Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving – I know, I am one holiday behind.  I am secretly proud of myself for getting this up before New Year’s, so I am not two holidays back…haha.

Anyway, Brian’s family came up for Thanksgiving this year: His mom, brother Justin, Uncle DJ, cousin Aubry, and Gram.  It was so wonderful to have the house full of family.  My family came over as well on Thanksgiving Day, and we enjoyed a meal with 15 or so people.  I love sharing the kids with them.  We just think that they are wonderful (good thing, huh?) and it is fun to see our family get to see and experience what we get to live with every day.  Mary, Brian’s mom, took the kids to StrideRite for her traditional shoe shopping spree for them, and Georgia came home with 3 – yes, 3 new pairs of shoes!  Jackson was beyond thrilled with some light up dinosaur shoes, and EmJ has so many shoes passed down to me from my friend Amber that I don’t know if she will ever be able to wear them all, so we passed on shoes for her.  Georgia got to spend a few nights with Grandma at her hotel – she thought that she was hot stuff.  DJ taught me how to make a new and simple recipe for fudge (want the recipe?) – Rachel Ray brought this to Oprah – so easy and only 4 ingredients!  Aubry is a senior in high school and is pleasant and thoughtful.  Gram is continually work, work, working away.  The woman never has an idle moment.  She knitted Georgia a little purse, which she loves.  She is probably the most unassuming, thoughtful, selfless person that I know, and I hope to be like her someday.  Justin was attacked by the kids from the moment he arrived, and I love that the kids love him!
We truly have so much to be thankful for.  God is good and we are blessed.

 Aubry and Justin

 This girl is so cute, I just can't take it!!!

 Gram and Mary

 EmJ getting some good Uncle Justin time.

 Gram and DJ

 Is this boy handsome or what!?!

 Justin and Georgia just hanging out - haha (ok, lame pun).

 My brother, John, and Jackson

 DJ

 Brian and Justin - outside putting up Christmas wreaths.

 Mary and her boys - they both have turned out to be wonderful men and husbands...I know she is proud!

Spotlight on Emory June (and Happy Birthday too!)

So, Emory June is our youngest, and is full of spunk.  Seriously, most who encounter describe her as "smiley" and pleasant.  Probably because between her brother and sister torturing, er - playing with her, she is just happy to be alive.  When the other two at times can tire us from having to constantly discipline and redirect (they of course have their shining moments as well), EmJ is our little ray of light.  She is getting around everywhere now, and close to walking.  We just celebrated her 1st birthday, and I cannot believe a year has flown by already.  I am so excited to see her grow up into her own little personality - we just see little glimmers of it now - and how she interacts and bonds with her brother and sister.  Love you, Em!

Video of EmJ groovin'!

 

Mommy and EmJ on her b-day!

 Happy Birthday, Emory June!

 Up the stairs (so fun!) - Grandma took this great picture.

 I love this one of her - she always has her little tongue sticking out.

 Em obviously enjoyed this meal....

 If I could just get a little more!

 

EmJ as a little ladybug for Trick-or-Treat

And, last but not least, one of EmJ's first words.  Besides "dada" (and that wasn't really even directed at Brian) and "alldone" - which is hit or miss, this is her first word.  You will have to watch the video to witness it.

Spotlight on Jackson

Jackson is our sweet soul. He will lean over and say, "I love you mom". He will grab onto your cheeks and just look you in the eyes - so innocent (not to mention those long eyelashes!) Jack can play so well on his own; he likes to have the entire couch to drive his cars on..."Where my bir-day cars, mommy?" is a frequent question. He has some cars from the movie Cars that he received for his b-day, and has since referred to them as his bir-day cars.

Here is a little conversation with Jackson.  He is a talker in the morning...yap, yap, yap.  Brian and I have both noticed this in him, and Brian said something like "I know I wasn't like that as a kid."  I know, try not to laugh out loud at this comment.  So, I present to you an unofficial poll - which 2 year old would be more likely to never stop talking: 2 year old Brian or 2 year old Molly?

