Seeing Santa

Almost exactly one year ago, I took the girls to a birthday party at a place in Lexington called Monkey Joe's. They love the place, but not the character. When the six foot Monkey Joe walked in to the party room, my girls became hysterical. I'm not exaggerating. Kate flew into my arms and Caroline wrapped herself around one of my legs, both of them sobbing and crying. They hated characters.

So a week ago when my mom wanted to take the girls to see Santa, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm not one of those parents who force my kids to see Santa while they scream and cry (ok, unless it's David). As it turned out however, Caroline was okay with it and actually enjoyed seeing Santa. Kate on the other hand wouldn't go within ten feet of him. Oh well. We got a pretty cute photo of Caroline with Santa anyway.

Christmas Program 2011

Yes, the girls' daycare is located within a church, Crestwood Christian Church. They also have an after school program for elementary school kids. These kids acted out Twas the Night Before Christmas in between the smaller kids songs. It was super adorable! Kate's class performed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (her favorite!) and Caroline's class did Up on the Rooftop.

A scene from the play. It was a packed house!

Jonah insisted on doing his homework by the light of his cell phone. So studious!

Kate being a reindeer.

Caroline mastered those sticks!

C & K were both thrilled that Grandma & Grandpa could attend.

I don't know why Kate's licking her coat.

Three Years Today

Born on her due date! Well to be fair, Kate had three due dates. December 13th, 16th, and 19th. At the beginning of my pregnancy no one told me which was the official due date. And so every time I went in for a prenatal check up, the nurse, ob-gyn, and I would have a discussion about how I had three due dates. On Friday December 12th, the doctor and I decided to go ahead and schedule my induction for December 16th. Once again I had hoped that I would go into labor on my own but it wasn't looking good. And I had been very concerned at the time that if we waited too late I would be in the hospital during Christmas, which I really didn't want to do because of Jonah and Caroline.

So the very next morning, Saturday December 13th, I began having contractions around 4am. I had had lots of contractions for weeks so I didn't really give them much thought. I remember David asking me if he should stay home from work and I told him to go, that I would call him if they progressed.

The contractions didn't stop. But didn't get any worse either. Later that morning I decided to walk Caroline to the playground to help pass the time. (You know I can't remember where in the heck Jonah was. Maybe at a friend's?) While we were at the playground the contractions started to get stronger and closer together. I got worried and decided we better get back home quick, and even cut through our neighbor's yard to get back to our house.

We got back and Caroline was hungry for lunch. So I decided I'd make us lunch (I know now that they won't let you eat once you go to the hospital) and put her down for a nap. We ate lunch okay but when I started to put her down for a nap the contractions started to get really strong and painful. I would have to stop, hold on to something, and just breathe. I started to pray too. C finally went to sleep and I called David. Come home. NOW! The contractions were only ten minutes apart but extremely painful. I remember he kept calling me back to make sure I was okay but I couldn't even talk while I was having a contraction. I remember I just whisper screamed at him JUST HURRY!

He finally got home and wanted me to call the doctor. No I hadn't called him yet. The funny thing about contractions is that in between them I felt perfectly fine, so I didn't think I should call yet since they were still ten minutes apart. CALL, David insisted. So I did. I told her that my contractions were only ten mins apart but extremely painful. Is this your first? she asked. No third. Uh you better come to the hospital and let us check you out. Once again our good friend Phil came to watch the kids so we could go to the hospital.

Once at the hospital, they signed me in, hooked me up, and discovered I was 8cms. Wow! This was going to be quick. The nurse asked if I wanted an epidural. Isn't it too late? I asked. I've never had one. What?! Oh you have to have an epidural, said the nurse. Sounds good to me! So I got an epidural ASAP and almost immediately after I had to push and out came Kate. We were at the hospital for less than two hours. The dr told me that Kate had been in the posterior position also called "face up" or "sunny side up," and that if she hadn't been we never would have made it to the hospital. Thank goodness for D!

And so my sweet little Christmas baby Kate Noelle was born. My smallest baby at 6lb 9oz and 19 ins. with black hair and super dark eyes. Beautiful. And then the real parenting adventures began! Happy Birthday Kate!!! We love you very much!

