January....

January is flying by and it seems we can't get much accomplished around here.  Derek took a 6 day trip up to NYC during early January, so I was flying solo.  I managed to get all four boys dressed and ready for church.  Two of the three picked matching sweaters, so I picked out the same for Jamison.  Three peas in a pod (plus one).  

On another weekend we celebrated a friend's birthday at Pump it Up.  Thankgoodness somebody texted the "group" they couldn't make it that morning or we might have been super late.  The goal for that weekend was to get the rest of the Christmas decorations put away.  It is still a goal in progress, unfortunately.  

On MLK day, I watched my cousin's daughter, Chloe.  While the little two napped (and Derek was home to watch them) we 4 went iceskating.  Brighton was clearly better than the other two even though he's the youngest.  Unfortunately he wanted to show me how good he could skate and fell and hit his head on the ice....OUCH!!  We will definitely use helmets next time.  Just didn't think about it. He was a trooper and got back on the ice after icing his head and resting for about 30 minutes and taking some ibuprofen.

Meet Yuhan!

Here are two Very Cute little boys!!!  Our friends in Chicago had their second son, Yuhan on 11/1/14!

Hemming is about 4 months older than Jamison and is now a big brother.  We hope that it works out for them to come and visit us this summer or some other time this year.  We can't wait to see you all again soon!

Lovable Lexi

Lexi is 3 months old now, and growing so fast!  She is doing very well on the house-training and only seems to have an accident when we have visitors.  She is such a sweet dog!  I love to pet and cuddle with her.  She has a great disposition around our kids and is generally very gentle.

Here she rides in the front seat (strapped in) for a check-up with the Breeder.  I was glad there was no throwing-up (like the last car ride) and she did great.

Derek has more shots of Lexi asleep with me on the couch.  She loves cuddling up with me, when I let her.  We are trying to not allow her on the furniture, but only when she's on a lap it's okay.  I know she'll outgrow that part soon!

The Re-Gift

I have attended a holiday party for many years that is hosted by one of my co-workers.  She has dubbed it a "re-gifting party" where you bring your worst Christmas gift and exchange it for something else.  It is so much fun!  I've been wanting to host my own for several years now, and I finally did!  It was So Much Fun!  I can't wait to do it again next year!

Of course, I forgot to take any pictures during the actually party....but here is some proof that at least one friend made it.  This was a ladies only party, but non-crawling babies were welcome too!

I had prepared a HUGE spread of food, but I enjoy doing that.  Plus the boys and Derek were able to have the leftover for lunch that the thoroughly enjoyed.  My mom had made her famous "Jewish Apple Cake" and Diane made some of my grain-free, dairy-free banana bread.  

For drinks, I had hot tea, hot chocolate, OJ, and Mimosas (and water too).  The Mimosas were the hit of the party and it seemed I needed to not have much more than that, ha!

Ringing in the Noon Year

We had our annual "New Year's Eve @ Noon" party today with friends.  It was so much fun!

The kids all had a blast.  With a new puppy in the house, the craft that I normally do was hit-or-miss. Playing with a new puppy is just more fun, I think!

Just before Noon, we all made plates of food to have lunch.  I think the kids were all finished before Noon as they were huddled in front of the count-down timer set up on on the TV.  It was so fun to watch their excitement as they jumped up and down counting down the seconds until Noon!

This was the best we could do as a group shot of all the kids.  I think the only one missing is the baby, Lucas.  He spent the majority of the party napping peacefully in Jamison's room.  It worked out great for him!

At Noon, all the kids popped their crackers and got a celebratory crown, trinket, and joke.  Here are our boys posing for a picture after all the guests had left.  It was nap time!  We wish all of you a wonderful start to 2015.  Here's hoping you make great memories and share fun times with all your family and friends.  Cheers!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is HERE!

I was telling Derek that I felt like the Grinch with his thoughts of Christmas begin about all the

"Noise, Noise, Noise!!"

