december 29

Just a few pics before Gigi and Pop left for SC.

December 26 -- Christmas with Gigi and Pop

Gigi and Pop came the day after Christmas this year!! The kids were keyed up!! Now they know what to expect when they see all these gifts. It was hard to keep them contained until the next morning to open. Mom and Dad stayed from Monday-Thursday and it was great. We visited, ate, cooked, cleaned up the house, played with the children, took 2 to check ups, snuggled with Colin, and Mike and I even got to go on a little shopping excursion for him to use up the gift cards he got. It was great! Though, I can't wait to be closer for next year!

Kait's new dress up shoes!

Seriously? All Girl!!

Christmas Day

It is Christmas Day! hooray!!

Santa came to visit at our house for the first time ever!!

Ryan's Loot

Kaitlyn's stuff

Colin was just hanging out!!

My 3 Christmas munchkins!

slinky dog was a HUGE hit with the children

Obviously, this pirate ship was too!

It's Buzz!!

No, wait, it's a pirate!

Ryan got a Razor 360 Rip Rider from Santa

So did Jake -- I think the Daddy's enjoyed it as much as the kiddos!

Jake also got a police car. Hopefully we won't be seeing a scene like this EVER!!

Christmas with Mimi and Doc

Mimi and Doc came to our house the week before Christmas since they are heading to China the week after as they have for the past few years. They had some major activities planned to do with the children. They took Ryan and Kaitlyn swimming one afternoon at the indoor pool at the hotel in the neighborhood, they went to Chuck E Cheese, they went to hear "Frosty the Snowman" being read outloud with milk and cookies being served at the hotel, and tried to do the zoo and a few other things, but the weather didn't cooperate. It was a busy 2.5 days!!

The last day they were here, we opened presents. Can I say my children were excited?? Wow, that is an understatement!! They had so much fun during our Round 1 of Christmas!!

The tree full of presents

We got the biggest tree we have ever gotten -- 10+ feet

Doc and Kaitlyn being silly

2 out of 3

tree again

Mike and Mimi

Me and Kait...see, I do exist...wow

Kaitlyn and Ryan both got boots from a trip to montana. Kaitlyn couldn't wait to try them on!

a little unsteady!

Doc and Colin

Colin - 7 weeks -- December 21, 2011

Colin is smiling now. A. Lot. It is the cutest thing to see him do. He is such a dream baby. I could not have asked for more from him. He loves just hanging out and sitting quietly watching all the action that is encircling him constantly. He LOVES for people to get down in front of him and pay him some attention. I mean, he lights up when you do that. He is sleeping about 6hour stretches at night, but doesn't seem to want to go to bed until about midnight. (killing me) At least I get about 6 hours before he wants to wake up again though. Way better than with Kaitlyn!!

Colin is a special baby... a 3rd baby for sure. Content to hang out when he needs to, fall asleep as if on cue, tolerate a big sister that is barely 17 months older than him and doesn't fully grasp the meaning of gentle, and wowed by an older brother who positively dotes on him, loved fiercely by 2 parents who were not sure that 3 children was ever in the plan, but SO GLAD that God decided to take control and give us this precious being to care for while we can.

Love you Colin!!