Glamor Girl

The kids have been out in the snow every day. It was very sunny today, so I put sunblock on their faces, and Mary wanted her sunglasses. Here she is... I don't think she's wearing enough pink.

Snow Day!

A foot of snow fell in Indianapolis over the last 24 hours, so we're enjoying a snow day with the whole family today!

I was in a video frenzy today!! Hannah loves talking to Sadie, following her around, and rubbing her head against Sadie's fur...

More with Hannah and Sadie, in Jacob's room:

Lately Hannah will go into the music room all on her own, and start playing the piano... very sweet.

Here's Hannah bouncing on her new Rody, and Mary getting in on the picture. The kids are watching "The Wizard of Oz," their new favorite movie. No matter how many times you've seen the movie, it's really fun watching it with kids for the first time. Mary is infatuated with Glinda, the Good Witch, and Jacob is just trying to put it all together in his brain (like, how can the farmhands become the tin man, scarecrow, and lion? And, how do the ruby slippers magically appear on Dorothy's feet? And, why do those monkeys have wings?).

Here's Hannah playing with me around the corner. She's starting to play more games with us and is just generally being really cute! Of course, Mary spotted the camera and wanted to play, too!

Mary turns 4!

I posted Christmas pictures just before this post, but I thought Mary deserved her own post for her birthday, so be sure to scroll down to see the Christmas ones.

Since Mary is such an angel (well...) I made her an angel cake for her fourth birthday. We had a nice party on Sunday with all 6 grandparents and Mary's friend, Maryn, from church. Mary and Maryn got to wear halos just like the cake!

Mary in a beautiful cape made by Grandma Chris:

Time for cake!
Mary becomes suddenly shy as we all sing "Happy Birthday:"

Jacob was on hand, of course, to help Mary blow out the candles.

Today Brian and I both worked, and Jacob was back at school, but I was able to take Mary out for a birthday lunch, and I think she had a pretty good day.

Christmas

We had a lot of activity this Christmas, with my two brothers and their families in town, and Brian's sister and her family in town. The kids got to spend lots of time with all of their cousins, whom they only get to see once or twice a year.

Here's Mary on Christmas morning at our house, with her new kitchen toy, and wearing her new nightgown (she gets really excited about nightgowns!):

And Jacob with his new "Darda" race track (the grown-ups agree that it's super-cool):

After opening gifts and breakfast, we headed down to my parents house for the rest of Christmas day. Thanks to Dave/Christina and Jon/Meg for taking all of these pictures!! Here's Hannah checking out cousin Zoe, who's checking out Hannah's new Rody:

Princess Mary and Princess Ella: Princess Mary taking a break on Rody, while eating yogurt raisins:

This scene is called "how many babies can we fit into grandma's living room?!" This Christmas, the kids were ages 6, almost 4, almost 3, 14 months, 11 months, and 8 months (Jacob is the oldest). There was a lot of chaos (and diaper-changing).

Mary and Ella spelling in the kitchen:Not quite, Mary...

Now they've got it!

Jacob studying one of his gifts:
Hannah with a new fleece shirt:
Dave playing the "Tea Party Game" with the big kids:

Mary snuggling with Christina:

Friday we spent the day with Brian's family at his mom's house. Somehow we didn't take very many pictures, but here's one of Brian's sister Lori with Hannah:

Saturday was back at my mom's house with lots of extended family. Here's Mary enjoying an up-close look at the piano:

Miraculously we got a pretty decent picture of all 6 kids: Mary, Hannah, Jacob, Solomon, Zoe, Ella.

Tuesday Lori brought Ben and Sarah to our house for some play time. Here's Sarah and Mary studying a snow globe very intently:

On New Year's Day we got to spend some time with college friends and their kids. Here's Jacob showing off for the girls:

"Wow, Jacob, you did it!!"

Finally the kids are getting some down-time at home (just in time for Jacob to go back to school!). Here are Mary and Hannah cooking up some grub in the kitchen:

Hannah, you better wash up those dishes!

We had a great time with all of our families, but we're looking forward to getting back to normal. Unfortunately, Brian and I have been sick for the last couple of weeks, and I think lack of rest is partly to blame, so we're going to try to take it easy and get better!