adventures in ice skating

A few weeks ago, we decided to take all the boys ice skating.  We knew it was the very first time either of the twins (or Krew for that matter) had been on ice skates, and we quickly realized that it was also the first time they have ever been on any kind of skates. By the time I was their age, I had been to multiple roller skating rink birthday parties, field trips to the roller skating rink, and everyone my age wanted new rollerblades for Christmas.  Now, I don't even now if there is a roller skating rink in the area, I just don't ever see kids outside rollerblading.  I guess none of that is cool anymore.

Anyway, we were all quite wobbly on our skates, but that didn't stop us from having a good time!

I'm surprised that Bart could stand up straight after helping Krew go round and round the rink. Krew loved every second of it, and was the most disappointed when it was time to go.

Hopefully we can find a time to go again soon, because we all had fun, and we can only get better with practice, right?

everly at 17 months old

As Everly has transitioned through different stages so far, from newborn, to little baby, to crawler, to toddler, each stage I have felt torn.  I have equally declared each one as my favorite stage with her, and at the same time I've felt a sense of loss that she is growing out of a particular stage.  I sometimes miss her as a tiny newborn, and I wish she could stay little forever.  At the same time, I love watching her grown and learn.  I think this strange dichotomy comes because there have not been any rough stages with her.  Sure, just the fact that she requires constant care and attention can be a challenge, but compared to my other babies, she has not any any rough stages.  I have thoroughly enjoyed each one.  She is such a joy to be around. 

I know I keep saying this, but it keeps being true: My momma heart just about burst when she put on a necklace, two purses, and pushed her baby in the stroller.  All my dreams of raising a little girl are coming true and it makes my heart explode!

 Like mother, like daughter: this little girl hates being outside in the snow.  I don't know if it's the cold air, the bulky clothing, not being able to walk in the snow, or not being able to use her mitten-covered hands, or something else, but she hates it!  I try to take her out whenever the wind chill is not sub zero, because we can only stare at the inside of our (beautiful!) house for so long before we go crazy.  Krew has a great time playing in the snow, never complains about being cold, and never asks to go inside, but us girlies can only take so much before we head back inside to warm our frozen bodies.

 This little girl does love finding her Daddy's stash of Peanut Butter Oreos and eating as many as she can before her momma wonders why it's so quiet.  And yes, sometimes even she has a bad hair day!

 She has just started to really say some real words.  She says "Daddy" so clearly, and all the time!  She also says, "cheese" if you point a camera at her, and occasionally if you feed her some actual cheese.  She can also say, "off," "uh-oh," "hot," done," "thank you," "no," "wow," "mama" and growls like a lion.  She has finally started to imitate words we are saying, so I know her language is going to just explode soon.

 My tiny valentine!

I'm not exaggerating when I say she is the happiest, sweetest, cutest, tiniest, busiest little 17 month old girl I have ever met.  I think this stage is my favorite! ;)

mommy and me selfies

 It seems like the only way I get in any pictures with my kids is to take selfies with them.  It's super convenient too, because a large portion of my day, I have at least one little one on my lap.  Here are some of my favorites from the past couple of months.

 She is almost a year and a half old, and she still lets me rock her to sleep.  I love that moment when she changes from an alert, tiny little thing, singing along to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, to a gooey, relaxed sleepy baby.  I never get tired of feeling her transition to slumber in my arms.

 Making funny faces at the camera is one of Krew's many talents.

In this one, Everly should be falling asleep, but she was too busy saying "cheese!" and lifting up the phone trying to take her own selfies!

christmas morning 2015

I try every year to trick the boys into thinking that we aren't going to open one present on Christmas Eve this year, but they never seem to believe me.  I do think they were a bit fooled this year, when they opened this one box for everyone, and there was no way it was big enough for four sets of pajamas.  Inside were clues for a treasure hunt though, which eventually led to, of course, new pajamas.  Tricking them year after year is getting harder and harder. 

This was the view from the stairs, as we headed to bed on Christmas Eve to wait for Santa to visit us, for our first Christmas in our new house.  

Is there anything better than Christmas morning with little kids?  I highly doubt it.  The excitement, the joy, the laughter, the exuberant "thank yous!"  and the memories made.  Every year, I really try to soak it all up, because I know that far too soon, there will be no more little ones in our house, and Christmas just won't be the same.

Santa brought Everly this baby doll and stroller, and my heart just about burst watching her play with it that first morning.

These kids are the best!  They were excited, and gracious about every single gift they opened.  That alone made Christmas morning magical!

Somebody awesome gave Bart this guitar for Christmas, he immediately started to learn how to play it, and has been practicing nearly every evening since Christmas.  He's become quite good in such a short amount of time, if I do say so myself.  Not too much longer, and he'll be playing gigs on the weekends, right?

2015 christmas card

 In case we missed sending you a Christmas card this year, here is a digital copy:

2015 Highlights

 2015 has been a wonderful, busy, exciting year!  Here are some of the highlights:

~This summer, we sold our house and built a new, beautiful, roomier one.

~In February, we took a trip to California with Bart's brother's family and spent the week playing at the beach, hanging out with Mickey Mouse and enjoying the warm weather.

~In October, Bart was named the 2015 Wisconsin Physician Assistant of the Year!  He also appeared on a local television show on two occasions to promote men's health. Besides being an awesome PA, he spent the year getting our house ready to sell, not playing nearly enough golf, and constantly playing football with his three boys.

~Ashli spent much of the year picking out paint colors, flooring, countertops and lighting for our new house.  She also spent time this year learning how to do pigtails, french braids and more on Everly's ever-growing hair.    Last month she attended a fun conference in Utah with her mom, and now wants to start her own business, get back into photography, make gourmet cupcakes and throw an awesome party.  All in her spare time.

~Kade and Ky (10) spent much of the spring playing baseball.  They have spent the last several months folding paper, watching origami tutorials, and filming their own origami tutorials.  Although our house is completely full of folded pieces of paper, it's fun to see them so excited about a new hobby.

~They have also handled the transition to a new school very well.  They have already made lots of friends, and have started playing the cello and the violin in the school orchestra.

~Kade's favorite part of the year was attending his first Green Bay Packer's game.

~Ky's favorite was riding Star Tours over and over and over at Disneyland.

~Krew (4) took a soccer class this year, likes to create origami tutorials like his big brothers, has become obsessed with watching football,  and is the most amazing big brother to his sister. 

~Everly (15 months) loves smiling (smiling's her favorite),  playing with Krew, and shoes.  We loved celebrating her 1st birthday in September, all while trying to figure out how she could possibly be one already.  She has certainly grown into her nickname, "Boots" as her very favorite thing to play with are her black boots!

Merry Christmas!