The End to a Great Birthday
Saturday evening, we took Abby to Build-A-Bear as the last part of her birthday present from me, Mike, and the kids.  Afterwards, we ate dinner at Ruby's Diner (we don't go out to eat too often, but when we do, it's one of our family's favorite places for good burgers, fries, and shakes, and the trains riding on the tracks hanging from the ceiling are a bonus, too!).  A great way to end Abby's 3rd birthday!

Picking out her stuffed animal...so many to choose from!

She chose the black bear. 

 

Here she is pushing the pedal to fill the bear with it's stuffing and then giving the bear a hug test to see if there is enough.

Giving the bear a bath.

Selecting an outfit.  Then we filled out a birth certificate.  She insisted the bear was a boy, so the boys helped her with the outfit choice and then she named it 'Abby Dude'.  Then it was time to put the bear in it's new house, and off we went!

While the guys ran an errand and Jessie was smelling ALL the lotions in Bath and Body Works, Abby played with her new bear.

Sipping her chocolate milk at Ruby's Diner...Yum!

After the mall, we ran to Walmart for a couple things.  While there, Abby picked out a pink soccer ball for her present from Grandma Betty.  When it was time for bed, she insisted she had to wear her new dress-up clothes, sleep with her bear, her ball, and her new little flashlight.  Too funny!

ABBY
Today Abby turned 3!  She's definitely been acting like a 3-year old lately... Abby has been showing her independence by wanting to do things all by herself.  She loves to put on zip-up pjs like the yellow ones below.  She's also been trying to put on her shirts, too, but not doing too well.  I'm sure she'll get it soon.  She has been bossy lately, too.  Maybe being the youngest, she feels that's the only way she'll get something, I don't know.  Her favorite words are 'I want...  RIGHT NOW!'  She loves to ride her bike (which is actually her friend Murphy's that we're going to have to give back soon), ride her scooter, play hop scotch (she's getting the hang of hopping on one foot), watch Ice Age (and Uncle Jeff gave her #3 tonight!), snuggle with her B's (binky and blankie), read her "There's a Mouse About the House" Usborne book every night before bed, play games like Zingo, Barnyard Bingo, Cariboo, Marble Works, etc.  Somewhat recently, she has been getting interested in dress-up and princess stuff.  So, I made her a 'pink princess castle cake' because she requested it, a Super Princess Abby cape (with Wonder Pets on the other side), a new princess/fairy/magic wand, and she recieved some dress-up princess stuff from Nana and Gramps, and a new sparkley star necklace from Grandma (because Abby keeps telling Grandma she needs another new necklace...).  After dinner Nana, Gramps, and Uncle Jeff came over for presents and cake and ice cream.  Today was a fun day and I hope that Abby enjoys being 3!

This is a photo from the other day when she was watching Ice Age while I was getting ready for the day. Oh, and I almost forgot, I cut her hair this weekend!  Her first hair cut.  We think it looks really cute.

Here she is riding Murphy's bike just before we got Josh off the school bus the other day.

Birthday Girl.  Josh made her this princess crown!

Breakfast with her brothers before school - German puff pancakes.

Playing hop scotch just before Josh came home today.

Oh, and she LOVES lollipops.  I have to have a stash of them in the van because that is the only way I can keep her sitting in the cart long enough to do grocery shopping!

A funny face photo.

She loves her brothers and sister.

They had to do the silly face photo, too.

Her new princess crown, wand, Cinderella dress, star necklace, and fancy shoes.

Super Princess Abby to the rescue!

The  Wonder Pet side...

I made her this dress.  I couldn't get her to stand still or look at the camera...

Her pink princess castle cake.

MLK Day
It was nice to have such a beautiful day last Monday when the kids didn't have school.  We took advantage by spending some time at a nice park in Woodinville.

The park had a skate park, too.  Abby did really well on her scooter.  She and Ben were the only ones to ride.

The kids love this spinning circle.  The closest edge (where Abby is laying) is lower than the farthest edge so it's fun to try to get others to fall off.

The climbing rock is also fun, however, Abby won't go because the last time we came, she climbed up and it was hard for me to get her down.  Maybe when she's bigger.

