Words and Deeds

• Rachel was talking about wanting to go ice skating. I said maybe we could try but it is very slippery and can be hard to stand up. She said "Don't worry mom, if you don't want to ice skate you can ride on the zamboni." Before this conversation I couldn't have told you what that ice machine was called!
• When we were telling Rachel to stop being cranky Eric said she could stop whining and be happy or go to bed. Livy pipes in saying, "Those are you two options Rachel."
• We went out to dinner the other night with the missionaries. Rachel of course loves going to eat with them because they are both boys. When I said it was time to say goodbye she went to give one of them a hug and he froze (missionaries aren't allowed to hug girls or kids, hand shakes only). She got her feelings hurt so badly she started balling and ran inside and wouldn't come out. She was upset for a while and we tried to explain why to her. Poor kid.
• Livy is loving the antlers and red noses attached to lots of cars around here. She tells me every time she sees one. Except she says excitedly "That car has long horns and a red nose!"
• After dinner one night Rachel said to me "That was an awful dinner daddy made tonight." I didn't tell her I made it, Eric just put their plate together!
• Livy is the typical oldest child. She is like the little mother and always concerned for her siblings and watching out for them. She always makes sure we don't leave Rachel anywhere, when I say lets go Rachel she repeats it to her and makes sure she is right there in the store so she doesn't get lost. She has started questioning me on everything that I feed Colt. She make sure there are no eggs in it so he can eat it. The other night at the pizza place she asked me if there were eggs in it and I replied "No, I don't think so", but she had to be sure so she said, "Well did you ask them if there are eggs in it?" Glad to have someone keep me in check and keep watch of my kids!
• While we were on a walk this week in our new awesome triple stroller, with Pebbles in tow, a person walking by said "Boy, you've got your hands full!" We get this comment at least once a walk, usually more depending upon how many people we see. Rachel then asked, "Why does everyone say your hands are full?" It gave me a laugh, and stumped me on how to answer it without saying I have too many kids! Other favorite quotes from the walk from Rachel "What a wonderful breeze today," and "Look out, sprinklers ahead!"
• While making some crafty Christmas gifts Livy said, "This one is for the lady who lives with Gilgo." That would be Grandma Barbara! Sorry Grandma!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas everyone! We didn't get Christmas cards out this year so here is our virtual card, with extra pictures to look at!

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It has been a crazy and busy and wonderful year around here. The girls have grown so much and are loving preschool. I can't get over the change in just one year!! Colt is now one year old and heading out of the baby stage. He's wanting to be independent in most things and having fun trying to keep up with his sisters. And with baby number 4 on the way we are trying to figure out how it will all work out. We haven't exactly figured anything out but we know it will all work out and we are grateful for another little baby to have in our family. We all enjoyed lots of time with both the Psillos and Williams' families this year thanks to many visits from family, to family, and to Austin. It has been a great year and we have been so blessed as a family to have this time to spend and enjoy together. We are especially grateful for our Savior's birth and the sacrifices made on our behalf so we can have that chance to live with him again together as a family. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas wherever you are right now!

Sweet smiles.

Now the silly smiles!

Every time I look at these faces I know I have received the greatest blessings.

We love you, Merry Christmas!

Little Buddy at One

Colt is one already. I think it really is true that time goes by faster each year. I feel it every day now when I can't even find time to come on here and record the things going on like I would like to, never mind everything else on my to do list that goes unfinished each day. So we're busy around here but extremely blessed. I can't believe I have three wonderful, fun, loving, and caring kids that keep me going non stop, and another on the way! I just wanted to write down some things about Colt at age 1 to remember.

Well I can now see the innate differences between girls and boys. Colt although he is such a good boy most of the time he has that natural boy in him that is coming out. When he walks by his sisters he has to bop them on the head or pull their hair if they are sitting low enough for him to get them. They don't do that to him and I don't remember them doing that when they were little. And from talking to other moms with little boys, it seems to be a general characteristic they all have! He also wants to throw stuff instead of just putting it down. He weighs 24 1/2 pounds and is about 75% on height and weight.

