NYE 2016!

We had a perfectly low key evening ringing in the new year.  This is our fourth new year's eve since becoming parents and we have stayed in every year...and loved it.  Pre-kids we always went out and although we had fun (and I'm sure we'll venture out again one day) I adore our mini celebration with the kids.  The twins of course really had no idea that it was a special night and went to bed right on time, but like last year, we let Reese stay up and drink sparkling juice out of a fancy (aka plastic) champagne flute.  She was so excited and her enthusiasm is infectious, as always.  We had special snacks Tom picked up, talked about what a great year we had and everything we have to look forward to in 2017.

This year felt heavy and insufferable for so many reasons, but in my tiny corner of the world, the year was good to us.  I started the day with a spin class and felt so happy and excited about my dedication to becoming the best and most fit version of myself.  I accomplished a lot in this arena in 2016 but I'm pretty pumped to really kick it into high gear in 2017.

After class we took a family walk and realized pretty much immediately that it was colder than it looked.  But we were bundled up and everyone needed outside time so we pressed on.  Even Reese's new "baby girl Daniel Tiger" from Santa joined us for the jaunt.

We chilled at home for most of the day and finished the last episode of The Crown (omg so good) while the kids napped.  After naps we headed to our favorite local bookstore to let the kids burn some energy while I made a quick exchange.  If you are local, Joseph Beth Booksellers really is a gem, especially if you have children.

And of course, as luck would have it, about an hour after my 10pm NYE bedtime Reese woke up violently ill so we were tending to her until the wee hours of the morning.   Turns out I was up to see midnight after all!  But seriously, nothing is sadder than a sick baby.  We scraped our plans to have our friends over for brunch in the morning and spent the first day of the year nursing a sick kiddo and trying to keep everyone else healthy.  Here's to hoping 2017 turns it around! 



Christmas 2016

We celebrated Christmas with both sides of our family and had a wonderful time doing it!  The week leading up to Christmas was rough...really rough.  It started off with an emergency room visit for William as his latest Superman stunt earned him three staples in the head.  The whole ordeal was about as fun as you'd imagine and we were just so thankful it wasn't worse.  Once things calmed down from that fiasco my sister and I took the children to the Festival of Lights at the zoo, which concluded with a wicked stomach bug taking down me and the kids, one by one like sad little dominos.  Momming when you're sick is completely miserable but momming sick kids when you're sick is about the worst.  But luckily the kids bounced back quickly and I wasn't too far behind them.

Festival of Lights, a few hours before we all got sick (Henry was giving strong signs here..)

We kicked off our Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve at my brother and his newly minted finacee's home for dinner.  We didn't see them on Christmas day so it was special to be able to see them to exchange gifts, celebrate their engagement and eat an amazing dinner.  The wheels fell off at a predictable time so Tom and I threw the kids in the car and got them just in time for bed.  Reese and I decorated our cookies for Santa and she was curious and excited climbing into bed that night (which turned out to be the last night she ever slept in her crib...which is another story for another time).

After Reese was in bed Santa got busy and excitedly put the presents under the tree.  Definitely a mental pat on the back for wrapping presents early this year so we could enjoy a stress free evening. We relaxed with some red wine and Christmas Vacation...the perfect Christmas Eve!

We didn't go overboard with gifts this year (and actually we never do) and as always I'm glad we didn't.  The kids were just excited enough and although the boys didn't really know what was going on, it was a ton of fun to experience Reese's first Christmas where she was truly excited and happy about her gifts.  After opening presents we enjoyed a fancy bacon breakfast and playing with the new toys.  We host Christmas Day dinner every year and I always make Pioneer Woman's lasagna, so as the kids happily played I snuck off here and there to get a head start on dinner and frantically pick up the house.

Our families showed up in the afternoon and we had such a great time I barely took any pictures.  William refused to sit in his high chair or let anyone hold him but me so I basically spent the entire time holding him, but it's all good because I still had one whole hand free for wine :)  Holidays can be so stressful and exhausting and although it was certainly hectic (I mean, what isn't hectic with three toddlers) I am immensely grateful that we get to celebrate with all our family.  The fact that not everyone gets to do this isn't lost on me so I certainly savor every moment we have.  Merry Merry!

Christmas at Krohn

For the past couple of years I have taken the children to the Christmas display at Krohn Conservatory and this year did not disappoint!  If you are local they have really amazing train displays, a beautiful Christmas tree and a "real life" nativity scene with real donkeys and goats.  Last year the twins were only 5 months old and hung out in their infant seats, but this year they got in on the action and "ohhhed and awed" at all the displays.  Although it just gets trickier and trickier juggling three toddlers, it is SO fun taking them on outings where they can all enjoy it.

Gobble Gobble 2016

So Thanksgiving...I mean what is not to love?  A day spent with family eating amazing food without the pressure or hype of gift giving is just about perfect to me.  My kids ( and me...cough cough) ate our weight in turkey, stuffing, pie, and just about everything else.  My only regret is not saving a old pair of maternity pants for the occasion.

