Wiggle, wiggle...

About six months ago Emily was practicing her races in the house when she slipped on the hardwood floor and hit her front tooth.  Over the next few months it gradually became very clear that the tooth was dead and not growing anymore.  Our pediatrician and dentist both assured us that it was no big deal but we both still felt so terrible for the whole incident.  Then, while we were sledding over Christmas break, Emily slipped on the ice and pushed the tooth up and sideways into her gums.  Every day since she has been wiggling away, ready for it to come out.  Daddy plays dentist every night, sure that it just needs to be pulled, but his little patient always assures him that it will come out when it is ready...

Date Night...

Bryan and I always go to a concert for our first date after each child.  We saw the Dixie Chicks after we had Emily, Ryan Adams while we were pregnant with Jack, Cold Play after we had Jack and even snuck in Pearl Jam, Kenny Chesney and ACDC a few months later ( I went to KC with my sister and Bryan went to ACDC with Andy Enfield).  So when Bryan asked if I was ready for another concert my answer was yes of course. 

Last Thursday night Cousin Alison came down and helped my mom out with the kids so that we could go see Amos Lee at the Moore Theater.  The kids were still a little under the weather so I was hesitant about leaving them but I knew they were in good hands. 

The venue was breath taking, the tickets were cheap and the music was magical to say the least.  There really is nothing like live music...you just drink it up as it trickles down to your toes.  When it all comes to an end you feel refreshed and if you are lucky maybe even a little enlightened...

If you want to see a few clips from the concert you can see them on YouTube on these links...

Careless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbgzs73zryA

I Wanna Know:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHlKsyioARc

Here's his video of Arms of a Woman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th4SwSpaRWU&feature=fvwk

happy fathers day in january...

Hmmmm...what does it say about me when I am finally giving my dad his final Father's Day gift (from June) in January?  Tucked away in his basket of gifts way back in June was a menu ticket inviting him to our house for a homemade dinner featuring a few of his favorites...

Our January healthy eating goals were definitely put to rest for the day and those of us who had on sweat pants were happy to have elastic around the waist line.  Better than the food though was the company...

Jack entertained everyone with his fancy trick...sticking blocks down his shirt...

We had a super fun night visiting, playing and celebrating what an amazing father and Grandfather my dad is.  We can't wait until June when every day can be this fun!

pick-me-up...

Thank you Auntie Jenny and Uncle Zach for the incredible pick-me-up today.  When the UPS man arrived my brain quickly drew a blank as it scrambled to remember what on earth I had ordered.  Never did we imagine that it was an early Valentine's Day present from the two of you!

You made one little girl a very happy one today and in return you made me one happy momma.  After a quick pep talk about why it would be alright to have a little soda on a non-camping day or holiday she was ready at the counter, fingers itching away for her glass. For one solid hour she drooled over the soda and sipped it in her tiny glass until every last ounce of that super berry hot pink soda had disappeared.  She made up stories about the princess who was trapped on the label of the bottle and heroic fairies came to the rescue.

Thank you for a magical day! 

Before the germs...

I should have known what was headed our way when more kids were absent than present at preschool on Thursday.   I should have known that Emily wasn't just simply "growing" on Saturday when she took two day time naps (she NEVER naps anymore) and still went to bed at 7:45 that night.  I should have listened to that tiny little voice inside my head that knew those germs would surely pass through these doors but everything within me hoped that we would be just fine.

All three kiddoes have been sick with this yucky stuff and it is a pitiful sight to say the least.  The coughing is relentless as well as the watering eyes and runny noses.  Both Emily and Jack have been coughing so hard that they end up vomiting and poor Charlie had just recoverd from scratching his eyeball when he got sick.  With nose plungie in hand, tissues in our pockets and a stock pile of Sham Wows for soaking up vomit we have been busy to say the least.

Thank goodness we did some fun stuff before the germs invaded our fun.

Jack gets out ALL of the painting supplies almost every day...

 

We made Valentine hearts out of crayons a few weeks ago.  I know it is a little early to start celebrating Valentines Day but after I took down all of the Christmas decorations the house just felt so bare...

Charlie tested out the "new" chair downstairs...

Jack has become obsessed with the Bumbo...

Once the hearts had all cooled Emily strung each one on fishing line and hung them in the window.  This was one of my favorite projects to do with my mom when I was little and it makes my heart happy to see Emily and Jack enjoying the same activities...

While Emily was busy stringing the hearts Jack took off outside, with just a diaper and a jammie shirt on, to help Daddy with a little yard work.  I managed to get him back inside to put on a pair of pants and some boots but the jammie shirt was not budging...

We are now on day four of being sick and the kids are definitely getting a little cabin fever.  No preschool, visitors or trips out of the house.  We've watched The Polar Express, Toy Story 3 and The Little Mermaid too many times to count and are living on Popsicles and Lipton soup.  I can't wait for three healthy, happy babies to return and resume our normal lives again!

snow.

We LOVE snow in this house!  When the first few flakes started to fall on Sunday morning we all raced to the window doing the snow dance.  They were the plumpest flakes I had ever seen and within two hours we had over six inches of scrumptious snow covering everything in sight.  The kids were super eager to get out and play but we hauled them to church anyway and promised a fun filled day when we returned.

We started the fun in our backyard...

Every other year it seems we get a snow just like this and every other year we seem to add another member to our family...

I parked Charlie in a stroller so that I could get a few pictures of Jack and Emily with Bryan.  He is getting heavier and heavier to tote around and his slippery snowsuit makes the whole process quite cumbersome...

Bryan started making the body for frosty while Jack scurried along side him...

 

When they finally had the bottom snow ball down Jack took a seat...

Two years ago Emily did the exact same thing...

Once frosty was complete we piled the kids in the truck and headed down to the 5 acre park in our neighborhood to do some more sledding...

Mount Baker was looking lovely in the distance...

As soon as we reached the top of the slope Jack sat on the sled and to his surprise he quickly descended down, down, down the slope...

Emily and Bryan quickly jumped on the other sled and joined him...

Emily was determined to only go backwards just like Mater (from the movie Cars). She kept shouting, "I'm backwards driving!" the whole way down....

Bryan and Jack would follow behind at a much slower rate...

One last look at Baker and then we headed back to the truck...

Jack fell asleep within seconds.... face smooshed against the back window and hands still pawing at glass.  Bryan transferred him carefully to his bed where I am sure he continued to dream about giant snowflakes and fast driving sleds...