C's First Post Request

David and I really like to spend one on one time with each of the kids, when we get the chance. It's nice to be able to focus all of our attention on each one while spending some QT. So this year I had the idea to see a show at the children's theater with each preceded by lunch downtown. Caroline and I were going to see Madeline's Christmas. When I first told her about this, she asked if Kate could go and I thought maybe I messed up, but then she grew increasingly excited about sharing a special Mommy and Caroline day. So exited that I was extremely flattered. We had a wonderful lunch, a great show, and an amazing day together that I'll always remember.

As Caroline points out, we saw Madeline's Christmas. I got her the book beforehand so we were familiar with the story.

Us! I'm not very good at taking our own picture.

Shhhhhhhh! It's starting! This performance was actually in the Lexington Opera House which was very nice, I thought.

Caroline and Madeline!

Can't wait to see Goodnight Moon in May with Kate.

Playmates

In lieu of shopping the girls and I decided to visit the UK Arboretum to celebrate Black Friday. The day was too gorgeous to waste inside some crowded, insane store. I've always been surprised by how much they love the arboretum. No playground equipment, just nature. There is an old, massive tree cut up into sections with some sections completely hollow that the girls just loved to play in.

They quickly came up with a fun game of building a fire.

They were playing so well together that I actually became kinda bored and wished I had brought a book or magazine to read. What?! My girls were playing so well together, without my supervision, that I was bored and wanted something to read. Oh hallelujah! I have been anxiously awaiting this moment for so long! This happens at home sometimes but never in a public place before.


But then suddenly we were attacked by a wild animal!

Katie Quote

Kate: Mommy, sissy stuck her tongue out at me!
Me: Well tell her I'm rubber and you're glue and whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you.
Kate: (Directed at Caroline) You bounce! And you stick!

Turkey Day

I have the greatest family-in-law in the world. I mean it. I'm not just saying that because they might read my blog. D is one of six kids, and when we all get together it's big and loud and funny and a guaranteed awesome time.

Bella, Madelynn, and Caroline decorated a gingerbread house. And quickly devoured it. Not kidding. The whole thing.

Some of the gang. "Uncle Greg, show us that game on your ipad again!"

Kate passes out from all the excitement.


She looks just too tempting for Henry!

Cuzins! There's actually a few missing. Jonah always has a good time, despite being greatly out numbered.

The girls loooooooooove their Aunt Amy!

Can't wait to see them all again!

Update

I can't believe December is here! Decorations are up. Only four broken ornaments so far. This year Kate's having a hard time understanding the concept of the advent calendar- only one chocolate a day until Christmas. Final exam next week and then Christmas break! ...the last one of my life I think. Now just eagerly awaiting for the season's first snowfall.

Caroline Quote

Caroline: "I need to finish my booze."
Me: "You need to finish what?!"
Caroline: "I need to finish my booze." Holds up piece of paper with Boo! written on it.
Me: "Ooooh! You need to finish your boo's."

Evening Entertainment

Who needs TV when we have the girls? They come up with the craziest "games." At their school the teachers apparently tell them to "crisscross applesauce, bubble in your mouth, hands in your lap." So that's what they're ordering us to do with cakes as a reward for obeying. No one might find this funny but we think it's hilarious. I'd like to post more of these but Caroline often gets angry when we try to record them. Beware the wrath of Caroline!

Halloween 2011

Caroline and Kate both decided to be Rapunzel this year. Well Caroline decided to be Rapunzel, so then Kate decided she had to be Rapunzel too. Twisted is by far their favorite movie. Jonah did not dress up again. Every year the girls' school has trick-or-treating and a costume parade in the gymnasium. This year I volunteered to help out. The kids are so darn cute and everyone has a blast.

Here's some of Kate's class. Kate rather her enjoyed her friend Gable's toy guns. The princess with a gun. Um okay. Gable's mom told me that he's rather smitten with Kate. So cute! Notice the southern belle. Her parents had to pick that out. What two year old knows what a southern belle is?

Aaaah she got me!

