February Mish-Mash

Oops..almost the end of February, and I find myself with a bunch of random February pics...I think I'm fired as the family blogger!  We've been busy playing Bananagrams (it's fiercely competitive around here!), trying to keep up laundry with a family of five and a baby who never stops spitting up, watching "our show" - Bones, Julia and Jeff's birthdays, Valentine's Day, cleaning out closets, and tons of craft projects (Jul has been in the mood..this girl is sooo ready for kindergarten!!)

Daddy and the munchkins dip some strawberries in chocolate to give away (after we eat some, of course!) to the kid's teachers. Ry also made some for his bus driver, because he figured she doesn't get  many Valentines.

The kids are sooo loved.  Aunt Kathy always seems to remember them on holidays and sends "fun mail" for them to get excited about!

Julia is excited because her class is on stage at school.

Future rock stars...Julia is far right, and one of her best girlfriends, Emma is to her left.

The February mail is so much fun! A package arrives from Gram and Papa also! (The sweet heart jammies + bib Em has on in the first pic of this post were in there!)

And more random February pics..Julia has been wearing the hat Gram made for her several months ago.  She also made one for Emerson, so it seemed like a natural photo opp..sweet spoiled sisters!!

Julia bug!

Don't you just want to snuggle up to this cuddly bunch?
Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Rub A Dub Dub

...three cute kids in the tub!

Mean Green Machine + First Solids!

My kids LOVE the Naked Green Machine Smoothie.  I LOVE that (although high in natural sugar), they are eating LOTS of green things! And it's so fresh, no preservatives, yada yada yada!  We recently found these for the awesome price of $4.99/bottle at Costco, but I have always thought this expensive habit (usually $9.99/bottle at our local Dierburgs) seemed like something we could recreate fairly easily.  So tonight, using some fresh (and frozen) goodness we had on hand, we made these amazing smoothies out of:
1 kiwi
1 banana
2 cups Stoneyfield Organic Low Fat Vanilla Yogurt
A few handfuls of fresh spinach leaves
A few handfuls of broccoli
Handful of frozen red grapes
Handful of frozen strawberries

I thought Ry was going to protest the spinach, because in "real life" he doesn't usually choose to eat this.  I had the Naked juice bottle we had finished up earlier to show him the picture of that so he would know I wasn't trying to pull a fast one on him or anything. For some strange reason, proof wasn't even necessary. He got to press the "on" button and that was excitement enough for him.  The kids LOVED it.  I am super excited to know that I now have a way to get these greens into him also.  So tonight, our family "drank" our dinner...kinda weird, actually. Truthfully, I was hungry about an hour later and had to heat up an egg sandwich.  Maybe we'll try and add some nuts or protein powder next time...

THIS is what it looked like.  Nasty, actually!! I think had the kids not been in on the making it process, they NEVER would have tried it. I sure wouldn't have!

...and while I'm having a "foodie" post, we must share pics that I snapped tonight of Emerson tasting her first "solid" foods...rice cereal with DHA.  She was NOT a fan.

While I realize it's a terrible picture of the kids, for the sake of the "first food" mumbo jumbo, and because I know this will NEVER make it to actual print and in the baby book (poor poor third child!), here it is! Juls looks sad because she is.  Right before this, I told her she had to go to her room for 5 minutes for screaming.
Again. 
Hopefully, that's just a phase!

Emerson's First Park Trip

Krista called this morning to see what we had on the schedule for today since the weather is so wonderful...fortunately, it just consisted of "surviving" since the last 48 hours have been pretty rough.  Baby Em had her 4 month immunizations on Monday, and it's been a rough go since then. Night #1 I think we both slept maybe 3 hours.  Poor thing spiked a 101.8 temperature which naturally about sent me over the edge of sanity. (Or maybe I am already off!?)  I for sure got my arm workout yesterday, as I held and bounced her little 12lbs for HOURS...the slightest movement sent her over the edge and the rest of the time she lay in my arms just moaning.  Needless to say, by the time Jeff got home from work to relieve me, I picked up the phone in desperation to try and book an emergency massage for my aching arms and neck!  Last night I found her at 2am laying in a pool of sweat (darn waterproof crib mattresses!), but she was back to feeling "normal" again. Phew!  So, today I jumped at the opportunity to get us all a little natural vitamin D and sweet baby a change of scenery! She's still a little fussy, but I'm not complaining!!!
Baby Colin and Julia share a sweet moment before he gets his first whiz down the slide, which he LOVED!

It ended up being a family affair when the greats joined us at the park to see the kids!

Love notes

Things are heating up in the 1st grade!!

My little Romeo came home with this cute little note from a girl at school.  

Birthday Congrats!

Congrats to my Dad and Granny Re, who made it to celebrate another year older.

Ok..there is a story behind the candle!  Years ago, we were at my parents house to celebrate a birthday, and this huge "Congrats" candle was all my mom could find in her drawer..we thought it was kinda funny, and thus the tradition began...so now this crazy candle adorns the sweet goodness at all our birthday celebrations!

Emerson is making the transformation (whaaa whaaa!) from sweet-curled-up-in-a-ball infant to being comfortable stretched out...doesn't she look so BIG with Daddy holding her in a standing position!?

Basketball Star

Ry guy had his 2nd basketball game today, and his adoring fans showed up in droves to cheer him on!

All the excitement wore sweet baby sister out!

We celebrated Ryan's 1st basket scored with a lunch out at Wang Gang!

Playdate

Thanks to Holly for hosting a superfun playdate today (and feeding everyone lunch!).
Julia, Gavin, Jackson, Tyler, Lucas, Andrew, Jude and Audrey all had a BLAST.

Fun in the Kitchen

Two excited little bakers...

Armed with sprinkles galore...
Rolled it, patted it...

Mark it with a "b!"

= a fun night!

Emerson

Emerson and her life-size baby doll. =)

My Snugglebugs

LOVE THEM!!!

Fun Gifts

My sweet friend Sara showed up at my door this afternoon with some fun surprises for the kids,  (And me too, since I'm in LOVE with these cute plates!!), "D" batteries for Emerson's swing (seriously..isn't she soooo thoughtful!!?) and some pacifiers! It's so amazing to me when we have friends "spoil" us so much. I'm so thankful. And in awe. But if Sara shows up on my doorstep with anything else (really..this is NOT the first time she's done something totally over the top kind...and it's not like she's just hanging out..she's got a full time job + 3 kiddos of her own, including twins who are always on the move), I might have to check her sanity!!

We spent the afternoon at Tyler and Delaney's birthday swim party...I'm not sure if we got pics in the chaos, but I'll upload later if so!

Julia-ism

Don't be fooled by this sweet (albeit messy!) face!  Here is a convo we had today...

Me (as we are exiting the car): Julia, please carry in your coat.
Julia (seriously put out): WHAT?! WHY??!
Me: What do you mean, WHY? Because I asked you to!
Julia: AGGG. But MOM, you are ALWAYS making me do YOUR work!
Me: And exactly what is my work?
Julia: Cleaning up!!!

Happy 2012!

It was a fun evening celebrating 2012!
We got to have an adult dinner out with friends, and shared a babysitter
 with the McKey kids, ensuring the kiddos all had a blast too!  

Best Babydoll Ever!

I told Julia she's the luckiest girl ever, because she has the BEST babydoll in the world!  So realistic, isn't she? =)  Poor Emerson is a great trooper, and mostly just adores all the attention she's been getting these days!

Great Grandma/pa Schuette stopped by for a visit this afternoon (yes, still in PJs in the afternoon...yea for Christmas break!).