Yes, it was mighty loud with all the squeals of excitement and yelling, "Look at this!" on Christmas morning.  I might have said more than a few times to stop yelling....we are inside!  You would make a fortune if you could bottle that excitement.  Maverick got two tigers (his one Santa request).

Jamison was very excited with his new Santa "little people" train and his corn-popper.

After a breakfast of donuts and homemade applesauce, the grandparents all arrived and more presents were dolled out.  We try to limit gifts to no more than 3.  It works out very well that way.  I didn't feel too overwhelmed with the amount of "stuff" entering my home.  The boys even got gift certificates for things to do too.  Experiences are much more memorable than "stuff" anyways!

One of the favorite gifts was a new racetrack.  Let's just say...some assembly was required!  

Forty-Four Steps to say the least.  Grandaddy Bob was the trooper and got to work while the boys waited patiently.  

When it was finally complete, all the boys had fun racing cars down the multiple tracks.  Soon it was time for lunch and naps!  The grandparents all went home and the little ones napped while I cleaned up a bit and made our dessert for later.

This has become one of my favorite desserts, a Kiwi-Lime Strawberry Cloud.  Layers of angel food cake, with kiwi slices and a lime juice/rind flavored yogurt filling.  Yum, yum!  We went over to my parents for dinner and Grandma and Nanny also re-joined the fun.  

Our new puppy, Lexi, had a fun Christmas too.  It was hard keeping her away from the tree and the presents though!  I hope your family had a wonderful and blessed Christmas!

Christmas is Almost here!

The week leading up to Christmas was spent in giddy anticipation!  The boys were so excited for Christmas to finally arrive.  At our house, the current living arrangement is that Brighton & Maverick share a room (bunk beds) and Chandler has a smaller room to himself.  Jamison is still sleeping in our closet (ha!)  The plan is to move Jamison's crib to the smaller bedroom, and originally I thought I'd keep Chandler in there.  Ideally, I'd have the smaller two in separate bedrooms, so we don't have to keep playing the musical beds game for nap time....but in the end, I decided to have Maverick & Chandler switch rooms, so the older two will be together, and the younger two will be as well.  

We decided to un-bunk the beds, and did some general rearranging of furniture.  I'm still not finished with all I need to move, but so far it's going well.  Not sure when Jamison's crib will get moved in.  That's the last step....

Our church did something different this year for Christmas, and I really enjoyed it.  We had a Moravian Love Feast.  A brass quintet played a concert and then we enjoyed some carols and the passing of the sweet rolls and cider.  Maverick was so excited to open up his napkin until he discovered bread inside (I guess he was hoping for a cookie) but he did enjoy the apple cider.  

The Sunday before Christmas, this one lost not one, but both of his two front teeth.....

"All I want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth!"

On Christmas Eve, we let the kids open up one present (always PJs) and we did it in the morning to lessen the chaos that would happen that afternoon.  

Our family was asked to do the reading and light the Christ candle for the Christmas Eve Family Service.  I had been battling a cold this week and I knew Chandler would enjoy doing the reading, so he began practicing.  We worked on slowing down his words and annunciation.  About 20 seconds before our family was asked to come forward, the power went out.  The show must go on....so by the light of an I-phone, and no microphone, Chandler did the reading.  He did great!  As soon as he was finished....the power returned.  Praise the Lord!

After leaving church, we came home for a small dinner of something healthy (chef salad) before heading to an annual Christmas Eve party.  Some of my parent's friends have been hosting this since forever, and I've been attending since I was about 9 or 10.  They have four boys (just like us) and now have the joy of having seven grandchildren!  The grandchildren and our kids are all in the same range, so it's a lot of fun and food for all.  On the way to the party we rode through a neighborhood known for their light displays.  The kids really enjoyed that!

Christmas Eve wouldn't be complete without leaving milk and cookies out for Santa, and the youngest child then eating the cookies because they don't understand the cookies are off-limits.  Then the older children (mainly Brighton pouting in pic below) getting upset because why don't they get cookies too?  and then it's off to bed!