Update

Happy January! This week has been really nice to really slow things down and just be mellow. I love all the coming and going and hustle and bustle and visiting family, but I do need some down-time afterwards.


There's been a LOT of football on at our house and I've learned to mostly tune it out, I've read a lot of books lately. However, last night's Sugar Bowl was so exciting even I got into it. Brennan sent us to the store to get some snacks and we came home and all watched the game. The kids were into it too, it was fun. Brennan also took the kids to a skating rink earlier in the day and gave me a nice big break. What a guy! He's been working really hard lately to try and win a contest at work for a trip. We hope he won, but won't be sure 'til next week. Either way, I'm really proud of him for all his hard work. We love Brennan!

New Years' Eve we had two of my siblings and their families over, Chris, Rebecca and Oliver and Josh, Eliza, Abe and Belle. Once we got the kids to bed we happened to stumble on ESPN who was showing some truck and motorcycle crazies doing death-defying stunts. We, of course, had to watch it. I must admit it was exciting and happily no one died. After that we watched a movie. It was really low-key, but really fun. Chris and Rebecca and Oliver drove home the next day and we are missing them already. New Years' Day was really nice, Ben took a huge nap and during that the big kids and their friends and I played Uno and Skip-Bo. It's so fun to have kids old enough to really play with. That's one of my favorite things to do.

Anna has been really busy with her friends. We're so grateful she's got two of the sweetest girls as her best friends. She is such a blessing to have as our oldest child. Right now she is downstairs patiently facilitating and playing polly pockets with Abby, Nate and Ben. She always manages to make a little twist to make it more fun for Nate and Ben, like the other day they played "Star Wars polly pockets." We love Anna.

Abigail has also been enjoying her school vacation with friends. Abby had my whole family laughing hard with her latest infomercial impression: Snuggies. She and I happened to see this infomercial for a blanket with sleeves. We both cracked up and when I brought it up later, she of course repeated it word for word in the best "infomercial voice" ever. She has a natural sense of what is funny and a great ability to mimic. She can always get us laughing. We love Abby.

Last night in the middle of the football game, Nate said, "Dad, thank you so so much for taking us rollerskating and letting us watch this football game." It was his perfect day and he never forgets to be grateful for things like that. He'll often walk by me and hug me saying, "I love you, Mom." It was fun to play Uno with him and see how old and smart he's gotten. He totally knew what to do and had no trouble with the numbers. We love Nate.

Benjamin has been particularly colorful lately. He was singing a song while jumping on my bed, but before he began he yelled, "Let's do this thing!" Brennan has a bad shoulder and the other day slipped on some ice which caused him to jerk it and really hurt. The kids all saw and ever since then every time the kids are wrestling or rough housing Ben usually grabs his shoulder and says, "Oh! My Shoulder!" There are so many things he says and does that get us laughing. The thing is it's not that what he says and does are particularly funny, it's just funny because they are things you don't typically see or hear from a 2 year old. He just doesn't get that he's two. We love Benny.