Morgan Turns 7

On Wednesday, January 29th, Morgan turned 7 yrs old. Realizing that my baby boy is only a year away from turning 8 and being baptized is proving hard to imagine! He really is turning into such a big boy keeps reminding me that he is old enough to do things on his own. I never thought I would be the mom that wanted to slow down time and keep my kids little longer but it turns out I kind of am! His feet really kill me because they don't look like little boy feet any more but are starting to look like big kid feet. Good thing he will always be my baby boy!!

Since it was the middle of the week and a snow day, I had nothing really planned and not much happened during the day. Morgan did get to go to a friend's house for most of the day and play so he was pretty happy about that. After a dinner of lasagna, his choice, Cody met us for a birthday treat at Coldstone's. I brought along the presents we got for Morgan so that he could open them there. 

I'm not sure who was more excited by this birthday present, Morgan or Cody. Cody bought him the big guide book that goes with it and the two of them have been having a blast with this game. 

Hazel was loving the ice cream so this picture was too funny.

However, this picture makes me laugh out loud every time I see it! Guess Hazel was pretty stoked about the nerf shotgun as well.

The cupcakes I made for Morgan to bring to school on Thursday to celebrate a day late. 

Morgan and his 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Goodenow. Once again, we have lucked out with another fantastic teacher. Morgan is doing really well and seems to enjoy his class and his teacher. 

Week 22

Pepper insisted on being my twin for the day. I didn't mind one bit. 

Cody always has to play with the light settings on the camera. Pepper is heavier than she looks!

So, this is me at 22 weeks! So much longer to go!!!

Too Cold!

This Polar Vortex winter we are having has sure made it hard to go to school or keep sane! Between the holidays and the snow days we are all getting a little stir crazy around here. Luckily, we have lots of friends to have play-dates with and the kids have each other to stay entertained. 

Impromtu shirtless dance party. Not sure why it was shirtless but they were all pretty happy!

Oh, goodness!

Morgan going to pajama day at school. 

Thank goodness for Legos!

What is it about girls and carting things around in bags and buckets?

On one of our holidays we went to Amazone playplace with Sarah and her mom, Stephanie Warsmith. Hazel was a bit small and intimidated and would only go up and down this ramp. Finally, Stephanie was nice enough to walk her around the rest of the play area and take her down the slides. 

Thank goodness for friends or we would be losing our minds this winter!!

20 Week Ultrasound

For my 20 week ultrasound appointment, Cody and I thought it would be fun to have the whole family together. I couldn't get an appointment at the usual office so we had to go to the one in Wadsworth that we had never been to before. It worked out well because it was closer to Cody's work. I woke Hazel early from her 4hr nap (yes, this girl still takes a FOUR hour nap everyday...I realize how lucky I am, I do!) and we picked up Morgan a little early from school. The kids were very excited to "see" the baby. The kids were all a bit over excited, especially when Daddy showed up, so it was super fun when we walked into the ultrasound room to find out it was the tiniest room on the planet and not like the big nice room at the other office! Hazel jumped right up on the bed, just like Pepper did at her age when we all went to the 20 week ultrasound of Hazel. It made me smile a lot!

I was worried that the kids would be upset if the baby wasn't the sex they wanted but when the tech announced that we were in fact having another girl, Morgan took it like a champ. He just shrugged his shoulders and went, "Ok." I guess the idea of having another little sister wasn't too hard to accept. Needless to say Pepper was very excited and I was not surprised. I was pretty sure we were having another girl but for Cody's sake I kept hoping for a boy. Oh well, the baby was healthy and kicking around. Good news for all of us!

Making ourselves at home in the waiting room.

Hard to make black slimming when your belly sticks out this far!

His sisters just adore him!
Oh, and this is a shot of Morgan's bandaged hand from where he cut himself on one of Cody's new knives. Luckily, for Cody's sake, this only meant a doctor friend had to glue it back together and nothing more traumatic. Morgan took it all in stride and never even cried. Tough kid!

