Big wheels keep on turning!

Claire asked us to take off her training wheels today! I couldn't believe it! She did pretty well too without them and can go for stretches without me holding onto the Balance Buddy. The boys finally got to take their balance bikes (no pedals) outside (instead of riding them around inside and sleeping with them next to their beds...)  Avery has really gotten his balance on the bike and Asher can get his feet off the ground for a few seconds.

The Nutcracker

The holidays are really making me feel old...

This was the second year we got to take Claire to see the Nutcracker.  She's only five.

She insisted she have a purse. I pulled one out of my closet I hadn't used in years.

Scott stayed home with our other three children.  THREE.

It's 2 days before Christmas and I have not wrapped a single present! Looks like I'll be pulling an all nighter! ;)

It's 8:30 and I am ready for bed.

Santa Success!

 

Twins! Twins!

 

Or as close as we can get!

Ho ho ho!

 

 

I can't wait for my 1st Christmas!

Oh, motherhood...

I have to take a moment and sit back to reflect on this snapshot of the evening that unfolded because this is what motherhood is about. 

Unable to find a babysitter, we were afraid we would have to forgo our symphony tickets again and hand them off to someone else. With it being the holidays, it was hard to find someone who could take them, so that didn't work. (Well, I didn't try all that hard... life was pretty busy this week.) After seeing a friend with his daughter at the symphony 2 months ago, I filed it away in my brain that Scott should do that with Claire. As her mother/coach/fashion consultant/punching bag/24-7 go-to, I get to experience a lot of firsts with her. This was a chance for Scott to share a special moment. I was putting Jude down for bed as I heard her getting ready.  I could hear her in room, picking out her dress, asking where her sparkly sweater was. She wanted to wear a silver bracelet-- her charm bracelet, with charms from Uncle Casey, Mima, and Great Aunt Becky (I clarified which charm came from which person). Then she asked if she could borrow a silver necklace of mine. This little creature of only 5 years!

So here I am, grubby and exhausted, home with 3 sick little boys.  My daughter has my date and I have a kitchen to clean. I know she will have fun, as will Scott, but wow... the little girl we have created... What will the next five years bring?

Forget Santa!

We saw Fortune!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Trying to beat the Canadian Cold front blowing in, we headed to Santa's Village. We did a couple of the houses-- tv station, bank, pet shop, police station, fire house, etc. and really enjoyed the reindeer sleigh rides!

And it's on to avocado!

The trees are decorated!

So I thought the kids could stand in front and take a nice picture for me.  Well, this is what I got. (My camera, which is working after a bath in the river in CO, but somewhow we lost the battery charger and the new one won't arrive till next week.)

Eat up!

Don't worry-- it's not a breastfeeding pic! Baby Jude is growing up! And so is Claire! Look at that lil mama!

Big kids at work...

December time!

The neighborhood train ride... Richardson Christmas Parade... 2 Santa sightings... Decorations at the mall... We're ready for the holiday season!

 

You my...

Estes Park, CO!

... And them the house next door catches fire...

Seriously??? Everyone is safe but Carly is annoyed with all the noise as it has disturbed her beauty sleep.

Baby Jude's 1st road trip!

Say a prayer please! We're off to Colorado! Sans pound pups but otherwise everyone's accounted for!

Claire's 1st Lost Tooth!

And there you have it, folks! My little girl... Her first baby tooth done and gone! It was loose for about a week-- she bit into a hard lollipop right after Halloween. We wiggled it daily. Everyone heard about it. Then finally today it happened. Scott was literally walking out the door to the airport when it happened. And how did it happen? Well, I accidentally popped it out for her. :(  She and Jude had just finished their baths. I was toweling her off with one hand, Jude on my hip in the other hand, and I bopped her right in the mouth! We were both so surprised!  Everything is all laid out for the Tooth Fairy..

Saturday afternoon

We took advantage of a lingering warm day and headed out to Spring Creek Nature Preserve. The big kids threw rocks, raced along the trail, and just enjoyed a family afternoon together. Fall is here-- somewhere! Scott departs tomorrow for CA, and I will hold the fort down here as we embark on another adventure later this week-- roadtrip to CO!

Monkeys in the the tree...

I've always thought of my children as monkeys... These photos just go to prove it!!! We attempted to go to the arboretum, but at 11am on a Sunday morning, the parking lot was full.  Not wanting to schlep all our kids and gear on the shuttle bus, we continued around to White Rock Lake where we had a gorgeous picnic lunch.

May I take your order?

The boys have always loved playing drive thru at parks... Today their service was less than stellar... ;)

Happy Halloween!

My little airplane, rocket ship, Tinkerbell, and sweet pea! What a fun night of trick or treating! Avery loved shouting out Halloween greetings to everyone. He and Claire raced around the block, hitting all of our friends' houses. Asher was a very enthusiastic rocket ship at the beginning but ran out of gas toward the end. And finally! One of my babies wore this Halloween costume!

 

We even had some time to carve 3 out of 4 pumpkins this afternoon! Baby J was napping. None of my kids wanted to scoop the pulp out. Claire spent the entire experience trying to convince me that she could use a knife to carve. Ha! I gave her a Sharpie and she was pretty happy with that.