Snow!

Who would have thought they actually get snow in Georgia? Well, they do, although it's not a lot, it certainly can shut down schools for 3 days... And actually 5 days over a 2 weeks period. It's been crazy, cold and yucky here lately... And I'm so over it and ready for Spring!

A lot has been happening since I last blogged... I said it would be less frequent, but was hoping it wouldn't be this infrequent! Regardless, let me catch you up... We converted the girls to big girl beds a few weeks ago. Each of their cribs actually converts to toddler beds so we took the plunge. It's actually been going pretty good with no major issues... They do like to party more, and after the first night of them randomly walking out of their room, we put a child lock on the inside of the door and trapped them in :-) Aven is doing great, doesn't even leave her bed (just like how her big brow was), but Stevie and Bria run around, jump off the chair, steal things from Aven's crib, mess with her and mess with each other. I frequently find them peering under the crack in their door and I just went up to their room to find Bria sleeping on the floor near the door. It's funny to listen too and for the most part it's pretty harmless.

The girls also had their first official solo play date. We met a family a few months ago in our neighborhood and they have boys a year old and a year younger than Declan and a little girl that's the girls same age... The kids love each other and the parents are awesome. The other day the mom took the girls for a few hours all by herself. She must be amazing right?!?!? So glad they live in our neighborhood and looking forward to having more fun with them!

We also had our friends Joy, Darrin and their 2 little ones come for a visit this past weekend. It was so nice to have them here, only wish they could have stayed forever (or longer I mean :-))

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks... Bria sleeping in her big girl bed...

Princess Aven sleeping in hers...

Princess Stevie sleeping in hers...

First Georgia Snow - the flakes were huge!

Snow!

First playdate! Maycie is just like the girls in that she doesn't like to wear clothes either :-)

One of only a few days the girls have been to school with all the snow days! L to R: Aven (clearly excited about going to school), Stevie and Bria...

L to R: Bria, Aven, Stevie and Declan...

Aven and Declan...

Stevie, just because...

Bria's drawing... I feel like this is really good for a 3 year old...

The whole gang!

Bria is making sure Collin doesn't get any of her snack :-)

Gymnastic monkeys!

Ellie liked it too! L to R: Ellie, Bria, Aven & Stevie

Girls & Boys Weekend!

Last weekend Andy and Declan went back to Wisconsin for Andy to have a guys weekend and Declan to spend time with family and in the snow! It just so happened that Wisconsin got a ton of snow so he had a blast! Plus he got to spend time with his Grandmas, God Mother and cousins. All and all an awesome weekend!

Meanwhile, the girls and I hung out at home and had a fun girls weekend... We painted toenails, we danced a lot, played a lot, dressed up, played in Declan's room without his permission, did things Daddy doesn't usually let us do and we had a play date with a new friend. We had so much fun and I especially had fun spending one on one time (or rather one on three time) with the girls. Here's some pictures of the weekend...

When I want a decent picture of the girls I tell them to put their "butts on the wall" or "butts on the door" - this usually works for about 80 seconds, but usually in time for me to get a good shot. It's also hard to say what any one of them will have on or in their hands :-) Stevie also takes it completely serious and makes sure her butt is on the wall. Here's Bria and Stevie.

Aven with her butt on the wall and Stevie making sure it was...

Stevie also likes to make fart noises when she does it... They crack me up...

L to R: Stevie, Bria & Aven

We went to Target as well - it was the first time that I had them all walk in by themselves - they did great and all held hands while we were in the parking lot. Luckily we found a good cart, but then had a few meltdowns on who sat where... But nothing that a few snacks couldn't handle :-)

Then we played in Declan's room with all his legos for about 3 hours - we played dress up (Aven below) and had a picnic. We also got a call later in the day from Declan telling that the next time we play in his room we MUST ask him before we do so.

Bria and Stevie having a picnic.

Aven and Stevie enjoying a movie. We have a new thing happening in the house - they all say "I pick" and they want to pick the movie. Generally about 50 percent of the time they pick the same movie (we limit it to just a few movies to pick from), but the other 50 percent is a bit painful - therefore the iPad :-)

L to R: Bria, Stevie and Aven

Before school a few weeks ago - the girls haven't all been to school for weeks because they have all been battling something at some point in time. Really looking forward to all of them being healthy! L to R: Aven, Bria and Stevie

On Sunday we had a play date with a new friend. We met a family who just moved to our neighborhood a few months ago. They have 5 and 7 year old boys who Declan adores and has had several play dates with and they have a 3 year old daughter who is a few months older than the girls. The girls taught her how to table dance and "shake her booty" - they had so much fun and it was great meeting new friends!

L to R: Bria, Stevie & Aven...

Aven doing what I've wanted to do many times...

