Christmas in warm weather

This was our first Christmas to stay at home with the kids and though it was definitely different to be here, it was very nice. We had been so busy getting the new house put together that it was nice to sit back and relax for the holiday (if that's what you call it with three little ones!) We attempted Christmas Eve mass but that last until the kids melted down (or rather ran away, Hannah...) so we came home and had dinner in front of the tree and played a few games. The next morning was very fun when Caroline woke up and realized Santa had came. Hannah and Andrew did not realize yet of course. But Caroline LOVED it!! Hannah liked ripping the presents open and they enjoyed all of it. That evening we had a wonderful dinner with neighbors and ended the festivities. It was a very Merry Christmas!

Tap dancin' fool...

Caroline made her tap dancing debut today in their performance of "The Nutcracker". I can't say that we have a tap dancing prodigy on our hands but she does have a great time doing it. Really I just think she likes to hear her feet tapping. Who wouldn't? Personally, I think she gets her talent from my Aunt Rita! Hannah wanted to be a part of the whole thing too as she was trying to put on all of Caroline's tutus and shoes so I let her have her moment in the spotlight as well. Very cute!!

Caroline's Preschool Debut

Caroline's preschool did their Chrismtas program today and it was so cute. All of the kids looked a little nervous at first and then they really warmed up. The songs were very cute from "Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer" to " Away in a Manger" to a variety of other children's Chrismtas songs. These videos are of a song to the tune of the Wheels on the Bus. Sorry it is so bouncy but I was holding Andrew at the same time and trying to keep him happy! Merry Christmas from Caroline's preschool!

Helping out...

The girls like to help me -- whether it is always helpful or not, that is the question. We are working on the right ways to help. Hannah loves to try and "help" Andrew to hold toys, hold her sock (her favorite lovey) or to bring him his burp clothes to cover him up. Her intentions are in the right place but her placement is not always the best! Caroline does a really good job with Andrew and he loves to watch her and thinks she is hilarious. He actually has a belly laugh which is very cute. This picture is of the girls "helping out" when we came home from Costco. They just wanted to lay on all of the toilet paper! The video is Hannah helping Andrew.

Happy Halloween!!

We went trick or treating in St. Louis this year. First, on Main Street in St. Charles where all of the businesses hand out candy. We saw tons of kids and everyone got dressed up (including the parents!). We trick or treated with Caroline (aka Santa Claus), Hannah (aka ladybug) and Andrew (aka pumpkin). We were definitely the only one trick or treating Santa Claus! Caroline's choice -- she knew what she wanted to be and couldn't be deterred so we found a costume on line and wala! Santa Claus. Hannah got the hang of it right away -- taking candy from every bowl and running from house to house! Funny though, no one was interested in the candy the next day (except for Mommy!). It was a very fun Halloween!

Visit to St. Louis

Hard to believe that we were able to leave with the three (under the age of 3)but my sister Katie flew out here to help me fly back with the three little ones. What a workout that was -- not easy to manage the three of them which made a 3 1/2 hour flight seem like FOREVER!! Anyway, we made it and it was a good visit!! We were able to see quite a few of my friends in St. Louis and my grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins. We were trick or treating on Main Street and around my old neighborhood which was very fun. Caroline and Hannah loved having different toys to play with and Andrew, well Andrew just liked to be held which happened much more than I am able to at home which was wonderful for him!! We made it back safe and sound (and a little insane) I might add!

Pumpkin patch

October did not provide very good weather so we had to wear boots the day we went to the pumpkin patch! The girls loved it --picking out all of the pumpkins, pretending like they were drums, running through the fields and picking up the dried gourds. It was hard to contain them and the pictures were hard to snap! Andrew was just along for the ride in the front carrier. Wait till next year!

Finally summer arrived!

We have had such a dismal summer with very little sunshine and definitely no warm temperatures. So finally, last week, summer arrived and it was wonderful. We went to the beach, to the pool, had BBQs and played outside. The girls finally got to wear their summer sundresses and shorts and Andrew's legs were exposed for the first time! The rains came all too soon but we enjoyed our week of wonderful summer weather!