We have had a ton of "snow days" because of super cold weather, so on the 3rd day off school in a row, we headed down to Massillon to spend the day with Jen Lloyd, Ava and baby Grant. It was also a great excuse for all the kids to get haircuts!

Pepper insisted she wanted short hair (like her cousin, Jane.) I told her this meant all the pink would be cut off and her response was, "Ok, we can just dye it again later if we want." Such a diva already.

A fantastic shot of our new little lady!!
It took forever to get this shot because she wouldn't hold still. My kids never cooperate for these things and pretty much never stop moving once they get out of my belly!

For church on Sunday, Pepper asked me to straighten her hair. It took a long time but it was pretty darn cute when we were done. I love her curls but it was fun to see her with straight hair as well. Or as straight as I could get it:)

Random December

So, here's the last post from 2013 with another insane amount of photos. These are all the random pictures I took with my iPhone. Some of them go with other posts but most are just little tidbits from our daily life. I'll try to caption most but here they are.

We went to Earth Fare for their kids eat free Thursday dinner.  They had a cute ornament craft table set up for the kids. 

They also had carol singers walking around the stores. The kids LOVED them and Morgan wanted to follow them everywhere. They were very cute and talked to the kids between songs.

Our first shipment of Christmas goodies. One from Wrap-n-Pack (Gramma G), one from Amazon and one from LL Bean. That pretty much sums up our type of Christmas shopping!

Went with Hazel to the Nature Realm one morning while the others were in school. She loves watching the turtles and snakes.

My girls just hanging out and watching a show.

My friend, Ashley Melgar, was over in our old, East Harlem neighborhood and took a picture of our apartment. Such lovely memories!

These two are too cute. Morgan just loves Hazel and she loves to love.
Now, to just get him to stop talking to her in "baby talk." 

Pepper loves getting her hair done but we are in a hurry most days. It's nice to have time to do that together.

Just watching the snow together.

Most weeks Emma Griesmyer would spend Wednesday mornings with us. Hazel enjoyed having a buddy.

My little elves helping me mail Christmas cards.

We were getting ready to attend the MomsClub Christmas dinner and Pepper insisted on having her hair done like Elsa from Frozen. Then she insisted on wearing a "fancy" dress for a little boy named, Marcus. I can see the teenage years quickly approaching and man-o-man am I nervous!

My annual Christmas Challah.

The girls wearing their matching Christmas dresses from last year. I still wish I had an adult version of these beautiful dresses!!

Pepper attending a gymnastics birthday party for a friend from school. 

This one was not feeling so great so she snuggled up on the couch with a friend. Love my snuggle bug!

We like to share space in this family! Especially when it means extra cuddle time with Daddy!

My favorite picture from the preschool Christmas Program!!!!

This is the face of a girl with a double ear infection waiting for her medicine and not wanting her picture taken!!!

I may have a slight Christmas sock problem!

Samuel Griesmyer was born on his brother's birthday just before Christmas. We were sick when he first arrived, so it took me a few days to get over there to see him. What a cutie!!!

Eli and I love to snuggle, too.

I love this picture so I'm posting it again. Pepper looks so beautiful, Morgan is a doll and Hazel has the funniest face on the planet. Love!

This is how these two spent a large chunk of time on Christmas Day. I think Cody has DS envy.

Twirling in her new pretty dress.

Hazel playing with her new toys on Christmas Day.

Daddy makes a perfect seat.

Showing everyone that Cody got me tickets to see Jim Gaffigan in March.  Cody made up this funny card and wrapped it in a Hot Pockets box filled with bacon bits. Such a creative genius my husband!

Jill and baby Robert snuggling in NC.

Hazel checking out the playground in NC. It was so damp and cold but still fun.

Until she slid right into the mud at the bottom of the slide. Oops!

Hanging with Gramma at the Biltmore.

Sneaking an illegal picture in the basement. Cody is giving me a disapproving look.

Yep, they had a bowling alley in the their basement, amongst many, many other amazing things. 

This was the hotel and little resort area on the estate. We rode around the grounds for awhile and the kids couldn't believe that it was still just the "backyard" for the big house we saw!