The First Snow

 
 



 

 

New Years Eve

We decided to have a family party for New Years.  The plan was dress up in fancy clothes, eat appetizers, do an early countdown and go to bed early (but a little late).

Lucy got sick right after Christmas and was still not feeling well so Andy and I decided that we would just keep it low key. Lucy decided she wanted to get her party dress on so the girls got dressed up for a fancy.  Andy and the boys got ready for the relaxed party in mismatched pajamas.  

Everyone got a glass of Champagne (Sprite or sparkling cider), got out some pots and pans and we turned on a YouTube countdown from last year.  The kids had a blast.  Caleb loved everything about it, I think he had the most fun.  I just hope he didn't go to school bragging that he got to stay up until 8:30! Lucy got into the noise making but still was not feeling that well and mostly stayed on the couch. Toby loved watching the ball drop. Nellie just soaked it all in with Mom and Dad. 

We hope 2012 will bring us as many blessing as 2011!

6 months

It is hard to believe that on Christmas, Nellie was 6 months old. She is back on the charts at the 95-97% for weight (she was >97% at 2 months) and remains at 50-55% for height and has some wonderful thighs to show for it! She remains my most spitupy baby and I cannot wait until that is over. She likes to gargle and is learning to make different noises. She discovered her tongue this week and has been chewing on it. She puts everything in her mouth.   She is getting mobile and can army crawl all around the room.  No matter how many toys we give her to play with, she will find the one tiny object or paper that she is not supposed to have.  She gets on her hands and knees and rocks.  She has even lifted one hand up, but has not gained the confidence to start crawling.  I am enjoying the still semi-immobile stage as we need still need to get fully baby proofed.  She is such an easy going baby.  Her older brothers and sister fight over who she looks at (as in who gets to sit with his or her face right in hers).  Who ever said that there isn't enough love to go around when you have multiple children must not have had multiple children.  We are more worried about her being smothered with love.  (This is subject to change when she begins to take the other kids toys.)

 I did a little photo shoot of Nellie on the move. 

One of her new favorite moves is going onto her side and swinging her leg.  When I took this one, I immediately thought of Fantasia.  Some have said it is a mean comparison, but I always thought the hippos were cute and I have promised not to bring it up to her during her adolescent years. 

Super Heroes

Many moons ago, when I was pregnant with Toby, my friend Megan and I had the idea to have her mom make our kids (we each had a 3year old son and 1.5 year old daughter and were pregnant with our 3rd) superhero capes for Christmas.  She and her mom were at JoAnns buying fabric the day that Toby was born.  Long story short they were never made. 

This year I asked her to get the fabric and that we could make them together.  We had many a late night of cutting and sewing but were able to finish our order of 8 personalized capes and matching reversible masks just in time for Christmas. 

Originally they were going to be from Santa, but I wanted to be able to tell the kids that I made them so we decided to just give them from Andy and I. I wrapped them a few days early and put them under the tree and the anticipation began. Because of our busy schedule on Christmas, we decided to let them open them the morning of Christmas Eve and let them play with them.  

 Caleb created a schedule where on even days he wears the red side of the mask facing out and the blue on odd days. 

I love this shot.

ORANGE!

Nellie has a little growing to do.

Christmas Recap

When I was a kid, my family didn't live near any relatives so just celebrated at home every year.  It was my favorite holiday.  A whole day of pure relaxation and playing. 

Now, we live near both sides of our family and have an overwhelming buffet of places to be.  Andy and I start dreading the planning as early as August as there are too many places we are "supposed" to be and it is hard to please everyone. Christmas is especially hard on the kids because the celebration lasts more than one day and involves a lot of driving.  Nevertheless, it always works out well in the end.  Plus, this year we instituted the first annual Heikes Family Pajama Day on December 26th so we can all get a little taste of relaxation and just playing with our new stuff. 

We celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa Ed, Big Grandma and Uncle Matt on Dec 17th.  They, of course spoiled us rotten.  Of course, I didn't get the camera out so do not have proof! We had a lot of fun hanging out. They have a whole new selection of Wii games to play.  Caleb's favorite gift was a Lego Star Wars set, which he got to setting up right away.  Lucy loved the new ballet dress for her American Girl doll Ruthie.  Toby has already killed the batteries in his new digital camera (each of the older 3 got one).  Nellie's most used present is her new cloth diaper. 

Christmas Eve we went to the Heikes family Christmas Eve dinner.  We were especially happy to see Grandpa, Great Grandpa and Grandma Heikes and Aunt Emily.  We were spoiled rotten again (and again the camera was neglected).  My favorite part of the day was when Caleb opened his card from Grandpa and said, "Money."  I asked him to look at it and tell me how much it was.  His face was priceless when he saw $100!  Although he was disappointed when we told him it had to go in the real bank and not his piggy bank.  All 4 kids fell asleep on the way home and Caleb was the only one not carried directly to bed.  He counted out 9 carrots for the reindeer, 5 cookies for Santa and even poured the mug of milk all by himself. 

Christmas morning everyone "slept in".  Nellie didn't get up until 6 and then went back to sleep for a while.  Caleb and Lucy were up at about 7 and Toby slept in the latest until 7:30.  Since we do not have a staircase to wait at the top of our rule is the kids have to come into our room to wait until everyone is up.  They are not supposed to peek, but of course they did. Before Christmas we start making a list of things they are interested in, but each kid asks Santa for one present and the rest are surprises.  Caleb wanted the  Lego Harry Potter Wii game.  Lucy wanted Barbie things.  Toby a lightsaber.  Nellie enjoyed scooting around after the paper and boxes, she was at such a fun first Christmas age. 

After we opened presents we went to Mass to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  Our family was asked to bring up the Gifts, which we have never done before.  Caleb was so excited, but then got nervous and didn't want to carry anything.  Lucy carried the bread.  Andy carried Toby and the wine while I carried Nellie who was soundly sleeping. 

We came home to play a little and then went over to the Madisons' where we did our gift exchange.  Toby was the most excited to give Nadia her present.  He checked on it every day after we wrapped it and wanted to give it to her the second we walked in the door.  Because of our stop home (Caleb really wanted to play his Wii game) we were the last to arrive, which is usually not the case considering our proximity.  We had Christmas dinner at my grandma's house.  My uncle has white hair and grows a beard each year to be Santa.  He was walking by our car when we arrived and Toby just melted! I mean what 3 year old doesn't dream about eating dinner with Santa.  After dinner he changed into his suit for a photo op.  I didn't get any pictures of Toby greeting him at the bottom of the stairs but he was just in awe and sang some Christmas carols with him.

We spent the 26th in pjs and did nothing! What a wonderful Christmas. 

Thank you to everyone who spoiled us helped to make our Christmas so special!