Santa Claus

We went to Sonora the other day and were driving downtown when we saw Santa's workshop on the side of the road. Santa and Mrs. Claus were in there and so we had to stop and say hello. Landon told Santa he wanted a chainsaw, a jack hammer and a race track that goes over the door so his race cars and go zoom. Santa got a kick out of the jackhammer and chainsaw! He also asked Santa how he got there since we were at the mall last week and saw Santa there. He said, "I thought you were at the mall!" This has been a really fun Christmas season- it's the first year that Landon is really old enough to get excited and have an understanding of Christmas. He learned in church last week about the angel that told Mary she was going to have a baby and then about the star that led the Shepherd's to baby Jesus. Every night now he wants to know where the brightest star is that will show him where Jesus is. Christmas through the eyes of a child brings a whole new meaning and excitement to the real reason why we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Olivia
Valerie

Olivia

Valerie

The girls are now 4 months old and weigh over 11lbs. each! The are getting really good and holding their heads up while on their tummy and they both are smiling and laughing and are such a joy! They sleep about 6-8 hours at a time on most nights, which has been a huge blessing for mommy!

Our puppy Zoe

Zoe has jumped right in to being a part of our family. She is a great puppy- getting a little hyper and spending a lot of time outside but we love her. Landon is ready for her to outgrow the puppy stage- she is constantly biting at his heels and legs, but she is learning and Landon is learning to give her something to chew on when she starts to bite. She loves the girls bouncy seats and will sit and whine if they are both in them. So we went and bought her a bed and she doesn't like it. She still wants to bouncy seat! We are having fun with her and love that we have the space for her to run and play.

Peanut Butter Playdough

Landon and I made peanut butter playdough the other day! This is something I have wanted to do with him for a long time, but haven't made the time to do. My goal with Kyle going back to work is to make time to do one special activity with Landon everyday, so he gets some one on one time with me. He has gotten so used to Daddy being here and taking him fishing and on adventures around our property. I can't do those things with him because it is hard to take both girls out alone and the weather is getting pretty cold. So we have been making playdough, painting and making Christmas presents for all his family. It has been fun and he really enjoys the attention. His new saying now is: "Just you and me" when he wants to do something or he says, "this is fun, I get all of your attention." Priceless!

Jamestown Train Museum

We had some errands to run in Sonora today so we called our friends to meet us at the Jamestown train Museum. We had a great afternoon exploring the gift shop and the working roundhouse. The train conductors were switching trains around the yard so we were able to see several of the trains. The kids loved playing in the leaves and even tried burying each other. It was a very fun spur of the moment afternoon!

Olivia and Valerie

Valerie
Olivia

The girls have just started holding toys and flinging them around. It is fun to watch their surprise when one of them makes a rattling noise!

Random November Pictures

Landon and Daddy love fishing in our yard!

Landon loves to explore in the woods!

Christmas tree picking!

4 months old!

This past week I went to upload all my pictures from the last two months onto my computer and discovered that my memory card crashed! So I have lost about 2 months worth of pictures. Let's just say I was a little disappointed. I guess that means I just have to take that many more in the month to come. Olivia and Valerie are now 4 months old! They are smiling, laughing and babbling! It is so fun to watch them grow! Olivia weighs 10lbs. 10oz. and Valerie is 11lbs. 7oz.

Landon is loving his new house. We got him a puppy about a month ago- her name is Zoe and she is a black lab/border collie mix. She is fun and they love to run and play outside together! So life is good at the Scharf house- it is great to be settled and have everyone home together!

The girls with Kaylin

My girls!

Valerie
Olivia

Olivia, Kaylin, Valerie

The weekend Diane was here she brought her little girl, Kaylin who was born a day before my girls. It was fun to see the difference between her being full-term and mine being 6 weeks early. It is definately a big difference and we are looking forward to watching them grow up together!

Fun with Cooper!

Kyle went to Hume Lake for a Men's retreat in late October and my best friend Diane and two of her kids came to visit for the weekend. The boys had so much fun together playing in the creek, going hiking, canoeing, painting rocks, sword fighting and playing cars. It was a little boys perfect weekend! Landon loved having a friend here and still asks all the time when Cooper is going to come back and play at his house!

A few more picutes of the twins!

Olivia

The girls like to ride together in the back of the double stroller and that way Landon gets to ride in the front. We probably won't be able to do it for too much longer, but it is fun for now!

Hiking in our backyard

We have gotten all moved out to La Grange and are really enjoying our new house. Despite the fact that we got broken into while we were in Oakland and a whole bunch of Kyle's tools, our guitars and many other things were stolen. We love the outdoors here. Kyle and Landon go fishing every day and caught 7 fish in our creek just yesterday! The river is right out our back gate and these pictures were taken on an evening hike down to the bridge. Kyle's parents have been staying with us at least a night every week which has given us opportunities to spend time with Landon and given me several good nights of sleep! We are getting settled in here and are really enjoying the house and property!

English Muffin Pizzas

Landon and I decided to make English muffin pizzas for lunch the other day. I am finding it to be more and more important to find some sort of project or organized activity to do with him every day. Not only to give him that one on one attention, but to start to work with him on expanding his attention span and learning life lessons.

Landon's Praying Mantis

Landon found a praying mantis in our backyard and kept it for several days. He named her Madelyn and let her crawl all over him. He brought her in the house and played with her on his train table with his cars and followed her all over the backyard. We finally convinced him to let her go in a tree in our backyard. She was a great temporary pet though- she entertained Landon for hours!

PIctures of the girls!

Landon loves his baby sisters.
Cuddle time!

Play time!

All dressed up and ready for church.

Valerie

Olivia

Valerie

Valerie

Olivia

The girls are growing more and more each day. Last Friday we went to Oakland for Olivia's surgery follow up and Olivia weighed 8lbs. 4oz. and Valerie was 9lbs. 0oz. They have officially outgrown all preemie clothes and are filling up their newborn clothes. They both love to eat-they consistently want to eat at least every 3 hours- even during the night. They are on a higher calorie formula to help them gain weight and it seems to be working just fine! Landon is very good with them- most of the time. He loves to hold them and give them kisses. We are all adjusting to life with two newborns and loving every minute of it!