New toy!

Jemma got her first new toy (poor third baby) and she's been spending quite a bit of time in there lately. The only problem is that she is on the floor and susceptible to too much brotherly love!

Trying it out.

Trying to see behind her head.

Hey who's this? Ava squeezed in there and got some smiles.

Cocky little bugger

Jack loves this shirt for some reason. The first time he wore it, he stood in front of the mirror and said, "me really han'some." Today he was going to be seeing his cousin Sara and he was really excited so he put on this shirt and said, "Sara will say I look really nice." She didn't actually say that but I'm sure she was thinking it!

Six weeks!

Jemma Jane is six weeks and thriving. She is smiley (although this sleepy shot is the only one I could get on camera) and alert. She Loves watching the kids play but the problem is that they rarely stay long in one room so she gets antsy when they leave her alone (I have a feeling this will be a problem for years to come!). She loves her daddy, especially when he is reading to the other two. And she likes her schedule (which makes me very happy). She's out cold around 8:15 and she sleeps till 1 or 3 (never 2!), has a little snack and sleeps till sometime between 5:30 and 7:00. She gets bundled out of her cozy bed and into her carseat at 8:15 for carpool and then she naps in there till midmorning. She wakes up for lunch and spends a couple hours watching the rest of us and then conks back out till late afternoon. And then we spend the next three hours entertaining her till bed. The best thing about her is that she only cries when she is tired and she never fights sleep which means she is either sleeping or awake and mellow. She very rarely fusses all evening like the other two did so we actually get to spend a lot of time cuddling and talking to her. I meant to take her in to weigh her today but it's too cold for me out there so I'll just guess by the size of her cheeks and the dimples in her elbows that she is right on track!

King of the Mountain

So I told Jack we were going to be washing all the slipcovers today and by the time I turned around he was already busy "helping" me get them off the couch and loveseat. He was having so much fun I had to let him play awhile first. And so Jemma wouldn't miss all the fun, he wanted me to lay her on top so he could slide her down. Always thinking of others!

Can't argue with that

Ta Da!

Jack was super excited to get the tree but I don't think he realized it was actually coming in the house! When he saw it all decorated he yelled, "Ta Da!"

Time for a Christmas movie--see Jack eyeing the popcorn and hot chocolate?

Three cozy little cuties!

Tree hunting

I wasn't too excited about heading out tree hunting in the mud (still no snow here!) but it ended up being a gorgeous sunny day and the kids had a great time running around helping us look (they are usually in snow up to their bellies). Jack even helped cut it down!

This was Jack's first choice.

Found it!

The Nutcracker!

Ava had a really big day last Friday: she had music practice at school (her favorite!), a birthday party to attend (at McDonalds!!), and the Nutcracker in Spokane that night. Ed and I both have memories from when we were Ava's age of getting sick and missing out on a really great day of fun and there are all kinds of germs floating around Ava's class (pink eye, chicken pox, etc) so I was so worried she was going to come down with something but she woke up bright and early and ready to go!

My mom has taken us to the Nutcracker every year since I can remember and this was Ava's third year. She loves to dress up and go out to dinner and having her cousins along is always a treat. She was a little worried about Jemma who stayed home with her daddy and big brother but they did great!

Three awfully cute girls!

Like that face? She was trying out that "smile" all weekend--thank goodness she has already moved on!

She was very excited to wear the pearl necklace Ed bought me many years ago. Already accesorizing!

Morning cuddles

Jack and Jemma spent much of the morning cuddling. He kept saying, "she 'miled at me!" and "she talking to me!" and, of course, "she loves me!"

And I woke up to find this note posted on the fridge. What's better than that?

Christmas Parade!

I think I've mentioned how much we love parades and there's nothing like one in December so we bundled up and hit the streets to cheer on the locals (including Ava!) and even Santa!

Jemma's first parade!

Ava marched in the parade with her ballet class and she even got to pass out candy! She had a special candy cane saved just for Jack when she saw him.

We ended the night with hot chocolate in our snowman mugs which we usually save for the first snow but we figured a parade in December was just as good.

Mmmm, we love to squish her!

Happy December!

Now this is my idea of winter. It is 50 degrees and sunny and the kids could eat lunch outside today! I'd be happy if it snowed December 10th through the 25th and it all melted on the 26th! Keep your fingers crossed.

We have a match!

Everyone asks who Jemma looks like and we have had no clue, until my mom found this picture here. Guess who??....it's me! At the same age as Jemma and while I can not find a picture of her to prove this, in real life she looks exactly like this! I mean exactly like this--same mouth pose, same look in her eyes, same face shape. I can't stop looking at it.

Ouch!

I came home from somewhere to find this sad puppy.

Christmas is coming!

Goodbye Fall!

My favorite part of changing seasons is packing up the old decorations and bringing out the new (here's fall all piled in the kitchen). I always set up for winter the day after Thanksgiving, so after doing my part to support Black Friday (yes, I love that too!), I hurried home to dig out some Christmas cheer. It was a little trickier this year with all the breaks to take care of the baby (and a trip back to Wal-mart for diapers!) but I got it all out and cleaned up and the floors vacuumed (the most important part) in time for a cozy movie night.

Helping daddy do his share.

Ava's favorite part? Her village! She loves this--cozy lighted houses, little people, and snow!

My favorite part? These three stockings! I just keep staring at them--you'd think I would be use to the idea that yes, I do have three kids but I'm not!

Mmmm, I love them! We ordered Jemma's before she was even here!