{December 2015: Christmas Festivities, Family Visits, Snow, Perform Talents}

Christmas Festivities.  Love Our Kiddos, Christmas Eve Matching Pajamas.  Baby Girl H's {turn} putting the Star, on the top of our Advent Calendar.  Baby Boy D's First Christmas.

 Lovely White Christmas. Our Girls Opening Presents.  Snacks for Santa & Reindeer.

 Our Sweet Kiddos Opening Presents, together.

Special Christmas Breakfast.  Baby D Snuggling with Daddy and Standing Up.

Opening Christmas Presents together, as a Family.

 Nativity Play on Christmas Day.

 Girl Band Practice.  Curling Our Girls' Hair.  Creating Art.  Big Sister R & Little Miss K, Entering & Winning Awards at their School Art Contest.  Little Miss K Singing at her School Christmas Concert.  So Proud of our Kiddos! :)

 Our Kids had So Much Fun; Making a Ginger Bread House and Christmas Sugar Cookies.  Little Miss K did an Amazing job on her talk in Primary {at Church}: "I know that my Redeemer Lives". Her talk that she said was, "President Gordon B. Hinckley shared his testimony: 'Jesus is my friend. He is my exemplar. He is my teacher. He is my healer. He is my leader. He is my Savior and my Redeemer. He is my God and my King. Gratefully, and with love, I bear witness of these things.'  Jesus is my Savior, for He rescues me from me. I'll try to explain just how to you. It's very clear to see. Heavenly Father sent me here, to learn to choose the right. I can't get back to live with him, unless I win the fight. Each day I have to make a choice. Some days I seem to choose the path that's leads away from Christ, and that's the way I lose. But God knew that I'd need some help, so Jesus said he'd come, and be my Savior so I can try to be the best I can become. And when I try to change my ways, a better person be, I can succeed because of Christ, who gave His life for me. I know that Jesus is my Savior, because He died for my sins. I want to do all I can, to follow His example and be worthy to live with Him again, someday. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Baby D Adorably Sleeping.  I LOVE that he sucks his thumb!  It is Super Cute! :)  Our Christmas Cards & Baby Announcements, ready to send out.  

   Mark's brother Glen, his wife Summer, and their 4 kiddos {our nieces & nephews} came to visit us at our place, for a few days.  It was so lovely to spend time with them.  

We had a wonderful time, visiting the Cheney side of the family, up in Washington, a few days after Christmas, through New Years.  We also celebrated Baby Girl H's Birthday, this month, which I will be posting about on my photog blog, very soon.

  

{Christmas Card 2013}

HIGHLIGHTS

from 2013

We wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you have an Amazing New Year!  We are grateful for Jesus Christ and His perfect example, and His love for us.  This year has been a challenging, yet wonderful year for us with many, many changes for all of us to celebrate and to endure.

{Family}  Because of Mark's new Job, we have all moved to Idaho and put our home on the market.  After our home sells in Oregon, we will be building our new Home {with my studio}, here.  We are all adjusting well to our new area.  We love it here!  We enjoy Singing together at Church {and home}:  We recently sang "Silent Night" in church as a family, and it went very well.  We love having game nights, parties, swimming, playing soccer, dance parties, singing karaoke, movie nights, family home evening, exploring beautiful places outdoors, visiting family and friends, camping, cooking and baking, hiking, fishing, and going to the library and park together.

Mark: Graduated from E O U in Elementary Education, Accepted a job as a 2nd grade teacher in Idaho, and is Loving his new Job {We are so proud of him!}! He is enjoying working with the 12-13 year old Scouts at church.  He loves to Sing with his Family.  He is looking forward to Designing and Building our new Home here, in Idaho.  He enjoys finding new places for our family to explore, outdoors.

Elizabeth: Loves to Sing with her Family. She enjoys being the CEO of her home and having her wonderful children always near. She loves doing her Photography Business. She enjoyed being the Relief Society pianist at church and now is enjoying being the ward photographer.  She loves doing anything Creative, Crafty or Active.  She also loves Date night with her Handsome Husband.  She loves teaching her children to be musical.

Little Man E {nine}: Started 3rd grade at the school Daddy teaches at {its so fun for them!}, and likes doing math and science at school.  He played soccer this summer and was awesome at it.   He is a big helper at home and a wonderful big brother.  He likes reading stories about dragons and dinosaurs, and singing with his family.  He loves being in Scouts.  Little Man E makes friends easily, which came in handy when we moved at the beginning of this school year.  E wants to be a Video Game creator, or a Movie Maker when he grows up.    

Princess R {seven}: Started 2nd grade at the school Daddy teaches at; is a Rock star reader {she loves to read!} and is reading 2 grades ahead of her grade level!  She is also getting straight A's in school.  She played soccer this summer {she loved playing goalie--she's so brave!}, loves to perform {dancing and singing}, design fashions, loves to draw and write, and is a wonderful big sister.  Princess R loves socializing and making new friends.  She wants to be a Pop singer, Ballet dancer and Fashion designer when she grows up.     

