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.

Merry Christmas

We were off from school and work on Friday Christmas Eve. We made lots of cookies. We tried to go to the 4:00 Mass, but too crowded, so we changed our plan and had our dinner first and then onto 6:00 Mass. Grannie, Uncle Jon and cousin Collin came with us to church. The kids did lots of asking for drinks, asking when it all would be over, and even tears between Amelia and Collin when they wouldn't wish each other "Peace". On a happier note, Ava did a great job singing "O Come All Ye Faithful". She can pick up the words and tune to songs so easily. We got home just in time for jammies and cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer. Dave and I worked wrapping and assembling. We were done in a timely fashion with out even a peep from everybody upstairs. Once in bed, I did have to go back downstairs for a few things hidden away which I forgot until I lay there thinking about it all...Morning came way to early.... Jenna's been sick with a cold, so she was up coughing at 5:30am, the girls were up by 6:00am, and we waited for about 1/2 hour for Drew and then woke him. Christmas was similiar to last year, Drew sleepy, but putting up with us, Amelia barrelling through every gift and finding the most joy in the wrapping paper and bows, Ava a little shocked and taking it all in gift by gift, and Jenna into everything else but her gifts. She did enjoy riding around on her new wheels for a little while. We had a surprise dusting of snow in the morning. Grannie and Uncle Jon came for a special lunch with all of the food. It was delicious! It was interesting to watch Amelia working hard making gravy lakes with her food.....We recouped in the afternoon, and headed out to Grandma & Grandpa's. We had dinner (Chinese food :))) and celebrated with them for a few hours.

Some gift favorites...Drew's Montana Grizzlies jersey and Paper Jamz drum set, Amelia's Chinese Checkers game, pillow pet & long beak dinosaur including a special note from Santa, Ava's Barbies and nailpolish, and Jenna's baby stroller with her newest baby -who is ill. :)

I took lots of pictures.... here are a few!!

Merry Christmas! We are here on Sunday...just waiting for the "significant" snowfall the forecasters are calling for....

(BTW - Today marks post #100 for this year - 2010!!)