Spotlight on Georgia

So, I want to do a little post on each of the kids.  I love how they each have their own unique personalities, faces, mannerisms, yet they are each a part both Brian and me.  It is fun to see some of us in them as well.

Georgia, our oldest, is full of spunk.  She is dramatic.  I have no earthly idea how she got so girly, as her mom is not into the girly stuff at all.  She has some very expressive faces.  Georgia is a great helper (sometimes a little too good).  I love how if I crawl into bed to snuggle with her, she will put her arm around me and kiss me on the head.  I was reading her a book ("Just in Case you ever Wonder" by Max Lucado) and it talks about how heaven will be wonderful - there will be no crying, no being hungy, no mean people.  Georgia asked, "Mommy, where do all the mean people go?"  I promise, those were her exact words.  Funny that she thought through that.  I explained to her that we can all be mean sometimes, and Jesus forgives us so that we can be with him in heaven.  Crazy the questions that 4 year olds have.  I love you, Georgia girl.

Georgia's self-portrait

Good morning!

This is her puzzled face - LOVE IT!

Georgia plays soccer!

Georgia played soccer for the first season this fall.  It was so fun (and hard) to watch her play.  I am not sure if you can even call it "playing" at this age - we were glad if she was just able to kick the ball!  Having grown up playing soccer, it was difficult to watch the kids just run around in a big group.  Mostly, Georgia just ran where everyone else did, whether the ball was there or not.  We had many a pep talk ... "watch the ball, not the people".  Overall, a really fun experience.  I definitely will always remember when Georgia was in the first game, she just had a grin on her face the entire time.  She ran by me, grinning, and waved.  It just warms my heart even thinking about it now.  :)  At the bottom if a brief clip of how 4 year olds look when they play soccer (if you can handle watching it!)

Georgia and her friend, Siena, passing the ball.

Jackson LOVED playing soccer - he always was saying "that's MY soccer team"!

Georgia all lined up ready to score!

GOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!  You can't see the ball, but it went in.  Look how subtly proud Georgia is.  Love it!

Jackson was probably one of the best players even though he wasn't on the team!  He did have a few minutes of playing time when I was the substitute coach.  He did great!

Liam and Jack cheering on the team.

The ball is somewhere in there - it pretty much just moves around in a big glob of people like this.

Team Portrait.  Top Row: Coach Sarah, Sammy, Liam, Megan, Coach Ellie.  Bottom Row: Sam, Georgia, Jack, Siena, and Izzy

Best Friends

I love watching my 2 "big kids" interact.  I think that there is nothing sweeter than seeing them enjoy life together.  Thank you Jesus, that they have each other.  EmJ gets more involved with them every day.  I hope that they can continue this close relationship as they get older.

Sharing a stool to be able to watch the trashman

This is one of their new favorite dance moves.

Apple Pickin'

Love this one!

Everyone had an apple...may have been off a tree, maybe off the ground...who knows?

So sweet!

Georgia and Ava collecting apples

Wow - there were a lot of us!

It's been quite some time now, but we went apple picking earlier this fall.  The kids loved it.  It went quite a bit faster than I anticipated (not sure why I thought it was going to take a long time to pick apples off of a tree).  I think that I spent most of my time making sure that Georgia didn't put apples with worm holes in my bag, that Jackson didn't run away to Lord only knows where, and that EmJ wasn't eating any rotten apples!  Brian and I went back a few weeks later to get a pumpkin.  We'll definitely be back

You know that you are a parent of kids under 5 when...

