Far Too Long...

It has been far too long since I saw Judson and Crew.  We have been on vacation and battling some cold like symptoms that have prevented us from getting over there.  But thankfully tonight we were able to see them again!

Needless to say they are just as adorable as they were the last time I saw them!!!

Judson Henry

Crew Thomas

The girls have been asking to see the twins for awhile now and were so excited to get to see not only the boys, but Uncle Matt and Auntie Mer too!

It seems like a three ring circus when the girls are around the twins.  They are SO eager to help and want to be right where the action is. It is cute to see how helpful they are and how much they already love their cousins!

Happy Valentine's Day

Until recently, I had forgotten how much of a big deal Valentine's Day is for the little ones.  Quinn and Sullivan were both ecstatic for Valentine's Day.  They had Valentine's parties at their respective schools and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Quinn and I made special Valentine's gifts for her teachers.  Between her classroom teacher, art teacher, PE teacher, educational assistants and all the others, I think we sent 19 teacher gifts to school and 3 more to after school daycare! I found this idea on Pinterest (!!!!) and thought they were darling!

 I was lucky enough to be able to attend Quinn's party this year.  They ate treats (healthy!!), opened Valentine's and played Bingo!  A well run party.  I give Quinn's teacher all the credit in the world - she does such a fabulous job with each and every one of them!  Nothing seems to phase her - not even 25 hyper, overexcited Kindergartners and a room full of parent volunteers and educational assistants! (Bless her!)

Quinn opening her Valentine's at her party!

Unfortunately, no pictures of Sullivan this Valentine's Day (Sorry, Sull).  Here are the Valentine's she made for Ryan and I at school though.  Aren't they sweet?!

Crazy for Dad "because he plays toys with me".

"I love my mommy because she rocks me in the rocking chair!"

How sweet is she?!  I hope that she forever remembers the countless hours we have rocked and rocked and rocked together!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  

A Good Way to Spend the Day

I couldn't think of a better place I would want to be than snuggled up where Ryan was this afternoon.... lucky man!

 As you can see below, Ryan is snuggled in with his two girls.  Next to Sullivan is her baby doll.  This is her new favorite toy.  It goes everywhere she does and has to sit next to her all the time - that way she can take care of her baby and rock it when it needs to be rocked! What a great mother she will make some day!

This picture below that just captured the love that Ryan and Quinn have for each other. It melted my heart when I reviewed the pictures this afternoon!  So.so.sweet!!

The Things We Love - Letter U

Quinn - Umbrellas

All summer long, Quinn and her good friend next door played "umbrellas."  They would pretend all sorts of things - that tornadoes came and blew them away with their umbrellas, that the storms were coming in, that they were princesses!!  They (on occasion) shared the umbrellas with their little sisters, but only for a short time and always with stipulations!  I will be curious to see if the umbrella obsession continues this summer!

Sullivan - Underwear

Sullivan has been fully potty trained for several months now.... but she still thinks she is pretty cool wearing her big girl panties!  I have to admit that I am obsessed with her ability to wear underwear too.  That means no more diapers, no more wipes, no more worrying about changing diapers in gross public bathrooms!  The independence is wonderfully exhilarating for at least half of us in this family!

Ryan - Ukuleles

Ok, so Ryan really isn't obsessed with ukuleles!  I racked my brain to think of something that he was obsessed with and just plain couldn't think of anything.  However, Ryan does like Hawaii quite a bit and the Hawaiians do play the ukulele there - so maybe with a BIG stretch - this word works?!

Audra - UCONN

I am not sure how I got hooked on UCONN basketball, but it started over ten years ago.  I think it started with March Madness basketball brackets.  I chose them one year to win and the obsession with them stuck!  They have had their up and down seasons, but regardless of how they've done, they are still #1 in my eyes!!!

Her Shirt Says it All...

I like to smile and be happy.... Sullivan's mantra!

Sullivan had a good afternoon - Quinn was with Nana and Dad was running errands.  I was busy picking up the house and turned to check on Sullivan.  She was all decked out with high heels, a backpack, her shopping cart, sunglasses, and her baby doll!

She was in all her glory... a sight so sweet to see!  A sight that (I am certain) she will look back on and say, "Why did you dress me like that?"  Well, dear Sullivan, let's just say your mother let YOU pick out your outfit this afternoon!  This is what YOU chose!  And I would have to say... you are darling!

The Sweetest Picture

(Disclaimer:  I just might be a proud, proud auntie!  I just can't help but share this photo with everyone who will look!)

Need I say more?!  My sister Meredith came home from a walk the other day and found the boys sleeping like this.  They started out sleeping apart and found each other in their sleep - so.incredibly.sweet!!!!

Our Obsessions... Letter T

Quinn - Tattoos

Quinn is obsessed with tattoos. She loves to wear them - 3 or 4 at a time!  They most often are sported on her hands and arms, rather than anywhere else.   I am okay with the tattoos.  They really don't bug me.  I just hope that she gets all her tattooed obsessions out now and doesn't think she needs to sport 3 or 4 of them later in life!  

Sullivan - Teeth Brushing

This girl could brush her teeth all.day.long.  She loves it!  If you even whisper the words "brush" or "teeth", she will beat you to the bathroom.  I won't complain one bit.... it is a far change from her sister's resistance to get this task done!

Ryan - Traveling

Ryan enjoying seafood in Chile

Italy

Through graduate school and through his current job, Ryan has been fortunate enough to get to travel often.  And while some may think, "Travel... who wants to travel for work?!" the places that he has gotten to visit have been pretty spectacular. He has been to Amsterdam, Chile, Cabo San Lucas, Italy, Switzerland... need I say more?!  If only I could get my employer to pay for a conference in a nearby city like Omaha or Minneapolis!!!  

Audra - Target 

Target... one of those stores that you walk into needing only one thing and leave with $100 worth of stuff.  How does that happen!  But really, who doesn't love Target?!!?