socks are optional.

    good morning, sunshine.

happy birthday to our much loved, much adored, much worshipped,
can't-imagine-what-we-would-do-without-her grandma.

all the love from our little world to yours today, mom.

xoxoxoxo
dan-brooke-kate-erin-annie-tess-sarajane

(my attempt at a group shot. this was not the day to do it....annie cranky, tess
demanding to hold tupperware of brownies. you know how it goes.)

saturday we traveled south to celebrate our nephew danny's sixth birthday and to meet our new
niece hallie. hallie is so small and sweet and perfect. we tried to do an impromptu photo shoot
but the light was bad and the baby wasn't in the mood. next time we'll give her more of a heads up.

my wiggly girl cooperated for a spur-of-the-moment (much debated) haircut sunday morning.
i like the outcome.

kate is the 5th girl from the right. they judged two girls at a time. all different schools
competed, and each school has their own steps.... that's why her steps are different
from the girl next to her. she got 6th place out of 13 six year olds..... i think she did
great for how nervous she was. (dan said....i don't really think there were 5 kids better
than her....he's such a dad!) this is such a learning process for all of us.

kate competed in her first irish dancing feis yesterday. she was really, really nervous 

beforehand.....more nervous than i have ever seen her.....like teary splotchy face body

shaking take me home nervous....but with the help of seeing her buddy rachel she 

pulled it together and lined up and danced her best. we are so very, very proud of her. 

tess, my patient girl, waiting for school girls to be done.

everyone in the family is feeling relieved that this tooth is finally out.
it was a teary dinner, with it hanging by a thread.....i yanked twice
(really, with permission!) but couldn't get it out....and it finally succumbed
to some garlic bread. happy girl, happy sisters, happy parents....
happy tooth fairy to tuck a golden dollar coin under her pillow.

i like the gappy smile. i think it suits her.

i've been taking sara's month pictures with this big pink kitty, to document how much she is growing.
it was a cute idea back in september.....now i'm thinking, oh my gosh am i tired of looking at this
big pink kitty. oh well. this session she just kind of fell over on him.

we're on day 6 of forcing down antibiotics for her third ear infection. she seems to be feeling better but
isn't really sleeping better. i'm trying not to complain....she is so easy tempered during the day and i am
not ready to let this sweet baby cry at night.

i did.
i do.
i will, every day....
for the rest of my life.

I think it's safe to say that these baby blues are not going to turn brown. After Kate and her huge

brown eyes, who would have thought she would be followed by 4 blue-eyed sisters?!

what a difference a day makes!

it was an amazing 54* january day. we're not sure it will ever happen again, so kate thought it would
be a good idea to document it. i think we soaked up every possible ray of sunshine, and tomorrow
when we look outside to see all the powdery snow, we'll know we had it coming!

my head princess organizer.

our (5 month!) girl is feeling a little better today. still a nasty cough and runny nose but no fever and
her smiles are back. we're giving her lots of baths to clear her nose, which she loves. i've given
up on baby bathtubs and just let her kick around in the big tub.....my little fish loves the water!

5 months!

we took sara in to the doctor this morning. she's had a really awful cough for a few days now and has
developed a fever along with it. the doctor thinks she has either bronchiolitis or RSV....which means
no treatment right now....which means no sleep for a few more nights. i feel sad... she's a pretty miserable
little baby. i'm hoping this clears up quickly. i mean, aren't breastfed babies supposed to be healthy?!

tess had her 2 year check-up and is the glowing picture of health. (at THIS minute!) when the doctor
asked her if she was healthy or sick, tess told her that she is sick....and her tummy hurts. then she
decided that her ear hurts. you can tell what we talk about a lot! she's almost 3 feet tall and 28 pounds
and is doing great.

christmas break is exhausting.

back to school tomorrow....
i think we're ready!

resolution

my 2012 new year's resolutions?

eat less.

yell less.

spend less.

bite my fingernails less?

worry less.

love them more.

i can do that.

happy new year's day, friends.