Important News!!

I know, I know, my Christmas trip blog never came to be.  Not for lack of trying I promise you!  But if you have access to Facebook, I put about 100 pictures up of our trip and you are welcome to look through them and read the comments, and leave some of your own! :)  That should give you a pretty good glimpse of our 19 hour drive with 3 teenies.  :)  Check out the 'littlest' :

Before I get to the important news, I thought I would share some pictures of life at our house lately.  We returned from Nebraska to the warm and sunny 70+ degree south in January.  We've been spending time outside riding bikes, playing at the park, and drawing with sidewalk chalk.  We had a bit of a kink in our taking walks routiene as Josh went running with the kids in our double jogging stroller and the front wheel broke.  Badly.  He ended up having to come a mile back to the house on just the 2 back wheels.  The kids thought it was great!  But now we got it fixed so we should be good.  I think the stroller can handle MY 'running' not Josh's actual running.

So the next weekend after our return from Nebraska our small group from when we lived in Atlanta had their Christmas party.  This shindig is NOT to be missed. :)  So why not another road trip!  It was a great time.  And for the first time in 3 years we have left not having a gift that must be returned and regifted the next year.  Praise Jesus for that one. :)

We stayed to watch the Falcons play that afternoon, and our fancy new camera took this picture:

How can truffles look completly unappetizing? When photographed atop a hairy knee perhaps?  Who am I kidding those things are still delicious.  Actually this one might be a cake pop, and those are equally magnificent.

And now to the every exciting IMPORTANT NEWS! (no we are not pregnant)
Josh got hand-picked to be an Aide-de-Camp to a 1 star General!  (if confused as to what this means, just drop the de-camp and you've got it.  Aide to a General!)  We are so proud of him!  He's on week 2 of the new position and still getting to know the ropes and what's expected of him.  This job can either be great or really challenging depending on the expectations and personality of the General you're helping.  Josh had a chance to see the General he will work for in several meetings and work closely with him on a trip awhile back so he had a good idea that they would work well together...and it wouldn't be The Devil Wears Prada- Military Edition.

Noah continues to be huge.  The kids love him, we love him.  He is the easiest baby!  Goes to sleep without help, sleeps through the night, takes 4 naps during the day (90 min, 90 min, 3 hours, and 90 min), eats like a champ, and smiles a lot!  He's very relaxed and it's hard to upset him.  He's wonderful- such a gift!

 

Josh taught Renae the ends and outs of scrubbing the kitchen floor. :)  This was after she colored on one of the tiles and in removing the crayon we discovered the true color of our floor.  SIIICK.  Whoever lived here before us needs to be taught this same lesson.

And of course there's lots of good boy time.  Wrestling and laughing.  This picture is so funny because Jack was having Noah blow kisses and being really gentle about it, but the way Noah is kicking his legs it looks like he just got clotheslined or taken out.  haha!  Don't worry, that doesn't happen.

95% of the day he's out of harms way :)

Stay tuned for more crazy from us! :)  I'm hoping to put up videos soon!

Most Wonderful Time...

One of my favorite parts of Christmas.  :)
 

Family Photos Take 2

 

 

Enjoy! :)

She's 3!!

Renae is 3!! :)  She had a GREAT birthday!  More pictures to come!

2 Months HUGE

This 'little' boy is 2 months old!  We got his new measurements at his appointment this afternoon.  For dramatic effect I will put the other kids' info here, too.

2 Month Growth Statistics:
Renae: 21 in   9 lb 6 oz
Jack: 24.5 in  12 lb 13 oz
Noah: 25.25 in  15 lb 0 oz

R.U.Serious.  That is basically a pound and a half inch a week since birth.  WOW.

Fun Fun FUN!

Look at these 3.  Hahaha.  So cute.  Every single day.  Josh and I talk all the time about what great kids we have.  We are so blessed!

Noah is 2 months old TOMORROW! :)  I'll post his stats when I get em! 

Playing outside the other day.  Gotta love December in the sunny South.  We are getting waaaay too used to this!  70s and perfect outside!

 

I can not even wait to get the actual growth stats on this kid.  He.is.huge.  I've not ever witnessed a newborn growing so fast.  It's insane.

 

This is so funny.  (Jacks cheeks look all wet because he has super dry skin on his face so he gets to put on special lotion every night).  And can you even see how big our boys are!?  WHAT!

Also, I was looking back through the blog and I noticed our first post...which was pre-kids and just flat out weird.  But the other night we were laying in bed and I was showing Josh some pictures I took of the kids that day and flipped it around and these next two are what happened.  I guess we've still got it.
 

Thought I should put Noah in this outfit while I can still squeeze him into it.  It's a 3 mo size.

 

Renae was reading Noah her Franklin the Turtle book from Chick-Fil-A today.  haha
 

And this is for your viewing enjoyment:

Happy 31!

I celebrated my 31st birthday on Saturday with these cuties! (Also, happy 30th birthday to my sister Martha!! WOOP!!)  Josh and the kids took me to breakfast. Then we ran some errands and cleaned the house.  Then some friends watched the kids and Josh and I went to see Skyfall and ate at Shane's Rib Shack (think Famous Dave's) then we went to DQ.  And then we came home and watched the Huskers get smashed in the Big Ten Championship Game.  Not what we would have hoped, but a good birthday nonetheless!
 

Saturday also marked 7 weeks for this peanut.  Can you believe it!?

Jack dropped his second nap so now we have 2 kids up all morning!  This is actually great because I have a MUCH wider window for running errands.  However it makes some mornings seem really long without a out-of-the-house trip. 

These next few weeks are filled with birthdays, last minute shopping, and trip preparations.  We also have a LOT of friends who's husbands are deploying this week.  Around 1400 soldiers are joining those who left in August.  In our circle of friends we have 6 guys who are deploying.  All having to leave brand new babies or younger than age 2 children.  Please be praying for their safety and be praying for the families.  Separation is hard enough, but adding teeny kids, and single parenting to an already emotional situation, AND just in time for Christmas---they need prayer!  This is by far one of the most difficult and emotionally tough parts of the military.  :(  Be praying for us to have opportunities to fill the gaps for these families and to help them persevere!