Thursday, December 20, 2012

Anticipating Christmas...

The weeks leading upto Christmas went by so quickly.  As always, we go and get our Christmas tree as soon as possible after Thanksgiving.  We love getting a real tree, and we want to enjoy it for as long as we can.  With Patrick home all month, we enjoyed spending time at home, hosting some out of town family who came to see us (and of course to meet Clara), and enjoyed some Christmas activities.

3 kids, 3 stockings...brings a smile to my face.  What is Charlie doing, you ask?  I have no idea...

We had the best tree this year....hardly any needles on the ground (even with 2 kids tugging at the branches everyday!)

staircase garland up...Christmas decorating done!

playing at home

Charlie starting to give attention to Clara...looks like he's helping her put the pacifier in her mouth...

Adeline inside the small basket that we've been giving Clara baths in...what a goof!

This is kind of funny to me because we have a picture identical to this when Adeline was this age...

Adeline and Grandpa Dennis getting ready to take the lightrail downtown to see the Holidazzle parade.

Watching the parade with daddy...

Our small church (sunday school class) Christmas party was such a wonderful time.  A very generous couple opened up their home and even all the couples brought their kids.  It was a fun time for all.  Here is daddy Patrick (a pilot) and daddy Matt (an engineer) reading the instructions and starting to assemble a gingerbread house with the girls.  This was comical to watch...wish I had the video camera along...

teamwork at its best...good job, boys!

Grandpa Jim & Grandma Melodee came to meet Clara Eloise, and we enjoyed a couple of days with them.

Clara looks likes she's listening intently to what grandpa is saying...

grandma & Clara

We took the lightrail withe grandma & grandpa downtown to see the Macy's Christmas display.  This is the second year grandma & grandpa have been able to do this with us.  

Charlie:  "Who is this guy that I'm sitting on his lap?"

growing so fast

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Sleepover

We love it that our good friends, Matt & Kenna, have a daughter close to Addie's age.  We love it that the two girls are such good friends!  And we love it that she lives so close to us!  Riley spent the night at our house last night while her parents were out of town.  These girls had so much fun together!  I'm pretty sure there will be more sleepovers in the future...
 The excitement of watching a movie together



 gotta love these girls!

 Charlie trying to play with the girls


Saturday, November 24, 2012

First days at home with Clara...

Welcome Home Clara Eloise!

Grandma and Grandpa from Chicago came up right after Clara was born for several days, and we loved having them here.  We wish they lived closer to us!

Adeline & grandma went and got a mani & pedi

Monday, November 19, 2012

Charlie - 18 months old

My baby boy...not so much a baby anymore.  He is so playful, charming, and smart!  He runs everywhere, gets into all of his big sister's toys and on occasion, notices his baby sister Clara.  His smile and his big brown eyes light up a room and melts my heart.  Love that little guy!  At a year and a half:

Charlie likes: trains, airplanes, helicopters, cars, balls - 100%boy!
Charlie's fun new words: uh-go (lego)
                                         I'm ssssssorry (and the way he says it is so darn cute!)
                                         What is this? (he asks this question all through the day)
                                         hair-pain (airplane) - daddy loves it when Charlie says this
                                         Ra-ra (Clara) 


Sunday, November 18, 2012

Clara Eloise

We welcomed Clara Eloise on November 16th at 5:08 pm.  She weighed 7 pounds 7 ounces (just like big sister Adeline) and was 19.75 inches long.  We love you Clara and are so glad you are finally here! On this Thanksgiving week, we're thankful for our 3 healthy bundles of joy - Adeline, Charlie & Clara.  We're blessed beyond measure.

 daddy and his little girl


 me and my girls...lucky momma I am!

 how sweet is this?

 couldn't be more excited to have a little sister

Getting ready to bring Clara home
(Adeline can't kiss her sister enough.  On the other hand, take notice of Charlie in the background - he's busy taking an important phone call it looks like...)

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Special Guests

The past couple of days, grandma & grandpa Walker from Iowa came for a visit.  Adeline kept grandma VERY busy doing puzzles, coloring, etc.  Charlie loved just hanging out with grandpa.



Charlie playing with his new tractor toy


3 generations of Walker boys...

Monday, November 5, 2012

A Tea Party

Adeline had a great afternoon at her friend's birthday party (a Tea Party theme).  The two girls are 3 days apart in age.  "Alice" from Alice in Wonderland came and painted the girls' faces, read a story, and helped serve tea to the girls.   It was a very sweet party...perfect for turning 4!



so excited about her cupcake