Merry Christmas!

The kids all made the good list this year... It was touch and go for a while, but they were able to pull it off in the end :-) We've had an awesome couple of days and are super excited to leave tomorrow for Florida for the next week. The girls finally get the hang of Santa I think - or at least that he brings presents. They like unwrapping the gifts and then subsequently either trying everything on or playing with everything within 1 second of opening. Declan loved every moment of Christmas and was thrilled to see that he made the good list as well :-)

Here are a few photos from the last few days... Aven in her big bros glasses...

Stevie and her BFF Auntie Em. Stevie is literally obsessed with Auntie Em. When Em leaves, she asked "where's Em," when she walks out of the room she asks "where's Em," when she takes a nap or goes to bed she asks "where Em," when she wakes up she asks "where's Em." You get the picture...  When Em is here she has a permanent body part attached to her, named Stevie.

Declan and Aven posing for Mommy

Santa visit was a success this year! Aven wasn't so sure, but surprisingly the other two girls were okay. However, Stevie was only okay because her brother held her and then let her sit on his lap.

All the kids before our family tradition of seeing lights Xmas eve. L to R: Stevie, Bria, Aven and Declan.

Auntie Em before seeing lights - sippy cup of wine :-)

All the family in the car - the girls are behind us, you just can't see them :-)

Probably one of the funnier family trips that we've had :-)

Stevie posing...

Stevie with some of her Christmas gifts on...

Daddy and Declan opening gifts Christmas morning...

The aftermath and Grandpa Don pooped out :-)

Princess Stevie... The girls LOVE all their dress up clothes and tutus.

Aven

Declan proud of his Army village...

Bria, Stevie and Declan

Pile on Grandma

My birthday cake was a little belated, but we still ate it! Declan picked out my cake!

L to R: Bria, Stevie & Aven... This was what they wore to bed last night. Aven wore her tutu all night long and Bria wore her robe. Love these girls.

Life

I've been painfully behind on blogging lately as we have been crazy busy... Unfortunately I'm not sure it's going to improve (ever!) - we just keep getting busier and busier. I had a dream (or rather nightmare) last night and the kids were older... I had a dream about all the kids having different interests - Bria played soccer, Aven ran track, Stevie played the violin and Declan played hockey - and Andy and I couldn't be everywhere all at once! That will be just our luck :-)

Here are some pictures and commentary from the last few weeks... Bria and Stevie post bath (they will always be babies to us :-))

Declan had a Thanksgiving celebration at school - he was an indian. He was actually really well behaved during the entire program. The kid to Declan's left is his best friend Jordan - per previous post, you will find this funny...

Declan lost his first tooth!

The girls found their LOVE of popcorn just like big brother...

Classic family photo with Papa and Grandma Judy (Declan had to pee :-))

Aven and her reindeer...

Stevie with hers...

Stevie making out with the snowman...

Stevie

Aven grabbing a stool to get a better look at the tree...

And shortly after Thanksgiving the kids outside not he trampoline - it was beautiful outside!

Bria got a little carried away with her stickers not he car ride.

S, A, B in their typical weekend-wear...

Declan at his school holiday celebration :-)

Princess Stevie and Bria

S, B, A

This past week we had a holiday celebration at the girls school - it was so adorable. Stevie sat in her chair and listened the whole time. Aven was mostly engaged and Bria sat on the teachers lap the whole time :-)

Santa showed up at their party and Aven was the only one that didn't need to extra help meeting him :-)

Morning snack with friends - there is a set of twins in their class as well. The teachers told us the girls were pretty much celebrities in the school and everyone loved them. So adorable - we love their teachers!

Stevie strutting her stuff in my shoes - they all are obsessed with taking my shoes out of my closet and wearing them all around the house :-)

The girls have been really into singing lately and actually have been pretty accurate - it's amazing to see how much their speech has developed over this past month... Here's their rendition of Jingle Bells.

Andy and I were also able to take mini vacation and go to San Fran (Andy's Mom, Aunt and Uncle took care of the kiddos). We went to a concert, sent time with an old friend and had an AMAZING time.

Thankful...

We have yet another year that we have so much to be thankful for... A lot has changed in this past year - new job for me, new state, new house, new schools, longer hair (the girls), learning to read (Declan), lost tooth (Dec lost his first one this week), family, friends and each other. We are so fortunate to have all of these things and each year I make a vow to appreciate them more often (let's try it again this year!)

A few weeks ago we got some family pictures... It's not gotten any easier since the girls turned 3, but our photographer was amazing and she was able to get some good ones... Here are a few from the shoot.

Here's one of the whole fam... I'm holding Aven and Andy's holding Stevie.

L to R: Aven, Bria & Stevie

The only one of all the kids... Good one of Aven and Declan :-) (L to R: Stevie, Aven & Bria)

Declan helping out by running after Bria :-)

Family! (L to R: Stevie, Bria & Aven)

Aven

Bria

Stevie

Stevie

Aven

Daddy & Declan...

Mommy and the girls...

Declan :-)