Head Over Heals!

Neeley and Kayla have loved tumbling this year.  We couldn't wait to see what they had learned at their winter display.  Kayla was so proud when she started out marching down the mat with her candy cane stick.  That is until she poked herself in the eye with it and refused to do any more.  Luckily Neeley's class performed after Kayla's and by then Kayla got brave enough to try out a few tricks for us.  We were surprised to see how much Neeley has improved and loved seeing her be so confident out there.  We are proud of them both for all of their hard work.  And a special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Greyhair and Grandma and Grandpa Marlene and Bruce for their support!

Baking Fun!

Thanks to Aunt Janell for giving us this fun cookie baking set for Christmas.  The girls loved digging in and helping to make some delicious cookies.  If it were up to them, they would be on the counter every day baking with me.  I think they take after Grandma Marlene!

Giddy Up Good Sport!

Being the only man in a house full of girls, Jeremy is really a good sport.  The girls love his tickles and have been known to tackle him a time or two.  Thanks Daddy for loving us even if we are a pack of girls!!

Life without Chocolate!

Is there such a thing???  Life without chocolate???   After 6 weeks of screaming the nights away, we decided to take Kate to the doctor.  He suggested that I try going completely off of any dairy products - cheese, milk, butter.  But he also said I had to stay away from anything that had a milk based product in it like casein, whey, lactase, ghee and the list goes on.  So for the last 2 months I have abandoned all milk based products, which by the way, is not so easy to do.  Milk is in everything.  In most packaged items and bread  but also in surprising things like my favorite soy based sausage, lunch meats or Jolly Rancher candies.  I find myself reading every label and get really excited when I find something I can eat.  Kate also does not like nuts, onions and some soy based proteins.  So that leaves me with a lots of limitations when it comes to quick proteins. 

 I have been trying to balance my proteins with my sugars so I can keep my metabolism going and lose weight but I am having a hard time with on the go snacks.  I used to grab a cheese stick, some low sugar yogurt, a protein shake or a few nuts.  Now I feel like I have to cook a chicken breast and carry it around with me.  I have been trying to keep a pot of bean soup  around for a quick meal and hummus for snacks but that is getting old. 

Since the formula she would have to go on is so expensive, I would really like to continue nursing.  So I have 3 more months to go before I can try to introduce milk back into my diet.  If anyone out there has any suggestions for good fast snacks that include protein but exclude milk, I could use some ideas! 

So in the mean time we are going to keep loving our little angel who has been a completely different baby since we lost the milk.    And this cute picture of Kate in her pink and CHOCOLATE brown is the closest we will come to chocolate for a while.  Yes life does go on without chocolate.

Best Buds!

We love having built in best buds.  Kayla and Cade love playing together.  It is fun to hear them talk to each other when they call each other "Sweetie".  They can play for hours, get into mischief together and help one another play DS games.  We have even heard rumours of them getting married one day.

Lilah and Austin have a love hate relationship.  They like to chase each other around and steal toys from each other. Today when I caught them holding hands, I thought it was so cute!

Our Little Lilah!

Lilah, Lilo, Lilah Cougar, Little, little, little, and Chuckie.  You have been called many things in your life.  But today, I would like to call you something else......Good Girl!  I know it has been rumored lately that you have been as horrible as the horror show star "Chuckie", in fact this name has been uttered many a times in our home lately.  But this past week, I have seen a change.  Maybe it is the new big girl bed you just got, or maybe the extra attention we have been giving you, having your second birthday or maybe the responsibility of going in the big girl potty you are using.  Whatever it is, we like it.  

It was so fun to watch you soak up all of the attention at your 2nd birthday!  You loved the presents, especially the numerous candy canes you got.  It's a good thing you got a lot of them because that is all you asked for!  You thought your carousel cake was "mmmm nummy" and having both grandparents over for dinner, along with your best buds Cade and Austin with their parents was a blast.

Three days after your second birthday we decided it was time to go to the bathroom on the big girl potty.  We are now on day 5 of potty training and I am pleasantly surprised.  You have had many an accident but you are trying and doing pretty well.  Already you have earned painting your nails, painting your little toy train and going sledding as rewards on your little potty chart.  But your favorite reward is yet to come, lunch at "Donalds".  Each time you have a success we do the potty dance and you get one Smarty.  You especially loved this the other day when Neeley and Kayla had a whole pack of kids over to play and they all joined in on the potty dance with us!!

Thank you little Lilah for wanting to be so good and trying hard to not be such a menace.  We ALL appreciate it and love your spirited little personality!  We love how you want to be in the middle of it all, how you tug at our pant legs saying, "I wuv you", and we also love the numerous  pictures of your crazy hair.  Next on the agenda.... leaving your pony tail in!!

I TAKE IT ALL BACK. WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS POST YOU WERE UP PEEING ON AUNT NIKKI'S COUCH AND THEN CAME DOWN AND POOPED YOUR PANTS!!! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

It's Christmas Time!

Ari and Neeley singing

Ari, Neeley, Kayla and Lilah

Ruby

Jeff and Landon

Nikki and Cade

Clint and Austin

Scott, Xanthe, Freestone and Ptolemy

Mom and Dad with Santa Ryan

Santa Ryan with Collin, Jackson, Isabella, Jennie, and Alexis

Lilah can't wait to rip into those presents!

Santa Tolly, tired after a hard days work with Mr. Clause, Scott

This Christmas was full of traditions, family time and fun.  On Christmas eve we went to Jer's parents for a party.  As always, we started out with a yummy meal made by Mom.  Then we headed downstairs where the kids performed various talents, including Neeley and Ari singing all "I want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth"  which is true for the pair of them!  After that the ripping and shredding of all of Mom's hard work begins as the kids tear into their presents.  And as always, Grandma and Grandpa spoiled us all again, with my favorite being the girls matching pink sweaters with  fur and the scarves she knitted to match (even for Kate!)

Christmas morning was really fun this year.  The girls all came in to see what Santa had brought and before Neeley even peeked at what she got she took Lilah over and showed her all of her fun stuff first.  I would say Neeley's most favorite present would be her I-pod with docking station and Kayla loves her camera.  Lilah is perfectly happy with the sucker in her stocking but also likes her Mr. Potato Head set.  Mom and Dad love the toaster Neeley got the best so she can make breakfast for everyone while we catch a few more winks of sleep.

Later it was time to visit my parents. We enjoyed having them all to ourselves for the afternoon. It always amazes me that they still shop for all 38 grandkids, 2 great grandkids and all 16 kids and manage to get just what we ask for. They really are amazing! The girls loved their webkins and loved going to breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa. They always know just how to make us each feel special!

Grandma and Grandpa with the three girls.

Mom and Dad in front of my childhood home!