So, Ben is playing basketball at the YMCA again this year, and they needed a coach for his team, so I agreed to do it.  It's been fun so far and good experience for me to try to put all those skills (that I haven't used in quite a while) I learned way back in High School to some good use.  Coaching is a challenge.  More photos to come throughout the season.  Go Yellow Cheetahs!

What Sunday Afternoon Brought to My House...

Yesterday the kids kept trying to make bets with each other and none of them could NOT do what they others bet them not to do, so they all kept losing the bets, and arguing, etc.  Finally, I said no more bets!  So, they all decided they would all do the consequence of losing the bets.  They didn't have time yesterday, so that's what they kept themselves busy doing this afternoon after church.  If you ask me, Jessie got the easy end, but the boys haven't seemed to care.  I'm glad my children can be silly and creative and play well together.  Sunday is the one day of the week that the kids can plan on everyone playing together and I think they really look forward to it (even if they won't admit it!).

Little Miss Joshie

Little Miss Benjaline

Little Miss Benjaline and (I'm really not sure what Jessie is suppose to be...she's wearing one of Ben's skate shirts, but she has lots of ponytails...you can decide)

                                    

Railroad Tracks

Jessie got her 'railroad tracks' put on today.  She still looks cute as ever.  She says, "I look like the next time a train passes our neighborhood, it's going to go off the tracks and over my mouth going 'whoo whoo!!'".  She's funny!

Abby wanted a picture with her big sis.  Jessie woke Abby from her nap today and Abby came down the stairs saying, "Mommy, come see.  Jessie painted her teeth pretty!"  It was very cute.

Holidays

I am so grateful that we could celebrate the birth of our Savior once again.  Through all the excitement of lights, decorations, goodies, and presents, Mike and I try our best to make sure our children understand the real reason we celebrate Christmas.  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for all He has done for me. 

We were very blessed to have had such a wonderful holiday week!  Christmas Eve we spent the afternoon and evening at Mike's parents' house, ate yummy snacks and a delicious dinner, opened presents, and then went home to wait for Santa to come.  Christmas day we opened all our presents and then Mike's parents and his brother, Jeff, came over for brunch and then we hung out all day.  It was two relaxing days.  We are all so grateful for the generosity of all who gave/sent gifts (and money)!  The day after Christmas, Jessie and I spent the day together shopping at the mall (which we never get to do, so was very fun and nice spending some one-on-one time with Jessie!).  Monday, Mike and I celebrated our 15th Wedding Anniversary!  We went to the Maltby Cafe for brunch and stuffed ourselves.  They are very well-known for breakfast and serve it all day long over the holidays.  Wednesday, Mike and I, and the three oldest kids took the tour of the Boeing plant in Everett.  It was exciting to see the 747, 777, and 787 on the production line.  It's amazing how big those planes really are and so interesting to learn about how they are actually put together.  I can't wait to someday ride in the 787 Dreamliner!  Thursday was New Years Eve and Jessie had a youth fireside and Scottish Hogmanay Party to attend at her Young Woman's President's home.  After the fireside, Ben and I joined her to ring in the New Year.  Jessie and I tried the traditional Scottish Haggas as well as some other traditional Scottish food.  It was a lot of fun!  Friday night, the kids got to have a sleep over at Nana and Gramp's house and Mike and I went out for a nice dinner for our Anniversary and spent a VERY quiet evening at home. We really enjoyed being able to carry on a conversation without being interupted and going to bed without any trouble from little ones, but by the time 10 a.m. rolled around and we were headed to pick up the kids, we were ready to have them home.  Our lives are just not complete without our four wonderful children! 

Christmas Eve at Mike's parents' house

ALL the boys playing Legos

Abby and Nana playing bears

Jessie being cute as ever (I love her new shorter hair cut!)

Christmas Day

Abby and her new doll

Tony Hawk Ride, which Ben was MOST hoping for (thanks Grandma and Grampy for helping him get it...)!

Josh and his Ben10 Lego - Humongosaurus

I think this one is self explainatory...

Helping MIke gear up for his fairly new hobby of shooting guns with his dad and brothers (a 12-gauge pump action shot gun).

Our new family 6-in-1 game table (thanks Grandma Betty!)

While Jessie and I were at the mall the day after Christmas, Jessie decided to get her ears pierced with her Claires gift card (thanks Grandma and Grampy).  They look great.  She is so excited at all the earring possibilities once she can take her studs out!

Hard to believe it's been 15 years!