This year, we brought in the New Year right!
We had spent the whole day at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house watching football, playing games and eating it up. Then when the New York ball was about 30 minutes from dropping, I rushed our family home. As soon as we got here, Micah turned on the jacuzzi, I got my camera, Micah and the kids got pots and pans, and we started counting down.
My kids look forward to banging pots and pans every year, and they went nuts at “midnight”.
When we got outside to bang, the kids all jumped in their new cars to drive and bang.
Then Micah put them in the stroller for our neighborhood parade.
But Scout drove instead of walked and talked Navy into riding along.
When we got home, they stayed outside to drive and bang while I prepared hot chocolate.
Everyone had their own cups ready to go for our new tradition we are starting to bring in the New Year….
The Polar Plunge!
With our clothes on we all jumped into the freezing pool.
It was 50 degrees and felt as cold as it sounds.
Scout was a trooper.
Navy was a little hesitant.
I talked to Dash beforehand, saying, “Dash, you are going to get really cold, but as soon as we are finished, you get to get really warmy in the Jacuzzi.”
He was AMAZING!
He didn’t do anything but smile and go along with it all.
After our freezing plunge, we all swam really fast into the hot tub and then hung out for about an hour.
We swam in our clothes, and I think my kids were having the time of their lives!
Scout said, “This is the awesomist thing I have ever done!”
I kind of agree.
Swimming in the hot tub with your family in the dead of the winter cold — is almost the awesomist thing I have ever done!
Happy New Year!
May 2014 be the best yet.
I’m crossing my fingers!
I am used to really strong babies. Scout rolled over at four days old. Dash wowed the nurses with his strong neck in the NICU. And Navy could headbutt me to tears at a very young age. But this little Pips is fragile. She is still little — 8 lbs, and she has easily been my most delicate. It has been several weeks — probably since she was two months — that she has been holding her head up strong and proud. She loves her tummy time, and she is constantly arching up on her hands to look around and see the world. But nothing gets her up and about faster than if she hears the voice of one of her favorites. So when she was on her tummy this afternoon, and Scout laid in front of her to talk his sweet talk to her, guess what little strong girl immediately arched her way up to make eyes with her brother.
This boy is so charming it is sickening. He has about everyone who knows him wrapped around his little finger. Including me! But as the mother, I still have to pay down the law from time to time. Especially when he comes straight up to hit me (or someone else), and has the word “sorry” coming out of his mouth before his hand makes it back to his body. It is naughty, but pretty funny at the same time.
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The other thing he has done a few times lately is regurgitate naughty things his older siblings say.
Such as the time I asked him toady to “do a little dance”, and he said, “NEVER”!
Thank you Navy.
Or the times he sings the Christmas songs with the obnoxious lyrics.
Thanks Scout.
The times he reaches out to give someone something, and he says, “Just tricking!”
Thanks Navy.
Or the times he says “Yike this one” which means “I don’t like this one.”
Thanks picky Scout.
Or the times he says, “Oh crap!”
Thanks my other child — Nonnie!
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This kid will always charm his way out of everything, but I am hoping to nip most of the naughtiness in the bud while he still thinks I have some authority in this home.
Krispy left some tiny candy cane cups for the kids.
We have been planning to put hot chocolate in them for a few weeks, but haven’t until tonight.
Tonight was the night, and we filled them with homemade hot chocolate and homemade whipped cream.
Scout liked the first drink and then said it was a bit too minty.
Navy is a fan of all things sweet.
And this boy is a fan of all things edible.
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Candy Cane Hot Chocolate….Check.
Ever since this girl’s daily prune juice cocktail, she has been one much-happier camper!
But one thing that hasn’t changed is her really good sleeping skills. She sleeps a ton of the day away, and all through the night.
No matter when I put her to bed at night — 9:00 or 11:00, she wakes up at 6:45.
And interestingly enough, 6:45 is Scout’s exact wake up time during the school week.
I’m not sure if this is a coincidence or just a gift.
But my little girl, who sleeps through the night, and is my own personal alarm clock at exactly the time I need to make sure Scout is up, is definitely amongst other things … a gift!
Scout has been taking an after-school chess class. I wasn’t sure if he was too young to get it all. But the times Micah and I have played against him have surprised us. For a little kid, he gets all of the pieces and how they move. He understands the game. He also understands offense. His defense is a little weak, and his strategy needs some work. But he is well on his way to becoming a good little chess player.
As for now, I still hold my title high as…
THE BEST CHESS PLAYER IN THIS HOUSE!
Trey and Doey stayed a few days after Christmas, and it was so fun for my kids.
To say that my kids are obsessed with all cousins is definitely accurate!
And so am I.
This day, I had to do a bunch of insurance and rental house stuff, and I was able to do it so easily because my kids were playing with the cousins all afternoon.
It started out with an afternoon in the pool.
Then they created a “Frozen Party”.
Afterwards, they showered up as I finished up.
And then in honor of their Frozen talk, we finished up the afternoon by heading over to the theater to see it again.
We welcome cousins anytime!
Especially these older ones who aren’t above playing with my young kids!
Navy is pretty determined to grow her bangs out. So while Chloe stayed for a few extra days after Christmas, and did Icka’s hair a few times, Navy insisted that her bangs be back. Because they are in that in between stage, Chloe decided to slick them over to one side and use a bobby pin to secure them in place. When Navy came out to show us her beautiful hairdo, my mom said and spelled, “Looks like H I T L E R.”
Navy said, “what did you spell?”
My mom respelled, “H I T L E R”.
Then Navy was trying to figure it out…..”H I T…hhhhiiiiittttt….Hideous!”
We were all laughing, and were a bit surprised that she came to a pretty close conclusion.
Doey got to stay for a few days after Christmas!
I was SO excited, because everyone needs a Doey around.
She is like Skilly was back in the day.
The ultimate little assistant.
This evening, she grabbed the camera and started snapping photos and created quite the photoshoot.
I am not a huge fan of cameras post babies (don’t worry, one day I will be back to camera hog!), but I like that I actually have some photos with my baby.
And she caught Pippi’s best smile to date!
And then Navy jumped in for some sister shots.
Doey…
This little girl and I thank you!
I was sleeping on the couch the morning after Christmas, and I heard in the distance the trash man!
I hurried down to wake up Micah, and he and I got going on our two trees. He was taking out the first one when the trash man got to our street. We weren’t sure which trash he was taking (the normal/recycle/other guy) and it was the other guy who takes the leaves and plants and CHRISTMAS TREES! I called down to Micah to hurry back, and he ran like a speeding bullet. Withing four minutes, he ran up, I held the tree as he unscrewed it, he picked it up and ran down the stairs with it. Our house was already passed, but the neighbor across the street was up next. Micah ran and put it down, and it was gone a minute later!
So by 8:30 am, our trees were down and gone!
Just the way I like it!
Now…let the cleaning begin!
This girl is the best cleaner we’ve got!
She vacuumed for at least an hour.
This boy hung out in his new bus, and faked sleep.
This boy helped himself to the donut stash downstairs.
And this girl hung out in everyone’s arms.
After vacuuming, these two played and played in the bus while Micah, the other adults and I tidied a bunch of the house up.
And then, it was off to Big Air and Baja Fish Taco for a day of fun.
Because it had been at least twelve hours since our last day of fun!
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