Ringing in the new year showing off our stuff

We love our fancy shoes! I am not sure though if we love them as much as our Mommy! She thinks they're pretty irresistible even if it's Christmas time and we are still dressed in Halloween pants!

Poor boys - child number 3 and child number 4... the pink and purple car it is! They'd prefer camouflage but they know this will just have to do! It has been through all of the kids. The funny thing is with my first child, I would have been mortified if I had Juliette any where near something boyish looking. Now I just laugh when I see Adi cruising the street with them in the pick and purple car. 

He's big and he's brave... and he is completely hilarious!

It's what's for dinner tonight folks!

Bellebaum reunion

Dear family friends were in town over Christmas! My Mom and I took a little ride up to Summerville to see everyone and a new generation. My Mom is Katie's confirmation sponsor and I am Emily's sponsor. Needless to say the girls are very special to us and now each of them both have a little girl. The whole clan enjoyed the loudness and the chaos equally!

Why is eating puffs so much more fun on the lap of your Sister?

Merry Christmas!

We have had a wonderful Christmas so far! There was a new tradition this year at Mass and I loved started the holiday off with it. During Christmas Eve Mass there was a Christmas pageant with the children. Juliette was an Angel and Tripp was a "Townsman/Prophet." Juliette I knew would love every minute and shine up there. Tripp he was a bit of a different story. I was not sure what to expect. Juliette's friend Sullivan took him under her wing and he did just fine up there. I was sure he would have his hand over his eyes which is his new trademark. It added such a nice touch and we were so happy that the children were part of it. 

...and look who was up bright and early ready to wish us all a Merry Christmas! I should mention that Tripp and Juliette attempted to come down at 1:30 in the morning. Juliette thought she could wake everyone up if she came in and told us Tripp threw up. She even got Tripp to fake cry at the top of the stairs when we both flew out of the bed. Needless to say, no one had gotten sick and the fake ploy to get us up only landed those kiddies back in the bed! They did not re-wake up until 7:30 that morning!

The twins loved chewing on the wrapping paper, tearing the wrapping paper and pulling the ornaments off of the tree!

We were so happy to celebrate with Ul'Nanny too! His presence always makes Christmas even more special to the kids. 

The special gift of the evening was the bow and arrow that had officially been given to Juliette. It was Ul'Nanny's bow when he was a very young boy. Being a boy, he showed up at our neighbor's house during my little friend Lee's birthday party and let all the little girls know that he was going to shoot the ducks waddling around in front of the house. He must have been five and we were turning 6. All of the little girls including me screamed and my poor Mom had to come and get little Danny. It is still a great story among all of us. We took this picture to send to Lee to let her know that the bow is still in the family. 

  

Merry Christmas everyone!

 I hope each of you were able to celebrate with family and friends!

Because we have had basically no Winter yet...

We are doing a whole bunch of this! The kids love riding their bike and scooter and we do love to cruise around. Temperatures literally have been hovering around 80° for the past two weeks. I am not a fan of this kind of weather around Christmas time. I feel like we all need some cold weather as a good break to the heat we have year-round.

Santa makes everyone oh so happy

We took a ride to the James Island County lights. It was actually cool that evening so it did feel like Christmas time. The kids were so excited to see Santa. Tripp this time wanted some batteries and a new guitar... (hmmmm these are new requests) and Juliette wanted a nice new real giraffe (yup, that sounds attainable) - good luck with that Santa!

Juliette was so excited about the holidays, the next evening she and I got her dolls all dressed up for the Christmas festivities! She loves her dolls and loves them even more when they are all ready for parties! In this little girl's world, every day is a holiday!

I try to convince her that her brothers are even more fun to bathe and dress up... wouldn't you think?

"No Mommy I love to dress my dolls up more!" 

Good thing Mommy finds them just precious!

It's never goodbye... just see you soon...

Ms. Adi's Mom who we lovingly call "Abuela" has been here since August. She leaves to go back to Columbia tomorrow. She came with Adi each day so the children all got to know her so well. We will all dearly miss her! We had a special farewell dinner for her.

It's the new Tripp

Here comes the exciting day for Tripp's Christmas performance... last year he was the life of the performance - dancing and singing his little heart out. This year he was a no show... good thing he had some life to him upon entering. I even took Juliette out of school to come and watch him. What did he do? He covered his eyes and face with his hand the whole time. It is the funny age he is at. As we call him "Pouting Paul" you never know how many times a day he pouts. You never know what sets a three year old off. I would say he may be shy but we know better than that.

The big man showed up and there was no problem piping up for that!

The typical "Fuss Pusser" Thomas as Tripp likes to call him (He was trying to use the word Fuss Bucket) was quite happy and amused sitting with Santa. Tyler not SO much! He was thinking who in the world are you?? Tripp told Santa he just needed to hold on to Tyler and go "ho ho ho" and he would stop fussing. 

