SNOW!

It CAME! I'm sure it will be gone for Christmas but the damp spring weather was not the Christmas-y stuff we were looking for, but it finally snowed a little and we enjoyed some playtime outside and some warm hot chocolate afterwards ... It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

 her "Christmas angel" as she called it

 warming up 

Candy

Candymaking was last Sunday and again, most everyone could be there!

Peanut Butter balls were rolled, caramel was stirred, chocolate was melted again and again ... it was another great year!

If you are between the ages of 10 and 30 ... you are on Peanut Butter ball duty

great to see my 'brother' and good luck to you in California, Taylor!

Caramel masters

 This is how Jack and Dad spent most of the day ... and yes, that is how crazy Jack's hair is most of the time

Looking at past years' pictures and telling stories

The youngest fully diving in to chocolate dipping (or Licking)

Amelia and Heather working hard

lounging, coffee, football

Peter and Ellie

Amelia quickly got tired of wasting all that good chocolate on the candy.. how could let all that melted goodness just sit there? 

Finishing off the turtles

We are enjoying our holiday traditions and look forward to Christmas coming soon!

Why you aren't getting a Christmas card...

So, we tried to get some good pictures with the kids for a Christmas card... I know, I've been a mom long enough I should know that when you set out to get good pictures, it usually means it won't happen. BUT, I had high hopes.

We got the kids dressed and all set to go. 

and for the first couple tries we were trying to figure out the best way to sit the kids when one doesn't really by himself yet

Apparently it was too much to expect the 3 year old to hold up (securely) the 4 month old

So once again we changed positions... But we were struggling. I mean, how do you take a picture with a baby who keeps trying to put everything, anything, or just something in his mouth?

or a three year old who does this when you ask her to smile?

with patience running out we searched for new ways to encourage enthusiasm ... and by encourage I mean bribe with M&Ms...

and we even managed to get a couple "decent" ones

so we pressed on hoping for GREAT! I mean they are cute... it should be possible, right?

But Amelia got fed up.... Jack got hungry.

So Mom gave up...

And no Christmas cards.

So From the Humphrey family

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Four ...

Hobbies:

fighting to take naps

laughing with Sister

rolling ... everywhere

New things:

grabbing things-he has mastered his hands

clicking his tongue 

and we figured out the bad eczema and rash stuff: milk intolerance! On a hunch, we switched to soy and his skin is MUCH better! 

I still feel like I'm just getting to know him. With some of his stomach issues and skin problems, I feel like we are just now getting into a good routine. He can be very inconsistent with sleep schedule and feedings. So here's hoping this month we have smoother roads ahead.