Things Domestic Engineers Do

These cookies were delicious! Just needed to run out for a can of pumpkin and they were easy as pie! So yummy on a cool, windy day. I think they'll be best in the fridge! Can't wait.

Our Big Daddy

Our 2nd LEFT thumb sucker! Cannot believe he is starting this early!

Wow! Where has the time gone? Well, I can answer that a little later. Ben has gotten so big. He is 4 1/2 months old. He was 16.5 lbs. at his 4 month check up/pain giving visit. His hair continues to be WILD. He has found his voice. He will scream, it will startle him, then he'll scream again and laugh. Has found his feet. He's already putting them in his mouth. I don't think I started that until I was at least 16! Lillee and Bax are becoming more interesting to him these days. Continuing to be a little overwhelming still, but fun. I cannot believe it but he is sleeping in his bed and only waking up at times once a night! We finally made it! Mr. Jim always says we can hang out if all children are sleeping through the night!

Planning for LG's birthday bash. Now that she's turning 6 she's focusing more on the party than the gifts. Wants a tea party, spend the night party, a party at the American Girl store. Not too much you think? Lucky for us, there is a Monster Jam in Macon the same night as her spend the night party will be. We'll be having a tea party/spend the night. Her gift from us will be the American Girl Store. I mean, we couldn't keep it from her forever, right?

Baxter has been more focused on the gifts. He could not have a party, just bring gifts. His tantrums have gotten few and far between. We now have a positive reinforcement chart where they get star stickers for displaying good character traits. Seems to be working somewhat.

I know that I'll soon blink and they'll all be in school. Speaking of, if Bax doesn't get into public Pre-K, I'm not sure what I'll do! Ha. KIdding - the kid is pretty neat!

Rainy days...

How blissful it is to hear the sound of rain coming down outside while we all snooze away to dreamland!
These two boys were OUT! Thought I should capture a pic just in case it NEVER happened again. Hopefully, it will.

No Greens or Black Eyed Peas for Us

Our family tradition - low country boil for New Years!
Priceless smores pic
roaring fire

Angel Cupcake enjoying the weather!
FAmily photo!

New Year's Eve - WooHoo

New Year's Eve 2009 was a LOT different from 2008! A quick pic of the kiddies at nana's!
Ben had a quiet evening at Spanky's with us. The older two stayed at home with nana and papa.
Not the inside jacket cover of his book.
Nana and Papa agreed to keep their youth minister's children while they were at the lock in. With a house full of kids we decided we would spend the night with grandma!
10:00 p.m. going to bed.

Happy New Year! This year there was no big party, no insane clogging in front of 50 people, no crazy cab ride home with "Bandit Josh", no guitar hero wii rock band, and absolutely no baby making! Wow - what a difference a year makes!

Christmas Eve night

Happy Birthday Jesus! This is our Christmas Eve tradition with the Longs. Last year Sandra's brain got a little foggy from all of the sugar in the red velvet. This year we had key lime cake. Yum yum. Thank you nana.
A little call from Saint Nick. Baxter said he was crazy!

Our sweet angel.
Tracking Santa. He was mesmerized with the Norad Santa website! He sat at the computer for hours watching him leave Indonesia!
Really loved it!

Day 24

Carlo did not want to go with Santa. He barricaded the fireplace and overturned the furniture. He was not a happy camper and did not want Mr. C getting in this house to take him back to the North Pole.

Here's our favorite aunt opening her John Mayer tickets.

Our awesome, funniest gift - steaks from Cooks, baked potatoes, rolls on a wooden tray with our name engraved and our favorite - Makers and Bogle from Food Ghetto! Mmmmm mmmmm, thank you Amy!

Christmas babes

Pressley, Ben and Anne. He looks twice as big even though the sweet girls are two weeks younger. What fun they will have growing up. We had a little get together and had over the doctor that brought them into this world and their doctor that will take care of them throughout their childhood. It was a really a lot of fun with some really neat kids.

Day 23

All I want for Christmas is some manly pjs.

Day 22

The Sunday before Christmas! Scott and Lillee went off to church and Sunday school. Ben and I met them there to work in the library. What a sweet pic. We had a really good time hanging out with Lillee. Then, nana and Aunt Phyllis came and it was time to crank it up a notch and get our holiday activities started.....
We love our fun nana!
Aunt Phyllis under the infamous nativity blanket. BAxter loved hanging out with her and watching Home Alone for the 20th time.
Aunt Amy came over to help with the gingerbread house. I think she had more fun than the kiddos.
They just wanted to eat it!!!

Day 21

Amy, Matt and Libby came down to good ole Griffin for a visit. We spent the day catching up and playing with Ben, LG and Libby. Bax was still in Brunswick. Libby was so sweet and Ben cooperated by sleeping much of the day away! Lillee was a pretty good babysitter for Libs except a little table jumping. Good luck to Amy when this next baby comes in May! Wow! She's in for a big surprise! It was a lot of fun and we ended a great day at Slices. Yummy!

Day 20

Saturday morning bright and early I had two sweet reindeers delivering hot biscuits and homemade honey butter! Mmmmmm. They had lots of fun running to the Johnsons and then next door to wake up Ms. Bonnie!

Day 18 & 19

Day 18 included opening a gift from nana. It was a really tall Nutcracker with LOTS of candy tucked inside!
Friday, the 19th was LG's last day of school. Baxter left with Papa the day before. I went to Mrs. Hogan's room for a fun filled party! The children were so well behaved! We had a bookbag full of goodies when we got home.
Bo was equally as pumped/tuckered out when they got home. Everybody was really geared up for the upcoming festivities!!!

Day 16 & 17

sweet babies
Wednesday nights are exciting!
Papa came to Griffin Wednesday afternoon just in time to pick LGK up from school. We took Ben, Baxter, LGK and Mary Kate to the doctor for LG and Bax to get their H1N1 mists. What fun. My dad got a peek into our crazy busy lives. Ran home just in time to get dressed for church. The kids sang so sweetly.



Then, a surprise visit from Carlo. When we opened the refrigerator he was sitting on the top shelf! We knew something was up but when we poured the white milk out for LG's cereal what do you know but chocolate milk came out on top of that cereal! That sneaky elf!

Day 14 & 15

The days were getting tougher to blog and busier by the day.... We packed up some wine and headed on our way. Naughty and nice, red or white we love our sweet neighbors!
And the children were nestled all snug in their beds....
They decided to sleep together which means easy job for us because they tell each other stories.

Day 15 included FBC's Christmas party and program. They were so sweet and we love our teacher, Mrs. Betsy. Our favorite Christmas song now is "Baa baa baby Jesus."