This was the smile I could get...

"Mommy I want to go to da Waffle House..."

And like a good Southern boy... if we can't make the Waffle House, just shootin my gun will do!

She's still as sweet as they come!

Tyler has discovered the dogs but particularly Gracie! In general, he likes to gently pet her and tries to cover her eyes. She enjoys the attention from him.

His new favorite word is "uh-ho"... He is babbling "uh-ho" as he is covering her face! 

Stodda and Gwinchy were late this year... why you may ask?

Well we just could not seem to have one day of stellar behavior by Juliette or Tripp. They knew that they would not arrive until they were on their best behavior.... um yes that is hard for them... and yes they still anxiously awaited... after a stellar day look who arrived...

Juliette wrote him a very special note pledging her promise to be a very good girl! She still feels very bad about Tripp's teeth as you can see! She's trying to explain to Stodda that she did not mean to run with Tripp causing him to fall on his teeth. 

That same evening we made gingerbread houses in attempts at offering Stodda and Gwinchy their own house. 

And look who finally arrived! It was a very exciting morning in our house! Welcome home little guys! 

It's time to go see Santa

We had such a fun weekend with Santa! Dr. Cox never fails us and provides everyone at Don's office with the most authentic Santa you could find real beard and all! 

Juliette was all eyes and ears that morning!  She was eager to let Santa know that she wanted a baby Sister for Christmas. Santa asked if he could not bring that what else would she like? Ummmm... Yes then she would like a real unicorn specifically one that is white and one that can fly with wings! This girl is killing me as I can guarantee you she is not getting either of those. The best thing about Juliette is if you asked her today she would tell you something new. 

Santa exhausted Tyler! Thomas was enjoying watching Santa and even gave him a nice wave!

I considered using this as our Christmas card until Don spotted the fifth child in the picture. Santa's elf was there and posed with us!

Juliette has been a very good girl.  Tripp is three and full of the dickens but lovable as ever! Three year olds in our house are always a handful! The twins have a very good report too for Santa. 

They will all be tucked in and waiting anxiously for Santa.

Ways to "Trap Buckwheat"

Oh sweet Buckwheat! He is the best little bunny. He is so patient! Juliette and Tripp love to bring him in Tessa and Doh's house but he typically stays in the box if Juliette is not holding him. He likes to now jump out of the box like a magic trick!

Here is their failed attempt with the use of "Bucky" the horse, Ashley Bell's dog bone for Christmas and a puzzle to keep him in.

Ha! he says as he hops right out.

Just say "No No It AINT SO..."

Could these sweet boys really be ONE today??

This morning part of me woke a little sad that they are one today but the other part of me raised up my hands and shouted, "I survived!"

Thomas Stovall

 Baby Thomas has 8 teeth. He has four on the top and four on the bottom. At his checkup today his head measured 19 inches. He is 20 inches long and weighs 23 pounds. This guy LOVES to eat! He loves all fruit, yogurt, broccoli, puffs and anything else you are willing to give him. He is a squawker... instead of talking he likes to squawk. It really is hilarious! He does not like to go to sleep and will fuss anytime you put him down in the crib. The fuss is short lived and he is out like a light within a minute or two. He is amazing sleeper at night. He goes to bed around 7:00 and wakes up around 6:30 the next morning.

Juliette loves to call him her twin. The two really resemble each other. I like to tell her that Thomas is the boy version of my only little girl Juliette.

Tyler Stovall

 Baby Tyler has 7 teeth. He has four on the top and three on the bottom. At his checkup today his head measured 19 inches. He is 20 inches long and weighs 21 pounds - two pounds lighter than his brother. This guy LOVES to socialize! He smiles and laughs all day. He is not as into food as his brother. Instead he would rather explore the whole house. He is not walking yet but pulling up and trying to walk holding onto the couch and chairs.

Tripp LOVES this baby! He loves to pinch his cheeks, attempt to wrestle him and I like to think he is just making him bay tough at a very young age. He walks by Thomas to get to Tyler. We are working on this and he will now let you know that he loves Thomas too. Tyler is also an amazing sleeper at night. He goes down as well around 7:00 and wakes up around 6:30 the next morning.

Both boys loved their first few sips of whole milk! I think they were thrilled with the new taste!

It was business as usual for the babies! They were excited just to play with the wrapping paper and slowly rip it down! Their big brother was sure to jump in and "help."

These little guys play hard and then sleep hard!

Tyler loves the rocking chair in Tripp's bedroom. It is his Great Grandpa Bud's chair when he was a baby.

They LOVED their birthday cake! Thomas LOVED LOVED it! Tyler was more interested in giving me some bites of it!

They weren't quite down with the Doctor yesterday but managed to have a very good appointment!

What a difference a year can make!

Happiest of birthdays to my precious TWINkies! You bring MORE love and light to our already bright world!