But he still likes to snuggle at bed time most nights and if I don't have my face touching his he pulls my head closer until it is. He will give me a kiss now when I ask as well as blow a kiss. He says dada, pepal (his own word for Pebbles), up, no, and go. Some times he will copy other words when I say them but those are what he says on his own. I try to get him to say mama but he knows it's a funny game now and he gives me a certain look and then says dada, like he's teasing me. They he laughs. It is a fun game but now I'm afraid he'll never say mama! Eric says he won again, that is all three of them that have said dada first now. But he's definitely a mamas boy, whether he says it or not. He still loves to imitate sounds people make like sneezing, coughing, etc. His favorite things to play with are any toy that he can put things in and out of, toilet paper, the garbage can, and climbing the stairs. He still only has two teeth but loves food. He loves eating fruit, does good with vegetables and cheese, and some bread stuff too. Since he is allergic to eggs, which seem to be in everything, I have to try and find some more stuff for him to eat this year as he gets more into food. He mostly walks around the house now, until he falls then crawls to find something to pull up on and start again. When we are out he is trying to walk too but with shoes on it's a little tougher for him. He follows Rachel in his love of swings at the park. And he loves playing with Livy who plays rough and loud. They have so much fun together. She told me she is Colt's best friend.

I love this sweet, funny, and happy boy we were blessed with. He is a joy to have in our family and we are constantly laughing at his silly antics. Even when he does something he shouldn't we can't help laugh. I'm afraid of what he will get away with. I am so happy to have a son and get to experience raising both parts of Heavenly Father's plan. I love you Colt! Happy Birthday!

We were in Austin for his actual birthday so we just had a little celebration with our family. The girls kept asking all day when the guests were coming. I had to keep telling them they were the guests this time. We had balloons, presents, and an ice cream celebration. Colt just wanted to suck on the candle though. The girls liked singing Happy Birthday to him and he loved hearing it. 

The birthday boy! He was a good sport considering he had a bad cold and ear infection.

I love love this guy!

Sisters enjoying Colt's presents.

I just like these two pictures because of how Livy is hanging on him and then how he is looking at her.

The birthday "guests."

That night we went out to eat and to walk around a light display they had set up. Of course I couldn't get one shot with them all looking or smiling so here are a few with different ones in each.

Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you!

Colt is 1 and New York

We went to New York for Thanksgiving and had a great trip visiting, hanging out and eating. While we were there we had Colt's 1st birthday party, planned by the lovely Aunt Hannah! It was a great party and Colt loved his cake as you will see.

The birthday boy! He's one but he's still my baby, for now anyway.

Danny enjoying the rounds of "Happy Birthday" being sung.

The birthday boy and the party planner. Everyone was assigned a job but I think she ended up doing it all! What a great aunt! Thanks so much Hannah!

Testing out his no egg or nut cake!

The good stuff! He mostly picked at the frosting in the beginning but then got into it. We all had fun sitting there watching him mash it all over. I don't think he actually ate any though. By the end he was totally in a daze and he looked like he was gonna fall right over to sleep in the cake. We waited to see if it would happen but it didn't! Would have been funny though!

Pinata time!

Colt loving the tree. He wouldn't touch it at first but he is past that now. He goes and grabs it and shakes it all over. No ornaments on the bottom third of our tree.

The girls had fun decorating the tree, going to a play place, picking out a new puppy, and going bowling twice. They loved it. Eric and I had lots of fun enjoying free time sleeping and eating the best pizza on earth!

The day we were leaving Livy got a bladder infection but luckily we got her on medicine quickly so she was ok pretty quick. Not one picture of grandma again. She's always behind the camera. But she was a huge help as always with all the kids. Even letting the girls sleep in her room and getting peed on one night in bed! Thanks mom and dad for a great trip.

The swings are at max capacity. Dan on one, Hannah holding Colt on two, and Rachel and Livy sharing the third. We were trying to come up with new ways to hang the swings so we can fit more in this room for when there are more grand kids!

Colt enjoying his first laundry basket ride from Aunt Katie. Josh and Katie are now living at their new house. It was nice to have the basement to stay in while we were there but it's weird not having them there all the time. We missed you guys!

These pictures were taken before New York, and before they all got hair cuts. I just never got them up here.

Even though Colt is not smiling I love how the girls are so happy. I love you three. Really really do.