Where to even begin?

It has been so long, I really don't know where to start.  So, honestly, I think I'm just going to go with pictures.  I'll get back into the stories later, but not so much right now.

This little girl is growing so fast.  She's just chillin' out in her highchair.

Some Mama-Dakota love while Jayden napped.  She's so adorable with her "hugs" and "kisses."  Her kisses consist of a wide open mouth all over your face, and sometimes she even slips you a little tongue...

A little blurry, but if you look closely enough, you can see Carmen and Mom-Mom in the background, and Enid through the hole between Carmen's arm and his head.  :)

Whenever we went anywhere I had to ride in the way back.  Not the most comfortable ride, but not the worst either.  Plus, I got this little peek-a-boo view of my littlest.  

Carmen with his two good friends from first grade.  Deena (on the right) lives pretty nearby, and Tucker (on the left) lives in Vermont.  Tucker was out visiting Deena for Thanksgiving, so we drove down to say hi also.  Two things I learned: Deena is the best hostess EVER, and I am looking forward to the kids being old enough to play in a playroom without constant supervision.  In like 8 years.  But still, it gives me hope.

The friends and all of their kids!

The same peek-a-boo view, but this time sleeping.  So peaceful.

Jayden and Daddy walking to get our Christmas tree!

A quick little photo shoot for Auntie.  Such a happy little baby!

AND check her out - she's standing! With no support from me, either.  She's a little muscle woman.  Still a little lightweight, but I think that's just her style.  

Jayden and Mom-Mom playing stickers.  Jayden had Mom-Mom playing all kinds of games, and teaching her all kinds of rules.

All of the Wallaces - Carmen, Jayden, Enid, Dakota and Mom-Mom (aka Kathleen).  

What Dakota looks like when she's eating or waiting for food - arms and legs out and moving. 

My little polar bear pajama twins.  Seriously the best decision ever to buy them matching pajamas.  Luckily Jayden loves it and Dakota doesn't care right now.  Hopefully I can do this a couple more times before they start rolling their eyes at me.

Athletes First Holiday Party in a wine cave at a local vineyard.  Who knew this place existed in Orange County?  Turns out the food and wine wasn't actually that great, but the atmosphere was cool.

Dakota's first real solids - sweet potatoes!
She's six months in just a few days, and she has gotten really good at eating rice cereal, so I decided I'd let her try some other foods.  So far, so good, except I think the food is messing with her digestive system.  I've given her some gripe water to try to counteract it, but so far no luck.  Poor little girl.  I will say, she is an amazingly happy baby, even when she's tired, hungry, fussy, etc.  Napping and sleeping is a challenge, but when she's awake, she's pretty cheerful.

Jayden and the blue team at the beginning of the scrimmage at soccer class today.  Jayden scored three goals, I think.  At one point, the other team scored and the coach was saying something about the other team scoring or coming back, and Jayden goes "yeah, but we're still winning!"  So funny.  Until another parent took up the same mantra and started saying it when the other team scored too.  Not  the best example of sportsmanship, but oh well.

Putting some ornaments on the tree.  There are a couple noticeable clusters of ornaments at about 3-1/2  or 4 feet high.  It's awesome.  Turns out I am NOT OCD about our Christmas tree, so it is staying as is.  Actually, that's not true.  I moved maybe four ornaments to fill in some holes.  But that's it.  I did leave the clusters.  I love our little non-themed Christmas tree.  

All finished!

And now it's Sunday night and it's back to work tomorrow.  I did take Friday off, and I was going to sleep, relax, etc.  But now I have two appointments that day, so probably not as much resting as I had initially planned.  Oh well.  I only have about 13 more days of work until the holiday break (we're closed from December 24 to January 4 - yay!), so I think I can make it.  There's just a lot going on and a lot to do.  And I feel so scattered all the time, as if I am always playing catch up.  I keep saying "if I could just..." and somehow it never seems to happen.  I do accomplish some things - but not so much on the others.  Let's just hope I get the presents wrapped.  :)