Happy Birthday to You...

Today is Crew and Judson's 2nd Birthday.... 

We stopped by tonight to wish them a happy birthday.  Grandma Jane and Grandma and Papa were also there.  We ate cupcakes, sang Happy Birthday to them, and played just a bit.  

Crew took the unconventional approach to eating his cupcake....

While Judson was a bit more conventional, but still had some fun!

So hard to believe that it has been two years since we welcomed these sweet nephews/cousins into our family!  How it seems like yesterday, yet I can't remember life before they were around!  Life has a funny way of doing that.  

Happy Birthday sweet boys!  

New Names...

We were driving in the car last night, and the subject of people's names came up. Quinn posed the question to all of us, "If you could choose a new name for yourself, what name would you choose?"

Ryan and I thought and thought about it, but couldn't think of a different name that we would rather have.

Quinn decided that she would like to be named Addison, and if not Addison, then Chloe.

Sullivan, without hesitation and with seriousness replied, "Chapstick!"
We questioned her... "You would really like to be named Chapstick P____?!"
"Yep!"

And there you have it... Addison and Chapstick!  Why didn't we think of that?!?

Open For Business...

Quinn comes up with the craziest ideas sometimes... this weekend was one of those times.  I came downstairs to find a new business set up in the living room.

Quinn spent a great deal of time getting all her lip glosses organized, lined up, and easy for her "customers" to chose from.  And within minutes of getting it all set up...

Quinn's Lip Glass Salon was open for business.  

There was quite a line outside the door... a whole one person (Sullivan).  But for whatever reason, that one customer couldn't get enough of the lip gloss.  She kept coming back for more...surprise, surprise!

The salon kept the girls occupied for quite some time - no fighting, no whining, no yelling.  I call that a successful Saturday afternoon.

Family Pics

We had family pictures back at the end of November, which sounds like forever ago.  However, in a lot of ways, it was just yesterday.  I managed to get New Year's cards out using our family pictures, but have done nothing else with them since.  

I just have to share them - they turned out incredibly well.  

These are the first family pictures we have of the four of us.  Isn't that terrible?! Let's just hope it is not another 5+ years before we get pictures taken again!

Pierced...!

Quinn and Sullivan have both wanted their ears pierced for quite some time.  Neither of them could summon the courage to get it done.  Until today.

On a whim, we were talking about getting our ears pierced at lunch today and I asked Sullivan if she wanted to get her ears pierced.  She answered quickly and certainly with a yes.  I asked Quinn the same question, although with a completely opposite response.  With a couple hours to think about her younger sister being able to wear earrings and she not able to, Quinn changed her mind. 

We headed to the mall with two proud and excited little girls.  Neither of them claimed to be nervous, although their sweaty palms may have indicated differently.  :)

Sullivan and Quinn had a conversation about who would go first, and wouldn't you know, Sullivan was the lucky one.  She hopped up in the chair...

Getting ready for the piercing....

Afterward....

There were no tears!!! Getting her ears pierced was way to easy.  It certainly couldn't be that easy for both of them...could it?!

Quinn hopped up in the chair next and prepared herself for her turn.

Getting ready....

Afterward....  

Again, no tears.  And quite the trooper.  One of Quinn's earrings didn't go in the first time, so she actually had to have that ear done separately.  Bummer.  But Quinn took it in stride and was incredibly brave!

So now we have two girls that are extremely excited to be wearing earrings.  Quinn has already calculated out how long she has to wear these earrings before she can take them out and change them - just before St. Patrick's Day.  She already scoured the St. Patty's Day earrings in preparation for the big day.

We are extremely proud of our little ones.  The ladies that pierced the girls' ears said that they were among some of the bravest girls for their ages.  In fact, braver than most of the boys that they have come through there!  

Reminiscing...

I recently took this darling picture of Ms. Elsa at Christmas...she loved bouncing in the exersaucer.

Which made me reminisce and think back to two other darlings that shared that same love of the exersaucer...

Sullivan

Quinn

Such a cute set of girls!

Christmas 2013

These past few weeks have been sporadic with me posting about our happenings.  It isn't because there isn't anything newsworthy - quite the opposite in fact.  Although all four of us were off of work and school for a week and a half, we were super busy.  Life is settling down a bit (kind of) and hopefully I will get back to my regular posting habits.  Stay tuned!

Christmas this year was wonderful.  Mother nature was cooperative with a "white Christmas" - although not too white.  Just the way I like it!

We spent Christmas Eve with Ryan's parents and Uncle Eric.  We went to church and enjoyed a great service.  Each year we laugh because we literally take up an entire pew.  All off us crowd in to the pew and enjoy the service, but more importantly enjoy spending the time and the true meaning of Christmas with the ones we love.  Unfortunately GiGi was unable to make it back here for Christmas this year.  Eric's girlfriend was busy with her family, and my mom was unable to join us.  With three people missing, it seemed like we were small this year.  We missed them!

After church, we had a great supper and then opened gifts. The girls got far too many great things, as did we all!

Quinn and Sullivan weren't shy about "helping" others open their gifts!

Christmas morning was spent at home - opening Santa's gifts and more.  

The girls both got Legos, which took all of a couple of hours before they cracked into those!

Ryan got a new neon clock for the garage.  Notice that I stressed garage.  Ryan is already trying to persuade me to let it come inside.  Not. Going. To. Happen!!

Later that morning we joined Auntie Mer, Uncle Matt, Elsa, Judson, Crew and Grandma Jane.  Given that Judson and Crew are almost 2 years old, we were certain that this would be the year that the boys would rip into all their presents and have a hay day.  They were less than impressed or eager to open the gifts.  Which is just fine.  The girls were MORE than happy to help them.

Elsa on the other hand, loved opening her presents.  It might be because she liked to eat the paper, but none the less...

Crew and Judson loved their power tool toys.  They sported the safety glasses quite well!!  

The girls got Build-A-Bear pets which they absolutely l.o.v.e! 

Grandma Jane got some new snow boots.  She looks quite sporty!  I have a picture of her trying to get those boots off, which was quite the sight. I will spare her the embarrassment though!

Too cute of a picture, not to share...

All in all, a great Christmas.  We thoroughly enjoyed the time with our families.  We are blessed beyond words that we are able to spend so much time with them during the holiday season and throughout the year!