Family Pictures

I always wondered why my family never had any big family pictures taken other than with the polaroid. I always thought we were a cute family even with our lovely perms. Well, I wonder no more. It is a big pain in the butt!! You can't get everybody to look good all at the same time. You spend time doing the girls hair and it is flat 5 minutes later. So thank you mom for not torturing us kids but mostly for not torturing yourself.

This was the best we could do after an hour of trying! So Merry Christmas to all of you.

Family Traditions

This holiday season I have been trying to teach the girls that they are very fortunate to have the things they have from toys to friends and family. So Greg and I have been trying to come up with some new family traditions to instill this. I love the idea of finding families in need or going to shelters, hospitals, or nursing homes to visit, but my girls are to young to be able to help at these places. I was wondering if any of you could share your family traditions, even if it doesn't involve charity-like finding the pickle on the Christmas Tree (I know some of you do this)! Let me know what you and your family do because I might just steal your ideas. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season for Christmas Parties

This weekend we had a couple parties for Greg's work. On Friday night we went to Damon's Grille for the surgery party with all the surgery residents and Dr. Fried. It was nice because for once we were able to take the kids and make it a family night. Fried's and Hensley's brought their kids too, so the girls weren't alone. Then on Saturday night, it was the hospital's party at the Hudson Country Club. Man, I could get to used to living like that. It was a very nice place and great food. It was fun to see some of the other residents and their spouses. Thanks again to our Angel who watched the kids despite her migraine. I love to get to spend alone time with Greg which doesn't happen very often.

Sydney's Milestones

It seems like for some reason the third child doesn't have as many pictures as the others, or doesn't have her baby book filled in, or doesn't have a record of her major milestones. Being a third child, I am determined to not let this happen to my little Sydney. So even though I have put this in her baby book and scrapbook, I will fill all of you in. She is now 5 months and 15lbs and growing faster than ever. Greg decided she needed to start some rice cereal a few weeks ago and I knew it wasn't going to be pretty. Ok, I will say it...I told you so. And we haven't tried it since.

The other thing she is trying to do is roll over. If you lay her on her back it is easy for her to get to her side. In fact, she has been doing that since birth. She never has liked being on her back and instantly would roll to her side, but now it is with purpose. She also likes to scoot on her back as a means of transportation. I am trying to decide if I want to call her scooter or Zachary! (This is my nephew who used to do the same thing).

Thanksgiving

So I'm a little behind. Tell me what mother isn't. Anyway, our Thanksgiving was terrific! We had some friends come down from Cleveland, ate 'til we couldn't eat anymore, then ate pie! (Thanks Leanne for that.) Since we have been in Ohio we have had people over and I have to say I would prefer it that way. We split up the food which makes it a lot less overwhelming, and you get to try other people's holiday dishes. On top of that we have great company and the girls have other kids to play with. Thanksgiving should not be spent alone. That is the whole purpose right--SHARING a meal. So we are grateful for the Davidson's who shared this day with us. We miss you and wish you were closer. Wish we would have taken pictures. It is about the only time that we use tablecloths, placemats, cloth napkins, and China, oh and have a built in dish dryer
(thanks Warren). Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was good!

Halloween Week

HALLOWEEN FUN!!

My Little Indecisive Child

My little Angel

I know I am a little behind in posting Halloween pictures but I am trying to forget it because it lasts like a whole week out here and it drives me crazy. Whatever happened to dressing up one time to go trick or treating on the 31st? Well, out here in Ohio the city decides when to trick or treat. It usually is the Friday before Halloween. Some nearby town do it the Saturday before the 31st. Why you ask? Who knows...Insane Ohioans. I like the fact that it is always on a weekend so kids and parents don't have to worry about school the next day, or you don't have to worry about doing it on a Sunday night either, so I guess it is a pretty good idea. However, since they block out from 6-8pm that kids can trick or treat it's not like they are staying out til midnight knocking on doors and begging for candy. But Whatever! Anyway, because the 31st just happened to be on Friday this year, the girls actually got to trick or treat on Halloween!! But it is all the activities before that make me crazy and by the time it is time to trick or treat, I have put their costumes on 3 or 4 different times between school activities, church, and community and I just want to be done. Brooklyn loves it. It is like dress up everyday for a week. She had her school party on Thursday the 30. London had activities all day the 31, Church activities the 29, and Community things on the 25. Craziness!!! I have to admit that it still never gets old seeing them parade around in their costumes and participating in their classroom parties.

Church Party



Brooklyn's School Party




London's Parade




We had friends come over with their kids and we had pizza and then they went trick or treating together. They played outside and ate their candy.




Brooklyn's Stash

London's Stash

Growing Baby

It is hard to believe that Sydney is already 4 months. We went to the Dr. on Oct. 30 and she weighed 13.6 lbs and 24 inches. She also had to get her shots. I hate being a mom during that time. That is usually why Greg comes with and he gets to hold her legs down. But this time he couldn't make it so I got to be the proud mama. It was fine til I looked down and one nurse had already poked her twice and was done while the other one still had the first needle all the way in her leg. Poor girl.

She settled down fairly quickly which was nice because I had to rush over to Brooklyn's Halloween parade. And boy talk about making it in the nick of time, I walked in the front door and they were finishing the parade and her class was last so I barely saw it. So I went into the class room and she was crying to her teacher saying I didn't get to see her. I felt so bad. I talked to her about where I was and why I was a little late and then I showed her where she got her shots. Brooklyn was then more concerned about Sydney's well being, so that was good.

But I still felt bad, so I stayed for the rest of the party. It was fun to see her interact with her classmates. I was glad I got to stay and watch.