ENT

On January 7th, Joseph had an appointment with the ENT.  At his 4 year well check the pediatrician mentioned that his tonsils appeared large so referred us to an ENT to follow up.  The ENT confirmed that his tonsils are on the larger side (a size 3 on a scale from 1 to 4) but since he doesn't have any symptoms such as snoring, tossing and turning at night or mouth breathing then we will just reassess at his 5 year well check. Here are a few pictures from the day:
Julia watching me get ready...such a big girl these days!

Ella wanted to wear her doctor's coat to the appointment so I let her leave with it on thinking that once we got there she'd want to take it off but once we arrived she wanted to keep it on.  Hopefully this dress up costume cures her or her fear of the doctor...so far so good although she hasn't had to be the patient since receiving it for her birthday, so we'll see how it all goes next time she has an appointment.  For now though it is pretty cute!

 Joseph jumped right up there and did great.  As soon as he got in the chair his sweet sister walked over and held his hand.  She stood there and held it for the entire time!  It was SO sweet and the doctor and I were just melting!  

We just love watching these two become such good friends!

Happy New Year!

It is really hard to believe that 2014 has come to a close.  It has been an amazing year and we are so thankful for a year filled with family, friends, good health and lots of love.  

On Tuesday the 30th I ran into two of my friends at boot camp and we decided to have a last minute get together for New Year's Eve.  It was really low key but it was a nice way to ring in the new year.  We enjoyed dinner together, the kids had a blast playing and Rich popped open a bottle of champagne at 8:45 p.m. to ring in the new year and everyone was gone by 9:15!  Crazy, I tell you!  Rich and I made it up to 11:00 to watch the ball drop in NYC and then we headed to bed, too.  Julia was awake again right after midnight to make sure that we celebrated on Texas time, too!  Thankfully everyone slept in on the 1st and we enjoyed a relaxing first day of 2015.  We are looking forward to what 2015 has in store for our family and are so grateful for all of our blessings this year and for the year to come.  

Ella was ready to party and was such a big help getting everything ready for the party.  She opted to go a bit dressier than just the new year's beads as she requested to wear my necklace from Aunt Lindsay's wedding (it is her favorite right now!)

 Ringing in the new year with these sweet kids and some sparkling cider.  Surprisingly Ella's cider didn't spill on her head (I was certain that she was going to dump it all over herself!) She loved it and asked for more while Joseph wasn't a fan.

I'm so sad that I didn't get a picture of Julia (I swear I thought I did but can't seem to find it anywhere) but she was definitely there and enjoyed her first New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year!

Random December Fun

December is definitely a busy month with two birthdays plus all of the holiday festivities but so much fun!  Here are lots of random pictures from December.  

Here is Joseph working in his office on December 2nd

 I have to include this because I'm pretty proud of this "mom moment" that I had on December 3rd.  I was at the grocery store with Joseph and Julia and Joseph made his way into the toy aisle (as he often does these days) and as he was looking at the toys getting close to tears in his eyes about he wanted to buy one I gave him my phone to take a picture of it so he could show Daddy and then we'd talk about it at home.  It totally worked and after taking the picture he was totally content finishing the shopping with the phone in his hand looking at the Ironman that he wanted so badly and by the time we got home he had totally forgotten about it.  I'll definitely use this little trick again!    

 Ella and Joseph helped to make cupcakes for Joseph's class for his birthday celebration at school.  

Warm day on December 5th-they were pretending that they were at the beach while I was working out in the garage.  

Ella getting in the Christmas spirit on December 6th with her "ho ho ho" shirt on.

I forgot to include this from his birthday post but Joseph played with his Bucky and the box (which looked like the sea) for honestly hours on his birthday.  He napped that afternoon so we let him stay up late that night so here he is at almost 9:00 still playing.  

 

 I was trying to get a picture of Ella in this adorable outfit but she wasn't much help and kept running behind the couch by the Christmas tree.  

 Showing off her fun Christmas toothbrush that lights up and sings Jingle Bells from Aunt Cindy!  It was such a hit in our house-I don't think they brushed their teeth once with it but loved playing with it all day long!

Julia, snug as a bug, watching Joseph open up his birthday presents.

 Sweet friends, Joseph, Olivia and Ella, playing together during bootcamp on December 8th.

 Smiley Julia and an excited Ella on December 9th!  

 Ella trying to keep up with the big kids at run club on December 10th.

On Friday, December 12th, after boot camp and playing with friends at the park the girls and I decided to have a picnic lunch at Town Green.  I was going to rush home to try to get Ella to nap but instead decided to pick up lunch, enjoy the beautiful day and played a little longer enjoying the sun!  

 Ella just being Ella on December 13th!

 The Army Navy game was on December 13th this year and unfortunately it was another tough year for Army.  Daddy got together with some of his West Point friends to watch the game but we had everyone in their Army apparel all day to cheer them on.  Hopefully next year!  

Joseph asked me to take a picture of his colorful snowman that he made on December 15th

Ella and Mommy selfie! 

We had our boot camp instructor Christmas party on December 15th at Black Walnut Cafe.  It was a fun night out with a great group of ladies!

 Happy Julia on December 16th!

 We love watching her do tummy time with this outfit on!!

 Tummy time for everyone!! 

 We baked Christmas cookies to give to our neighbors and Joseph and Ella were such great helpers!  We made lots of sugar cookies with frosting and peanut butter cups, too, although we saved those for another day since when I went to get the peanut butter cups from the pantry I found an almost empty bag!  We are blaming Daddy for that one!  

Such excitement!

While the cookies were baking they worked on their fort in the dark.  Joseph has been pretending recently that the power goes out in the house where he turns off all the lights, closes all of the curtains and uses flashlights...fun for them but makes it a little challenging for me to get anything done in the dark!

 Julia wasn't quite sure of what to make of the dark at 11 in the morning.  

 Later that afternoon we bundled everyone up and went over to the track so mommy and daddy could get a workout in.  How cute is this peanut?!?!

 Julia was getting ready for her first Christmas on December 17th!

My group of friends and I had our annual Christmas party on December 17th-such a fun night!

 We went to stortyime at the library with Santa on December 18th.  You were able to take pictures with him after but the line was really long and Ella had no interest in being too close to him so we opted not to and just take his picture from a distance!

 On December 21st, Julia was helping me pack for our trip to Atlanta by modeling bows to determine which one she would wear on Christmas. 

 When we returned from Atlanta on December 28th we found that Santa had made a quick stop by our house and left a few things under the tree so we had fun celebrating Christmas one more time that morning!  

I just loved our tree this year!  

 Joseph pretty much opened up all of the gifts for everyone!

Julia watching all of the excitement!

 Ella was excited about her big girl underwear!

Love lazy Christmas mornings!

Ella wearing her new headband and enjoying a little snack once all of the gifts were opened.

Our best gift this year!!