Andrew is two months old!

The time is flying or else I am just sleep deprived and all the days seem to run into one! Andrew is already two months old and very much a part of the family as the girls love to dote over him and he smiles right back at them. This picture is of him wearing a onesie that we gave his cousin William almost 7 years ago but the saying fits him perfectly... "wish for little fish" -- Thanks Aunt Tracy!

I have been attempting to get a picture of the 3 kids but here is how much luck I am having. I will try to remember to take more pictures as he gets bigger.

Hannah's on the move

FINALLY, FINALLY, FINALLY.... Hannah is a full time walker now! She cruises everywhere and I think she loves her new found freedom of walking around on 2 legs. I forget how much I love the first stages of when they walk with their arms out like Frankenstein protecting themselves from falling. She now walks holding things in her hands and handing things to anyone who will take them from her. She is so proud of herself and loves walking around everywhere. We are all thankful -- especially this mommy with a very sore back from the two little ones!!

Caroline and Trent "camping"

Caroline and Daddy's favorite pastime is spending the night on the boat -- their version of camping. She gets so excited (and so does Daddy!) to sleep there. They go paddleboarding after the sun sets and watch for shooting stars and just simply hang out. Caroline loves it because she gets to stay up late and have time by herself without her siblings! I think Daddy loves it for the same reasons AND he gets to spend more time on the boat. These are some of the pictures and video from their latest adventure.

Andrew and his smiling little face!

Andrew has been giving us smiles for a couple of weeks now. I wasn't sure if it was gas or not but now he is definitely smiling when we talk to him and when he wakes up. It is the cutest thing as it lights up his whole face. Overall, he has been very sweet and getting used to his sisters poking and prodding him, handing him lots of toys (Caroline has been wrapping lots of presents for him for when he "turns three" she says). He is adjusting to life with the girls and we love having him here!

Caroline as a scuba diver...

Caroline is very into balloons and we went to dinner and there was a balloon "artist" and she was in heaven. He made her this scuba diver outfit. She wore it everywhere and even asked if when we went to Target if she needed to take it off because they might think she needed to pay for it. (I always tell her she can't bring her toys into Target because they will think we need to buy it)! It was very cute.

Hannah has also found her new favorite spot since Andrew has been born -- his bouncy seat. She definitely spends more time there than Andrew does. She loves it and brings her sock over to it, sucks on her two middle fingers, turnds the music on and just relaxes. It is very cute.

I promise the next post will have pictures of Andrew in it!!

California Dreamin'

Finally, we had a beautiful California day -- perfect beach weather! The girls had a great time playing in the sand and watching Daddy surf. Andrew took a snooze at the beach and enjoyed the sound of the ocean waves. This is how the summer should be so hopefully we will get a late one this year! Enjoy the pictures!!

Andrew at one month

Crazy how fast the time flies! Can't believe it has already been one month since we little Andrew was born. Thankfully, we have had help since he has been born -- thanks to my mom and Trent's parents who each came for two and a half weeks. I don't think we could've made it through the first month without them!! Andrew is getting bigger and cuter all the time. I swear he has started smiling at us and his sisters love to love on him. Caroline gets out her guitar and sings to him and brings him a million "buddies" (her stuffed animals) and tells me she is keeping an eye on him. Hannah says "hi baby" all the time and has figured out how to scale the sides of the pack 'n play where he sleeps to try and see him. She also loves to pull up my nursing cover to look at him while he is feeding and say "Hi baby". But her very favorite thing to do is take off his little socks and use them for herself (she uses socks -- only kids socks, mind you -- to comfort herself while she sucks her two fingers!). Andrew takes it all in stride -- thankfully!! I have tried to keep up with taking pictures amidst the chaos and have yet to take a good picture with all three kids b/c putting Hannah next to Andrew without an adult is just asking for trouble. So hopefully I will get one soon. Enjoy these for now!