Vacation!

So Justin and I totally have some sort of mild winter blues...it happens every year...dark, cold and gray months get us living each day counting down 'til spring.  So this year we decided to fight back with a February trip to Florida.  We took Owen out of school for a week (it's only Kindergarten, right??) and packed the van for the 15 hour trip.  After LOTS of car snacks, movies, pacifers, rest areas, our kids "marking" their territory on the side of the interstate, more snacks, Are we there yets???, 1 yr old fussing, Veggitale music, trip prizes, more rest areas...we made it!  :)


Celebrating our arrival to The Sunshine State




Sand castle making at Daytona Beach




One of God's finest creations...the beautiful blue ocean




The big kids loved running in and out of the waves.




Juliet wouldn't participate because the water was too cold for her.




Ellie loved chasing the seagulls as much as the water.  "Caw!  Caw!" she hollered as she ran at them.




Owen spent a lot of time digging in the sand and building a castle that Juliet lovingly destroyed.




And here's our smallest beach babe.  She wasn't too sure of the sand.  It took her a long time before she would venture off the towel. 




She's excited about something.  I love this face!





Finally braving the beach!




On to the Magic Kingdom for one day. My beauty with Sleeping Beauty.  One of the 6 princesses we saw. 




You can't tell it from the picture, but we really were having a good time!




As much as we celebrated getting to Florida, we probably celebrated coming home more.  Yea, to be out of the car!



Snow Day!

Owen's school got cancelled so we headed outside.  Ellie brought her Toy Story toys 'cause their like her BFFs. 

Chasing, eating snow and playing Wipeout.  Hey, and even I chased for a good ten minutes...before I lost my breath.

Then, it was inside for some busy bag time.

What Jules was doing during all this "school" time...

No snow day would be complete without wrestling.

After quiet time, the big kids were greeted with a spy/wipeout course.   The string last only a few minutes...then Ellie found the scissors and what's a 3 yr old to do when they have scissors and string...but cut away...Owen was annoyed.



Now to clean up and get ready for a AWANA party today!  And after that, I'm done.  No more creativity left in me. :)  But seriously, we had so much fun...Owen might not want to go back to school tomorrow. ;)



A Tooth!

Isn't that a toothless grin you could just love to pieces?!  After a little bribe (getting to play Angry Birds), Owen let Justin wiggle his tooth out.  We could see the new one coming up behind it and new the baby one was ready to be out.  A little blood, some "Yet me see"s from Ellie and a victory Angry Bird game...a good way to celebrate losing your first tooth. 

Oh, and a celebratory picture also!  4 quarters under your pillow was his reward.  The next day Owen was most excited about the boys getting to add another "tooth" to the tooth chart at school. 

One!

The whole fam with the birthday girl.



Jules doing one of her favorite things: crawling up the stairs.



Cousins pic



Bad lighting, but the best one of I got of the cake and Juliet.




While we are singing Happy Birthday.  Jules was on the verge of crying the whole time.

It's hard to believe our youngest baby is 1 year old.  Juliet, you add so much to our family.  Smiles, laughs, slobbery kisses...wobbley steps, crawling all over us like we're your own jungle gym, following your brother and sister around...nodding your head yes or no, hugging baby dolls and dancing to the Diego theme song...You are a blessing from God, and our prayer is that one day you will know Him who created you so perfect.  We love you and Happy Birthday!

'Tis the Season

Christmas Parade

11 months

               The theme for Juliet is climbing!  She can stand by herself and take a step or two towards you.     She's in everyone's business and thinks she's as big as Ellie.