Baby Grace - Sneak Peek!

Spring!!

We love FL!! Where else can you have an 80 degree day at the beach in mid-March? We had a fantastic time playing in the sand and enjoying the day. The kids actually went in the water, which is still freezing, but mom & dad kept it to calf level.

Jack's Reverse Mohawk

Jack greeted us at dinner last night with a reverse mohawk. Apparently, he took daddy's mower (beard trimmer) and raked it across his head so he could have short hair like his friend Cody. Mommy and Daddy were mildly amused. Grandma CC came over this morning to "fix" it with more clippers. On his new look, Jack commented that he looked like a baby! We were just happy he did not do it to Emma's hair. She has worked SO hard to grow hers out.

The View from Up Here

I haven't actually been able to see my feet for a while, but if I lean over a touch I can see them peeking out! I am 26 1/2 weeks now and Grace is kicking away in her little bear den. Jack & Emma are thrilled to have a little sister - though I am not sure they realize quite what they are in for. Emma loves to rub my belly and sing to the baby, and Jack is a great helper and brings me what I need. They are going to make a great big brother and big sister!!

Wasp 1 Jack 0

We aren't sure where he got the bite, but apparently Jack got stung on his forehead by a bee or a wasp yesterday. He came home from school with a big golf ball on his forehead, and today the swelling on the forehead is down, but it has migrated down to the bridge of his nose and his eyes. He is doing pretty well, not complaining at all and doesn't seem to have any difficulty. OF COURSE today was class photo day at school. We told the teachers if they wanted Jack could help the photographer take the photo, but apparently they put him in, perhaps as a reminder to all the children not to cross paths with those winged, stinging creatures!!

The Best Christmas Ever

This year had to be the best Christmas for the kids - hands down. They really got the idea of Santa Claus, and "tried" to be good for the weeks leading up the Christmas. It helped that we had a Christmas Elf (many thanks Aunt Debbie!!) living in our home, who flew to the North Pole every night to report on the days activities to Santa. On more than one occasion, I would find Emma or Jack sitting and talking to the elf - usually about something bad the other one had done! Sometimes, when they were arguing, all it would take was a quick, "Shhhhh!" and point to the elf to get them to stop. Trying to figure out if we can figure out something similar befor the Easter Bunny's arrival!

We managed to make it up before the kids and get the video camera ready. Emma started running down the hall, smiling as big as she could, and ran straight to daddy, before even looking under the tree to see if Santa came. Jack, in his usual slow awakening speed, meandered down the stairs and asked, "Mommy, was I good?" I said, "I don't know, Jack, I think so!" He ran into the living room, passed right by the Millenium Falcon on the ottoman, and ran straight for the box (which is the only thing he had seen in the store when we tried to gauge his interest!) Later, he gave the best line of the day, "I guess I WAS good!" ;-)

Emma was very pleased with her princess castle, and especially with the addition of a prince to make her princesses honest women finally. She got a Lite Brite (my retro gift of the year), which she had seen a few friends open, and quickly responded, "Oh, I don't want this" LOL I guess you can't win them all!

We were lucky enough to have Bruce & Marie here from UT to spend the holidays with us. Jack & Emma have missed their Papa & ReRe.


We had a great time that evening with family, and hosted an Italian buffet for 25. It was great to see everyone and we all had a great time.

Also, a big thank you to the Likins clan for the train set. That has been a big hit all season. We surrounded it with a lighted village that my grandmother gave to us, and put it next to the Christmas tree. Jack loved to be the engineer, while Emma put all her little critters on the flat car for a ride around the tracks.

We still can't believe that we will have a crawler next Christmas! Baby Grace was kicking away all morning, enjoying all of the commotion. I kind of enjoyed having real ornaments on the tree for the first time in 4 years, so we will have to figure out how to get them back on next year, too! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and loved all our Christmas cards!

Santa Claus is Coming To Town (Emma is 4th from left, Jack is far right)

Closeups (Jack is far right, after scroll Emma is 3rd from left - and quite animated!)