to wrap up January

Birthday Cake, New Hats, and Sister Love !!

Happy Birthday Baby Buddy!

One year ago, I was getting less sleep than I enjoyed last night! Aaron Rio arrived at 2:00 a.m. 1 year ago today. I remember being so excited after his birth, I didn't sleep all night. Around 5 a.m. I began calling my friends on the east coast to tell them the news, and then continued dialing numbers toward the west... We thought he was due on New Year's day, so waiting all the way to the 19th seemed like a really long time. Once he came, he was cute, healthy, and has been keeping us busy ever since!
This post is mostly for Adrian, who has to be out of town working until Friday night! Here are some ways your "Cook" celebrated his 1st birthday:

unloading tea bags from the cupboard:

(Today I added something to the "Favorite Things in Life" list: a little boy "working" in his overalls!)

Opened the presents that had arrived so far, in the presence of Grandma Mary and the rest of us ~ he got some Green Bay Packers PJ's, an awesome hand knitted hat, some socks, and a John Deere wagon!

Talked on the phone to several adoring grandparents and aunties, plus Daddy:

Walked around outside and at playgroup:

Ate mac 'n' cheese for lunch:

"Helped" with the dishwasher:

We love our baby Buddy! Or as Daddy affectionatly calls him, "Cook". That seems to be an abbreviation of Tessa's longer nickname for him, which is "Aaron Buddy Doodie Cookie Mommy". Baby buddy didn't quite make it to my prediction that he would weigh the same as Jaci by 1 year. She is steadily keeping 2 pounds ahead of him, which of course I think is great! Aaron began walking at 10.5 months, and has been more content to self entertain since then. He loves to go outside, and throws a fit whenever we shut an outside door. Or the dishwasher door. He loves his sisters, and already has a unique relationship with each of them. He loves dogs, the goldfish, and baths. He is a hefty bundle of joy, and we love him very much!!

amid the bustling

We have been busy traveling (we were away from home 16 weeks in 2010), working on the house (new & improved laundry room as of the weekend!), homeschooling (I count it a priviledge and am loving it!) and raising 4 children. Since Adrian said we aren't planning to travel again for a while, I committed to a few weekly activities, including a sign language class (Ella and Tessa attend with me), tumbling class (all 3 girls participate) and a playgroup that is refreshing for us all. The following photos are of fun times we've had amid the daily routine!!

New Years Welcoming Comittee 2011

(and time for bed for Aaron!)

Jaci is such a nurturing little girl!

A photo of the ONLY time we had all 4 in the bath at the same time:

Aaron Rio eating:

Had to pick up the camera in the moment that I had 4 little people helping me prepare dinner last week! The girls gladly peeled the carrots that night, saving me all sorts of time!

Ella fashioned this dress / baby sling out of a blanket!

Winter Wonderland

We've traveled over the river and through the woods, and today we are cozily tucked away at Grandma's House! I think this is the most amount of snow I have ever seen up here. There are 2-3 feet on the rooves, 3-4 feet on the ground, and 6-7 feet where it has been plowed or shoveled. It is completely beautiful! Happy 2011 to you!

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household:

for all her household are clothed with scarlet"

--Proverbs 31.21

"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord.

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they are as red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Isaiah 1.18

(Our dog, Layla can walk straight onto the porch which is normally 3 feet off the ground)
"He says to the snow, 'Fall to the earth'"

Job 37.6

"His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow,
and his eyes were like blazing fire."
Revelation 1.14

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.

They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.

It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

Isaiah 55.10

CHRIST-mas

Mas means "more" in Spanish, so I like to think of Christmas as more of Jesus!! The girls got to explore the story of Jesus' miraculous birth through practicing for a Christmas play, and imagining all the people who came to worship him ~ there were rich and poor, young and old who came to greet the Messiah as a baby. They also learned a few Christmas songs. I wonder if they will remember them next year!

Here are the girls' dresses, all ready to go for the Sunday before Christmas ~

Beautiful sisters
With baby brother

We were at Gramma Mary's house on Christmas day. We cut out, baked and decorated sugar cookies, molasses cookies, and gingerbread houses

When we got home, we opened presents over the next few days. The girls received new bear dollies, a bunch of homeschool books, a dishwasher sized box with windows and a door cut out, a play kitchen, and lots of other toys. Everything (except the box, which was free) was hand me downs from friends and family, so we spent a grand total of $0 on Christmas gifts this year! THANK YOU Taylor, Aunt Charlene, Pflugs and Blomquists for your generosity!!

Thanksgiving

Here are some snapshots of our trip to Wilsonville for Thanksgising!

All in a Day's work: A closet project!

Before:

After:

Great Grandma Alm with the kids:

I found a whole bin of play dough tools at Goodwill for $5!

The weather was pleasant for walks, and a ride in a wheelbarrow!

Aaron walking

He pulled it off at 10 1/2 months. He is doing "bath" sign while walking, in case you're not sign language literate! :) If you listen carefully, he says "up" before climbing the step stool. He is also talking earlier than the girls did, clearly saying "hot", "up", "Ella" uh-oh as well as several signs. We have a little communicator on our hands!