House progress!

We've had our house for 2 1/2 weeks. Thanks to awesome mom's that have done a lot of babysitting already we've been able to accomplish a little work...

entry by the back door.  looking into the kitchen and dining room...

Looking into the bathroom straight ahead

Gutted kitchen...

 Now to start on the up swing...

Crazy life...

I realize that I haven't posted lately and this is for me as much as it is for the rest of you.  This way I can remember these crazy, sleep deprived, love-filled, quick years.  If with Khloe in her toddle bed has gone reasonably well.  She usually pitter-patters to our bed once during the night and then climbs in around 6:30 hoping that I'll be too sleepy to make her go back to her own bed.  Which is usually true, especially the last week and a half.  We were hit with a nasty cold/cough and it's still going.  Kenzie went down last Sunday (1/31) and finally turned the corner this past weekend.  Khloe ended up with an ear infection and is still battling the cough/phylum.  Kayla made the turn a few days ago.  Anyways, we are on the mend and had a 4 hour stretch of sleep last night...woohoo!  We've done a lot of this the past week...

The other half of my life has been this...

Yes, that is our new house!  We are super excited and will be even more so when we get to move.  We are doing a 'little' renovating.  Painting the 2nd floor, gutting the kitchen and main floor bath and carpeting the basement.  I'll post more pictures as we get a little work done.  Thanks to all who are helping out with our lovely girls, we couldn't do it without you!

1 down...2 to go...

So this happened today,

I couldn't keep her in any longer, so instead of making her climb the rails, we just took them off and used it as the bed rails.  Love this little and can't believe she is so big already.  Hopefully we make it through the night!

Don't mind the boxes, that's just clothing overflow!

Snow pants, snowmen and books! Oh my!

Winter weather has been pretty scarce this year.  Basically not much snow.  But when we've gotten a little we've headed outside.  I just couldn't resist sweet Kayla in all her pink!

 We built our second snowman of the year and even enlisted aunt Kimmie's help.  Kenzie's proves to be a supervisor more than worker, but we made it happen.

Oh, this arm?  No, I'll just keep it.

Peek!

 Warming up after playing outdoors!  Love my babies and their babies :)

We also made our first trip to the library.  The girls are getting back into books and I love listening to Khloe retell stories.  She loves reading to her baby and to baby Kayla.

Yes, this really happened...no it hasn't happened again.

Asking 'Kaya' which book she wants to hear.

Khloe's favorite Bible story...Saul, Daniel, David, Leah, Moses, Noah, Abraham...
She could sit all day and have me repeat the names :)

 And just when you thought you had everything put away so you could quick take Maddie out, Khloe thought she would simplify seasoning dinner.  Oh happy days!

Mom, that's left over.

Santa!!!

I took the girls to see Santa this morning.  I've been seeing so many pictures of kids with Santa on FB lately, that I thought we would give it a go.  The girls were great!  And it was perfect that we started in line by this superb photo-op!

"Mom, go to Kayla"  Meanwhile thinking, I know I can reach those balls!

Just a little more...reeeaachh!

Khloe: O Holy Night...
Kayla:  How many pictures are you going to take?
Kenzie: Do I get candy for smiling?

 I love these girls!  However, you don't get to see the picture with santa.  Why?  Because apparently, my Santa is a joke.  They wanted $22 for a few wallet size pictures and up to $40 for a 5x7.  And on top of that, you can't have personal cameras or cell phones out.  Look out Rivertown, next year we're coming to you!

Things you forgot to tell the babysitter...

So Monday night Joe and I went out for dinner and hired our first babysitter.  It's one of the perks of living near grandparents.  Anyways, the couple we were going out with set it up for us.  She's from our church, 23 years old, babysits their kids, just real quiet and sweet.  Well, after 23 years, we may have ended her babysitting career in one night.
When you are with your kids day in and day out, you forget the things they do and get into on a daily basis.  I wish I had her 30 second exit when we got home, but I don't, I just have a 30 second replay.
I had picked up the house that afternoon, getting rid of most of Khloe's fascinations.  I show her the toy room, where Kayla should go down for bed and left her my phone number.

I may have forgotten to mention that Khloe loves to be pants-less and 'wear' mom's make-up.  Or that Kayla won't go to sleep if she cries for more than 45 seconds.  You just get her up and try again in 5 minutes, spoiled?  No, just last baby syndrome.  And, if you are ready to pull your hair out, just put on Little Einsteins and all will be well.

So, the 30 second exit.  I had called her before we left the restaurant letting her know we were on our way.  She said no problem, the girls were watching and Einstein show.  I walked in the door, she jumped from her chair, grabbed her bag, grabbed her check, and let me know that Kayla just went down (an hr and a half after bedtime) with the lights on.  I respond with, "Not a problem, at least Khloe has pants on."  She half laughs, "yeah, I just put those back on.  And I washed your make up brush, Khloe got into it."  Slips on her shoes and she's out.  Poor girl.  I'll have to apologize some day, but for now I'll just smile.  And as for the make-up, Khloe painted with toothpaste.

Life with 3, 2 years and under...

364 Days old!

Tomorrow my sweet little baby turns 1!!!  I can not believe that it's already been a year.  She is a character to say the least.  She has started to imitate her sisters; coughing, laughing, singing, screeching, and finally walking!  She can master about 4-5 steps smoothly and then goes down.  She can stand up anywhere in the room (IF she wants to), walks well holding just one hand and climbs like she has wings.  She calls for dada, mama (once in a blue moon), and d-d-d-d (doggy).  She loves having full conversations with Kenzie and using her head as a weapon.  Basically, she keeps me on my toes day and night.

What was that?  Be careful, I will.  (Always my famous last words)

Nothing to it!

Wait for it...wait for it...

 Ta-da!

See, I didn't fall.

Kayla, we love you with all our hearts.  It won't be long until you are right on your sisters heels.  I love your laugh, your cries at night and your care free crawl.  We thank God for such a great surprise.  Love mommy, daddy and your sisters