Princess K {five}: is doing Preschool with Mom, loves to giggle {she has a contagious laugh!}, talk, sing, dance, loves playing at the park and going to library story time.  She loves playing Barbie's {Daddy built them a beautiful new Doll House for last Christmas, and Mommy decorated it} and dress-up with her older sister, learning to read, and building with blocks and drawing.  Princess K is a big helper to Mom, while the older kids are at school.  She wants to be a ice cream (truck) woman, magician, painting artist, and a drummer when she grows up.

Little Man C {three}: Enjoys going to the Park and Library story time, speaks very well, and is potty training himself.  He loves cars, singing, dancing {he's so cute!}, reading stories with Mom and Dad, being a big helper, dinosaurs, and building with blocks and duplos.  He is fearless, very active {he keeps Mom and Dad on their toes!}, and is 100% boy.  He also is very affectionate {as are all of our children}.  His favorite movie right now is "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".  Little Man C wants to be a Parent and Santa Claus when he grows up.

Baby H {eleven months}: Born at the very end of last year!  Learned to roll over, giggle, sit-up, crawl {really tried hard to be like her "big" brothers and sisters}, stand, walk {prefers to walk now}, talk {is a little parrot and copies everything, and said, "Is that your book?"}, "sing", dancing, gives kisses and cuddles, and loves her family so much.  She always likes to smile at everyone, and is already very social and wanting to make friends {as long as Mom or Dad are close by}.  She also likes to explore her surroundings, and is adventurous.

We hope you are all well and happy; and have a joyous year!

Love, The Chandlers

{Merry Christmas} {Maternity Portraits} 2012

Merry Christmas! {Our Christmas Card}.  I {always} have a list of things I need to get done before {this} baby is born {in a little over 2 weeks}.  One is our Christmas Card and the other is {some of} my Maternity Portraits.  Here are two things on my checklist marked off.

Christmas Letter & Pictures 2011

 December 2011        *Dear Family and Friends,     

We have a had an amazing, but busy year.  This is such a special time of the year, when we have time to focus on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and think about all of the amazing and immeasurable things that he has done for all of us.  When our children are very small, we start pointing out our pictures of Christ that are on the walls of our home.  The other day, our Baby C said, "Jesus" and pointed to a picture of Christ.  Amid the presents, and excitement of the season, hopefully we will take time to remember the most precious gift that our Heavenly Father has given us, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

 

Baby C, (1) is a very active little boy.  He learned to walk at 12 months and has been on the go ever since.  He really keeps us on our toes, and is constantly into everything!  Baby C is very determined to climb, especially onto places that scare Mommy, like the kitchen table!  He is such a sweetie and loves to give snuggles and kisses.  Baby C is starting to copy words (thank you, more, all-done, apple, I want that) that we say, and "talks" to us all the time.  He can say all of our names in our family, and other words.  It's so fun to watch him learn new things.  We love to cuddle our "Baboo Baby".  We adore his bright red hair and double dimples. 

Little Miss K, (3) has a contagious smile and laugh.  She wants to be just like her big sister and "best friend", Little Miss R.  Little Miss K would love to go to school just like Little Man E and Little Miss R (she even has her own big girl back-pack).  She does preschool at home, with her mom.  Little Miss K loves to sing, dance, talk (the other day she said, "I'm going to save all of my kisses for my prince, so he can take me to the temple"), play pretend, dress-up, princesses, fairies, animals, being a big helper, playing with baby dolls and Barbies, reading books, drawing, coloring, playing at the park (with her family), and cuddling with us.     

 Little Miss R, (5) is loving Kindergarten, and going to school.  She has been losing teeth, and is missing her two front teeth.  Very appropriately, she sang and danced "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" in her Christmas program (with other songs), at school.  Little Miss R loves performing, singing, giving talks at church, dancing (she loved her ballet class and performance), talking, complimenting others, playing with Barbies and baby dolls, pretending, dressing up, princesses, fairies, playing soccer (she and Little Man E were on the same team), practicing reading and writing words (including all of our names), drawing, coloring and being a big sister. 

  

Little Man E (7) is enjoying first grade, and being at school.  He is learning to read, and really likes doing math.  He sang and danced in his Christmas program at school, the Nutcracker Suite songs.  Little Man E loves to sing, dance, play pretend, dress-up, doing martial arts (he loved his aikido class this year), playing soccer this summer (he scored over a dozen times), swimming, drawing, coloring, helping his younger brother and sisters and being a big brother.  He learned to ride a bike this year.  Little Man E is very helpful and cooperative and does a great job keeping his room clean.  He also likes playing with his transformers, action figures, building with legos, and playing on the computer.

  Elizabeth is loving being a busy mother and a wife.  If she has any spare time, she enjoys singing and performing solos and duets with Mark and her family, playing and performing her violin and piano, trying to learn the guitar, taking pictures in her studio (www.lily-photo.com), scrap-booking, sewing, crafting, reading, writing in her journal, cooking and trying new recipes, exercising, drawing and painting, and throwing fun parties for her family.  Elizabeth also enjoys having cuddle time, dance parties, story time, game nights, and movie nights with her affectionate family.     

