Nothing better

Finally a warm day! Makes me ready for spring to hurry up and get here! We made it to James' favorite park today. He was able to run and burn off pent up energy with another kid! Meanwhile I was chasing the wild one climbing up and down everything. He is such a fun little guy. He was flirting with all the moms. After the park it was home to get Ansley off the bus and onto the backyard for some more fun.
We hit up the trampoline for some fun and exercise.


They just happened to be in this order!


He is too funny. He has the chance to take them both out and all he can think to do is "where is Henry!"


Trying his luck on standing up.


No the fun was not over for me yet... Drum roll please....
Our new closet!!!! I might put a sleeping bag in it tonight. It is amazing! This picture doesn't give it justice. The other side is similar! I wish I had taken a before picture.

Dress!

Finished Ansley's dress. This was such an easy dress to make! Can't wait to make her next one!








My first picture attempt. Guess who found the camera again.




Close up

Where has the time gone?

I just realized it has been a while since my last post. The kids have been doing well. The past two weeks have been "boring" as they would describe because it has been raining so much. I thought we moved to Seattle for a moment. My kids live for playing outside so being inside is rough! Even Henry wants to be outside. If you go outside without him it is the end of his world. I though when the rain stopped it would be nice. Nope! Now it is freezing. Good thing I got a pass to jump jump!
Henry has been keeping us on our toes. I don't recall my other two being climbers. Henry has made up for them. In a blink of an eye he can get on a chair and then the table. Amongst his craziness I would still call him our easiest baby. He is starting to really talk. He says uh oh, dada, mm for more, and night night. Hopefully we are done with ear infections for a while!!



Just waiting for him to figure out how do climb out.
James has been battling strep. We are on day 3 of a fever. So he has clocked in a lot if couch- TV time.
Ansley sold Girl Scout for her Daisy group this year! We didn't do door to door just family and friends! She got her second 9 week report card. 1 S and the rest were E's! So proud. She is a rockstars at reading!
I have gotten into making skirts for Ansley. She loves them. The red one has toil at the bottom of it!



I made the mistake of taking she and Frances to the store with me. So she has a fancy nancy skirt too. I just don't have a picture of it. That is her favorite one. I am almost done with her dress. I will post it when I am finished. I ran out of the fabric I need for the bottom hem!
I think that updates the last two weeks.

Thanks Santa!!

So if you read my Christmas post you know about the unfortunate karaoke accident within the first 5 minutes of Santa gifts. Ansley wrote a note to Santa.



So Santa wrote her back...



After her letter we told her that Santa told us where to return the broken one to. Only Santa didn't realize that the same exact one was out of stock. Awesomeness!!
So he decided that a gift card would do. Well giving a child free reign of the toy store is quite possibly the worst decision. Ansley could have spent all day in there. Luckily, she found the baby doll aisle and hung her hat between the couple aisles!! She had the best time!!!

Reflections on 2012.

2012 was a wonderful year for our family! Bob received a promotion at work. I stopped teaching full time. I still get out of the house 12-15 hours a week. I took on doing ABA therapy with Autistic kids in home. This job gives me the flexibility to make my schedule around the kids. I have enjoyed being at home with my kids and seeing them grow during the days instead of just on the weekends! This is a true blessing to our family!
Ansley finished up Kindergarten and headed to first grade at a brand new school! We have been very fortunate to have such wonderful teachers at both schools! She has become a true girl her own opinions and views on life! She is aw struck when the boys talk to her (especially the two that live next to us). Oh dear! She is such a caring little girl. She thinks about others and how she can make them feel better. She has become a book worm and loves to write her own novels! I am pretty sure she can read faster than me. Every night I walk into her room there is always a book laying on her face! The one thing she does enjoy as much as reading is playing outside. We are so blessed to have an amazing backyard and a street full of kids!
James has become a true boy! Nothing to small or big can be tackled or chased after. I am very grateful we have Henry who has started to show the same interest as his brother. James will be the first to run to you as give you a big hug and climb up into your lap for a cuddle. James as well as Ansley started a new school. He
is attending the preschool right next to our neighborhood! He has fit in well and is loving having a little home time with me. James' favorite saying is "it is taking for hours!" He will spend hours outside no matter what the temperature. He keeps us laughing with all the quirky ideas he comes up with! I keep meaning to put together a post of all his thoughts. Keep on the lookout for that one. Never a dull moment with James.
Not sure what our house would e like without Henry. He is always exploring every inch of the place. The first year with any kid is always exciting. He is such and easy kid and is starting to become interested in his toys and has developed the best personality. He eats constantly and is a good sleeper. I am not going to spend long on Henry because I have tried to post this year his growth every couple weeks! Lets just say I would have more babies if they were all this easy!


-Christine

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas with three kids is full of excitement and non stop surprises! This year Henry is on the move. Not to interested in the presents but got into the boxes and wrapping paper. All of December Henry has been fighting an ear infection. His poor little ears can not get rid of the fluid! So this week was no exception. He was put on one antibiotic and then switched to another one. So far we have been through 7 antibiotics. No need to say it I am chatting with the doctor next week.
Enough about Henry's ears... Santa was up until the wee hours preparing the toys for the kids. Santa delivered and the kids were excited!! James got a pedal digger, Ansley got a karaoke machine, and Henry got a grow with me kitchen. Unfortunately, the karaoke machine was run over by Henry within 10 minutes. He just pushed it and it hit the hard wood and broke. Ansley wrote a letter to Santa asking him to fix it. Santa's elves have their work cut out!!!
Below are some pictures from Christmas morning.
Henry wanted nothing to do with the picture. My big camera is not working so these were taken on my phone.
















We didn't realize the hammer was so little and dangerous. I thought it was plastic.




Oh dear!








She pulled out the camera this is awesome.




Cousins... Check out who loves Aunt caroline and her camera!




And this is what it really looks like! Yes Henry is going in for the bite.




Pretty sure Grandaddy is the only one who can say no without making Henry cry.



Cousins from the Money side!


Crutchfield group!


We have had a wonderful and blessed Christmas this year!!

Getting ready for Christmas

This year the house was decorated with some fun lights. The Christmas tree had ornaments on it from halfway up to the top! We worked really hard this season on helping our kids understand the true meaning of
Christmas! Our church did a wonderful job starting off the advent season with a Happy Birthday Jesus party. The kids made cute crafts! One if the best was the advent tree. It is a tree made from match boxes. Each day has an act of kindness to do!
Below is the link:
http://www.slpres.org/children.asp
James got to ring the Salvation Army bell for one of the guys in front of our local grocery store I give his hand a break. The smile on that mans face I will never forget. Of course James would not let me take a picture of him. We had a neighborhood friend over for hot chocolate. Check out the link it has the slips if paper that you can print off!
Below are pictures up until Xmas eve.
Santa came through the neighborhood with a big firetruck! James didn't sleep well that night.


Wait for it.....


Henry realizing who is holding him.


I made all 5 of our stockings this year!! Of course the kids made their yearly stockings but these are the main ones.


Christmas with the Crutchfield's side of the family!





Henry and James wanted nothing to do with this photo opp!

















Christmas Eve service. Ansley participated in the children's service which told the story of Jesus' birth. She sang Away in the manger with her choir! Then turned into a stable animal! We are so blessed to have such a beautiful service for the young ones!





Yes I was taking pictures again in church! But really what a sweet picture. And the church is still standing.


One last sit on the presents!



Time for bed Santa is getting near!!!