1. You find yourself always speaking in the 3rd person, even when you aren't around your kids..."Mommy - er, Molly needs to go potty, be right back, ok?"
2. You guessed it - you now refer to going to the bathroom as the potty.  "ma ma, da da, pee pee, poo poo, and boo boo" are all part of your vocabulary now.  What's up with all the doubles?
3. Speaking of the potty, it has been quite some time now since you have been alone in the bathroom.
4. You lose your kid in Kohl's because he thinks that it is fun to hide in the clothes racks, but he doesn't know to answer when you call for him.  You leave the 3rd kid strapped in the double stroller which you managed to snag there (can I just say for the record that if you don't have any kids in Kohl's with you, PLEASE, I beg of you, don't take the double stroller cart.  You don't need it.)Where was I?  Oh yes, leave kid #3 in the cart and chase around madly throwing clothes up in the air looking for your two year old who things that this is the greatest game ever.  You finally find him, and thread your way through racks of clothes back to the stroller by following the screams of your youngest who is peeved that you have left her there alone.
5. The word "ineegopee" makes you jump out of your seat, scoop up your child, and make a mad dash to the closest potty (there's that word again).
6. It is physically impossible to get anywhere with all children before 9 o'clock.
7. You smell something a little funny while you are showering, and look down to see that your littlest one has pooped in the shower.  You are all wet, so you don't want to get out.  You carefully consider if the turd is small enough to shove down the drain using the heel of your foot.  Decide against that.  Too risky.  If it gets stuck, then what?  You pick up the log with your bare hands, gracefully fling open the shower door, and lob it across the bathroom to the awaiting toilet (which is open, by the grace of God).  You swish the remnants down the drain with your foot and continue your shower.  This is a proud moment for you.

Have you been there?!?

You Are the Only Exception

Ok, for those of you who don't really like the funny (or at least I think they are funny) videos of the kids doing stuff in the car, skip this post.  Otherwise, proceed...So Jack and GA are now starting to remember lyrics and sing along to songs in the car.  Neat and scary at the same time.  The latest song: Only Exception.  Enjoy.

First Day of School

It is interesting to think about it, really.  Students have a restless night of sleep in anticipation of the coming day.  Well, so do teachers.  Brian started his new job at Linden McKinley STEM Academy (I know, sounds impressive, huh?) with students last Wednesday.  Needless to say, he came home exhausted.  And, now that I am a mom, I felt the need to take the official first day of school pics.  Thought you would enjoy these.

Honey, I'm home!

Working hard...I think he said something here like, "Man, I'm exhausted!  This year is going to be a lot of work!"

Spaghetti Reprise!

Emory June at 8 months.  If you are thinking that this picture looks familiar, you are right.  Check out Jackson below.

Jackson - quite awhile back - March 2009, about 10 months old

COSI

We met the Shmidt's at COSI the other day. The kids loved playing together. It's good to have friends to enjoy these crazy toddler/kid days with.

Georgia and Ava rockin' the hula hoops

Jack and Sophie, not so much

Friends

Let's all get in the phone booth (with mom screaming "Watch your fingers!")

Memorable Moments

A couple pics I just had to share...

I bought these nets for $1.25 at Old Time Pottery - have I mentioned that I LOVE that store!?!  Best buck twenty-five I ever spent.  The kids play with them for hours, and we get them to pick up the walnuts in the backyard...I know, genius!  Jackson had a rather unique catch the other day though.

Owen (neighbor down the street) and Jack play on Owen's firetruck sprinkler - they had a blast soaking each other and their mommys!

Liam (our new next door neighbor), Jackson, and Georgia enjoy some corn from Miss Lisa (or missyeesa, as Jackson calls her) on their front sidewalk.

Little Friends

We watched Landon for our friends, Steve and Della, awhile ago.  A few snippets of the kids' interaction.

Emory June: Oh, I am so happy my friend Landon has come to visit.

Emory June: Is that food I see?

Landon: EmJ, your mom's not looking, quick, let's give eskimo kisses.                      Emory June: No Landon, I want the real thing.

EmJ: Ok, she's looking again...pretend like we are just both going after this toy.

Landon: What can I say?  I'm a ladies' man.