2014 - A dubious beginning

 

Looks like fun!  Hard to believe it, but Dawson is wedged between Carter and Mike!

 

 

Well, 2014 has certainly hit me hard.  What began as a case of wine flu turned into a three day bout struggling to keep food down.  On Friday I was so weak from not eating for the past three days, I began to get dizzy and start to black out every time I stood up.  The poor kids were on a steady diet of television and whatever food they could find.  For lunch Carter served his brother and sister a very balanced diet of candy canes, tortilla chips, lara bars and cheese sticks.  Well, thankfully Mike was able to come home from work early and rescue me!  The good news is I'm feeling much better today and have even been able to keep food down.  It's so easy to take your health for granted, but it really is such a huge blessing.

 

 

So the kids have been spending lots of time playing with Christmas toys, jumping on the trampoline, and reading books with me.  On Thursday I was able to spend some time laying on the floor reading James and the Giant Peach with Carter.  Let me tell you, this kid is hooked!  He was begging me not to stop reading "Please, just one more word Mom!"  I even sat next to the tub and read to him for about twenty minutes while he was getting washed up.  This kid loves Roald Dahl!  So obviously not too much excitement here.  Once again I'm so thankful to Mike for taking care of me for THREE days, keeping the house going and the kids occupied.  2014 only has to get better from here, right? 

 

 



 

 

Christmas with the Labbett's

This weekend we spent time with Meme, Bob-Bob, Uncle Patrick, Aunt Margie, Brendan and Riley.

 

Cousins!

 

We opened presents and played for awhile.

 

Don't they look like snow queens?

 

We played Headbands with the family, it was hilarious.  Basically you get a card put on your headband and based on the actions of others you have to guess what it says on the card. 

 

With a few modifications for the kids, we all played together and had a good time.

 

Clearly we are being skydivers, Brendan!

 

Hmm, can't remember what Uncle Patrick was trying to be, but it's pretty funny.

 

My favorite was Mike acting out carrot with Ava.  He positioned her just so, then proceeded to pull her out of the ground. 

 

Thanks everyone for coming, we had a great time!

 

 

Late December Randoms

Some random pictures and stories from the past week:

 

 

 

Carter's favorite new toy:  my armband with cell phone.  He will borrow it, run laps and go up and down the steps for thirty minutes at a time.  I love that Ava made sure he had a headband on!

 

Ava made a present for both of her brothers.  She picked books, wrapped them up and put them under the tree!  So Sweet!

 

Silly Sleeper:  Carter and pengos wrapped up in blue with a hat on.  Is that a toilet paper roll on his nose?

 

Mike took these sweet pictures of the kids.

 

Brothers don't shake hands, brothers gotta hug.

 

Another silly sleeper:  Ava is sitting criss cross applesauce, leaning forward with her head on the bed.  How in the world is she sleeping like that?

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas!  Obligatory top of the stairs photo.

 

 

 

Little Dockie Doodle with some of his new toys from Santa:  tractor, Steam Train Dream Train book, Chuggington game and Lego train. 

 

Ava has been asking for footie pajamas, so I was happy to oblige.

 

Bo and Grandma got Carter warm camo gloves for the winter.  He wore them all day long, even to dinner!

 

Some of Ava's loot from Santa: a unicorn, Barbie, Baby Alive Doll and some baby clothes. 

 

Carter has been wanting a zip up hoodie forever!

 

Bo and Grandma found Dawson the perfect gift:  a construction train.  He loves it!

 

 

Dawson, show me your arm.  Well, wrong arm, but you get the point.

 

My poor little guy was acting fussy, cranky and crying.  First he told me he was scared of the wind.  He has a cold so I took his temperature, just in case but eventually he fessed up that his arm hurt.  After looking at it, we realized that he burned his palm on a curling iron.  Ava got a new one for Christmas, so I curled her hair.  Afterwards I unplugged it and left it in the sink, but he must have used the step stool to grab it.  Poor guy, it was red and blistered.  We bandaged it with a little antibiotic ointment and he felt much better. 

 

Some happier memories:

 

• Sitting in the back of the van next to Ava, singing Christmas Carols while looking at Christmas lights.
• We played a new game that you have to do crazy actions.  I had to crab walk and crawl for my turns and Dawson took both times as opportunities to jump on my back and get a free ride!
• Carter ran around all day in his Ninja turtle shell.  This kid really likes to dress up!

 

 



Christmas Eve

After waking up to a light dusting of snow (Hooray for a white Christmas!) Mike gave me the gift of a free morning.  So I enjoyed a nice run and yoga class and came home to a pepperoni roll lunch.  Then onto the fun part of Christmas Eve!

Grandma and Bo came in the afternoon and Ava immediately confiscated their santa face!

 

 

 

I spent a good three hours sewing those cotton balls onto Mike's old under shirts.  I tried gluing them with hot glue and they popped off.  I thought it would be easier to just sew them on instead of running to the store for fabric glue, boy was I wrong!  Anyways,  all that mattered is that the kids looked incredibly cute in their sheep costumes for children's mass.  During the homily the priest called up all the children dressed as Mary, Joseph, etc. and told the story of the first Christmas.

 

 

After we got home they picked Santa's cookie....

 

sprinkled food for the reindeer......

 

 

 

and Santa came!!!!

 

 

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Today was Ava's Happy Birthday Jesus party at school.  Of course, we had to get all dolled up for the occasion.

 

 

 

Isn't this little cloak the cutest?  I think she looks like an old fashioned caroler.

 

This kid was there for the cake.  First the kids sang a couple of little songs and then it was cake time.  After each song he asked me "Now cake Mom?  Can we have cake now?  No more songs, just cake!"

 

Sorry bud, we have to wait until the performance is over.

 

This girl cracks me up.  When she walks in I hear her say something that sounds like "I feel sleepy."  Then I say "Why are you sleepy?"

 

"No Mom, I'm going to marry Jamie." 

 

(the little boy standing next to her)

 

Of course, every parent in the room heard this and started laughing.  She told me they decided they are good friends so they are going to get married.  Ok, good to know.

 

Other than that a pretty uneventful performance, Happy Birthday Jesus!

Growing Up

 

 

Yesterday was a big day for our little Dockie boy.  Ava's preschool has a playgroup that lasts for three hours.  You can sign your child up anytime and they read a book, do a craft, eat lunch, play in a bounce house and just have a lot of fun.  I asked if I could put both Ava and Doc into playgroup for the day, even though he wasn't a student there and they agreed!  This was wonderful for me, because it gave me three hours to finish up Christmas shopping. 

 

Taken on his birthday 12/2/13.  Mike picked him up and took him on a date which included a Christmas tree cookie.

 

This kid was SO excited to go to school.  He carried his Lightning McQueen lunch box around all morning.  I was a little nervous about how he was going to do, because he has never been in a school setting before and he hasn't been away from me for this long.  But he walked right in like he owned the place and proceeded to charm the teacher.  I guess I should have expected that!  When I returned she told me he did a great job and followed all directions and routines.  This makes me feel good, I guess he will be ready for preschool next year!