More Kansas Pictures

Playing with the dollhouse

Jonathan and Colin opening presents

Maggie, Grandpa and Colin

Grandpa with all the grandkids, minus Rose

Playing pizza party

playing in the snow with Jonathan and Maggie

Grandpa giving sleigh rides in the street

warming up with hot chocolate

Happy New Year!

I kicked off 2014 going back to my roots.  I've heard a million times "A new year, a new you!".  What if I want to be the old me?  I think there's something precious about knowing who you are, accepting it and appreciating it.

I cleaned and organized the house to start the year in the right direction.  Plus, "old me" relaxes a lot more when things are in their place.

 I put on my grandma's apron, pulled out her old cookbook and spent the afternoon cooking.

Zwiebach

There is absolutely nothing better than fresh bread.

Alison enjoying a fresh after school snack

 We had ham and potato soup for dinner, followed by a butterfinger dessert.  I thought it was funny my grandma had a candy bar dessert in her cookbook, but I figured it must be good if she made it...and it was:)

Yummy food and your family is always a great way to start the new year.  

 

A boy update

Colin "cleaning" up the salt he poured all over the table...Eli giving him an "I taught you well" look

We met with a nutritionist last week to discuss a plan for Colin.  She confirmed that Colin is 2 pounds underweight and needs to gain some essential weight in the next couple of months.  I loved her perspective on it though; we're not trying to make Colin something that he is not.  He will always be thin with a high metabolism, but we're trying to make him the best Colin that he can be by providing him enough calories for his development.

A few days later, we had a doctor's appointment for Eliot.  He has been showing some signs of nut allergies and we wanted to pursue getting him tested.  To my surprise, we found out that he is also underweight!  All I could do was sigh and assure the doctor that I knew how to pack calories into his diet. 

Eliot does not strike me as being too small.  But the other night, Ben told him to go get some pants on and he came down like this:
 

He's wearing Colin's pants!  And they fit!  Well, except for being too short

Tthis week has been full force into high calorie diets for the boys.  I wish I could say it was easy peasy, but it's been stressful.  I feel like the more I work to feed them, the less they eat.  And balancing high calories for the boys and low calories for the rest of us is complete craziness.  All that to say, if you see us in a few months and Ben and I have put on the weight that the boys should have, please be gracious and know that I tried my best.

I resulted to anything I know they would eat this week, which is not budget friendly but hopefully worth it in the end.

yogurt pouch and nutella sandwich

pasta and avocados...Colin likes them in his hair :)

I'm anxious to find out the results of Eliot's tests...hoping maybe it will explain some of his grumpy moments.

Lately, when Colin gets grumpy, he will strip off all of his clothes, even his diaper.  I don't really understand how being naked solves being angry...

He also found his nose this week

Trip to Kansas

We spent New Year's in Kansas, visiting our family.  When we got there, there was only a little snow on the ground, so my dad stole some from the neighbor's yard and helped the kids build their own snow men, complete with fishing hats.

They were just excited to see snow and be able to play outside.  Lucky for them, it snowed more while we were there and were able to go sledding.

My sister and her family were there too and the kids had a blast playing together.

Grandma bought all the kids matching pj's and slippers.

Alison (6) and Katherine (5)

The house was a little crazy with 6 adults and 7 children under the age of 7, but it was fun and there was never a dull moment.  One afternoon, a dance party even broke out.

Dad and Colin dancing

Beth and Rose (9 months)

getting some after-nap-snuggles from Jonathan

Unfortunately, this post is going to be pretty lame.  Our camera memory card quit working shortly after we arrived...but I can't even tell you that the memories are sealed in our brains instead of the camera.  

You see, shortly after this picture was taken,

Colin and Granddaddy

a stomach virus hit our family.  We went spent the evening with Elizabeth and Kent and everything seemed perfect, except for a slightly grumpy Eli, but what's new?  The rest of the trip is a blur, between taking care of sick little ones and then getting the bug myself.  We even missed my dad's 60th birthday bash and we missed saying goodbye to my sister and her family.  We ended up leaving Kansas 2 days later than planned due to sickness and flight cancellations.

As much as it is a blur, I know we will never forget this trip.  Although there was sickness, time with family is precious and I am so thankful for a week full of it.

Christmas 2013

Finding the pickle ornament for a special gift

Playing Army men with Poppy

His very own Thomas!

Opening the much anticipated bracelet loom

Gotta watch out, Alison kisses are fierce!

All playing with Tidmouth Sheds

Christmas dinner in PJ's and a coat?

Alison was up at 5am Christmas morning, so by the time we were ready for dessert, she was barely able to keep her head up.  We had a great day playing and eating and enjoying family time.

Preschool-letter 'N'

Snack: nests (green rice crispy treats with chocolate candies as eggs)

Craft: Noah's ark

Nativity picture

noodle necklaces

Game: put your nose on a number

I called out a number and the first person to put their nose on that number won a point...great for number recognition.

N came at Christmas time, so we celebrated with our own little Christmas party!

Making silly faces while drinking "warm chocolate" and eating popcorn and cookies:

We made reindeer hats and played reindeer games (Santa says and relay races).

We ended our day with a Christmas movie.  I had to document this moment because it's a big deal that Bubby is sharing his blankie...oh, the blessing of friends.

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