Hudson and Brooklyn Show Off

I thought it was maybe time for another video update for those of you interested. Hudson and Brooklyn are growing up so much. They both have about 10 words that they can say, Huds is walking about 90% of the time and Brooklyn is still only taking about 5 or 6 steps. She's so content to do her own thing that I don't think she really cares about walking around with everyone else. Hudson on the other hand was so crabby about a month and a half ago as he so badly wanted to walk around with the big kids. Now he's all but running to do everything that big brother and sister do, and so much happier for it. He really thinks he's a big boy. Have I mentioned that he is going to be our little stinker? But he has a smile that will melt you and probably have him getting his way more than I care to say. I'm thinking I'll do a more detailed update when H and B turn 18 months. For now enjoy them showing you their new skills and think of me often as I prevent climbing on furniture, unraveling toilet paper, and emptying drawers as best as I can.

The Rest of Christmas 2011

A few more pictures from our Christmas celebrations. I will say it's a lot harder to remember to get all the pictures I want now that we have four kids. We had our traditional homemade pizza picnic in the family room on Christmas Eve before we opened presents. Ethan was recovering from a slight stomach flu so he wasn't really himself, but we had as much fun as we could.

The girls in their matching pigtails.

Ethan made us a great ornament in school. He kept it a secret and was so proud to give it to us. It was really sweet.

Everyone helping Brooklyn with her present.

Hudson's not sure about the tape sticking to his finger.

Thanks mom and dad!

Morgan's big present from us was 6 pairs of princess shoes. She's in shoe heaven.

I had took the kids to the dollar store to spend $3 on each other. It was fun to watch them get excited about giving each other presents. Morgan got Ethan an FBI set, bases and a coloring book. Ethan got Morgan jewelry, a princess skirt and fairy wings.

Ethan's big gift from us was soccer/ hockey goals. He loves them.

Christmas morning we opened our stocking presents.

Maybe the headband will help tame that bed head?

We had to postpone our Christmas with my family because Ethan got the flu, so we celebrated a week late. My mom got Morgan and Annika matching outfits for our trip to the ballet, so she bought the little girls outfits too. They looked super cute!

Nana and the girls.

Nana and the boys.

I forgot to get a picture of our kids in front of our tree so we had to make up for it.

Several weeks ago Morgan asked for a "Barbie Setup" for Christmas. We asked her what a Barbie Set up was and she just shrugged her shoulders and said "I don't know". So my mom got her a Barbie car and a Barbie. She seemed to really like it so hopefully we got it right;) 

Ethan got golf clubs from my parents, he was super excited about them.

Thanks Nana!

Thanks Papa!

Here are our triplets after their bath. Totally into the movie.

Haircut

I finally decided it was time to cut Hudson's hair. A part of me didn't want to cut it because then my little baby would look all grown up. As much as I am ready for Hudson and Brooklyn to grow up and not be as needy, it is crazy to think that they are growing up so much.

The before pictures.

My friend Monique came over and cut his hair for me. He did pretty well, but got really wiggly at the end.

Here's my handsome boy. It took some getting used to, but now I think he looks great. He looks a lot more like Ethan now.

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On another note, we have had crazy colds over here. It has pretty much 3 weeks of coughing and runny noses over here. At the beginning of this week Hudson and Brooklyn both got croup. They were whiny and clingy and just feeling crappy. I felt so bad for them and did my best to cuddle them both. I think we're nearing the end of it though, so I just pray we can all be healthy for a few weeks.

Christmas Celebration #1

Kevin's family was here this past weekend to celebrate Christmas with us. This is the second year that we've done Christmas in California. I must admit it is a little warmer than when we head up north, but when we do it this way we don't get to see all the extended family which is always a bummer. Here are some pictures of what kept us busy.

Morgan and Ethan helped me make Christmas cookies. I used the most fabulous sugar cookie recipe this year that I found online. Decorating cookies is one of my favorite traditions of Christmas time.

Ryan and Jessica also came to visit this year. Ethan loved having lots of people around to play Uno with him.

Brooklyn unsure of what all this present stuff is about.

Oma is helping Morgan with her present.

Santa Ethan. He was beyond excited about opening gifts. He handed them all out and had to help everyone open them. It was fun to see his excitement.

Hudson had a great time with the paper and bags.

Morgan got a Hello Kitty necklace and jewlery box. She was in heaven.

Big brother helping Brooklyn.

All the kids love this car ramp that Hudson got.

Ethan recieved Battleship and has been loving to play it. It was great having extra playmates around this weekend!

Mo and Uncle Ryan.

Ethan and Morgan loved having Uncle Ryan and Auntie Jessica here. I think Kevin's parents commented that it's good they normally leave them at home because the kids wanted to play with their auntie and uncle more than Opa and Oma;) It was again a great visit and when by way too fast. We are thankful we get to have these weekends so frequently because it helps maintain our relationships even though we live far apart. Thanks for the visit!

Thanksgiving Break

Kevin and Ethan had 2 1/2 days off school for Thanksgiving break so we headed over to the coast with my parents. My sister and family went out to the Midwest to see my dad's family, so it worked out ok for the rest of us to go to Pebble Beach. It would be pretty cozy for ALL of us to be there at once. We only took a few pictures this time, and none at the beach. I was hoping Hudson and Brooklyn would be walking by then so they could walk around by the ocean, but they're taking their sweet time just like big sister.

My mom and I took the kids to the aquarium on Thanksgiving morning while the men went golfing. This is the second time we've gone on Thanksgiving morning and it is a perfect time. Since we're members we can get in early and it felt like we had the place to ourselves for the first hour or so. It was much better than when we were there this summer. Brooklyn loved it all right away, Huds was a bit more cautious at first, but warmed up and had a great time.

Checking out the puffin birds. It was feeding time so it was fun to watch the birds dive underwater and go after the fish.

Clam shell pics, a must do. A nearly impossible task to get all four looking at the camera at the same time. I think this is the best we got.

Reading time with Papa.

Making whip cream with Nana.

It was nice going with my parents because it gave us some help with the kids and Kevin and I were even able to get away for a run together one morning. My mom and I went shopping and took Morgan. It was a pretty fun girls morning. Kevin, my Dad and Ethan all golfed Peter Hay one afternoon. It was nice to give them some one-on-one attention.

Papa and Nana and the kids. Thanks for a fun weekend!