Just Have to Tell Someone...

We have a sitter for tonight! NYE! We haven't been "out" for New Year's in 3 years. A friend offered to couch sit (what we call babysitting when all babies are asleep already) out of the blue and I am so thankful! We are going to a friend's for board games and cocktails and while there is no way we'll make it till midnight, I will be celebrating like it anyway!

This year my goals are:
1. Lose the rest of my baby weight
2. Learn more about photography and Photoshop
3. Begin praying with our children daily.
4. Move!
5. Get a job teaching, hopefully my old one.

Have a safe and happy New Year's Everyone!

Christmas!

We had a great Christmas. It was fun and overwhelming at the same time. We are lucky to get to see so much family on the holidays, but its exhausting too. Gracie and Tater did great at home Christmas morning, I actually teared up as they ran to the tree and saw the gifts. Gracie went right for them and Tate just stood there unsure if he was allowed to touch them. It was sweet. We got packed up and went to my mom's for Christmas day in our Pj's, a tradition for me since childhood. That was a bit hard on them because there were a lot more people and we were drowning in a sea of wrapping paper. I think next year will be more fun for them. Here's a few highlights:

Benny's first Christmas!


Gracie, Tate and their cousin dancing with the Christmas music


Christmas morning



Opening gifts




I think in the coming years some things will change. We are scheduled heavily back and forth between my family, his and little time for us as a small family. We want to have more downtime and be able to attend our own church service. Not sure how all that will shape up, but we are looking forward to many more Christmases as our little ones grow!

Busted

Just a few pics of the twins teaming up to cause trouble.. You'd think the whole Santa thing would deter them, but no dice. Maybe next year...

Nigh, Night

My favorite part of the day is our bedtime routine (and not just because they are going to bed!) We have really established a good pattern over the last few months and even when we've had the whiniest of days, bedtime always makes me smile and appreciate them.

6:15PM PJ's and diaper changes with a rousing rendition of us yelling"naked baby!" as they run around the house slapping their bellies. I have NO idea why they do this, but it's awesome.

6:25PM Read Goodnight Moon and Counting Kisses, or whatever they pick out.

6:30PM "Let's brush our teeth!" They run to the bathroom door and use their pointer fingers as fake brushes and wiggle around their mouths. They jump up and down and bang on the door. Who was ever this excited to brush teeth?!
We take turns saying "ahhhh" and help them brush. They are usually cooperative. We wash faces and then they stand on the scale to see how big they are. Sometimes together (like last night, while hugging).

6:40PM Nigh, Night! My favorite. We say goodnight to Benny (he still goes to bed an hr later), Goodnight to the Christmas tree, then into the nursery. They kiss each other first, then us. It's like a big love fest in there, people. We tuck them in with their "lovies" and more cuddles as they lay down. Then they just go to sleep!

Sometimes we here giggling for a few minutes afterwards, but generally they are tired and ready for bed.

I hope bedtime is always this sweet around here.

Update

This is mainly for me, but if I don't write down what the kiddos are up to I'll never remember.

Tate: WILD MAN. Running, climbing, jumping off tall buildings (or couches). All boy and all energy. He is still a cuddle bug though and likes to suck his thumb with his "Linus" blanket and lean on my leg for 20 seconds, then it's back to the races. He loves to wrestle with daddy when he gets home and try new moves out on Gracie. The Christmas tree is proving too tempting for him and I'm thinking about starting time out pretty soon. We need a better course of discipline. Tater is starting to talk more, that is, his babbling is starting to sound more like real words. The kid loves to vacuum. He is such a good sport playing "where's Gracie" over and over and ring around the rosie whenever she wants. He loves Benny and smothers him with kisses all day long. He is quick to apologize and quick to hit. I adore him.

Gracie: SASS-A-Frass. Still. Getting quite the stubborn streak these days. I hope she's teething or we're in trouble. Loves to dance and has started singing her own songs! CUTEST thing ever! Sometimes it sounds like songs we sing together, sometimes just random. I love it. She is a social butterfly and loves to yell "HI!" to people everywhere. She just started climbing this week and furniture all over the house trembles in fear. Nothing is safe from my toddlers anymore. She learns new words every day it seems: Go away! DOOO it! Tater! Up(ah), down, mamammamamamammama, etc. I love it. My favorite time with her is one on one. She LOVES ths red couch blanket and has taken to sitting next to me with it and cuddling. She might read a book or watch tv with me, but she's so still! It's sweet. We had snack that way yesterday while her brothers were still napping.

Benny Bear: All Smiles. He is so easy going and mellow 99% of the time. God blessed us with the perfect baby to fit into our busy household. He takes pokes from the older babies without complaints and waist patiently awake in his crib for me to come get him in the morning. He naps anywhere and everywhere and will smile at your slightest effort. I have a suspicion he wants to roll soon. He likes to blow bubbles and Gracie and Tate make him laugh out loud! Warms my heart.

'Tis the Season

Our visit with Santa turned out pretty much as expected:







But THIS is my favorite part of the season anyway

I am in trouble here, people.