Some of Caroline's class. Isn't the lil' skeleton awesome?!

The annual porch pose. No Jonah. : ( He took off for a friend's house as soon as he got home from school. I was surprised that I actually got Kate to wear the wig for trick-or-treating, because she had refused to wear it before.

The girls' good buddy Alex came over to trick-or-treat with them. Scary ninja! Alex was so cute. He's allergic to peanuts and asked at every house if the candy had peanuts. Poor guy!

Need more candy!

We have way too much candy now. Last night I think I started a new post-Halloween tradition of making candy bar cookies where you just chop up whatever kind of candy bars you have and bake in cookies. Yum! Here comes the holiday weight.

Funny Guy

The other night I asked David and Jonah if they had any idea how to replace the toilet paper roll, since I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one who has ever done it in our seven years of living in this house. They both said that they knew how, but I remained skeptical.

The very next day I found this...

David is such a comedian. Keep doing it!

Visiting Fam

Recently my Aunt Deb and cousin Shannon came to visit all the way from Colorado. Shannon recently became engaged (Congrats Shannon and Tim!), so Shannon wanted to spend some bonding time with her future flower girls and usher.

While they were here we got to attend one of Jonah's football games, Keeneland, and pizza at Pazzo's on UK campus. We had a blast and really wished Colorado wasn't so far away.

Also Shannon was thrilled to help out with the annual jack-o-lantern carving duties.

Great job!

We are all so excited to attend the wedding in Steamboat Springs, CO in August. Can't wait!

Happy Halloween!

Jonah and his cousin Caice recorded this "Zombie Survival Guide" video a few years ago. I never posted it because it's just a little slow pace. If you get a chance, you have to check out the comments on You Tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPAHvFYjQpA. People really take this zombie stuff seriously. We've had to delete a few of the comments due to profanity. Geez! They're just kids!

300th Post!!!

Leaves!

What fun!

Alright kids, now pick 'em up.

Good job!

First Field Trip!

I've always tried to and loved to chaperone Jonah's school field trips. Even as he's gotten older it seems to mean a lot to him. So I was pretty bummed to realize that I wouldn't be able to chaperone Caroline's very first field trip because I had clinicals for nursing school the same day. Well, I figured that Daddy would just have to step up to the plate and that it would be a good bonding experience for them. So D volunteered and passed the criminal background check in order to do so. Caroline's teacher was actually happy to have a Dad volunteer. I guess that doesn't happen often. She assigned D two girls to his group to transport and chaperone... Caroline and her buddy Emma C. (There are 3 Emma's in her class.) I don't know if all the volunteer parents had only two in their groups or if the teacher gave a "dad" lighter duty.

Caroline and Emma C. in our party van on the way.

Safely at the destination!

There's D! What is that expression?!

Caroline's K-4 class.

Hayride!

Havin' a ball!

Caroline had a wonderful time and very much enjoyed having her Daddy there. David had a good time too and said that he would volunteer to chaperone a field trip again. (He was actually quite nervous before hand.) And he was quite taken with Emma C. who turned out to be quite a cutie. I'm very proud of D and his new found chaperoning talent. Good job Daddy!

Happy 6!

Yes it's been six years since our wedded day of bliss. Happy anniversary to us! It's very difficult for us to schedule a date with a babysitter and our amazingly hectic schedule. We had been wanting to see the Bodies exhibit so finally managed to schedule a time, with a sitter, that happened to fall on our anniversary. Yay! The exhibit people made us pose for this picture, which D was not very happy about. Trying to mooch more money, he believed. I'm sure, yet we still enjoyed the exhibit. And had a very nice anniversary date. Love ya honey!

Happy Belated Birthday!

Yes big D had a birthday. His forty-first! So we had just a little fiesta for him.



I made a brownie cake. I have an all new respect for cake decorators. It's not easy writing with icing. Of course my handwriting stinks anyway. Well it tasted good!

Then we had lots o' games. Like a pinata...

...and then a little Pin the Nose on the Daddy. Thank you Vanna, uh Caroline!

The blindfold freaked Kate out so we didn't make her wear one. She won.

All in all everyone had a good time and David had another good birthday.