 Mark is really enjoying going to school to become an elementary teacher.  He has been doing volunteering and practicum's at the elementary schools, in two different grades, (3rd and 5th grades) and will be starting a practicum, in a 2nd grade class, in the Winter.  Mark works with his two brothers in their business, building and remodeling homes, whenever he has time.  He loves being a daddy and a husband. His calling at church is serving with the Webelo Scouts.  Mark also enjoys hiking, singing, wood working, reading, camping, fishing, playing with his kiddos and taking his wife on hot dates. 

We hope you all have an Amazing Christmas season, and a fabulous New Year!!

 Love, The Chandler Family      

Christmas letter and Thanksgiving :) 2010

  
*Hello Family and  Friends!!                                                    Christmas Letter 2010

               

                This year, we have been enjoying living in our new home, and loving the extra room with our growing family.  We put a fence up, in our yard this year.  It makes it much easier to not have to worry (as much), while having the kids play in the yard.  We have been having fun camping, playing, swimming, singing, laughing, dancing, taking walks and being happy together.

                We were surprised to have Baby C (2 months), born on his actual due date.  He was in a big hurry to get here, being born within 5 minutes after we arrived at the hospital (two hour labor)!  It was intense!  He weighed 8 lbs and 3 oz and measured 21.5 inches.  Baby C is a very sweet, good-natured baby, and is starting to coo and smile.  We all love him very much.  We are all adjusting well to having a family of 6.  

                Little Miss K (2) loves learning new things.  She enjoys playing with her siblings.  She has amazed us all, by continuing to potty train herself.  It is very nice that she can now communicate her thoughts and feelings so well, with us too.  She's a little sweetheart, very happy and enjoys snuggling with us.  She loves being a big sister and is a big helper.

                Little Miss R (4) can't wait to be in Kindergarten next year.  She's a spunky little girl and a lot of fun to be around.  She is such a sweetie and loves to give compliments and express affection for us in words and snuggles.  She loves being a "little mother" to our new baby.  Little Miss R and Little Man E liked learning to swim, by taking swimming lessons, this summer.  She enjoys learning, playing dress-up with her siblings, pretending and is a little chatterbox.        

                Little Man E lost eight teeth all before the age of (6).  He started Kindergarten this year and is enjoying learning and playing.  He was in soccer last summer and has continued to improve, scoring several goals in the season.  Little Man E is so EXCITED to have a new little brother!!!!  We appreciate him being such a big helper for us.  He can clean his room almost entirely on his own.  Little Man E is a very affectionate and thoughtful little guy. 

            Mark and Elizabeth are loving being the parents of four little children!  The kids bring great joy into their lives.  Mark is still working with his brothers and Dad, building and remodeling homes.  He also enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, reading, and singing.  Mark will be starting school again in January, to finish his degree, in teaching.  Elizabeth loves to be able to stay at home with her four babies, and enjoys a photography {www.lily-photo.com} biz on the side.  She also takes pleasure in scrap booking, doing crafts, singing, and playing the violin and piano.

                We sincerely wish you all a very  joyous holiday season and a fabulous new year!     

                Love, The Chandlers

*Hello again.  I'm trying to update our blog, and will try to relate as much of our busy life as possible.  

At the beginning of November, we had Baby C's baby blessing at church.  Many of our family and friends were able to attend this special event.  This is a blessing outfit that my mom made for us, that we used for both of our boys.

 We had a luncheon at our home after wards.  

Here is cousins S and B with Little Man E and Baby C.  

  Little Miss K with cousin S being silly together.

Cousin S with Little Man E, Baby C and Cousin N: 

We were so happy to have them come visit!

 Cousin L and K with Little Miss Rachel and Baby C.

Mark & I with Baby C on his Blessing Day. 

My parents with Baby C on his blessing day.

Mark's parents with Baby C on his blessing day.

Our little family on Baby C's Blessing Day.

We had Thanksgiving at our home, with our children, the week before Thanksgiving, because we like to have our own traditions.

Then on Thanksgiving day, we were up in Washington at my parent's house for Thanksgiving.  We had 14 adults (counting my 17 yr old brother) and 17 grandchildren (with 2 more on the way).  All of my side of the family was there.  It was fabulous. 

Our boys.  You can totally see the resemblance between them.

Our kids had so much fun with their cousins!  Cousin C, and trampoline time and sleepover with Cousins T, K, S and H.

My mom with Cousin A and Little Miss K.

Visiting with Mark's Aunt Judie and Uncle Anthony, my friend Adrienne, and the kids playing in the snow with our friends, the Smiths.

We stopped at Multanomah Falls on our way home.  It's so beautiful there.  We really enjoy seeing the waterfall.

I had the special treat of attending my sister Angela's baby shower. 

 Eating at Thanksgiving dinner and me with awesome outfits for Baby C, from my sister Angela and her husband Grant.

We had a "girl party" and I did my girls hair.

The kids and I decorated a Ginger Bread House.  We love doing that.

We all went to Little Man E's kindergarten class Christmas Party.  It was a lot of fun.  I also volunteer in his class every Thursday, which has been a lot of fun for me (I started about a month after the baby was born).  

More Christmas Pictures to come...