Christmas 2017

Was Christmas really a month ago?  Not that I'm complaining that January is almost over (cold weather sucks), but really how was it that long ago.  Anyway, I really want to document our first Christmas as a family of five. 

Warning: This is a picture heavy post.

Our first celebration was at Nana and Papa Ted's house in Oklahoma the weekend before Christmas. The weather was perfect and the kids were incredibly spoiled. 

Our second celebration was on Christmas Eve with David's extended family.

Christmases 3, 4 and 5 all took place on Christmas Day.

Milk and cookies for Santa.  Carrots for the reindeer

Christmas #3

Home

Before and after

 Kaitlyn was super excited about her art sets.

Madi loves her Calico Critters.

Christmas # 4

 Gram and Papa Chuck's House

I forgot to take my camera to my mom's house and was too busy to use my phone.  Thanks to my sister, we have pictures from this celebration.

Christmas #5 

Grandma Kathy and Papa Dave's House

I was a slacker and didn't take any pictures of the kids opening their gifts.

And in case you're wondering, this is what three Christmases in one day looks like. We were all spoiled.

It was so nice to get to celebrate with all of our family.  We truly had a wonderful Christmas.

Life

Day in the life posts and baby updates are some of my favorite posts to read.  I've written plenty of baby {kid} updates, but never a day in life post.  I think it's time I should.  Our daily life isn't all that interesting.  However, I think it will be fun to read this in a couple years and see how much our life has changed.

Here's our day in 12 photos.

Date: November 17, 2017 

Kaitlyn: 5 years old

Madi: 4 years old

Jack: 5 months

6:11 a.m

My alarm went off at 6:00 a.m., but I couldn't get out of bed.  This was one of those mornings when Jack thought it would be fun to get up every hour during the night.  I would have loved to have slept longer, but the first daycare kid gets here at 6:40 a.m.

6:32 a.m.

Even though we were up all night, nursing and rocking, I still needed my morning pumping session.  To save time, I do this while I get ready for the day.

6:45 a.m

Coffee (because I was up all night), orange juice (because I'm fighting my first cold since Jack was born), and water (because breastfeeding requires copious amounts of water.)

8:37 a.m

Mornings are pretty hectic in the daycare until the big kids get picked up for school.  It's so loud when they're all here and most mornings I can't wait for them to leave.  This was one of those mornings.  This little girl put up quite the fight, but we managed to get everything done just in time.

10:15 a.m.

Just playing a game of Frozen Memory with Madi.

11:03 a.m.

This is how I prep lunch most days. Jack is a really good baby and will play on the floor most of time.  For some reason, around 11 every day he won't let me put him down.  Thank goodness he finally likes the Lillebaby.

1:15 p.m.

6 out of 7 kids are sleeping and I can finally get some things done.  Most days naptime is filled with cleaning up lunch, folding laundry, cleaning the house, pumping, and occasionally catching up on my shows.

1:48 p.m.

I only had 3 loads of laundry today.

2:16 p.m.

Jack has been out of newborn and 0-3 month clothes for a while now, but I'm just now getting around to sorting and packing them up.

4:48 p.m.

The big kids are home from school and The weather was fairly nice today, so we all headed outside one the big kids were home.

7:37 p.m.

I  {usually} cook during the week, but we often get something to eat on Fridays.  Tonight we went to Minsky's for dinner

10:19 p.m.

By the time we got home from dinner, we were ready for a break from the kids.  This is my least favorite time of the day.  At least one kids fights bedtime every night.  Tonight it was Madi.  Bedtime is supposed to be 8 p.m., but we usually relax a little on the weekend. This picture was taken almost two hours after I put the girls to bed and after numerous threats to have something taken away.  

Our life is far from perfect, but its perfect for us.  There isn't much I'd change expect maybe the bedtime battles and the nighttime waking.  I could definitely do with would those.   Here's hoping that tonight ends a little better than this Friday night.   

Halloween 2017

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays.  What's not to love about it?  There's decorations, special crafts and parties, costumes, candy, trick or treating, and it's the official start of the holiday season.  This year Halloween was a little different.  There were several things that we would have like to have done, but before we knew it the month was over.  We didn't make it to the pumpkin patch or Boo at the Zoo because of the cold weather.  We didn't carve a pumpkin.  (Something that we have yet to do with the girls even though we plan to every year.)  We didn't have themed costumes for the kids. 

However, there were several things that we DID do.  Our house was decorated inside and out.  All three kids had costumes and got to wear them several times.  We made it to Trick or Treat Village at the doctor's office and trick or treated Gram's house.  We had special food and made several crafts.  And we went trick or treating with Grandma Kathy and Papa Dave.  Our new neighborhood was an awesome place to trick or treat.  There were a couple hayrides, firepits, popcorn machine, and even a house with adult beverages.  All this on a night that was freezing with snow flurries.  I can only imagine what it is like when the weather is warmer.   We're already looking forward to next year!

Trick or Treating at Gram and Papa Chuck's house

Gram

Our first footprint craft with three kids.

Graham cracker ghosts for snack in daycare.

Halloween night before trick or treating.

Happy Halloween.  Now bring on Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Madi is Four!

Okay, so I realize that I am a month late with this update.  But late is better than never and I don't want you to think that I forgot about you.  You are impossible to forget and you make sure of it.   Life has just be a little crazy these last few weeks.

Madi, 
You are truly one of a kind.  You might appear shy at first, but that quickly changes once you have warmed up.  You are not one to just blend in and it's very rare to see you following the crowd. You are a definite leader and I love this about you. 

You still have a vivid imagination and can make almost everything fun.  I love watching you build scenes your with Barbies, Calico Critters, cars, or Frozen toys and listening to your pretend conversations.  You love being outside, whether it be in your Barbie Jeep (you are always the driver), riding your bike, or swinging in the backyard.  You also love to sing and dance.  You frequently ask me to turn on the Christmas music so you can show off your skills.

You are the sweetest little girl when you want to be, but can also be very headstrong.  You know what you want and it can be very difficult to change your mind.  These last couple months have been a trying time for you.  So much has changed that you have had no control over.  I am glad that all of our major changes are over for now and that we can establish our new normal.  

During these three months, you have become an awesome big sister (and little sister).  You constantly trying to take care of Jack (sometimes a little too much).  If he's crying, you are right there trying calm him down.  I'm sure that you will be the best on of friends once he is a little older.  You have a special bond with Kaitlyn (when you aren't fighting) and I'm sure you will with Jack too.

This year your birthday occurred during one of the busiest times of our lives, but we didn't let that stop us from celebrating.  You spent the last two days as a three year old being spoiled by your grandparents.  Then you came home and we celebrated your birthday at home with a cookie cake. 

You had to pretend to blow out your candle since we couldn't find the lighter.

Watching the solar eclipse.   Pretty cool birthday present.

We waited until the following weekend to celebrate with friends and family.  You really wanted to have your party at Mercury Gymnastics (You called it the nastics place.), but it just didn't work out.  Instead, we had our first party at our new house.  

You enjoyed playing on our water slide with friends and family.  Followed by a cook out, a Princess Poppy birthday cake, and presents. 

Happy 4th Birthday, Madelyn Rose!!  You are so loved!