Baby's first cereal

Here is a video that Brian took of us giving Amelia her first cereal.  As you can tell, she wasn't a huge fan at first.  She's slowly catching on ... but I think she'll like fruits and veggies a lot more than the cereal.  If you haven't tasted it, it's pretty nasty!!

Dancing Kings

Even though Mason isn't feeling well, he mustered enough energy to dance off this afternoon...

Christmas cookies!

Every year we get together with one of my very best girlfriends from college to bake cookies.  This tradition was started way back in 1995 at JMU when four roommates would bake cookies just before going home for Christmas break.  Kara and I continued the tradition after college.  FIVE kids and 17 years later, we haven't missed one year.  Our baking marathons have changed in size and shape... meaning we used to bake multiple types and last all day (sometimes well into the night) and now with the attention span and neediness of our children, we are lucky to get through the sugar cookies.  Kara and I are so happy that our little offspring enjoy this tradition as much as we do! 

Celia was queen of the sprinkles!!

Ella was the most dedicated ... decorating and cutting well after the older two ran upstairs to play!

Mason decorating his special gluten-free cookies! 

Owen's masterpiece!

All five kiddos ... Amelia will be old enough to decorate next year!

Merry Christmas! (Ho Ho Ho)

Last year Mason didn't really "get" Santa.  This year he does.  And he loves everything "miss-miss."  Ever since we took out all of our Christmas stuff, he walks around saying "Happy miss-miss" to everyone.  It is so adorable and has gotten us all into the Christmas spirit! 

I love this time of year and love decorating the house for Christmas.  I'd leave it up all year if I could.  I just love our full fireplace ...  with FIVE stockings this year!

And then there are my two "babies" listing to Santa singing Jingle Bells in the bumbo...

Hope you all enjoy this Advent season!   

Bathing Beauty

Here is a cute little video of Amelia in the tub.  She just LOVES to kick her little legs in the water. I think she also likes the echo and therefore is a little chatty Cathy in there too!  (nevermind her brother Mason singing in the background... there is never a quiet moment in the Lochhead abode!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Owen's kindergarten class had a little Thanksgiving play today.  They were a little shy, but so very cute!   (Owen is the 2nd Pilgrim from the left!)

Here is the video:

Happy Halloween

Halloween 2011 has come and gone.  Halloween fell on a Monday this year, but it was still full of multiple festivities.  Sunday morning we carved our pumpkin... Owen designed the face and for the first time didn't mind scooping out the goop from inside the pumpkin! 

We then moved on to the neighborhood "spook-out" on the afternoon of the 30th.  The kids were excited to put on their costumes, but Mason refused to wear the hat and glasses that came with his (DJ Lance Rock sans hat and glasses made Mason look like a candy corn!)  Nevertheless, I was able to get my one and only picture of the three kids in their costumes. 

The next day was Halloween and Owen and Mason's classes at Great Falls Elementary school were both holding costume parades and Owen's class also had a small party.   It was fun to see all of the kids in their school environment and all the kid's costumes. 



Here is Mason with his alter ego, DJ Lance Rock ...

And here is Owen practicing his ninja moves and another with his Kindergarten class...

And finally a picture of our little kitty cat, Amelia.

We finished the day with some trick or treating at the Great Falls Village Center and then back at home in the neighborhood.  When the day was done, the kids were full of candy, exhausted and ready for bed! (and so were we!)