Whoops – it’s been quite a while since I re-posted my Instagram pics, now with added commentary! Oooh.
So way back last year my friend, Heidi, had her fifth baby – the gorgeous, wonderfully sweet Landry. I could cuddle her for ages – and one afternoon I got to do just that. Though that link up there is just for reference since she hasn’t updated her blog in a YEAR – it’s like she has five kids or something to keep her busy… where is her dedication to her blog, I ask you?
Liam got to visit Santa and get his face painted, all at a local furniture store – where else?
Have you had this? In your coffee? On the rocks? It is yum.
My personal elf on the shelf! (Please note our Australian artwork that I finally got framed 7 years after we purchased it – nothing like a new house to spur on decorating.)
Jack at his Christmas program at daycare… cutest reindeer on earth!
My all-star dental patients – ZERO cavities for the whole family (well, those of us there that day – Simon wasn’t as lucky).
Snow + rain = using a sled as an umbrella.
Liam’s Christmas present to us that he made at school – one of my favorites from the collection we have going on our tree.
Winter wonderland – little did we know it was just the beginning of the winter of our discontent.
Our Christmas Eve greeting from the whole family (did you see George in my arms?).
The cousins who get in trouble together, stay together – isn’t that how the saying goes? Those boys are trouble when left unattended – and yet we let it happen. In this instance, they stood and colored on each others’ faces with marker.
Without comment.
Between Christmas and New Year’s we visited our friends in Cleveland. We ate yummy food, had fun and visited Trader Joe’s – a perfect trip!
Simon brought me this surprisingly delicious apple pie with bacon milkshake (I realize it sounds horrible but it was freaking delicious).
The Ohio Turnpike – where children meltdown and Einstein Bros Bagels can be found – you win some, you lose some.
Our New Year’s Eve festivities – nachos and hard cider. If you have a stoneware pan highly recommend it for nacho baking – the cheese stays melty and delicious!
Ready to cheer on the Spartans at the Rose Bowl (from our living room).
A rare smile from my favorite college football coach.
The many faces of Jack – the kid is just so lifeless, I mean, really.
Much less animated George.
No Stress Chess… falsely making kids think they can play chess.
A coffee for the wee one.
Thrown back to toddler Liam – what a little ham.
Love’s ice cream from the Downtown Market for our little love.
He was sitting there with his finger in his nose so I told him I was going to take a picture – he didn’t move. Apparently he doesn’t think my threats hold any water. Won’t he be sorry in 20 years when this pops up in his wedding photo collage?
Every once and a while they get along…
The “new” house has spurred me into seasonal decorating. I’ve switched these hearts (Pinterest win!) out for spring paper and eggs for Easter.
Sometimes there is nothing you can do at a restaurant but take a picture while your kid licks salt off the table. It’s called choosing your battles.
Lucky for Simon, Words with Friends doesn’t use the teenage boy humor dictionary.
Jack turned five and having a dad who works at night means getting to open birthday presents first thing in the morning.
Throw back to the brothers’ Bennett first meeting each other. Jack was still in the NICU and Liam was pretty unimpressed with it all.
Messing around with selfies. We might be related.
Jack requested an “every color” cake for his birthday – Pinterest delivered the goods once again.
Love.
Valentine roses from my sweetie.
Valentine’s cuddles with my furry sweetie.
Polor vortex, take three billion.
My MOPS group did this thing called 1:16 (based on Ruth 1:16) where we were each given the name of another woman and we anonymously showered them with treats and prayer over a couple week period and at the end revealed our identities at a girl’s night out event at church. I received an envelope to open each day with words of encouragement and three of the days included gift cards. It was the best thing to open those envelopes each day!
Again, his lack of personality is just so evident.
Yup.
And the big brother, also a wall flower.
Have you heard of Social Print Studio and Printstagram? You can print your Instagram photos from their website – super good quality and quick turnaround (I ordered on Thursday and got my mini books on Monday).
Simon was on call last weekend and got called in at the same time I had plans to meet two friends for coffee so rather than bail, we packed up our electronics, headphones and snacks and I got to chat with my girls while my boys were entertained. We’re at the golden age where the kids can be taken in public again. Well, almost, the day before this my children got in a physical brawl at Meijer while we were waiting at the deli to get our cheese sliced – so we’re not quite out of the woods yet, but almost. There was punching and angry yelling – it was awesome! Freedom… I can almost smell it.
There are more from February to share – but I’m saving those for another post of my favorites from the photo a day prompts from Chantelle at Fat Mum Slim.
ememby 
Aw, what a great recap!! That baby is such a sweet looking gem. How lucky you are to snuggle her! My children have also done their own face painting with marker. Sigh, why???