An Announcement

As you can tell, I have a new blog design. I'm really excited about it. Krystyn with Krizzy Designs did a great job of working with me to design exactly what I wanted!

And, we also want to introduce you to the little sprout:



He or she is expected in early August 2010.

Bathtime

Back when we first brought the kids home from the hospital, I was under the impression that I was the only person who could give the kids baths. On weekends, when Gary and I would be deciding who would handle which feeding, I would plan everything around the feeding that involved the baths, because I had to give the baths, for whatever reason. He never argued, mind you. Then one weekend day when we were working out our daily schedule, I thought, well why the heck can't HE bathe them? So, I told him he would be doing the feeding with the baths. He said, "You want ME to bathe them?" I said there was no reason he couldn't do as good a job as me with it, and 1.5 years later Gary gives more baths than I do.

Honestly, I think he does a better job than I do. I love sitting downstairs listening to all four of them laugh and giggle during bathtime. Last weekend I went upstairs to obtain photographic evidence of bathtime. First the stripdown:



Then chase everyone around the bedroom. . . .



Then everyone is ushered into the bathroom:



Then popped into the tub. . . .




Next, water is poured directly over the kids' heads. I particularly love watching this when it's Henry's turn. As soon as he sees the pitcher of water over his head, he opens up his mouth into a big "o" -- I think he's trying to drink the water.





Then, hairwashing and styling (until I was up there last weekend, I had no idea that the styling took place, but apparently it is an every bathtime thing):





Then another water dunking. . . .





Followed by the big dry-off:





And finally the exit from the bathroom! (Don't you just LOVE little baby bottoms?)

Two Awards

So, my friend Daune of the O'Brien Bunch fame selected my blog (and Gary's blog) for The Happy 101 Award and The Lemonade Stand Award.

To keep the awards going, these awards will be passed along to 10 more bloggers of my choice.

Here is what is required for The Happy 101 Award:

A. List 10 things that make you happy.
B. Try to do at least one of them today.
C. Tag 10 bloggers that brighten your day.
D. For those 10 bloggers who get the award, you then link back to my blog and create your own "makes you happy" list.

So, here are 10 things that make me happy:

(1) Wet baby kisses.
(2) Sticky baby hugs.
(3) Leaving work in the evening.
(4) Hearing the little feet running to me when I walk in the door at home.
(5) Taking pictures of the kids.
(6) Chasing the kids through the house when they are laughing so hard they can barely run.
(7) Spending time with Gary when the kids go to bed.
(8) Hot chocolate.
(9) Stupid Facebook games.
(10) Seeing the kids in bed, asleep, with bottoms up in the air.

And, the requirements for The Lemonade Stand Award:



A. Put the Lemonade logo (directly above) on your blog or within your post.
B. Nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
C. Link the nominees within your post.
D. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
E. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Accordingly, here are the bloggers who I pass these awards on to (in no particular order):

Lindsey of Our Little Wolfe Pack
Quenta of The Pollard Triplets
Al of Stay at Home Dad of Triplets
Amanda of The Becketts
Ricky of Adding Turners: Two at a Time
Kimberly of The Adventures of Laramy
Lora of The Growing Gaxiolas
Kate of The Garrett Quads
Michelle of The Carney Family
Jack of The Lawyer Dad

Thanks to all of you bloggers for making me smile!!

That's Enough from You, Elmo.

Aldridge Gardens with Grandma and Grandpa

The day after Christmas, Grandma and Grandpa came to visit. Grandma and Grandpa gave us some wagons for the kids, so we took everyone to Aldridge Gardens to try out the new wagons. . . .

Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve night, we left Nana and Papa's house after baths to drive home. We fed the kids some nighttime snacks, then put them to bed. We were so excited the next morning when we woke up and saw that Santa had visited!!!




We woke up the kids with the news that Santa had visited. They looked excited.






Then we ate breakfast, because when the babies wake up, they expect food -- and quick. Rosemary ate quickly and was ready to go see what Santa brought, and was not happy to have to wait on her brother and sister to eat. . . .





The babies walking to the playroom to see the loot. . . .







Santa had taken out most of the babies' old toys, and replaced them with toys that he brought and toys from other people (mostly Nana and Papa) that the babies had received for Christmas. The big toy that Santa brought for the kids was a play kitchen!! It is definitely a big hit. . . .




















I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and that Santa visited you all!!