for your viewing pleasure

For Christmas Jon got me enrolled into a photography class. It just started this past week and so I have been playing around with the camera and trying to apply some things that I am learning. But looking back through the pictures there were some that were just too cute not to share. So enjoy. :)

And I should mention that there aren't any of Livy and Jaedon because most of the time when I think about taking pictures they are gone at school, or all ready in bed.

new discoveries

Lately Jack has found his bottom lip...

 his little piggies...

 and rolling onto his belly. He first did this on Christmas day.

 And a shot that shows his squishy little leg rolls. :)

IT'S CHRISTMAS!!

Santa made it to our house. We did question if he was going to leave presents or coal, but looks like everyone made the nice list.

One of the top gifts on Jaedon's list was a Tornado Lab. You turn it on and it makes a tornado in the water. 

 Livy's top favorite was this travel princess back pack...

but this was definitely number one. A mermaid dress. We don't know why she wanted one so bad, but if you asked her what she wanted for Christmas, mermaid dress was always her reply.

Sofia didn't have too much of a clue to the whole "list" thing, but every time we go to Walmart in the toy section she would manage to find this huge doll and carry it all around the store. 

And now she carries it all around the house. 

 Jack of course could have cared less about Christmas, but Santa did still bring him some stuff. 

 We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that the New Year will be a great one.

christmas eve

Well, I thought I better hurry and get Christmas up here before the year is over.

Here are all the kiddos just before our little family program.

 Livy read us all a book...

 Jaedon sang us a song. And Sofia danced for us.

 Then onto opening up ornaments...

and jammies. 

 Jaedon's ornament was Phineas and Ferb riding a roller coaster because the kid is obsessed with them. Livy's was a toy house, because she loves playing house and pretend. Sofia's was a cop car, well, because she had the cops visit us. And Jack's was a regular old first year Christmas one. 

And then it was off to bed in hopes that Santa was on his way.

Santa, letter

I have been horrible at blogging lately. But before Christmas is here I thought I better hurry and get these up.

We went to visit Santa at Bass Pro. Sofia was excited to see Santa, but when we started getting closer she started to get scared...

But then when all of the other kids started talking to Santa she was all right with him and even sat on his lap for the picture.

Here is our Christmas letter as well. When we sent them out in the mail we made a mistake on the date when Jon will be done. It is 2013 not 2012. We wish it was that time though. :) Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Greetings from the Great Plains of Nebraska!  As the year comes to an end, we thought it best to give you all an update on what has been happening with the Bassett family.

Melanie continues to be the best mother on the block!  You would think that she would have her hands full with 3 kids, yet she begged for 1 more.  Jack came into our lives on August 31^st and now we’re starting to think that she might have met her quota.   However, we’re sure this time next year she’ll be craving newborn snuggles!  She has also taken her photographic skills to the next level.  Word has been spreading within our ward how awesome she is and over the past few weeks she has been snapping family photos left and right.

Jon hopes to complete residency someday (June 30^th, 2013!!), not that he’s counting down days.  Life is busy as usual, everyday filled with the realization of how much he’s learned and all that remains to be learned.  In his spare time he likes to golf, cheer on his 49ers, and tackle dirty projects around the home. 

Jaedon (6) is enjoying 1^st grade.  He’s reading like a champ, always performing well in art class, and even learning some arithmetic.  He played his first year of T-ball, which went fairly well although motivation is lacking.  We went to a Storm Chasers game (minor league baseball team in Papillion) and he turned to Mel and said “Wow, they run fast.”  Jaedon can run pretty fast too, but not while on the baseball diamond! 

Olivia (4) just started preschool this year.  She has a great time at class and has made several new friends.  She had a Rapunzel birthday party this year and she still hopes that her hair will be that long someday.  Her imagination continues to run wild as we frequently catch her in the middle of teaching a class or making some delicious cookies! 

Sofia (2!) has certainly caught a case of the terrible 2’s, far exceeding the expectations set by her elder two siblings.  She’s managed to master unlocking and opening every door in the house, wander off without informing anyone of her whereabouts, and she’s even had the cops called on her!  That was an unpleasant afternoon in which Dad and Mom were both home and in a matter of 2-3 minutes she managed to vanish out of sight.  She was discovered nearly a block away pushing her doll in a baby stroller, but not before the authorities were alerted.  Child Protective Services will probably be called next time!

Jack (3 mos) is as cute as can be.  Not much to report here other than he eats, sleeps, and poops like a pro!  He may just be the best baby we’ve had yet, sleeping well through the night, hardly crying, and giving us the most precious smiles a 3 month old can muster.  He’s been an excellent addition to the family.

All things considered, it has been a good year (minus the visit from the Papillion Police Department!)  As we approach Christmas our thoughts turn to all our many blessing, the wonderful family and friends we have been blessed with, and most of all our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  May His Spirit be with you all throughout this holiday season!

Love,

The Bassetts

gingerbread

We set out to go and see Santa Clause at Bass Pro Shops, but the wait was way too long and we needed to be somewhere that evening, so we opted for the gingerbread houses at the Kanesville Tabernacle. It is always so fun to see every ones creations.

This is Snow White and I loved the roof on this one.

This one just looked beautiful all around... 

 as well with this one. This one though had a piano and Christmas tree that you could see through the window.

 The cutest gingerbread there.

jon's bday

I had good intentions of getting this up on Jon's birthday yesterday, but who am I kidding, I can barely get myself ready for the day.

We celebrated Jon's birthday on the 7th because we had a lot of things going on the evening of his birthday. In the morning he let the kids unwrap his gifts for him...

 Then that night we had skookies instead of cake, because Jon isn't much of a cake guy. And again he let the kids help him blow out the candles.

 But I told him HE had to blow them out too or else it just wasn't his birthday. Of course he still let his princess help him. 

We love you Sweets and couldn't ask for more of a husband or a father. You are the rock of this family and what keeps us going.