And I couldn't help but share this... Declan's homework the other night... I might be pretty, but Andy is god. To funny!

Clean Up Time

For any parents out there, you know the "Clean Up Time" song, or at least some version of something that you kids were thought during pre-k. For me this means cleaning up my cell phone and getting all the pictures and videos off of it about every 6 months. Usually this is initiated by me having the perfect photo op of the kids and I can't take it because I don't have space on my phone. This happened at the kids dentist appointment this past week.

But with the phone clean up, I found a bunch of videos that I thought I would share. Most of which are all singing videos because the girls LOVE to sing! I see a karaoke machine in our future :-)

Bria singing "Happy Birthday"

The girls singing "Jingle Bells"

Even singing (and dancing...)

Stevie (and Bria in the background) singing "Let it Go" - Stevie plays with her Frozen dolls all the time singing this at the top of her lungs - Elsa and Anna usually end up making out at the end :)

And here's the picture from the dentist - I had a much better one, but my phone camera was full! The girls did AWESOME at their first dentist appointment - way easier than I was expecting...  (L to R: Aven, Bria and Stevie)

The girls on their bikes on the first nice day in weeks! (L to R: Aven, Bria & Stevie)

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If you aren't following me on Instagram (@klawry) you should, because I'm afraid that these blog posts are going to get less and less... It's just been busy and when there is any free time the kids are sucking it up or I'm working. And not to mention that I am starting back on the workout train to shed these 10 lbs I've gained since I started this new job and the 5 am's are coming EARLY! So unfortunately, there are a lot more priorities - but I think the right ones! So Instagram is the place to be for me, post a lot of pictures :-)

The kids have been doing great and back in school mode. Declan has been falling asleep really early and struggling to wake up (per usual :-)) and has been doing great in school. Learning to read more and more, learning to spell and finding out numbers come much easier than words (just like his momma - thank goodness for spellcheck!) The girls LOVE school still and it's so nice to actually have 3 kids that like going to school. If we would have had 3 Declan's at their age, it would have been a challenge (and we would have had to buy bacon by the truck load since that's what we used to give him to bribe him out of the house to go to preschool :-)) They are thriving with their development - their speech has really taken off. And for Stevie especially. There are still times that you don't understand them, but Stevie and Bria are talking in sentences (i.e. "I want apple juice") and Aven is saying more and more words. Aven I think just doesn't want us to know all the things she can say :-) Playing it to her advantage. They love to sing as well - and even sang Daddy "Happy Birthday" today (note the title of the post).

Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks... The girls post bath and ready for bed! (L to R: Aven, Stevie & Bria)

Last weekend we had friends from California and their 7 month old (Morrison) visit. It was so much fun and the kids actually all posed for a picture :-)

Stevie & Declan posing :-)

Aven and Declan... Aven is the most interested in learning (which is interesting since she's the least verbal) - she has the longest attention span and will listen to instructions. Declan is very patient with her and likes to teach her. There are times like these when I see these 2 completely occupied for (could be an hour) that I think about how boring it would be with just 2 kids...

Declan during a breakdancing session :-) I'm in desperate pursue of finding him a class but so far we've only found a few in the city and it's just too far on most night to drive...

The girls before school this past Wednesday... L to R: Stevie, Bria & Aven - this is their version of putting their arms around each other loving each other - I'll take it!

VACATION!

After Christmas, we headed down to Florida to spend a week with my dad, stepmom, sister Amy (and her family) and brought our other sister Emily with us. It was AWESOME!!! 1) the weather was amazing, warm and so nice every single day 2) my folks rented an awesome house, so we didn't need to stay in a hotel and the kids LOVED it. It was on the water, had it's own pool and had some great couches for the kids to jump on, around and off :-) and 3) I actually took some time off work (we were closed for the holiday) and spent time with the kids. It feels like its been so long since I just focused on them and I loved it. The drive to and from, wasn't spectacular and I think I have Andy convinced that the next time we go somewhere for long distance that we fly (fingers crossed that he remembers).

The kids loved the ocean and the beach, loved being around so many people, loved seeing the wildlife and just plain loved the new adventure. Here are some pictures from the trip.


L to R: Stevie, Aven, Declan, Bria

Stevie so excited about the sand!

Grandparents, Andy and the kiddos!

Stevie still excited :-)

Aven

The boys... Yes, my dad is that tan... (he just got back from Mexico for 3 weeks) and compared to Andy, it's even more evident ;)

Declan LOVED the ocean...

Sisters and sisters!

Me and Dec...

Aven standing in the rain for the first time (ever). They really got to "live" on this trip :-)

Aven again - ready for the pool!

Cool Stevie...

Slisters!

The kids ready for the ocean again! (L to R: Aven, Declan, Bria & Stevie)

Aven :-)

L to R: Bria, Aven, Stevie & Declan