getting back in the groove

I have a lot of pictures to post and stories to tell but I'll just start with these since the dishes aren't going to wash themselves and I have to get to bed so I can be on my A game tomorrow because we're getting our carpets cleaned so we need to be out of the house most of the day. I'm kind of a home body and we have a lot of naps to take between the three of us girls (just kidding, I don't usually nap these days) so it's going to be tricky for me. Anyway, I'll start with just a few highlights and my fav sequence of family pics:

 We went to Utah for the 4th of July and Grandma Hawkins was there and the kids mauled her.  I wasn't there to witness this and when I saw the pics at first I thought this was Mads. 

After a stay in Modesto (which I'll post more about later) we went to beeeaaautiful Oregon and played with the Johnstons. 

so many cousins!

And now we're home and quite happy about it. 

A Mother's Day Treat

We practiced this song for FHE tonight and they sounded so sweet so I wanted to record them and send it to our moms.  Then this happened!  I guess they had a little too many family night treats or something.  They are normally very sweet singers.  Tom got what was coming to him at the end.  There was blood involved but then he watched it afterwards and laughed. Never a dull moment with these two!

Easter/Lucy's Blessing/Family Visit

This was a fun egg hunt with a petting zoo and n Easter bunny that both the kids were scared of.  G took a picture with it reluctantly (that wouldn't upload but you can imagine) and Tom wouldn't go near it.  He clung to my leg every time it came near. 

 

Tom and Grayce got kites in their Easter baskets. 

 Lucy was blessed on Easter Sunday. 

Garden of the Gods

After my parents left, Tori got to stay with us for a week and it was so fun!  And such a luxury to have extra help herding the children everywhere.  They LOVED Aunt Tori. 

 

Lucy Jean

Lucy was born on Sunday, February 23 at 10:41 am. She weighed 8 lbs 12 oz and was 20 inches long.  She is the sweetest baby in the world and we're completely obsessed. Here she is today, almost 3 weeks old.

The kids adore her and are always wanting to hold, kiss, and change "Baby Woocers".

Tom's 4th and sledding

 My sweet Thomas turned 4 this week.  He chose to have a Despicable Me party and invited some of his friends.

  

 We went sledding a few weeks ago and had such a fun time!  It was G's first time and she loved it and cried when it was time to go.  Tom had been last year in Kansas but had a much better go of it this year. 

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and recently

We spent Thanksgiving in Utah with lots of Johnston cousins and had a grand old time. I guess I was too busy eating to take any pictures. But we did get one at Cabella's when we met up with Alli and Danny.

In early December, Cat and Craig & company came to stay with us and see the Broncos play.   I'm not even into football but it was our first pro game and they got us awesome seats and it was totally fun.  I'll definitely do that again!  We even bought Broncos gear for the occasion, so I guess I'm an official fan now.  

We also went ice skating while they were here.  Tom loved being dragged around the ice and begs to go again. 

Catherine and the kids built this guy.

Tom's joyschool class decorating Christmas cupcakes.

 This little one got her first haircut.

Matt dressed like Uncle Eddie for a work party.  He even had the hideous white loafers.

 morning faces!

Our neighbor tried her best to get us to adopt this dog.  Grayce was all for it. 

my Christmas cuties

our first advent calendar

This fruit monster drags her rocking chair into the kitchen so she can get what she needs.  She thinks it should work for getting things off the top of the fridge, too.  Luckily she's not quite the climber that Tom is. 

Tom is a great kitchen helper. 

Matt took a quick trip to Oregon to get a free root canal from good old Craigie and got to take Zach to a Blazers game and drive the camaro.  Beau (age 4) asked Matt when he got back "did you drift?!".   Matt explained to me what it means to drift.  I most certainly hope he never drifts. 

 We got shelves to display Tom's cars because it hurt my heart to have them thrown in the toy bucket.  I think Matt and I may like them more than the kids do.  When we see one he doesn't have yet, we can't help but buy it.  I think we'll be done once we find Sally, though.  

Last weekend we went to check out Red Rocks and hiked around a bit.  It was beautiful!  We love living here.