I know, I know, I know...

It's been way too long, but I won't make excuses - it's time to get you up to speed with what's been going on with the Lawry crew... Let's see... I got to go to Vegas with a bunch of friends last weekend where I got to drink too much and not get puked on (by babies at least). Andy's mom came out to help with the kiddos, which we greatly appreciated! 

The girls have been on and off sick for the past few weeks, which I think will be the way the rest of the winter goes. Aven and Bria are starting to stand by themselves for longer periods of time. It will be no time before they are walking. Stevie is just starting to crawl. She does a lot of scooting, but she can get to places if she needs to. She also likes to stand a lot. But we're trying to discourage that a bit as her legs aren't quite ready for that just yet... She's still so small and her feet turn out quite a bit when she does stand. It's part of her prematurity in that her muscles and bones aren't quite ready for what her head wants to do. But all in time it will come together for her. She's just sick of waiting around watching her sisters have all the fun...

Oh, something that I don't think I reported out on is that the girls have been sleeping through the night. I hope I didn't just jinx it, but since about just after their 1st birthday they have been pretty consistent. Here's how it happened. I just got tired. After a year of not sleeping through the night and getting up multiple times a night, I just got tired. So one night I decided to turn the monitor off. And they slept through the night (or at least I assumed they did). The next night, I did the same thing (again with the monitor off :-)) Then once I finally turned the monitor back on a few days later, they just continued it.  Speaking from the school of "cry it out," it's one of the better parenting moves that we've done :-) There's been a few hiccups, but all and all the girls are doing pretty well. I can't believe it was a year. I mean seriously, how do we even function. No wonder we can't remember what we did the day before (or even 2 hours ago).

Declan is getting excited about Christmas and has now turned to bribing the elf on the shelf. Tonight he made the elf a picture and put a bow on it. He thought maybe he could bring that to Santa as a present and that Santa could send one back for him. However, he did tell me that he hopes that it isn't paper and that it was actually a toy. So now I gotta figure out how to write an awesome letter from Santa without giving him a gift...  Today they had an event at his school that Andy went to. He and Declan got to make a gingerbread house and the class sang songs. Andy said he did really well (that is Declan singing). Their house on the other hand - let's just say there were a few better ones that the over-achieving mom's helped their kids with (Andy was one of the few dads there). But I thought they did a pretty good job! Here's a picture...

Oh yes, and this is posted on the board outside Declan's class... This is what he wished for this year. I mean for real. I'm not sure how to take this - it's either everyone thinks we are poor and have not power or that Declan really has a heart and wants to make sure that everyone has electricity. Honestly I'm sure it was just a project they did shortly after the hurricane :-)

Declan and his many faces next to his gingerbread house...

The girls last night, who were very tired... And Declan and Daddy too :-)

The girls also had a class picture taken a few weeks ago. and I just thought it was too cute! Plus I love the fact that the girls are really the only ones that are smiling. Their teachers said they were the best!