Jack and his shadow

This is where I usually find Jack but now Madeline is right behind him whatever he is doing...

Waiting for daddy to come home...

Happy Birthday Ryan!

My brother turns 25 today! I can't believe it! I remember the snowy day he was born and how I was so mad he was a boy! I got over it quickly and wanted to bring him to show and tell at school. Rhino, we love you so much and wish you a very happy birthday! It is going to be a great year!

Horses

Clay was approached by a customer at his store recently for some donations to a local therapeutic riding non-profit- www.corralriding.org. Turns out the farm is super close to our house and we were invited out to "meet" the horses. We took along some friends and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon.

Jack was not afraid!

Jack and Clay feeding the horse. Brooke feeding herself.
Madeline loved the horses too!

Jack and his buddies- Cooper and Brooke

I love this pic of them. We can show it at their rehearsal dinner slide show!

Cooking fireman

Every morning Jack and I make pancakes or french toast- his request. This has gone on for a few months so he now knows how to make both- what ingredients to get out of the fridge, pantry, etc. Really all he needs me for it to turn on the stove and crack the eggs, although he has attempted that too. Yesterday we were about to start and he said "Wait Mom! There's something missin!" And then he ran and got his fireman hat and we were allowed to proceed from there. You never can be too careful in the kitchen!

Bananas for Mimi

This pic is for my mom. She HATES bananas. Hates the smell, hates the taste but mostly hates the sound they make when they squish. Madeline, on the other hand, LOVES bananas. Loves the taste but mostly loves squishing them in her fat little hands and in her mouth!

11 Months

Our sweet Madeline is 11 months! Crazy to think that this time last year I was HUGE and so anxious to meet the child inside of me. Crazy to think of our lives without her. Madeline is a light, so cute, so funny, so much personality already! She is determined and head strong but loving and snugly too. She will follow Jack to the ends of the earth, but right now it is mainly up the stairs! Every morning we go in to get her and she just beams at Jack. If he is not with me, she is looking around me for him. If she is crying in the car, he will sing or talk to her and she will stop. It is so fun to see their sibling bond developing. Madeline is an eater, like her brother and isn't picky. I am starting to wean her and am just trying to feed morning and night. She does not take a bottle so we have gone straight to a sippy cup which she likes and does pretty well with. Madeline loves music and will clap hands and bop around whenever music is on. Although only saying Mama right now, she "talks" constantly.

Here she is doing itsy bitsy spider:

And she has a lot to say! We just can't wait until it is understandable!

We love you Madeline!

First bow!!

Those of you that know me, know I have super thick hair- lots of it. My stylist comments every time I go that she can't get over how much hair I have and procedes to thin it out for the next 20 minutes. I always imagined that if someday I had a little girl, that she would have thick, flowing locks and wear bows every day. Madeline came bald and is still struggling in the hair department. BUT today, I got a bow to stay in her "hair." I have refused headbands and sticky bows -no offense to those who like them but they are not my thing. So today was a HUGE day- a real bow, in her hair. Look closely.

We'll be french braiding in no time!!

Miss Priss

Nothing too exciting going on here. We are getting back in our routine and it is nice.

Miss Priss is so mobile these days. It is fun but exhausting.

With her Tennessee football- celebrating the bball win over Kansas!

She can climb up all the stairs and her new trick is to take something with her. She always turns around to see if you are watching her and then when you come to get her off the stairs she laughs and climbs even faster!

Tent Time!

We have fabulous friends here in Raleigh and some of our favorites are the Smiths. Barb is super talented in many areas but excels in sewing ANYTHING! If she sees it, she can make it. She surprised Jack and Madeline with this awesome table tent for Christmas. Jack asked to sleep in it the first night and we let him. He piled all his animals and pillows underneath and lasted til 1am. Pretty impressive for his first "campout."

Adventures of Maeve and Jack

Maeve and Jack had a great time over Christmas! They made cupcakes with their fancy sprinkles Gerry gave them.

Sampled some icing
Showed off their goodies

Jumped alot at Pump it Up!

And rolled down the hill at the Donaldsons

Christmas in Knoxville!

We arrived in Knoxville Christmas Eve to find our stockings hung with care!The mantle is almost full!

Maeve and Jack- so excited for Christmas!
In our family we get to open one present Christmas Eve. Jack chose Uncle Ryan's present and it was a TN jersey. He immediately put it on and even slept in it!

Christmas Morning- the adult tree

Jack and Maeve's tree (and Madeline and Cael)

I love that my mom has stockings for all of us!

Discovering that yes, Santa and his reindeer had come!

Madgirl busy opening her first baby doll! Mimi and Goose got her a baby doll stroller too!

Two busy munchkins

When you asked Maeve what she wanted for Christmas, she would say a "stoplight." We don't know why but leave it to Uncle Ryan to grant her wish! We didn't ask where it came from - him wanting to be a lawyer and all :)

Mimi got the girls matching dresses

Goose was determined to win Madeline over. Ice cream always works!

Madgirl and Uncle Ryan

It was a great Christmas! We are so thankful to my parents for their wonderful hospitality, yummy food, and warm and loving home.

Party time

My parents always have a party the day after Christmas for all the families we grew up with. We love being able to catch up with everyone in one place!

A family shot before the party

Me and Betsy- We don't live together anymore but we still have the same great taste!
I am not going to try to identify all the people here but they encompass the Connor, Kohl, Donaldson and Maddox families and their significant others. Fun times!!

Family pics

We tried to do some family pictures while in Knoxville. Hard to get good ones with 4 kids under 4! My Mom and Dad with the grandkids:

The Schupps
The soon-to-be Connors (July 24th!)

Whole Family

Our family