I call it...a dear dear friend gave it to us. When she had her last baby, she had a boy. If it would have been a girl, she would have named her "Liv". This was the outfit that she bought for her girl that didn't come...so she handed it down to our Liv. It feels very special to me. I love it so very much.

After church, we started our other Christmas Eve festivities. First, we let them pick out a toy from the attic. Last Spring, in an effort to improve the kids ability to clean up, we removed all toys from the house and put them in the attic...so for a Christmas treat we let them climb up one at a time and pick something out.