9 months

Guess who's already 9 months old? Here are a few hints. She's sweet as sugar, has a smile that will always brighten your day (even if she's kept you up half the night), and has a family that absolutely adores her.

Look at this big girl! She can pull herself up now and is so very proud of this new skill.

Most nights I bathe the kids together, but the other night Lila had already had her bath. She almost scaled the bathtub and hopped in with her big brother. Her little leg was trying hard to get over that ledge!

Dr. Betty said that she looks perfect. Of course, we think so.

Here are her 9 month stats:

Weight: 17 lbs. 5.6 oz. (25th %)

Height: 28.5 inches (90th %)

Head Circumference: 18 inches (90th%)

Teeth: Has 3, 2 more popped through this week and 1 more is on the verge! Ouch.

She is a long, lean, tooth-cutting machine!

Happy 39!

My mom's birthday was yesterday and the whole fam had fun celebrating with her. We began on Tuesday by baking her a cake. Madison came over while J was gone and helped me bake the Chocolate Coke Cake.

Jackson got home that afternoon and helped make the icing and decorate it with me. When I asked him how old Gigi was going to be he replied, "I think she's gonna be 39." So 39 it was!


This was the first time just us girls baked a cake together and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it...

especially when I let Miss M lick the batter! I must confess, it's my favorite part, too.

Mom's birthday began with a surprise dinner at Matt's Rancho Martinez. Her dearest friends came to celebrate with her...some of them even helped blow out her candles:)

After dinner we headed home to the three munchkins who were anxiously awaiting cake time with their Gigi! Miss Lila was the first one to dive into the cake.

Soon after she snagged some icing, the big kids did, too!

The only way we could get them out of the cake was by letting them "help" open presents.

Then they cleared off the table and were ready for the big event. Who wants cake? These two, for sure! Happy Birthday, Gigi. We love you!

Snow Day!

This afternoon our doorbell rang and look who it was! Cousin Madison!

This girl was ready to play in the snow.

Before I could even get out the door Jackson had thrown a snowball in her face. Oh dear. Seems he forgot that she wasn't one of his big, tough uncles. After that Gigi and I had a girly snowball fight with both kids. It really was fun and the kids loved it. Maddie laughed so hard every time she got bopped with a snowball.

She loved the snow so much that it was really hard to convince her to come inside. The only way that she'd conceed to coming back indoors was if she got to make a snow angel.

Once Jackson heard this news he ran back outside and joined in on the fun! What a great afternoon.

Let it snow!

We went in to church and it was just boring old rain...

we came out of church, and look what we found! SNOW!! Lots of it, too.

The Hays boys decided it was the perfect time to bring Frosty out this winter. How fun!

A New Year

What better way to start 2011 than with some good ol' fashioned fun? These two cousins know how to do it up right.

I think it's safe to say that the trampoline is a fan favorite!

They LOVE it.

After all that jumping, these kids worked up quite an appetite.

(Great blackmail pic of J for his teenage years!)

So we got out our trusty recipe book and whipped up some delicious Taco Soup. Yum. So glad I had two willing helpers. Now if I could just get them to eat soup we'd be in business. Until then, a dinner of instant mac and cheese, applesauce and cornbread will work just fine. Once I coaxed them into eating a few beans out of the soup they actually had all four food groups:)

Happy New Year!

2010--what a year! I know the word is probably overused, but we really have been blessed this year. Blessed by this sweet little girl...

who looked absolutely adorable rocking her hot pink tutu at our NYE party last night!

Blessed by a wonderful family who love each other dearly.

Blessed by great friends who came over to help us ring in the new year.

The kids had fun hanging out and played so well together. Both of the Pointer sisters wore their tutus also. Rock on, girlies!

Even though it was a very laid-back family party, we still got in the spirit and wore our party hats:)

Jackson and Presley were a little sweet on each other! They danced all night, and by danced I mean held hands and spun in circles really fast. I'm pretty sure if they had been awake at midnight J man might have tried to sneak a smooch from her!

All the kids played so well together. They stayed up in the playroom most of the night, but would come down every now and then to perform something for us. Nothing like some free impromtu entertainment.

Nothing says "Happy New Year" quite like Cinderella in a top hat!

Thanks Stephen and Jennifer,

Taylor and Price,

and April and Justin for spending NYE with us!

The Hubdog and I had so much fun!

And so did the girls. Check out Cowen getting a smooch from Lila. Looks like he goes for the younger girls!

Then again, maybe not! He was pretty sweet on Madison, too. Such the ladies man!

Santa's big surprise

Jackson's big present from Santa this year was this awesome trampoline. On Christmas morninig J woke up to this huge box inside our house. On it was a note that read:

"Dear Jackson, I wanted to put this trampoline together at the North Pole but the elves told me it wouldn't fit on my sleigh. I think you and your daddy can put it together just fine. Love, Santa

P.S. Be a good boy again next year, too."

Fast forward one week and we have a huge tramp in our backyard!

Looks like it's a hit! Uncle Andrew, Daddy and Poppy all worked very hard. Thanks, guys.

Even I got in on the action a little bit. I might even do a backflip if I get so inclined. I bet that would really knock J's socks off!