Easter 2011

Here documents our annual Easter Egg Hunt at Founder's Park in Syracuse and then our family hunt at home. Happy Spring!

Zoe's 4th Birthday

I've decided that all a four-year-old needs is her own makeup kit and the permission to glitter herself up. I look at this beautiful little girl now and can't help but feel the nostalgia of time passed. When did my kids become well, little people? Zoe is very passionate. She has one volume level--LOUD, loves to sing, still has a special place in her heart for her thumb and her baby blanket and adores babies. She loves to eat and will eat just about anything. Her husky little voice is definitely one of her most unique qualities, and recently I've noticed a maturing enunciation in how she says her words. She is very emotionally-driven and is usually very outgoing, a regular Little Miss Sassy.
She got to have two birthday parties--a friend party on Saturday and an extended family one on Sunday. She was SO excited to open her presents and eat her cake. The simple pleasures of life, the simple pleasures of life. It makes all the work, preparation and stress worth it to see her, well, plain happy. We sure do love you, Zobots!

Midway Ice Castles

Andrew and I had the rare opportunity of a night away from the kids at the end of February. This was only the second time we've been on an overnighter alone since we've been parents. Thanks to my mom for a gift certicate to the Blue Boar Inn in Midway, we took advantage of this generous Christmas gift as soon as we could. It was a much needed adult night, and we were so impressed by these gorgeous ice castles located in downtown Midway. They were huge and absolutely breathtaking. Hooray for overnighters and overnight babysitters!

Christmas/Holiday catch-up

As you can see, keeping up on my blog has not been a resolution of mine. It's so far behind.... I've been so bad about posting and pictures. In an attempt to redeem myself some and for catch-up sake, here's a recap of the end of the year:

Zoe's Christmas Preschool Program: She was one of the main stars as she got to participate in multiple songs. (I guess is pays to be the best (and loudest) singer. She loves to use her pipes (and not just for singing). She's our loud one for sure.

Christmas Season:It was fun finally getting to decorate our new house. It was a lot of work, but I was pleased with the end result. Unfortunately, Beck is at that age where only the top half of the Christmas tree got decorated because he was not about to leave anything alone.

Christmas Day was a whirlwind as always and the kids got spoiled.
Here's the kiddos in their new Sunday duds thanks to G&G Fedor,
and here's the mister and me in a shared-birthday hug (now both in our fourth decade-yikes!)

October 2010

Beck turns 1!
October 12, 2010

Here's my baby boy, Beck, turning one! His first year really went by quickly. It's been such a joy to have a boy, and he is doted upon by his older sisters. (sometimes too much!) He is such a playful little guy with a quirky sense of humor. He loves to pull funny faces and will laugh when others are laughing (like he's 'in' on the joke). He has started to exhibit a drama factor which I thought was only reserved for girls. He'll throw himself on the floor and roll around with an extremely frustrated and mad-sounding wail to show how upset he is when he wants something. He loves to 'pat' those whom he loves (esp. his Dad) and will follow us around like a little puppy dog wanting to be picked up for a grown-up vantage point. He doesn't really like to cuddle or sit still but loves to climb the stairs and anything that's climb-able. He is an active one and loves to be outside.

He had a monkey smash cake for his party which we celebrated on the 9th and shared dinner and cupcakes with his guests. He is one loved little boy.We sure do like having him in our family.

The rest of October flew...so fast! We got a swagger wagon (van) at the beginning of the month and said goodbye to our great RAV4. Without any prompting or pleading on my part, Andrew was the one to suggest we get the van for sanity. The kids all fit in our RAV but it was tight enough quarters to have constant arguing, complaining and annoying-of-your-neighbor every time we got in the car. So we officially own a mini-van. Lily started swimming lessons and passed her first course. Beck started taking his first steps and then walking and got his second molar a week or so after his birthday.

We took advantage of some fall festivities and enjoyed the warmer weather when we could. Beck, I and my mom got to go with Zoe and her preschool to Black Island Farms and participate in a trailer ride around the farm, picking a pumpkin straight from the patch, hay slides, corn/sand boxes, pig races and barrel-train rides. Then, that weekend, we had a Halloween lunch and party at my mom's house, and all the cousins got to see each other's costumes and have some fun before venturing out Halloween (eve) night. We had a trunk-or-treat at the church which ended up being the greatest thing. The kids got scads of candy in an hour or so and all right before it started to rain. Andrew took the girls trick-or-treating for about half an hour in the cold wetness, and they'd had their fill. We had very few trick-or-treaters come knocking what with us being in a culdesac and it being under construction, so it was a quiet night. Here's the baby cow, the pirate princess and the cheeky monkey in their Halloween attire. Trick-or-treat!

September 2010

Here's Miss Zoe ready for her first day of preschool at Barneck Preschool. She was a little nervous but seemed to be having a grand time when we came to pick her up. She was excited for her own backpack and to get to share in the school experience.

Beck's 1st haircut. I took advantage of Beck being quite sick with a stomach bug and cut his hair for the first time. He did so well and I think it turned out so cute. Such a little man.

Duck Pond. We go to the Jensen Nature Park as often as we can and feed the ducks. The girls have a grand time surrounded by a hundred ducks and especially love chasing them back into the water.


Lagoon Day. We had the opportunity to go to Lagoon early September. We enjoyed fun activities/games and food with my stepdad's company and then let the kiddos get their ride on. Lily was a daredevil and couldn't get enough of all the speed, height and rush. Zoe rode most of them as well but was not as keen on the 'scarier' rides.

August 2010

Lily's 5th birthday party. My dad was here visiting from Kansas City, and we enjoyed his company for a few days while he stayed with us. Lily had lots of friends and family that came to spoil her, but she was a little upset that I didn't organize a friend party this year. She got her much wanted pillow pet among a lot of other things. She loves playing with friends and makes them easily. She looks forward to kindergarten but not the homework; however, she loves the art center and is always bringing home stacks of art projects to gift to us.

Davis County Fair. We have gone three years now and absolutely love it. The girls love the pony rides (and we love them because they're free). They got to pet the farm animals, watch a dog show, get a balloon shape and enjoy the festivities. Good times.

Zoe had her adenoids and tonsils removed--her second surgery in her short 3 1/2 years. She doesn't like the anesthesia after-effects, but I suppose no one really does. She was a champ and only had one day of bad soreness. She bounced right back and now doesn't snore.