This year we celebrated our second Thanksgiving as a family of five this week and had the most special time with family.  The morning was slow and lazy and after kiddo naps we packed up and were off for the day.  We are quite lucky in that both of our families live in tow and only five minutes from one another.  We are even luckier in the fact that everyone gets along and enjoys spending the holiday together.  Depending on what out of town family/significant others etc. are joining we either split the day between both families or one side will host everyone.  This year my parents hosted the whole gang and every detail was memorable.  Unfortunately I was too busy drinking wine and chasing my toddler tornados to document the day but I did squeeze in a few pictures...

 



Maybe one day I will actually be a grown up and cook for Thanksgiving, but this year my contribution was a cheese dip and sourdough bread....and three cute kids. 

 

Halloween 2016

Despite Halloween falling on a Monday we had the BEST time trick or treating with friends and family.  Although we took Reese trick or treating last year, this year she dove into it 100% and it was such fun to watch her and her neighborhood buddies dominate door to door.  Another fun addition this year was Henry and William!  Last year they were just four months old and after a long and fussy day, we kept them home with my parents while we took the big kid around the block.  The poor buddies didn't even get to wear their costumes.  But fear not, they made up for it this year by being stuffed into last year's unworn costumes (astonishingly they still fit) and carted around in their wagon, buckets in hand.  This Halloween was a bit bittersweet as it is very likely our last Halloween in this house.  We have come to love so many of our neighbors and consider them some of our closest friends.  Now, on the good stuff.  A few months ago Reese declared herself a firefighter and from that moment on she would entertain no other costume ideas.  Done and done.  W & H squeezed into last year's tiger costumes making them the two cutest tigers in all the land.

Labor Day Weekend and Kicking off September!

We had a very laid back weekend that was just what the doctor ordered.  Unfortunately it wrapped up with R getting sick but overall we had a lot of time together so there's not much to complain about.  Fridays are one of my long days in the office so by Friday night we pretty much collapse on the couch after we put R to bed and I log on to work and try to wrap everything up that I couldn't get to during the day.  Tom had an early morning run planned so we hit the hay pretty early.

Tom's aunt and uncle were visiting from DC this weekend so we spent most of Saturday hanging out with them at my in-law's house watching the Michigan season opener.  Wouldn't you know I have zero pictures of this?  Fail.   After R's afternoon nap we ran to the mall to take advantage of the Labor Day sales while Tom watched a bit of football.

Aunt Jill requested a pic of R so we obliged...from the Gap dressing room.

Later that night I met up with some girlfriends for dinner and had some much needed adult/girl talk.  And most importantly...I had dinner out and stuck to Whole30...go me.   I opted for Kobe beef skewers and mushrooms and just asked for them to omit the butter...easy.   I'm sure I raised a few "is she pregnant?" eye brows with my water sipping but I assure you, I'm not.

Sunday started off with brunch with R and a couple of my girlfriends (again, no pictures) and Tom spent some more time with his visiting family.  I was pretty proud of myself for sticking to Whole30 again (veggie frittata, hold the cheese) when the smell of toast of pancakes almost made me cave!  We regrouped later in the day and ran some errands.

R's favorite way to grocery shop.

Monday was the official start of September (woohoo!) but I gotta say, this is the first summer in a long time that I haven't been pining for fall.  Maybe it's because we've had a fairly mild summer and we were actually able to enjoy being outside, but I'm pleasantly content with it not quite being fall yet.  And can we just put a moratorium on the pumpkin spice lattes until it's at least below 80 degrees outside?

Anyway, R woke up with a slight fever on Monday so we scraped brunch plans with my parents in lieu of them coming over with Chipotle.  We had a fun visit and I'm so grateful that R gets to see both sets of grandparents so often.  After her afternoon nap she seemed on the mend so we hit a few more Labor Day sales and were able to stock up on some work wardrobe essentials in record time.

Do you see a theme here?  No wonder she hates riding in her stroller when it is just the two of us!

R woke up on Tuesday with a bit of a higher fever so I cancelled my morning and stayed home with her.  Her fever was gone by late morning so her sitter came over and I headed into work for a few hours.  I have a feeling this is Hand Foot Mouth, yet again, but we'll know for sure by the end of the day I suppose.

When you don't feel good mom's "30 minutes of screen time" rule goes out the window.

Here's to a short work week, my last week of Whole30, and the unofficial start of fall!

Deck the Halls

Since Thanksgiving was so late this year we wasted no time buying our tree and beginning to decorate.  We still have some work to do (everything takes so much longer with a baby, am I right?!) but for the most part we are in the full swing of the holiday.  Although we decided not to host our annual Christmas party, we will be hosting dinner on Christmas day and we're very much looking forward to celebrating R's first Christmas together.

First Thanksgiving

Last month we celebrated our sixth(!) Thanksgiving and R's first.  We split the day with both sides of the family and we had a wonderful time.  The first half of our day was spent with Tom's side and the second half with mine.  I don't think R was ever put down throughout the day!  Here are some pictures from the day...