New Happenings

Emily started dance a couple weeks ago. She's in a tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop class. We hesitated putting her in dance because we knew it wasn't what she has pictured in her head. She pictures flouncing around on stage and wearing cute outfits. None of the practice and routines that are the reality. But after talking about what she should do, we decided to give this a go. So far she loves it. Can't wait to go again. I've also already met some really nice mom's to visit with while Em practices so it's kind of a nice break for me too.

I love the picture, above, of her doing her own version of a ballet move. I told Mike that she looked like a someone drew a stick figure with a sharpie pen and it leaped off the page and was walking around...she's so skinny! I can't wait for her dance recital in June. I think they'll be cute and entertaining at this age.

Nathan is also doing a lot more. He's really starting to push himself up. He can hold himself up for a long time. He's rolled over once or twice but is really trying to do it more often. He's not on his tummy very often so there's not a lot of time to practice. He's also starting to get into a little more routine for naps during the day, not completely, but better than the random here and there naps like he was doing. It helps to have 2 long naps instead of 3-4 shorter naps. I just may get something done after all.

Nathan-10 Weeks

I Finally caught Nate's smile on camera. Barely, but it's there. He smiles a ton and talks a ton but he gets very serious when the camera comes out. Drives me nuts! He's doing very well. He still likes to be held when awake but he's content to walk around with me while I do stuff around the house or with the girls. And I really can't complain because he goes to bed at 8:30, I wake him for a quick 10:00 feeding and he goes right back down and sleeps until sometime between 7 and 7:30.

He is now starting to enjoy his sisters more. He'll coo and smile at them. I think Rylee is still a little too hands on for him though, as you see towards the end of the video. If he's awake in his swing or bouncer she hovers right over him, shoving pacifiers into his mouth and giving him his blanket. She's definitely still my little mother. She is also the most into my parents puppy, poor thing.

Ally's 1st-4th Birthdays

Happy Birthday, Ally!

Could they be related you think?

Above, Emily. Below, Nathan

Christmas Weekend...lots of pictures

My beautiful three little girls. Right before we went and saw Santa. They all seem pretty brave here!

Rylee freaked out and wouldn't go near Santa so Emily and Ally sat with him and Mike held Rylee and took pictures. We decided to leave Nathan out of it.
Finishing my two day baking marathon. The girls helped decorate the cookies. It was hard to explain to Rylee that the whole foil of cookies in front of her wasn't all hers. She didn't get that.


Would you like some cookies with those sprinkles?
I really helped them and did a lot of explaining for the frosting part. I figured the sprinkles would be the easy thing to leave them alone on while I finished making the other cookies. Wrong! They did great with the frosting part and sprinkles went flying.
Christmas Eve, reading the Christmas story. I love that kids Bible.
In front of the tree on Christmas eve. Santa's almost here!
Putting out cookies for Santa. Rylee was mad because she wanted to eat the cookies.
Christmas morning, santa came and brought flashlights for all the girls, and easy bake oven for Emily, Ariel dress up dress for Rylee and a CD and gift certificate for Ally to get her ears pierced.
Opening presents.

Nathan slept through the opening of presents and stockings so when he woke up, he got to open his. All of our kids used this babie's first Christmas stocking. Good thing it's red.
Nathan with his Christmas loot...look at the excitment on his face!
I love this shot of his puppy slippers on his cute little feet!
After opening presents and breakfast at our house, our whole troop went down to my parents for the remainder of the day. The kids got to open a whole set of presents at their house.

Later that night, after dinner, the girls put on their "Biblical" attire and led us in singing Hark The Harold Angels Sing, then Emily read the Christmas story and they finished with We wish you a Merry Christmas. Then we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and Emily blew out his candle.
I wish I could have kept more of a straight face for the performance but Rylee was just so darn funny. Look at her diaper and blanket. She looked so proud.
The day after Christmas we took Ally to use her gift certificate at Claire's to get her ears pierced. We were going to wait until she got older but we decided she was ready and she had watched Emily get it done and knew what would happen. Plus she's been asking and asking since Emily got hers done. So here she is, pre-earrings...
Emily, waiting to watch her sister get it done...she looked so cute in her scarf. She was excited for Ally. She also looks so grown up to me all of a sudden.
Rylee, looking extremely nervous, waiting for Ally to get it done. And by the way, she freaked out and ran into the mall when Ally started crying. She has already declared she DOES NOT want to get her ears pierced.
Ouch!
But it was soooo soooo worth it! Love that face!
Merry Christmas everyone!

Spirit Week and Christmas photos

Last week was spirit week at Emily's school. On Wednesday it was Business day so Emily dressed up as none other than an insurance agent. She looked so cute with her tie and briefcase. Mike even took her to work early to make her a name tag.
Thursday was blast from the past. So we dressed her up like the 80's. I did a side ponytail with a big hair scrunchy, tied her shirt on the side, colorful socks, and Mike pegged her pants. I didn't know what that was but it's where you take the bottom front of her jeans, fold it over and roll it up 2x. I did a close up for you below.


Cheers!

At her class Christmas party, a parent brought in Sunny Delight. I never let Emily have orange juice so this was very special to her. I even let her have seconds, (because I poured all the kids glasses and they all only got a small amount)!
I had signed up to bring cookies and Nathan had a fussy day so I couldn't make any. So the night before we took Emily to the store to pick out cookies to bring. She chose snickerdoodles. She doesn't like those cookies but insists that she does. So when it came time for her party, this is her taking a bite of one. Notice the look on her face...fake enjoyment.
JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME!
After church, before going to visit Santa clause. Boy it's hard to get a good picture with all 3!
All four of our beautiful children. We almost got them all to smile. At least they're all looking in the right direction!
After lunch on Sunday, we took the kids to see Santa. They still hadn't told him what they wanted for Christmas. When we were the next in line, Mike ran around the display to the other side to take a picture. So I was holding Nathan and literally dragging a sobbing Rylee across the display to see Santa. She was so strong I had to finally lean down and tell her that daddy was on the other side and she could go stand with him. Then she suddenly found her legs and ran as fast as she could and threw herself at him. So Ally and Emily sat with Santa. Emily asked for an easy bake oven and Ally asked for a princess flashlight and, with my encouragement, earrings to get her ears pierced. She's been begging since Emily got hers.

Nathan at 1 Month

Nathan turned one month today. He is such a sweet baby boy. He's really starting to have some awake times, which is fun. He stares intently and I keep waiting for him to break out into a big silly grin but it hasn't happened yet. He's also really starting to go to bed on his own well. I think he was a little spoiled with the rocking thing, plus the kid slept a ton so I never got a chance to put him down awake.

I am loving having a boy. It's weird that it can be so different yet so similar. I think pretty much he does the normal infant stuff, so I think it's my mindset and how he sounds and looks, which is all boy! Rylee is still his biggest fan. I find her putting, (or shall I say shoving), his pacifier in his mouth all of the time. And she is constantly kissing him or trying to hug him. He is still "her baby" and don't try to tell her differently.

Nathan and Molly. Molly Grace- born 10/31/09 Nathan Michael- 11/11/09 Don't you love those overalls! Thanks Stephanie for the great hand-me-down!