cute

Ava came home from school today with a yellow rose from her boyfriend Aidan. Oh boy...

My sweet boy

Nothing is better than Drew using his eyes to find your face, and when he does find you - he smiles. Nothing is better than that.

Thunder Snow

Woke up yesterday to a few inches of snow which canceled school. Dave had the day off anyway, so that was good for me! It started sleeting, and then snowing again at about 3pm with thunder. It came down fast. I was glad Dave was home with me and not coming home from work. There are lots of stories of very long commutes home.

The snowfall count this morning was 10 inches of very wet and very heavy snow. Our first big snowfall of the season. Of course school is out again today and the courthouse is closed, so Dave is home again! The older girls have enjoyed the snow all morning, Jenna wasn't so sure, but didn't want to miss anything outside -standing from the highest perch possible, and Drew is thankful it snowed so he doesn't have to go to school. He'd rather be home and snuggling.

School tomorrow????

Court is in session

We've worked hard on "staging" our house for sale. So now after 8 years of endless toys, these toys are now cleared from our entry way/toy room and moved elsewhere. This room is now the office. With this change, the play has also changed.... Jenna is open for business.

FYI...come to find out the staging may not be the issue to sell this house - it may be the lack of hardwoods, granite and stainless that IS the issue... Someone help me....

Of Note.....

As of yesterday our house is back on the market.....

And out of nowhere.....

AVA LOSES HIS FIRST TOOTH!!!!!!!

Ava said she was now "off balance", and that she could stick her tongue through her front teeth!

How we roll........

Not much new here....just colds and cold snow days.....

Here are a couple of funny photos from the past few days.

First, there's Jenna tonight after dinner helping herself to a lollipop and my left over candy from Christmas. Don't know if you can make it out, but she eats her chocolates kind of like my Grandma did - takes a bite and puts it right on back if she doesn't prefer the taste - lots of half eaten chocolate pieces! And then there's Amelia playing her Leapster Explorer with her best buddy Ava taking a snooze right along side!

Here comes the bride...

Ava enjoying her Christmas presents.

21

Miss Jenna is 21 months old TODAY!

I haven't done an update on all things Jenna in awhile, so here I go!

I don't need to say, but I will..... Jenna is still on the go more than anybody in this house - even Amelia, but unlike Amelia, Jenna has to climb, climb, climb - up, up, up! Most notably now though Jenna knows the house routine and knows each of our routines. Jenna is always there (appropriately too) to bring you your shoes, get toys, coats, clothes, hairbrushes, lotion, coffee cups, whatever. She knows to pull her chair up to the kitchen island in the morning so she can eat breakfast with her sisters. She's just very observant! She loves to give hugs and kisses - even to people she doesn't know so well, but is still very leery when someone comes into the house through the garage door. It might be Grannie or Grandma and that usually means that I am leaving - which sometimes is okay, but a lot of times it's not. She loves it when "daddddyyy" comes home. She's trying to say more now too. She definitely understands everything you say. She knows her body parts and will point to them when asked, sometimes confusing her mouth, nose and eyes! :) Jenna loves her baby dolls, her new baby stroller and her "boooooksss". Jenna has her "baby" which is a pink bunny doll/blanket she's had since the beginning which she carries around with her quite a lot now. Jenna still loves "If you're happy and you know it", and now loves "Itsy Bitsy Spider" - doing all the hand motions right along with the music. Jenna now cooperates for diaper changes, laying right down and still when you ask - which makes life easier, but doesn't cooperate as much for eating and meals. She'd rather walk around, and climb out of her seat and onto the table then actually eat. Some days Jenna will eat like crazy, and others hardly at all. I do have to say though that Jenna does have my sweet tooth - especially for Dum Dum lollipops. (my go to for distraction) Jenna's nights are the same as they have been from the start - going to bed great, and then up twice or so whimpering and calling "mommy". I do to give her a bottle, or more recently at 5am bring her into sleep with me. At first, no sleep for us, just kicking me and bouncing on top of me to wake up, but now she'll snuggle right next to me and fall back asleep. Anything for sleep!!

Here's to a healthy Happy New Year! Our school routine returns tomorrow.