Better late than never

So the checkout girl at Old Navy informed me a couple weeks ago that my driver's license had expired back in July. Oops. So I went in last week to get a new one and when I saw my picture I realized I actually am getting older. Seriously, it has been occuring to me a lot since my last birthday that I no longer could pass for a college student (duh, I know). I headed to the gym right after picking up my license and I spent my whole run thinking that yeah, no kidding, I look older, a lot has happened in the past four years! We sold our first house, bought and completely ripped out and replaced everything in our second house, had little Jack four weeks early after a week on bed rest, planned over 25 weddings and a bunch of other parties and rehearsal dinners, drove 50,000 miles (to who knows where!), was there for the birth-days of four nieces and nephews, had sweet (huge and chubby) Jem, ran a marathon (and several half-marathons), spent over 100 hours cleaning toilets and scrubbing sinks, cooked over 1000 meals, and changed over 5000 diapers....so yeah, I look older than I did four years ago! And here's to the next four years (which, thank goodness, will include a lot less diapers!).

Snuggles

A year ago.

Last night.
(Ava got this shot!)

Bedtime stories

Ava is now the official story reader. Jack loves it and while Jemma is not allowed on the couch (because she grabs the books!), she still joins the fun.

He cracks me up!

What a goober!

Ava hired Jack to babysit her baby Kate today. He tucked her in his bed and pretty much left her there all day. Although, he did prop up the lid from his toybox so she wouldn't roll out! He worked hard for that penny she paid him!

And speaking of babysitters, yesterday Ava said, "do you know babysitters are so much fun?! They let you do all kinds of things. (backpeddle...) I mean they don't let you do stuff you aren't supposed to but when you want a snack, they give it to you, and when you want to play a game, they say 'which game?' and get it out!" Ahhhh, if only moms were so much fun!

She's reading "The Littles Throw a Wedding"

The Littles! I love these books. I love that she is reading them!

Thanks grandpa.

Jack's had a Lincoln Log hanging out of his mouth all day. I finally asked what was up. Ava said, "Oh, that's just his cigar."

Lookey here

I just swiped this out of Jemma Jane's little mouth. Arrgh.

Happy Christmas!

The tree and the cuties in their Christmas jammies.

Last year.

My babies are growing!

Finding the perfect tree!

Hiking in.

Jack has been talking about chopping down the tree for weeks! He wouldn't let go of the saw and he jumped right in there.

And then he called for just a little back-up.

Buddies.

In the thirty minutes or so it took to find our tree, Jemma somehow managed to wet completely through her diaper, two shirts, and her jeans. She usually loves the backpack but she was really crying and I was carrying her awhile before it soaked through my coat and I realized what happened. Poor pumpkin! It was freezing!

Here she is on the car ride out:

Here she is all stripped down for the car ride home:

So. Funny.

This makes my face hurt from laughing so hard! This one is just as bad. And this one is for you traditionals!

Merry Christmas!

Thanks Carissa for the original! :)

Cousins (can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em!)

I've seen a lot of these two lately and while Jack and Sara usually get along with great success, the other day they just kept pick, picking at each other. Here's an example:

Sara: my mom said I get to go to the Nutcracker next year.

Jack: No Sara, you're going to preschool with me next year.

Sara: No Jack!! My mom said I am going to the Nutcracker next year!

Jack: Sara! My mom said you are coming to preschool next year!!

Sara: (with squinty eyes, pulls out the big gun) I am going to the Nutcracker. AND my mom said boys can't come!!

So I made them watch cartoons (is that wrong??) and played with Ben instead.

Because he loves me. A Lot. He hugs me and kisses me and claps his hands for me and it won't last long so I'm taking advantage of it now! He even gets jealous when I hold Jemma (and she gets really jealous when I hold Ben). Aww, the dilemma of too much baby love!
Jem absolutely adores him!

sad little puppy.

This little Jem had a rough day yesterday--lots of crying, lots of cuddles, and pretty much every time I looked at her she was laying her head down wherever she could.

Jem

Taking her baby for a stroll!

Jemma had her one-year check a couple weeks ago and she is growing up! She started out off the charts at nine pounds and then by 6 months she really slowed down and was just 25% for weight but 95% for height. In the last month she has seriously chubbed up again and is now 50% for weight and 75% for height. She's almost exactly the same as Ava was at one.

Jack had been really worried all morning about her shots and he kept telling her she just had to be brave and it would be over quick. As soon as a I picked her up she stopped crying and after giving the nurse a dirty look, Jack gave her a hug and she hugged him right back. Jack figured Jemma was too young to pick a toy out of the treasure box so he grabbed himself a book on cd and holed up in Ava's room listening to it the rest of the day.

After dinner entertainment

Ava and Jack are always putting on shows for us. Usually they involve some sort of dancing and Jack always plays his air guitar (it's his go-to move!). But last night Ava surprised us by performing the entire 15 minute play her class is doing next week for the school assembly. She had every part memorized with the motions and songs. She has always had a serious talent for observation and imitation which is why if we ever need to know or remember anything, we always ask her first!

Helping daddy hang the Christmas lights!