Grace's new best friend

Christian and his family (Brother Mike, Tricia and Hannah) came to visit from Wyoming.

Grace  and Christian are now BFFs.  It was so fun for them to get to play together.  We visited the children's museum in Tampa, unfortunately  I did not take any pictures, Tricia snapped this with her phone outside the museum.

Blessing Day

Eliza was blessed today by Brian. I keep having to make one more blessing dress from my wedding dress material. I am out of fabric so this is the end of the line.

All the kiddos, I didn't realized we all were coordinating until Brian came out and asked if he was supposed to wear a red tie.

Eliza and her proud parents.  Eliza is pondering the 5 unsolvable math problems.  She is pretty much a genius.  

Grace had all her babies in a row on the couch. I think Eliza is trying to eat her puffed sleeve. Eat your heart out Anne of Green Gables.

Eliza talking to her Papa.

Eliza yelling at her Papa.

Eliza snuggled up after the picture taking.  Her eyes are finally opened.

A random picture of Adam, my little mouse and Grace with cheese envy.

Happy Birthday Brian

 Happy Birthday dear Brian.

A chocolate cake for the birthday boy.  Grace chose the heart sprinkles and put the candles on the cake.  Papa was here so he made Brian a fancy dinner and then we went fishing.  How could his birthday get any better?

Random January

 I went to Target the other day and they had a dress in Eliza's size that matched Grace's dress.  Grace was so excited about it and carried it all through the store.

Eliza was up to a whopping 7 lbs and 13 oz at her 6 week check up.

 Big day in our house, Jacob can drive the riding lawn mower.  He did make a maze in the grass and I had to go mow over the tracks.

The crew.

All 5 kids

 Hard to believe I have 5 kids.  She is one month old and fits right in our rowdy clan. 

 Jacob loves to hold her.

Tears in ensued after he didn't get to hold her.  So much for picture taking. 

Merry and Eliza.

Eliza 4wks

Eliza turned 4 weeks on January 17th.  This also happens to be the day that was supposed to be her birthday (my c-section was originally scheduled for this day, at 37 weeks).  We are so grateful to have her here safe and healthy.

Look how chubby she is getting.  She weighed 6 lbs. 3 oz. at her 3 week check up.

She is still super sleepy, I guess she still thinks that she should be incubating.

Nestled into her little cocoon.

She is the noisiest baby I have had so far.  She doesn't cry she just grunts and makes little kitty noises all of the time.  Not sure what this face is all about.  

Fresh from the bath with fluffy hair and a peek at her eyes.

All swaddled ready for a nap.  I love how her hands manage to escape.

Another sleepy smile.

Eliza talking to Grace.

I guess she was trying to make a point.

Love this look on Grace's face, I feel like this all of the time.

I don't have any teeth mom. 

Photo courtesy of Jacob.

We ran out of newborn diapers so I thought I would try a size 1 one her.  Look how giant it is.  She promptly peed on the bed through the top of the diaper because it was so loose.

Merry Christmas

Way back in 2012, we did send Christmas cards.  

I am like 6 and 1/2 months pregnant and look so pleased to be in the picture.

The kids on the back of the card.  Everyone fought to hold the giant S at the beginning.  At the end no one would hold it.

Adam, also known as Adam Fitzfattam or Captian Destructo.  

Grace, my favorite Grace quote during the photo shoot "but I forgot how to smile."  Good thing Brian was willing to dance behind the camera to get a genuine smile.

Jacob, the ring leader of the circus.

Merry, Merry, is getting so grown-up.

Another family shot.

And now to my favorite part of family photo shoots, the outtakes. 

Adam with his blade o'grass mustache, definitely a classic.

This looks like Adam is majorly annoyed but in reality he is just looking at an airplane.

Then there is the time I squashed Brian's fingers between the rocking chair when I sat down.  

This came close to being the picture on our card.