Welcome baby Claire!

Aunt Stacie and Claire Elizabeth

Lily stretching to play the piano

Swinging at Mimi and Grandad's house
Collin playing in the dirt

Riding the carousel with the kids

Aunt Stacie, Uncle Craig and Lauren welcomed their newest addition to the family on Tuesday, January 19th.  Her name is Claire Elizabeth and she weighed in at 7 lbs.10 oz.  We went to see them over the weekend and she was just as happy and passive as could be.  Collin was skeptical at first until we explained several times that the baby was not ours and would not live at our house.  He was very excited to meet baby Claire once he was reassured she would not be coming home with us : )

A White Christmas

Christmas Eve...watching the snow fall.

Lily is standing on a stool so she can see too.

Watching the snow with Daddy

Christmas morning - Lily loves her new lamb rug.

Santa left candy canes in Collin's stocking.  That was on his "Santa" list
Collin opening his transformer that Santa brought.  

Lily playing her baby grand piano - she loves it!

Sweet hugs!

Todd serenading the kids.
Snow!!  LIke I said, Lily was not loving it.




Lily playing with her new dog.  It barks and wags it's tail.  

Collin and Lauren opening their gifts at Mimi and Grandad's house.
Collin and Uncle Charlie.
Lily and Aunt Jenny.
Lily playing with her new dollhouse Nana and Papa gave her.  She adores this thing!
Aww...Julie and Brent.
Nana and Collin.
Papa reading to Collin.
Aunt Jenny and Lily.
Me and my bugs : )

I know it's been a while since I've posted any updates.  We got caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and I am just now getting back to a schedule.  We had a great Christmas this year!  It is so much fun to see the innocence through our kids eyes as they take in all of the sights and sounds of Christmas.  Collin had a couple of "Happy Birthday Jesus Parties."  It's so neat to see him celebrate the birth of Christ and the true meaning of Christmas.  He is learning so much and asks more and more questions each day.  I am already looking forward to next Christmas when he can understand even more.  

The kids had a blast on Christmas morning.  Lily was a little overwhelmed with it all and would have been happy with just a box; Although, she loved her new piano.  Collin's eyes lit up when he opened his new transformer that Santa brought him.  After we opened presents we went outside to enjoy the beautiful snow.  Collin loved playing in it and didn't want to come in.  Lily, on the other hand, was not sure about it and didn't like to touch it with her hands.  We went to Mimi and Grandad's house later that evening to celebrate Christmas with them (Mimi, Grandad, Aunt Stacie, Uncle Craig, Lauren, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Charlie).  The kids opened more gifts over there.  We were SO exhausted by the time we got home from all of the excitement of everything.  The next day, Nana and Papa, Aunt Julie, Uncle Brent, Chase and Maygan came to visit.  By this time, I think the kids thought that the gift giving was going to be a daily tradition.  We loved spending time with everyone and as always, it's never long enough. 

Christmas Tradition

Todd with the kids

All 13 kids before they opened their gifts.  Lily wasn't very happy.

For the past 3 years we have gotten together with 4 of Todd's Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers (and their families) from Tech for a Christmas party.  This year we hosted it at our house.  There were 10 adults and 13 kids age 6 and under.  It was a little WILD, but the kids had so much fun playing together.  

Flight simulator

Collin went with his daddy this weekend to a Southwest Airlines flight simulator.  Todd works with someone whose mother works for Southwest Airlines and got them in to do the flight simulator.  Todd said that it was just like a real cockpit with all of the controls and that it truly felt like they were flying.  They were even able to control the weather and experienced a lot of turbulence.  Collin has a blast being the pilot as he sat on his daddy's lap.  

Collin's Christmas Program

Me sneaking a kiss as they were leaving the sanctuary after their program...I couldn't help it.

Collin's class holding hands as they leave.
The parents were like the paparazzi..us included : )
Collin waving to daddy during the show.
This is when Collin first saw me in the audience.  His little eyes lit up...it was so sweet.

Collin had his Christmas Program at school on December 17th.  It was so cute to see all of the little ones file into the sanctuary and sing their songs.  Each of them were dressed in their Christmas clothes and looked so cute.  We were a little nervous that Collin might get nervous and pick his nose in front of everyone, but he kept his fingers out of the nose!  Yay! 

A Beautiful December Day

Collin loves getting right up in the lens

Lily carrying a handful of chalk
Collin posing with his sword
Lily coloring with her chalk
Collin giving me sweet kisses
Collin giving Daddy sweet kisses

Today was absolutely beautiful!  It was nice to play outside for a change after all of the cold weather we have had lately.  I snapped a few pictures of the kids enjoying the day.  Lily really enjoyed playing with the sidewalk chalk and Collin had fun playing with his sword.  We just had to make sure that he didn't come within 10 feet of Lily : )  His new thing lately is to get right up in the camera lens and say "cheese." 

Lily's a big girl

Silly Lily

Crayon in the ear brings a new meaning to "ear wax."
Lily coloring a pretty picture


Lily LOVES to sit in any chair, especially the one's at their craft table where she can color.  She loves to imitate Collin and do everything he does such a coloring, playing play-dough, climbing on his scooter, etc.  She is into so much more than he was at this age because she sees him do it and then she tries it.  She loves climbing on anything and everything (which is not necessarily a good thing).  She even likes to stand on random boxes and dance.  She cracks me up, but I'm a little worried that she may try to climb out of her crib before too long.