It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Okay, I realize none of the photos from my last post that came from Micah's phone worked. I shall now resume busting out my archaic single-use camera so I can dependably have content to post.

I took the girls to Disney twice by myself and once with Micah in the last month, since we've got black-out dates over the holidays. Micah's not sure about renewing our passes next year. To that, I say: Look at this happiness.

We took photos for the holidays. I'm mailing the final shot out for Christmas cards, but here are a few of my favorite rejects:

Natalie does not do natural-looking smiles on demand. Angela kept picking her nose and eating it.

Sammy was pretty sure he was invited out back to chase the chickens

Several poses into the photoshoot, Micah begins to look a bit irked. 

Angela wants a turn to hold the dog.

Why?! Why would you stick your tongue out when we say "smile"?!

Now Angela wants a turn holding the chicken. Just... no

I saw a cute pattern online to turn old button-up shirts into a tunic-dress for little girls. Then I was like- hey, I'm lazy. Why don't I just roll up the sleeves and my child can wear the shirt as is?

It is hard to capture this girl's cuteness these days. Mostly because she doesn't sit still.

The girls had a great time getting the Christmas supplies out. I'll have to photograph our tree and outdoor lights this year. The process went a lot smoother thanks to the ladder from the Agles- Micah didn't have to climb the roof and precariously dangle over the dormer windows to put up lights this year!

Natalie enjoyed making gingerbread houses so much, she keeps asking if we can do them again. 

Angela didn't really get it. But thoroughly enjoyed sitting and eating all the candy. 

 Our easter egger Blondie is finally done molting and has returned to laying, just in time for our Rhode Island Red to slow down. She still lays, but her eggs are smaller, lighter in color and less frequent. We had some hiccups getting companions for our small white chick. We were able to get one from the same seller that was around the same age but she only lasted a week before dying inexplicably- likely from a pre-existing illness or because she was just a sickly runt. But it worked out because the day she died we found a local family selling some interesting breeds and we ended up scoring some pretty awesome new birds- 3 or them- a dominique (white and black striped with a rose comb), an australorp, (black iridescent feathers, Australian breed that lays well in the heat) and a Welsummer (brown bird that lays dark, dark chocolate-brown eggs). They won't be laying for another 2 months or so, but we've already integrated them with our older birds and are letting them free range and they all seem to be doing great.

It's citrus season! Our grapefruit tree drops another fruit every few days and a friend from church gave me a giant bucket of key limes to juice. This time next year, I hope to have enough excess eggs to make some yummy citrus curd! 

Lots more that I could share, but no time- it's been a fun season of doing stuff together and enjoying festive activities and kids hanging on me, wanting continuous, undivided attention.